Myanmar’s military repression and airstrikes against civilians have increased significantly since a new military leadership took office, according to the conflict-monitoring group Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project, or ACLED. In a report released Monday, ACLED said the junta’s operations intensified after the military command structure was reorganized in March. Under the new army chief, forces have regularly used specialised warplanes for successive strikes on the same targets.

ACLED documented at least a dozen massacres in the first six months of 2026, in which more than 450 civilians were killed. About 40 percent of those deaths occurred in Myanmar’s central dry-zone region of Anyar. The report said Myanmar has been engulfed in civil war since the military ousted Aung San Suu Kyi’s elected government in February 2021, with about 100,000 people killed and several million displaced.

Min Aung Hlaing appointed former intelligence officer Ye Win Oo as army chief in March and later became president through an election held after opposition parties were banned. Military operations have intensified in border areas near rare mineral resources and important trade routes. ACLED said civilian suffering is unlikely to ease soon as the junta focuses on further consolidating power.

An organised gang allegedly held residents at gunpoint and looted two homes in Pekua, a coastal upazila of Cox’s Bazar, during the early hours of Monday. The incident occurred at about 3:15am in Sikdarpara of Pekua municipality, at the homes of Saudi expatriate Jomir Alam and Maheshkhali resident Rezaul Karim. Victims said the gang took cash worth Tk850,000 and 17 bhori of gold ornaments. Pekua police visited the scene after receiving information.

Rezaul Karim said he was sitting with several people at a nearby shop after going outside to check a motorcycle when he saw a white microbus pass quickly around 3am. Shortly afterwards, three or four unknown men asked his identity, held him at gunpoint and took him home. He said seven or eight masked robbers already inside confined family members to one room, searched the house and threatened to shoot if anyone shouted.

According to Karim, Tk650,000 and 10 bhori of gold were taken from his room, while Tk250,000 and seven bhori of gold were taken from Alam’s room. Alam’s wife, Amina Begum, said the robbers threatened to kill her, removed her chain and earrings, and broke a wardrobe lock to take cash and jewellery. Officer-in-Charge Md Mehedi Hasan said an investigation is under way and police are conducting operations to identify and arrest those involved.

Educator and economist Dr Mahbub Ullah has been appointed a national professor, according to a notification issued by the Education Ministry. The report was published and updated on July 27, 2026. The notification sets out his status, research responsibilities and benefits while serving in the national professor role.

During his tenure, Dr Mahbub Ullah will not be considered a government official. He will conduct research on subjects of his choice while being affiliated with a research organization or educational institution. He must inform the Secondary and Higher Education Division and the Bangladesh University Grants Commission, or UGC, about his research field.

He will submit annual progress reports on educational and research activities to the institution or research organization with which he is affiliated. That institution will inform the UGC chairman about the progress of his research and send research findings to the Education Ministry and UGC. He will receive salary, allowances and other benefits under Grade 1 of the National Pay Scale 2015, but cannot take another salaried job during the appointment.

Bangladesh CNG Filling Station and Conversion Workshop Owners Association has withdrawn its planned symbolic closure of CNG filling stations on July 30, citing the ongoing gas crisis. The group said its previously announced plan to shut all CNG filling stations nationwide indefinitely from August 23 would remain in force if its demands and problems are not resolved positively and reasonably. Steering committee convener Amiruzzaman Chowdhury announced the decision at a July 27 press conference at Akram Tower in Bijoynagar, Dhaka.

General Secretary Farhan Noor said the association did not want to increase public suffering while gas supplies were already being disrupted nationwide because of problems in Maheshkhali. The association said part of the floating LNG terminal operated by Excelerate Energy in Maheshkhali caught fire, causing a gas-supply disruption, and that it withdrew the symbolic programme to cooperate with the government.

The association said CNG operators had been compelled to announce action because of continuing losses. It said a July 25 meeting with the Petrobangla chairman discussed gas supply conditions and its demands, but produced no specific proposal for resolving the problems. The group also cited expert committee recommendations from 2013 and 2017 and repeated communications with government bodies without a solution.

Former interim government adviser Farida Akhtar said Bangladesh has not become free of fascism and that the BNP is governing from within a fascist structure. She made the remarks on Monday at a discussion in the Dhaka Reporters Unity auditorium in Segunbagicha, organised by Amar Bangladesh (AB) and focused on media workers’ responsibilities, sacrifices and memories during the July mass uprising.

Akhtar said the state had not been rebuilt and the fascist structure had neither been identified nor dismantled, leaving the system intact. She credited journalists’ photographs, videos and other coverage with helping spread the movement nationwide. She also said material recorded by mobile journalists could serve as important evidence in future judicial proceedings.

AB Party chairman Mujibur Rahman Manju said several television channels and leading newspapers would have been shut if the uprising had failed. Other speakers called for trials over the deaths and alleged abuse of journalists, as well as journalists’ rights, implementation of the wage board and job security. The event began with a minute of silence for six journalists described as martyrs of the July mass uprising.

