Continuous heavy rainfall and mountain runoff caused the Matamuhuri River embankment to collapse in Pekua, Cox’s Bazar, flooding large parts of the upazila. The breach occurred late Thursday night into Friday morning in East Mehernama area of Sadar Union, submerging homes, roads, schools, mosques, and fish enclosures. More than one hundred thousand residents have been trapped in waterlogged conditions, facing acute shortages of clean water, food, and medicine.

Local residents said hundreds of volunteers tried to reinforce the embankment with sandbags, but the effort failed under heavy rain and tidal pressure. Several unions, including Ujantia, Rajakhali, Magnama, Toitong, Shilkhali, Barbakia, and Sadar, remain inundated. Locals blamed illegal fishing traps and blocked drainage channels for worsening the flooding, alleging that a powerful group controls sluice gates and water flow for seasonal farming.

Pekua Upazila Nirbahi Officer Rafiqul Islam said the administration is monitoring the situation and coordinating with authorities to prevent further damage. Relief and emergency support preparations are underway for affected families.

An article published on July 10, 2026, warns that the growing use of adulterated and unregulated pesticides in Bangladesh’s agriculture is endangering both farmers and consumers. The report highlights that excessive chemical fertilizers and pesticides are being used in crop production, with nearly 75 percent of food affected during cultivation. Farmers, often misled by unscrupulous pesticide sellers, are mixing multiple chemicals into so-called “cocktail” pesticides, causing severe damage to crops, soil, and human health.

The article notes that around 27 percent of farmers suffer from pesticide-related illnesses, including skin irritation, respiratory issues, and even cancer. It also describes how fake or substandard pesticides are sold by unlicensed vendors, leaving farmers financially ruined. Despite numerous laws such as the Pure Food Act and the Consumer Rights Act, enforcement remains weak, and no major offender has received maximum punishment.

The author urges farmers to seek guidance from agricultural extension officers instead of dealers and calls for strict enforcement of existing laws to curb adulteration and ensure safe food production.

Authorities in Godagari, Rajshahi have seized the assets of two alleged drug traffickers following court orders, while investigations into 20 others are ongoing. The Department of Narcotics Control and the Anti-Corruption Commission have intensified efforts to identify and confiscate illegal wealth accumulated through drug trafficking. The crackdown has reportedly caused concern among local drug dealers, many of whom have gone into hiding.

According to officials, the court ordered the confiscation of properties belonging to Abdullah and his wife Sayera Begum on April 6, and to top trafficker Tarek Hossain on May 23. Tarek had previously been arrested with 6.5 kilograms of heroin. Investigations are also underway into several others, including Abul Kalam Azad, who allegedly amassed around 200 million taka through drug trade. The Department of Narcotics Control is coordinating with 20–22 government offices to trace illegal assets.

Officials stated that 184 individuals linked to heroin syndicates in Godagari have been listed for investigation, and all will gradually be brought under legal scrutiny.

Advocate Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas, Member of Parliament for Pabna-5, has called for establishing a just, accountable, and democratic state in Bangladesh following the recent July uprising. In an article published on July 10, 2026, he described the movement as part of the nation’s long struggle for rights, justice, and dignity, linking it to earlier milestones such as the Language Movement, the 1969 mass uprising, the 1971 Liberation War, and the 1990 democratic movement. He emphasized that the July uprising was not merely about a change of government but a demand for a transformation in the philosophy of governance.

Biswas highlighted that the movement’s participants, mostly young people, sacrificed their safety for the nation’s future and the dream of a fair state. He argued that true respect for their sacrifice lies in ensuring justice, transparency, and good governance. The article underscored that corruption, nepotism, and abuse of power undermine public trust and that equality of opportunity, merit-based employment, and freedom of expression are essential for a just society.

He concluded that July marks not an end but a new beginning toward building a just, democratic, and humane Bangladesh, urging all sectors—government, politics, judiciary, media, and civil society—to share this responsibility.

Dr. Mahbubur Razzak, a professor and head of the Mechanical Engineering Department at BUET, has called for revising the current school schedule that mandates classes from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. He argues that this timing, especially during the intense summer months, causes discomfort and health risks for students. He observed that afternoon attendance drops significantly due to the heat, and many students suffer from exhaustion and dehydration. He suggests that classes should start at 8 a.m. and end before lunch to avoid the harsh midday sun.

Razzak emphasizes that the current schedule leaves no time for physical exercise or creative activities, leading to growing dependence on digital devices and declining physical and mental health among students. He proposes that schools make sports a compulsory part of education and develop necessary infrastructure such as playgrounds and sports facilities. He also recommends introducing district-level school sports competitions and training teachers to supervise these activities.

