Hundreds of snakes escaped from a breeding farm in Hengzhou city of China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region after floods triggered by Typhoon Maysak damaged the facility. According to Chinese media outlet Global Times, around 800 to 900 snakes fled into surrounding areas, causing widespread alarm. The flood began on July 6 when heavy rainfall broke a local reservoir dam, inundating the farm. Initial reports suggest most of the escaped snakes are nonvenomous.

Local authorities confirmed that one villager was hospitalized after a snakebite, while many snakes were swept away by floodwaters. Residents formed volunteer teams to capture snakes using fishing nets, but officials urged people not to attempt this themselves. The Hengzhou administration strengthened emergency medical services, increased antivenom supplies, deployed additional rescue teams, and set up temporary clinics for bite victims.

Public awareness campaigns through loudspeakers, WeChat groups, and home visits advised residents to avoid risky areas, especially at night. Local media also issued safety guidelines, warning against traditional but unsafe snakebite treatments and urging immediate medical attention.

The Chattogram district administration has canceled all types of leave, including weekly holidays, for its officers and employees following five consecutive days of heavy rainfall that caused severe flooding, landslides, and waterlogging across the district. District Commissioner Mohammad Zahidul Islam Miah announced the decision during a press briefing at his office on Thursday, stating that 24-hour control rooms have been set up in every upazila and at the district office to coordinate rescue, relief, and monitoring efforts.

According to the district administration, around 450,000 people have been trapped by floodwaters, with Satkania upazila being the worst affected, as about 70 percent of its area is submerged. Large parts of Chandanaish, Lohagara, Banshkhali, and Boalkhali are also inundated. The administration has received 200 metric tons of rice and Tk 10 lakh from the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, along with Tk 20 lakh from the Prime Minister’s Fund. About 8,000 people have already taken shelter in designated centers.

A total of 629 shelters have been prepared with food, clean water, and medical services, including special care for children, pregnant women, and the elderly. Emergency speedboats have been requested for Satkania, and coordinated rescue teams from government agencies and volunteer groups are operating in the field.

Professor Dr. Abdus Salam, Pro-Vice Chancellor (Education) of the University of Dhaka and a faculty member of the Department of Chemistry, has been awarded the National Environment Award 2025 for his contributions to environmental research and technological innovation. The award was presented by Prime Minister Tareq Rahman on Thursday, July 9, 2026, at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Center during the national ceremony marking World Environment Day 2026.

According to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Dr. Salam was nominated in the category of environmental research and technology innovation through a gazette issued on June 7, 2026. The university’s public relations office stated that he has been conducting research for nearly 25 years on environment, air pollution, atmospheric science, climate change, and public health, earning international recognition for his work. His studies have significantly contributed to improving air quality in Bangladesh and identifying pollution sources.

Dhaka University teachers and officials congratulated Dr. Salam on receiving the award. This year, three individuals and three institutions were honored with the National Environment Award 2025 for their contributions to environmental conservation, education, and innovation.

Heavy hill floods from India have inundated vast croplands in Cumilla, leaving more than a thousand farmers facing severe losses. Early-season vegetables and other crops in Adarsha Sadar and Burichang upazilas were submerged as the Gomti River overflowed on Thursday morning. Farmers were seen wading through waist-deep water trying to salvage what they could from fields of gourds, leafy greens, and other vegetables.

Local farmers reported extensive damage, with some losing investments worth hundreds of thousands of taka. Many were forced to harvest immature crops in an attempt to recover part of their losses before total destruction. The affected areas include Kachiatali Amtali, Balikhara, Bhanti, and Kamarkhara, where floodwaters have covered large stretches of farmland.

Mizanur Rahman, Deputy Director of the Department of Agricultural Extension in Cumilla, confirmed that thousands of farmers’ crops have been submerged due to rising water levels in the Gomti River. He said officials are on-site assessing the situation and that necessary assistance measures will be taken after the damage survey is completed.

A ten-month-old child died in a landslide triggered by heavy rainfall in Jungle Salimpur of Sitakunda upazila, Chattogram, on Wednesday. Following the incident, the upazila administration, police, fire service, and local representatives launched extensive rescue and evacuation operations in vulnerable hillside areas to prevent further casualties. Public announcements were made urging residents at the foot of the hills to move to safety, and three shelters were prepared for evacuees.