A 15-year-old boy, Jisan, was detained after he allegedly beat his father to death in Savar’s Rajfulbaria Chhakipara area on Monday afternoon. The victim, Mohin Mia, 38, bought milk in Savar and sold it in Dhaka. Neighbours detained the boy following the incident and handed him over to police.

Police and local sources said both father and son used cannabis, and they had arguments and disputes over drug use. A murder case has been filed at Savar Model Police Station in connection with the death.

Savar Model Police recovered Mohin Mia’s body and sent it to the morgue of Shaheed Suhrawardy Hospital in the capital for investigation. Nur Mohammad, investigation officer at Savar Model Police Station, confirmed the matter and said police were working to uncover the circumstances of the killing.

State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Anindya Islam Amit said Bangladesh’s gas supply shortage is expected to begin easing next week. Speaking at a briefing on the power and energy situation on July 27, he said the plan depends on Excelerate Energy restoring 50 percent of expected supply next week, followed by a full restoration in the subsequent week.

Amit cautioned that the government was not providing firm dates because the assessment was based on the company’s statements. He said previously announced timelines had not been met for various reasons. Comparing the work to repairing an engine, he said additional problems can emerge after equipment is opened, complicating the expected repair period.

The minister said neither Excelerate, Summit nor the Bangladesh government had prior experience handling this type of incident, describing it as a new situation from which those involved must learn. He also said the elected government had no hesitation in apologizing to the public and was trying to meet public expectations while taking responsibility.

Speakers at a discussion in Chattogram urged all relevant service agencies to stop blaming one another and work jointly to restore the city’s lost traditional ponds and water bodies. The event, organized by the Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association on July 27, 2026, was held at a restaurant in Lalkhan Bazar from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Urban planner engineer Delwar Hossain Mazumder chaired the meeting, while CUET dean Dr Mohammad Rashidul Hasan presented the keynote paper.

Participants said nearly 21,000 ponds and water bodies have already disappeared in Chattogram. They expressed concern that enforcement measures and fines alone have not been sufficient to protect them. Speakers proposed holding-tax rebates and special benefits in plot-design approvals for owners who preserve ponds on their land. They also emphasized a policy of collecting environmental surcharges from others and using the funds as incentives for pond conservation.

The meeting called for protection of the city’s green zones and water-reserve areas, and for bringing the Chattogram Development Authority, Chattogram WASA, Chattogram City Corporation and other agencies under accountability. CDA project director and executive engineer Ahmed Moinuddin presented overall progress on CDA’s part of the mega waterlogging reduction project.

Commercial shipping through the Bab al-Mandab Strait fell sharply on Sunday after Houthi attacks on Saudi oil facilities along the Red Sea coast, according to shipping data firm Kpler. Only 11 commercial vessels crossed the strait, the lowest level in several months. Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz also declined, with just seven vessels transiting on Sunday.

Shipping near Yemen’s Red Sea coast has been disrupted since last week, with the impact increasing after Iran-backed Houthis moved to block Saudi oil exports, the report said. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said the group attacked facilities of Saudi state oil company Aramco in Jizan and Yanbu on Saturday. The report said the disruption was also escalating tensions in the Iran-United States conflict.

Seven of the 11 vessels crossing Bab al-Mandab were oil tankers. In Hormuz, three vessels crossed on Saturday with their tracking transponders switched off. Supply disruptions linked to the Middle East conflict pushed crude oil prices in markets across the Middle East, Europe and Africa to their highest level in two months last week.

The Bangladesh Embassy in Nepal organized a display and festival of Bangladeshi mango varieties and mango-based processed products in Kathmandu. The event, titled “Bangladesh Mango Delicacy,” was held Saturday at the Utsav Kunj Banquet Hall beside the embassy. It highlighted Bangladesh’s quality mangoes, agricultural heritage and potential for agricultural-product exports. About 250 guests attended.

SAARC Secretary General Ambassador Md. Golam Sarwar, the chief guest, said South Asia has major potential for mango production but exports of mangoes and related products from the region have not reached the expected level. Nepal’s Foreign Ministry Joint Secretary Gahendra Rajbhandari said the event reflected Bangladesh’s warmth and hospitality and would strengthen ties between the peoples of Bangladesh and Nepal. He praised Ambassador Md. Shafiqur Rahman’s “mango diplomacy” initiative.

The exhibition featured fresh Fazli, Amrapali, Bari-4, Katimon, Gourmati and Ashwina mangoes, alongside juice, pickles, fruit bars, dried mango, chutney, jam and jelly. Mango grower Rafiqul Islam presented methods for safe, quality production using Good Agricultural Practices. Organizers said the initiative could increase interest in Bangladeshi mango products in Nepal and create opportunities for bilateral agricultural and food trade.

Hydrogen-powered trains are drawing growing global interest as countries seek cleaner rail transport amid climate change, air pollution and rising fossil-fuel use. The trains use hydrogen fuel cells rather than diesel or coal-based fuel to generate electricity for electric motors. The process produces mainly water and water vapour, with virtually no carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides or black smoke emissions, according to the source.

