A 22-kilometer-long traffic jam has formed on the Dhaka-Sylhet Highway, stretching from the World Road roundabout in Sarail, Brahmanbaria, to Budhanti in Bijoynagar upazila. The congestion began on Tuesday evening and worsened by Wednesday morning after two cargo trucks broke down near Shahbazpur Bridge and Islamabad areas, causing severe suffering for thousands of passengers and transport workers.

According to police and local sources, the gridlock started when a lorry and a covered van collided head-on in heavy rain at Baishamura in Sarail upazila. Although highway police and fire service personnel removed the damaged vehicles after about an hour, the traffic backlog had already built up. Continuous rain overnight left potholes filled with water, further worsening road conditions.

Only one lane toward Sylhet remains open at the World Road intersection, as development work has closed two other lanes. Highway police are working continuously to ease the situation and restore normal traffic flow as soon as possible.

Chattogram experienced its highest rainfall in 43 years, with 394 millimeters recorded in 24 hours on Tuesday, according to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department. The previous record was 407 millimeters on July 5, 1983. The heavy and continuous downpour submerged large parts of the city, including major roads and low-lying areas, causing severe disruption for residents. Authorities have warned people living near hills to move to safer places due to landslide risks.

Other regions also saw significant rainfall, including Bandarban with 176 millimeters, Sitakunda 170, Hatiya 143, Khepupara 106, and Teknaf 94. Even Dhaka experienced waterlogging after 46 millimeters of rain. The weather office stated that rainfall above 88 millimeters in 24 hours is considered very heavy. A warning signed by meteorologist A.K.M. Nazmul Haque said heavy to very heavy rain may continue in several divisions over the next 48 hours.

The Bangladesh Weather Observatory Team reported that a strong monsoon belt has entered the country and may remain active until July 13, with risks of flash floods and landslides in Sylhet and the Chattogram Hill Tracts.

Train operations between Chattogram and Cox’s Bazar were disrupted as four scheduled services were canceled due to waterlogging on the railway line. Two trains, the Prabal Express from Chattogram and the Saikat Express from Cox’s Bazar, had their entire journeys canceled. The remaining two, Cox’s Bazar Express and Parjotok Express, suspended only the Chattogram–Cox’s Bazar leg, with alternative arrangements made to transport passengers to their destinations. Ticket refunds began Wednesday morning for affected passengers.

According to railway officials, the cancellations were caused by flooding that submerged about two feet of track between Soloshahar and Janalihut in Chattogram city. The Cox’s Bazar Express could not depart for Cox’s Bazar but was rescheduled to leave for Dhaka at 4 p.m. Passengers holding tickets for the canceled route who wished to travel to Dhaka were allowed to use the same tickets for the rescheduled train.

Railway authorities stated that refunds were being processed at ticket counters and that operations would resume once water levels recede.

The Sahati River in Jhenaigati upazila of Sherpur is facing a severe existential crisis due to encroachment and pollution. Local residents report that influential individuals have occupied large portions of the riverbanks, planting trees and converting the land for private use. They are demanding immediate government intervention to reclaim the occupied areas, dredge the river, and construct embankments on both sides to prevent further damage.

Residents of Chapajhora village say the river is a key drainage route for hill runoff in northern Jhenaigati, but water flow has deteriorated drastically. The absence of embankments causes annual flooding, damaging homes and farmland. Over the past two years, about 40–50 feet of land along the northern bank has turned into sand, threatening 100–150 acres of cropland.

Officials from the Sherpur Water Development Board stated that a proposal has been sent to higher authorities for excavation and drainage improvement. They emphasized the river’s importance to local agriculture and pledged to expedite necessary work.

The state-owned National Jute Mill in Sirajganj, one of northern Bangladesh’s largest industrial units, has remained closed for two years, leaving thousands of workers unemployed. Machinery has rusted due to prolonged inactivity, while the government continues to spend around Tk 6.5 to 7 million monthly on salaries for 189 officials and employees, as well as electricity bills. Despite generating no income, the mill continues to drain public funds.

The mill, originally built in 1960 as Qaumi Jute Mill, was once a major source of employment for about 5,000 people. It faced repeated closures due to corruption and bureaucratic complications, first in 2007, then again in 2020. A private group briefly leased and operated it in 2022 but shut down in 2024, leaving unpaid wages and bonuses. Workers and local leaders have demanded the mill’s reopening to restore livelihoods and prevent further waste of public money.

The mill’s general manager said efforts are underway through the Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation to lease the facility again, expressing hope that operations could resume soon.