According to local sources, the landslide occurred in Ward No. 1’s Bagangbari area, where a section of the hill collapsed onto a house, burying the infant named Tanvir, son of Moin Uddin and Lamia Begum. UNO Fakhrul Islam, along with police and officials, visited the site and directed families in risky zones to relocate. The administration provided Tk 25,000 in cash and food aid to the victim’s family.

Authorities confirmed that shelters have been equipped with clean water, dry food, baby food, and medical support. Additional shelters are ready to open if weather conditions worsen.

Disaster Management and Relief Minister Asadul Habib Dulu told parliament that the government is giving top priority to the safety and relief of people affected by heavy rainfall in Chattogram and the hill districts. He reported that landslides and floods have caused deaths in Cox’s Bazar, Chattogram, Bandarban, and Rangamati. Hundreds of shelters have been opened, accommodating thousands of displaced residents. Additional cash and rice allocations have been made to the affected districts, and the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund has also provided financial support.

The minister said that loudspeaker announcements are ongoing to move people from risky areas to safe shelters, where food, water, and sanitation are ensured. He added that the government is ready to rehabilitate people living on dangerous hillsides on government land. The Prime Minister is monitoring the situation and has instructed officials to provide further aid if needed.

Dulu also stated that the government has strengthened early warning systems and emergency response capacity, shifting from relief-based to risk-reduction-based disaster management. Equipment and rescue boats have been distributed across coastal and flood-prone districts to enhance preparedness.

The Bangladesh Navy has intensified its rescue operation to locate six fishermen who went missing after a fishing trawler sank in the Bay of Bengal during a storm. The naval warship BNS Gomti is leading the deep-sea search, continuing operations without interruption to find the missing crew members. The incident occurred when the trawler, carrying 11 fishermen, capsized about 100 to 150 kilometers southeast of Payra seaport last Sunday. Five fishermen were rescued alive, but six remain unaccounted for.

According to reports, all the missing fishermen are residents of Galachipa upazila in Patuakhali district. The Navy is coordinating with other relevant agencies to sustain the search and rescue efforts despite challenging sea conditions. Families of the missing men are anxiously waiting for news as the rescue teams continue their mission.

The ongoing operation highlights the risks faced by coastal fishing communities during adverse weather in the Bay of Bengal and the Navy’s continued commitment to maritime safety.

All schools and colleges in Chattogram city remained closed for the third consecutive day on July 9, 2026, due to continuous heavy rainfall, waterlogging, and flooding. The Chattogram City Corporation confirmed that its educational institutions would stay shut until July 9, while the district education officer said the closure was for student safety. The Bangladesh Technical Education Board also postponed diploma examinations scheduled for Thursday at three centers in Chattogram.

According to the board’s notice, the postponed exams include the final tests for Diploma in Textile Engineering and Diploma in Agriculture programs at the Agriculture Training Institute, Chattogram, the Women’s Polytechnic Institute, Chattogram, and the Textile Institute, Chattogram. Exams in other districts under the board are continuing as planned. The new schedule for the postponed exams will be announced later.

Earlier, the Chattogram Education Board suspended all HSC and equivalent exams in flood-affected districts, while other boards continued their tests. Chattogram University also halted all classes, and several private schools postponed midterm and pre-test exams until conditions improve.

Two farmers were killed in separate lightning strikes on Thursday morning in Raninagar and Manda upazilas of Naogaon district. The victims were identified as Sakhawat Hossain, 55, son of Mohammad Khaybar Ali of Malshan village in Raninagar, and Ismail Sardar, 50, son of Tahir Sardar of Elenga Mridhapara area in Manda.

According to Raninagar Police Station officer-in-charge Mohammad Zakaria, rain had started on Wednesday night, and Sakhawat Hossain was working in his field near his home when he was struck by lightning. In Manda, Union Parishad Chairman Abdul Matin Mondal said Ismail Sardar was also working in his field when the sky suddenly became cloudy and heavy rain began, followed by a thunderbolt that killed him instantly.

Authorities said necessary measures have been taken following the incidents.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has projected Bangladesh’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth at 4.5 percent for the 2026–27 fiscal year, according to its updated Asian Development Outlook released on Thursday. The forecast suggests a modest improvement from the estimated 3.7 percent growth in the previous fiscal year but remains significantly below historical levels. The ADB noted that high inflation, weaknesses in the banking sector, energy supply constraints, and global economic uncertainty continue to weigh on the country’s recovery.

The report attributes last year’s slower growth to high inflation, weak exports, stagnant private investment, rising energy costs, and adverse global conditions. It expects some positive effects this year from easing inflationary pressure, regulatory reforms, improved governance, and sustained remittance inflows. However, the ADB warned that recovery will remain slow due to structural challenges, including energy shortages, high production costs, and limited competitiveness.

