Continuous heavy rainfall has severely disrupted life in the port city of Chattogram. Since Tuesday morning, water has inundated major areas including Agrabad, Chawkbazar, Bakalia, Chandgaon, Patenga, and Kuwaish. Roads have gone underwater, homes and shops have been flooded, and traffic has come to a standstill. Many residents, especially workers, struggled to reach their workplaces due to waterlogging and a shortage of public transport.

The worst-affected areas include Agrabad, Chawkbazar, Bakalia, Kazirhat, Halishahar, Chandgaon, Sunnia Madrasa Road, Akmal Ali Road, Patenga, and Kuwaish. Furniture and goods in homes and businesses have been damaged. According to the Patenga weather office, 330.8 millimeters of rainfall were recorded in the 24 hours up to 9 a.m., while the Ambagan office reported 259 millimeters during the same period. Officials expect the rain to continue for another two to three days.

Chattogram City Mayor Dr. Shahadat Hossain said that 30 percent of work on the Mirza Canal remains incomplete, which has contributed to waterlogging in parts of the city. He added that city authorities are working continuously to reduce flooding impacts.

Petrobangla announced on Tuesday that the supply of regasified liquefied natural gas (RLNG) from the Maheshkhali LNG terminals has dropped by about 300 million cubic feet per day (MMCFD). The company stated in a press release that this reduction has caused low gas pressure across the country, affecting all categories of consumers.

According to the statement, adverse weather conditions have significantly disrupted RLNG supply from the Maheshkhali terminals, leading to the current situation. Petrobangla warned that until the situation improves, residential, commercial, and industrial users nationwide may continue to experience low gas pressure.

Petrobangla expressed sincere regret for the temporary inconvenience caused to consumers and assured that normal supply would resume once conditions improve.

Authorities in Chattogram city have announced a one-day closure of all secondary schools on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, due to continuous heavy rainfall and adverse weather conditions. The decision covers government, city corporation-run, and private institutions, with all scheduled examinations postponed for the day. The move aims to ensure student safety and reduce travel difficulties caused by flooding and poor weather.

Kissinger Chakma, Education Officer of Chattogram City Corporation, confirmed that the closure was declared prioritizing student safety amid the natural disaster. He added that if weather conditions improve, school activities and postponed exams will resume according to a revised schedule. A notice circulated in the Chattogram Teachers’ Association WhatsApp group also prompted private school principals to declare the closure.

Ariful Ul Hasan Chowdhury, Principal of Bawa School, said heavy rain and waterlogging made student travel risky, leading to the closure. Schools have advised parents to follow official notices for further updates.

The fecal sludge treatment plant (FSTP) project in Nilphamari municipality has been shut down due to shortages of modern machinery, skilled technical staff, and waste segregation systems. The Tk 11 crore project, designed to reduce environmental pollution and produce organic fertilizer from human waste, has failed to deliver expected results and is now non-operational.

According to municipal sources, the FSTP was built in 2023 on 2.89 acres of land as part of a planned sanitation initiative. It aimed to collect human waste from households and institutions using vacuum tankers, treat it in an environmentally friendly way, and convert it into organic fertilizer. However, the plant could not function effectively as collected waste remained untreated and piled up.

Officials cited the absence of modern equipment to separate biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste as the main obstacle. With about 95 percent of the collected waste consisting of plastic and other non-degradable materials, manual separation proved impractical. Authorities noted that proper machinery could enable fertilizer production and generate municipal revenue.

Revenue collection at Benapole Customs House, the country’s largest land port, fell drastically in the 2025–26 fiscal year. Against a government target of Tk 11,290 crore, only Tk 6,559 crore was collected, leaving a shortfall of Tk 4,731 crore. Import and export activities also declined significantly, with total imports dropping by about 197,000 tons compared to the previous year.

Officials and traders attributed the revenue slump to reduced imports, global trade slowdown, foreign currency shortages, changes in tariff structures, and irregularities. Imports of high-duty items such as industrial raw materials, electronics, machinery parts, and chemicals fell sharply, directly cutting customs and VAT income. Business leaders said daily truck movements for both imports and exports have nearly halved compared to the previous year.

Customs authorities stated that investigations into weight-scale manipulation and other irregularities are ongoing, with legal actions already initiated in some cases. Stakeholders emphasized that improved digital monitoring, transparency, and anti-corruption measures could help restore revenue performance.

Bangladesh’s overall inflation rate declined slightly in June 2026, standing at 9.16 percent on a point-to-point basis, according to data released by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) on Monday. This marks a 0.26 percentage point drop from May’s 9.42 percent, though inflation has remained above 9 percent for three consecutive months. In March, the rate was 8.71 percent.