Continuous heavy rainfall has caused severe waterlogging across low-lying areas of Chattogram, disrupting daily life and transport. Streets have gone underwater, slowing vehicle movement and forcing residents to wade through water to reach destinations. The city recorded 237.5 millimeters of rain in 24 hours until Wednesday morning, following 412 millimeters the previous day. Despite city corporation claims of improved drainage, incidents such as a wall collapse in East Nasirabad killing one person and road damage near Patenga have highlighted the impact.

Transport and port operations have been severely affected. Train services on the Chattogram–Cox’s Bazar route remain suspended, and several flights failed to land at Shah Amanat International Airport due to adverse weather. The district administration has issued warning signal number three, citing increased landslide risks. Evacuation drives are underway in 26 risky hill areas, with schools and mosques prepared as temporary shelters.

Meteorologists attribute the heavy rain to active monsoon winds and moisture from the Bay of Bengal. Forecasts warn of continued heavy rainfall and potential flash floods in Chattogram and nearby districts over the next 48 to 72 hours, with gradual improvement expected after July 11.

Global oil prices climbed again after the United States launched airstrikes on Iran and reinstated trade sanctions. According to a Reuters report, oil prices rose more than 2 percent on Wednesday, with Brent crude increasing by 1.92 dollars to 76.08 dollars per barrel and West Texas Intermediate rising by 1.82 dollars to 72.26 dollars per barrel. The renewed sanctions on Iranian oil sales and the breakdown of a temporary truce between the two countries have fueled market instability.

Analysts noted that while the decision may not cause major structural changes in the oil market, investor anxiety has increased. The United States said its strikes followed Iranian attacks that damaged three commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz. Experts warned that the incident underscores ongoing risks to shipping in the region, and prolonged tensions could reduce global oil supply if vessel traffic falls below half of normal levels.

Oil prices had previously declined after a ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran last month, which had raised expectations of increased Middle Eastern oil supply.

A recent report by India’s government think tank NITI Aayog has revealed that despite producing about 20 percent of the world’s generic medicines, India remains heavily dependent on China for key raw materials. The report highlights that over 65 percent of key starting materials and active pharmaceutical ingredients used in Indian drug manufacturing come from China, with dependency exceeding 85 percent for critical drugs such as antibiotics and fever medicines. This structural reliance poses a major risk to India’s pharmaceutical supply chain, which could be disrupted by geopolitical tensions or trade restrictions.

The report contrasts India’s global reputation as the “pharmacy of the world” with its limited financial returns and fragile industrial base. It notes that while India supplies around 60 percent of global vaccines, its share in the vaccine market’s total value is only 0.6 percent. NITI Aayog attributes this imbalance to low research and development investment, bureaucratic hurdles, and restrictive environmental regulations that have driven manufacturers to import cheaper Chinese materials.

The analysis warns that without sustained R&D investment, streamlined patent processes, and practical environmental policies, India’s “Made in India” initiative will remain dependent on “Made in China.”

Train movement on the Chattogram–Cox’s Bazar route has been suspended after a section of the railway line went underwater due to continuous bad weather, heavy rainfall, and hill torrents. Hundreds of passengers have been stranded at Chattogram station since early Wednesday, July 8, 2026, according to a notice from Bangladesh Railway’s Public Relations Director Anisur Rahman.

The notice stated that the tracks between Janalihat and Soloshohor stations are submerged under about two feet of water, prompting authorities to halt train operations for safety reasons. The Tourist Express from Dhaka, which reached Chattogram on Tuesday, could not continue to Cox’s Bazar and was sent back to Dhaka. Similarly, the Cox’s Bazar Express from Dhaka has been waiting at Chattogram station since early morning.

Bangladesh Railway said passengers wishing to cancel their trips can receive refunds at the Chattogram station counter, while those returning to Dhaka can travel back on the same train at 4 p.m. The railway authority expressed regret for the inconvenience caused by the sudden natural disaster.

Saudi Arabia has introduced a new pilot program called the package visa to make travel easier for foreign tourists. Under this system, visitors can obtain a comprehensive travel package that includes a tourist visa, flight tickets, accommodation, and other essential travel services. According to a report published on Tuesday, the initiative will initially be implemented through approved travel and tourism service providers.

The program allows travelers to book round-trip flights, licensed hotel stays, and apply for electronic tourist visas in one process. They can also add events, tourism activities, and experiences to their packages. Only authorized travel agencies with digital platforms, technical capacity, and 24-hour customer service can offer this facility. The initiative is part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 plan to boost the tourism sector, jointly implemented by the ministries of tourism, foreign affairs, interior, and the insurance authority.