Hydrogen is stored in specialised high-pressure tanks and reacts with oxygen in fuel cells to generate power. Surplus energy is stored in batteries, while energy produced during braking can also be recovered, reducing waste. Germany tested the world’s first hydrogen passenger train in 2018 and commercially introduced the technology in 2022. France, Italy, the United Kingdom, Austria, the Netherlands, Sweden, China, Japan and South Korea have also begun development and trial operations.

India inaugurated its first domestically built hydrogen-powered train on July 17. The technology can operate on existing non-electrified tracks without overhead electric lines, but green hydrogen costs, dedicated storage and supply infrastructure, safety systems, investment and skilled personnel remain challenges. For Bangladesh, it could become a long-term option on routes where electrification is costly.

Bangladesh’s Election Commission will meet the acting speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad at Parliament House at 11 a.m. Tuesday as part of preparations for a presidential election. Senior EC Secretary Akhtar Ahmed announced the meeting at a briefing in the Election Building in the capital on Monday. The chief election commissioner will discuss the election schedule and overall arrangements for holding the presidential vote.

The commission has already sent a letter to the parliamentary secretary seeking a meeting with the speaker, following established practice. The letter, signed by Ahmed, says President Md. Sahabuddin resigned on July 24. Under Article 123(2) of the Constitution, the vacant presidential post must be filled through an election completed within 90 days.

Under sections 5(2) and 5(3) of the Presidential Election Act, 1991, the election schedule must be announced through a notification in the official gazette. The EC will declare the schedule after consulting the acting speaker. Election commissioners and the EC secretariat’s senior secretary will attend with the chief election commissioner. The commission began the process after Sahabuddin resigned citing physical illness.

A National Citizen Party delegation led by convener and opposition chief whip Nahid Islam met French Ambassador Jean-Marc Séré-Charlet and German Chargé d’Affaires Anja Kersten in Dhaka. The meeting was held on Monday at NCP’s temporary central office in Banglamotor. Participants discussed the country’s post-election political situation, fundamental reforms, the overall economy and regional developments.

According to NCP, the talks also covered the party’s role in parliament and matters of mutual interest in Bangladesh’s relationship with the European Union. The delegation and the two diplomatic representatives exchanged views on Indo-Pacific cooperation, Bangladesh’s economic conditions and opportunities to expand economic partnerships.

NCP spokesperson Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan, international affairs cell in-charge Alauddin Mohammad and cell member Navid Nowroz Shah joined the party delegation. NCP said both sides expressed a commitment to maintain regular communication and strengthen cooperation on issues of shared interest. The party said the aim was to further strengthen Bangladesh’s relations with the European Union, France and Germany.

Dhaka Metropolitan Detective Police say they have uncovered the main plot behind the killing of Jubo Dal worker Md Yusuf in Mirpur. According to DB, four professional shooters from Magura and Jhenaidah were hired under a Tk 25 lakh contract to kill Kafrul thana Jubo Dal member secretary Hafizul Islam Babu, but Yusuf was killed after the attack missed its intended target. Yusuf was shot dead on July 23 on a link road south of Opex Garments in Kafrul, while vegetable sellers Nalam Sardar and Monir Hossain were injured.

At a press conference at the DMP Media Centre on Minto Road, DB Additional Commissioner Md Shafiqul Islam said eight people have been arrested. DB identified Hafizur Rahman Hafiz, also known as CNG Hafiz and joint convener of Kafrul thana Swechchhasebak Dal, as the alleged planner. Investigators said a longstanding dispute over local waste tenders, pavement shops, businesses and possession of a tin-shed house had existed between him and Babu.

DB said an initial attempt was prepared on June 29 but failed because of a firearm misfire. The suspects allegedly arrived in Dhaka on July 22 and stayed at a hotel in Mirpur-2 before the following night's attack. One firearm has been recovered, while investigators are tracing the source of other weapons. Separate murder and Arms Act cases have been filed at Kafrul police station, and efforts to arrest other accused continue.

Police in Tongi, Gazipur, arrested a leader of the banned Chhatra League over allegations of attempting sabotage. Niamul Hasan Nahid, 16, was detained during an operation in the Dharpara area of Sataish Chowrasta early Monday. The report was published on July 27, 2026.

Nahid is the vice-president of the Chhatra League’s Ward No. 51 unit under the Gazipur City Corporation, police said. He is the son of Hakim Ali of the Sataish Chowrasta area in Tongi. Police said the operation began at about 4:30 a.m. after they received confidential information that he was in the Dharpara area.

Police said Nahid is accused of attempting sabotage recently in the Prottasha field area of Tongi. Tongi West Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md. Arifur Rahman said officers arrested him on the basis of the confidential information. After a case was filed and legal procedures were completed, Nahid was sent to the Gazipur court on Monday afternoon.