The BBS report shows that both food and non-food inflation decreased in June. Food inflation fell to 8.60 percent from 9.06 percent in May, while non-food inflation eased to 9.61 percent from 9.71 percent. Inflation declined in both rural and urban areas, with rural inflation at 9.23 percent and urban inflation at 9.01 percent. Analysts attribute the persistent high inflation to rising prices of essential goods and fuel, which continue to pressure low- and middle-income households.

BBS data also indicate that the 12-month average inflation from July 2025 to June 2026 was 8.68 percent, down from 10.03 percent in the previous year, suggesting a modest improvement in annual inflation trends.

The initiative to introduce a single-point enlistment system for auditors and audit firms in Bangladesh has stalled, despite a target to implement it by January 15, 2026. According to the Financial Reporting Council (FRC), the delay stems from the absence of recommendations from the Insurance Development and Regulatory Authority (IDRA) and the NGO Affairs Bureau regarding special qualification requirements. FRC Chairman Sajjad Hossain Bhuiyan said the council has renewed its request to these agencies and will issue an order once their inputs are received.

The single-point enlistment plan was approved during the interim government period to streamline the registration process under the FRC, eliminating the need for auditors to register separately with multiple regulatory bodies. Representatives from the FRC, Bangladesh Bank, BSEC, IDRA, NBR, MRA, NGO Bureau, ICAB, and ICMAB participated in the initial meeting that set the January 2026 deadline. While some agencies, including BSEC and Bangladesh Bank, have submitted their conditions, IDRA and the NGO Bureau have yet to respond.

The FRC argues that the unified enlistment would reduce duplication, lower administrative costs, and save time for auditors and firms currently required to meet 33 conditions and submit 48 documents across different regulators.

An article published on July 7, 2026, highlights the persistent problem of polythene bag use in Bangladesh despite existing legal bans. Under the Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act of 1995, the government has the authority to prohibit the production, import, and sale of environmentally harmful polythene and plastic materials. Although enforcement initially reduced usage after severe flooding in 2004, weak monitoring since 2008 has allowed illegal production and free distribution to return.

The article notes that one-time-use polythene bags have become pervasive across cities and rural areas, clogging drains and polluting soil and waterways. Efforts by the interim government’s trade and environment advisers to promote jute bags have faced public resistance due to cost differences. The author argues that instead of maintaining a full ban, the government could impose high tariffs, taxes, and VAT on polythene bags so that their retail price exceeds 20–30 taka, discouraging use and encouraging consumers to switch to reusable jute alternatives.

Such a policy could simultaneously reduce environmental damage and generate significant government revenue, similar to existing high-tax models on cigarettes and soft drinks.

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department, the country’s main source for early disaster warnings, is facing a severe operational crisis as all five of its Doppler radar stations are currently out of service. The radars located in Dhaka, Cox’s Bazar, Khepupara, Rangpur, and Moulvibazar have become nonfunctional due to technical faults, expired components, and lack of maintenance. Experts warn that this situation could significantly reduce the accuracy of real-time forecasts during cyclones, heavy rainfall, and other natural disasters.

Officials from the department claim that they are using alternative data sources, including radars from the Air Force, India’s Agartala, and Japan, as well as satellite imagery, to continue monitoring weather conditions. Repairs are underway for the Rangpur and Dhaka radars, with expectations of partial restoration by July 9. The remaining radars are planned to be replaced under a JICA-funded project.

Experts emphasize that a functional radar network is vital for Bangladesh’s disaster preparedness and public safety. They urge the government to establish a sustainable maintenance system to prevent future disruptions in early warning capabilities.

The US Department of Energy reported that the country’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve has dropped by 6.2 million barrels to 319.5 million barrels, marking its lowest level since April 1983. The decline is part of an agreement involving the withdrawal of a total of 172 million barrels from the reserve.

According to Al Jazeera, the global energy market continues to feel the effects of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz during wartime. Nearly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply passes through this crucial maritime route, making its disruption highly significant for global energy stability.

Following the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran, indirect talks have begun in Qatar. As a result, the Strait of Hormuz is gradually reopening to shipping, with discussions emphasizing the importance of maintaining normal maritime operations.

China has planted more than 66 billion trees since 1978 under its Great Green Wall project, aimed at halting the spread of the Gobi and Taklamakan deserts. A recent study found that these planted trees are growing faster than natural forests and play a major role in carbon absorption, helping to maintain environmental balance. The government plans to plant an additional 34 billion trees by 2050 as part of the long-term afforestation effort.