Officials expect the package visa to enhance the travel experience, strengthen tourism partners, and make Saudi Arabia a more attractive destination, encouraging longer stays and higher spending by foreign visitors.

Kuwait’s Ministry of Finance announced that the country’s budget deficit for the 2025–26 fiscal year has risen to 7.1 billion Kuwaiti dinars, equivalent to about 23.9 billion US dollars. The ministry attributed the increase to a significant drop in oil revenues, according to a statement cited by Al Jazeera.

Compared with the previous fiscal year, the deficit expanded by 13.2 percent. The government’s total revenue fell by around 10 percent from earlier projections, with income from the oil sector declining by 11.2 percent to 15.3 billion Kuwaiti dinars, or roughly 49.4 billion US dollars.

The data highlight Kuwait’s continued dependence on oil income and the fiscal pressure caused by lower global energy prices, as reflected in the ministry’s report.

Continuous heavy rainfall has raised the water level of Kaptai Lake, enabling the Karnafuli Hydropower Plant in Rangamati to increase electricity generation. With improved water availability, all five units of the country’s only hydropower facility have been brought back into operation, producing a total of 150 megawatts of electricity as of Tuesday evening, July 7, 2026.

According to plant officials, the water level in Kaptai Lake has been rising steadily over the past several days due to persistent rain in Rangamati and surrounding areas. Previously, only two of the five units were operational because of low water levels. The resumption of all units marks a significant boost in generation capacity.

Officials noted that if rainfall continues and the lake’s water level increases further, there will be potential to expand electricity production beyond the current output. The Karnafuli Hydropower Plant has a maximum generation capacity of 230 megawatts.

The High Court has issued a rule questioning why the failure to prevent severe air pollution caused by a fire at the Matuail landfill, the largest waste disposal site under Dhaka South City Corporation, should not be declared illegal. The bench of Justice Fatema Najib and Justice A.F.M. Saiful Karim issued the rule following a preliminary hearing on a related writ petition.

The court asked why the inaction or failure to control toxic smoke and air pollution from waste burning under the Matuail Sanitary Landfill Expansion Project should not be deemed unlawful. It also sought explanations for the absence of preventive measures through law enforcement and implementation of the project’s master plan. The secretaries of the Local Government and Environment ministries, the CEO of Dhaka South City Corporation, the director of the Department of Environment in Dhaka, the project director of the landfill expansion, and the district commissioner were directed to respond.

Lawyer Abul Kalam Azad, who represented the petitioner, argued that open dumping and burning of waste are prohibited under air pollution control regulations, yet the city corporation’s own project has become a major pollution source.

Authorities in Mirsarai upazila of Chattogram have imposed a three-day ban on tourist entry to all hilly waterfalls under the Baraidala Range due to adverse weather conditions. The Chattogram North Forest Division and the upazila administration announced the restriction through a notice signed by Range Officer Md Ashraful Alam on Monday afternoon. The ban will remain effective from July 7 to July 10, during which no tickets will be sold and visitors will not be allowed to enter the waterfalls within Baraidala National Park.

Officials said the decision was taken to ensure tourist safety amid heavy rainfall that has increased the risk of flash floods, landslides, and strong water currents in the waterfalls. Leaseholders have been instructed to prevent tourist access and suspend ticket sales during the closure period.

Mirsarai Upazila Nirbahi Officer Somaia Akter stated that the water flow in the waterfalls has risen sharply, making visits extremely risky. Similar precautionary measures are taken every monsoon to prevent accidents caused by heavy rain and hill torrents in the area.

The Sajek Valley tourism center in Baghaichhari upazila of Rangamati has been temporarily closed following continuous rainfall and adverse weather conditions. According to an emergency notice issued by the district administration, the closure took effect from Tuesday evening, July 7, and will remain in force until further notice. The decision was made to ensure the safety of tourists and residents amid potential risks caused by the current weather.

The notice, signed by Rangamati Deputy Commissioner Nazma Ashrafi, stated that all tourist sites, waterfalls, hill trails, remote areas, and risky locations within Sajek Valley will remain off-limits to tourists, tour operators, and the general public during this period. The administration also urged everyone to exercise caution while traveling in different parts of the district and to follow official instructions.

The announcement comes as heavy rainfall continues across the region, prompting local authorities to prioritize public safety and restrict movement in vulnerable areas until conditions improve.