The inflation forecast for 2026–27 has been raised from 8.5 to 8.8 percent, reflecting recent adjustments in fuel, gas, and electricity prices. The ADB also cautioned that escalating Middle East conflicts or rising global oil prices could further strain Bangladesh’s external balance and fiscal management.

At least 38 people have died in China following continuous heavy rainfall, floods, and landslides caused by Typhoon Maysak, according to official reports on July 9, 2026. The southern Guangxi region recorded six deaths and the evacuation of about 130,000 residents. State media said more than 40 rivers in Guangxi overflowed, damaging around 13,000 acres of farmland. Footage from CCTV showed a concrete dam breaking as rescue teams worked to evacuate stranded residents using rubber boats.

The central government has dispatched relief supplies, food, raincoats, and boats to affected areas. Flood control authorities in Guangxi have maintained the second-highest emergency alert, while Water Resources Minister Li Guoying warned that river levels at Wuzhou could rise more than six meters above danger levels. In Hubei province, thunderstorms and strong winds killed 11 people and injured 331, while in Gansu province, landslides killed 21 after 33 people were buried in Renchang village.

President Xi Jinping has instructed rescue forces to intensify emergency relief and recovery operations. The government has allocated 30 million yuan for reconstruction in Gansu.

Continuous heavy rainfall over the past 24 hours has submerged most parts of Naogaon town and its surrounding areas. Streets are under knee-deep water, and homes in low-lying neighborhoods have been flooded. Many residents have taken shelter in higher areas to escape the rising water levels.

Authorities reported that the district recorded 240 millimeters of rainfall in 24 hours. Due to the flooding, several schools have canceled their midterm examinations. Meanwhile, the Atrai and Choto Jamuna rivers flowing through Naogaon are nearing the danger level, according to the Water Development Board.

The situation has disrupted daily life across the town, and officials are monitoring the river levels closely to assess further risks of flooding.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman emphasized the importance of caring for all of creation in accordance with the Holy Qur’an. Speaking on Thursday at the China Friendship International Conference Center in Dhaka, he inaugurated World Environment Day and Environment Fair 2026, along with the National Tree Plantation Campaign and Tree Fair 2026. He highlighted that the relationship between human society and the ecosystem is inseparable.

Quoting a portion of verse 29 from Surah Al-Baqarah, the Prime Minister said that Allah created everything on earth for humankind. He explained that rivers, trees, insects, wild and domestic animals—all elements of the environment—are divine creations meant for human benefit. However, he stressed that humans have responsibilities to care for and nurture all creations properly.

Referring to scientific progress, he noted that it is now proven that the wellbeing of human society is deeply connected to the preservation and development of the ecosystem.

Around 3,000 LPG cylinders were swept away by floodwaters from a Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) bottling plant in Maharashtra’s Raigad district. The incident occurred after heavy rainfall caused the plant’s protective wall to collapse, allowing floodwater to enter the facility. Videos circulating on social media showed the cylinders floating down the Patalganga River.

Authorities fear that some of the cylinders may still contain gas, posing a potential safety hazard. Raigad District Collector Kishan Jawale urged residents to hand over any recovered cylinders to local authorities or HPCL offices instead of attempting to use or store them. He warned that it is unclear whether the cylinders are safe or contain gas, and handling them could be dangerous.

Continuous heavy rainfall over the past week has triggered flooding across several parts of Maharashtra, with Raigad among the worst affected districts. Local rivers are flowing above danger levels, and the administration is monitoring the situation while advising residents to remain cautious.

Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir announced that the government will facilitate the private sector to encourage new investments. Speaking at a contract signing ceremony at the Secretariat on Thursday, he said the government is working with full effort to create employment across various sectors as quickly as possible. He noted that private sector management tends to be more efficient than government operations, and facilitating private investment would help expand job opportunities.

State Minister for Textiles and Jute Shariful Alam stated that the government aims to ensure the maximum and effective use of state resources. To achieve this, initiatives have been taken to attract private investment in closed Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation (BJMC) mills to revive production, employment, and economic activities. Out of 25 closed mills, 20 have been selected for leasing, with 14 lease agreements completed and production already resumed in nine mills.

According to the State Minister, these mills have created about 9,500 jobs and are producing around 160 metric tons of jute goods daily. Additional land leases and new investments are expected to further expand production and employment opportunities.