Researchers discovered that the planted trees’ leaf area expanded 66 percent faster than that of natural forests, based on satellite data measuring the leaf area index, a key indicator of canopy density and carbon uptake. The study suggests that human-managed forests, often containing fast-growing species such as eucalyptus and poplar, benefit from controlled conditions like pruning and fertilization, which reduce competition for water and nutrients.

However, scientists noted that the rapid growth of planted trees slows after 30 to 40 years, making their carbon absorption benefits temporary. In contrast, natural forests grow more steadily and provide longer-term carbon storage and ecological resilience.

Thousands of residents across southern Europe have been forced to evacuate as new wildfires spread through Portugal, Spain, France, and Greece. Authorities in France banned spectators from Monday’s Tour de France stage through the Pyrenees due to the fire threat. More than 20,000 hectares of land have burned across the region, with temperatures reaching 43°C in parts of Spain. In France’s Pyrénées area near Perpignan, over 10,500 people were told to leave their homes as flames consumed more than 4,600 hectares.

Firefighters are battling multiple blazes, including in France’s Drôme region and Greece’s Thessaloniki area, where fires reached factories. In Spain’s Costa Brava, more than 2,200 hectares burned in two days. Portugal reported controlling a northern fire that destroyed 13,000 hectares, while Croatia’s Hvar island and Albania’s Tale area also suffered major losses.

Scientists from World Weather Attribution said June’s record heat in Europe would have been “virtually impossible” without human-induced climate change. Authorities have extended heat alerts in Portugal, Spain, and France, warning that the new heatwave could last through the weekend.

Continuous heavy rainfall in Bandarban has triggered a major power outage and increased the risk of landslides across the district. In response, the district administration announced the closure of all tourist destinations until July 10 to ensure the safety of residents and visitors. The power disruption began on July 6 when a 33 kV transmission pole tilted near Hotel Green Peak on the Bandarban–Keranihat road, cutting electricity to several upazilas including Sadar, Ruma, Roangchhari, and Thanchi. The outage also disrupted businesses, hospitals, and communication networks.

According to local accounts, softened soil from days of rain caused the pole to lean, prompting the Power Development Board to suspend supply to prevent accidents. Repair teams are working to restore service gradually. The administration’s emergency notice also warned of risky road conditions and urged people to avoid waterfalls, hill trails, and remote areas. Tourists already in Bandarban have had to alter their travel plans, while authorities advised against unnecessary trips.

Weather officials recorded 164 millimeters of rainfall in 24 hours, with landslides reported in several upazilas. The army and local administration are clearing debris to restore road links, and 220 shelters have been prepared for possible evacuations.

The government has cancelled the remaining term of the contractual appointment of Zakir Hossain Chowdhury, Deputy Governor of Bangladesh Bank. The Financial Institutions Division of the Ministry of Finance issued a notification on Monday announcing the decision.

Following the fall of the Awami League government on August 5, central bank officials compelled all contractual officers, including deputy governors, to resign. After the formation of the interim government, Deputy Governors Kazi Sayedur Rahman and Md. Khurshid Alam submitted their resignations upon government advice. Zakir Hossain Chowdhury and Kabir Ahmed were appointed to the vacant positions on September 8, 2024. The government has now revoked Chowdhury’s appointment.

The decision marks another change in the central bank’s leadership structure under the interim administration, though no further details were provided in the official notification.

Continuous heavy rainfall over several days has caused severe flooding, landslides, and building collapses across Maharashtra, India, leaving at least 13 people dead. The worst damage occurred in Mumbai, Pune, and Thane, where road and rail services have been heavily disrupted. In Pune’s Maval area near Lohagad Fort, a section of hill collapsed overnight, burying several houses. Authorities fear around 30 people remain trapped under the debris, and rescue operations by the National Disaster Response Force and state disaster teams are ongoing.

A landslide near a tunnel exit on the Mumbai–Pune Expressway forced authorities to close the route, while parts of the old highway remain submerged. Six people, including five children, died when a house collapsed in Mumbai’s Mankhurd area, and a 17-year-old boy drowned in Thane. Maharashtra’s chief minister announced financial aid of five lakh rupees for each victim’s family.

The state meteorological department warned that heavy to very heavy rainfall and strong winds will continue in Mumbai, Pune, Raigad, Thane, and Palghar, maintaining a red alert for Mumbai and Pune. Schools, colleges, and government offices in Mumbai were closed as authorities urged residents to stay indoors.