According to him, finishing academic sessions before lunch would not only protect students from heat but also promote a healthier, more active generation.

Andy Burnham, a leading contender to become the next UK prime minister, has apologized for the Labour Party’s initial response to Israel’s military operation in Gaza. In a video message posted on social media platform X, Burnham said the party’s early position on the Israeli attacks was wrong and should have been handled better. He acknowledged that many people were hurt by Labour’s reaction and expressed regret for the delay in calling for a ceasefire.

Burnham, expected to assume the premiership later this month, had previously called for a ceasefire in late October 2023, a stance that caused friction with Labour leader Keir Starmer, who at the time supported only short humanitarian pauses. Burnham described the loss of life and humanitarian crisis in Gaza as a “wound on our collective conscience.”

He praised recent Labour government measures such as recognizing the State of Palestine, sanctioning Israeli ministers and settlers, and restricting some arms exports to Israel. Burnham urged stronger action to ensure Israel complies with international law and to preserve the two-state solution, criticizing illegal settlements and calling for a full trade ban with them.

Heavy rainfall and upstream water flow from India have caused the Teesta River to swell rapidly, inundating low-lying and char areas in Lalmonirhat district. According to the Water Development Board, the river’s level rose by about 80 centimeters in the past 24 hours, hovering near the danger mark. Although the water was six centimeters below the danger level at Dalia Barrage on Friday morning, it had flowed above the mark overnight.

All 44 gates of the Teesta Barrage remain open to maintain normal flow, but continued heavy to very heavy rainfall in northern Bangladesh and adjoining Indian regions may cause further rises. The Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre warned that the Teesta, Dharla, and Dudhkumar rivers could cross danger levels at some points, leading to short-term flooding in Lalmonirhat, Rangpur, and Kurigram.

Residents along the Teesta banks reported sleepless nights as water surged from India without prior notice. Locals demanded that India issue advance warnings before releasing water from the Gajoldoba Barrage and urged quick implementation of the long-promised Teesta Master Plan to prevent recurring floods.

More than 43 million people attended the funeral and farewell ceremonies of former Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, breaking all previous records, according to Iranian authorities. The six-day mourning processions took place across Iran and Iraq, marking what officials described as the largest public gathering and funeral in human history.

Fars News Agency reported that the ceremonies were held in Tehran, Qom, Najaf, Karbala, and Mashhad. The Iraqi Prime Minister’s Office confirmed that nearly ten million people joined the events in Najaf and Karbala alone. Khamenei was killed along with his family in a U.S. terrorist attack in February, and the formal farewell began last Friday, attended by political leaders from over 45 countries and scholars and representatives from more than 90 nations.

Independent sources verified the attendance figures using travel data and mobile signal analysis, according to Press TV.

International oil prices dropped by nearly 2 percent on Thursday as renewed US-Iran hostilities delayed the full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. The disruption has kept global fuel supply tight, but concerns over rising inflation and slowing economic activity have weakened demand expectations. Brent crude fell by $1.72, or 2.2 percent, to $76.30 per barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude declined by $1.44, or 2 percent, to $72.08 per barrel.

Before the conflict, about 20 percent of global oil supply passed through the Strait of Hormuz. The latest escalation followed US strikes on Iran’s southern and eastern provinces, prompting retaliatory attacks by Iranian forces on US military infrastructure in Gulf countries. The three-week ceasefire agreement between the two sides is now under renewed strain.

Analysts from Macquarie Group and Goldman Sachs noted that while tensions remain high, both nations face economic and political constraints. Qatar, Turkey, and Oman urged restraint and a return to diplomacy, as tanker traffic through the strait has fallen below 70 percent of normal levels due to renewed attacks.

On 10 July 2024, a nationwide blockade demanding the abolition of what protesters called irrational and discriminatory quotas in all grades of government jobs brought transport across Bangladesh to a standstill. Rail, road, and highways were blocked, effectively isolating Dhaka from the rest of the country. The Supreme Court’s Appellate Division issued a status quo order the same day after hearing an appeal over the legality of quotas in grades 9 to 13, keeping the previous decision intact. Despite the order, the movement continued, and new protest programs were announced.

Students under the banner of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement blocked major intersections across Dhaka, including Shahbagh, Farmgate, and Mohakhali, from morning until evening. Rail communication between Dhaka and other regions was suspended for several hours, delaying at least 22 trains. Outside the capital, highways in multiple districts were also blocked.

Movement coordinators Asif Mahmud and Sarjis Alam declared that their only demand was the abolition of quotas in all grades, limiting reservations to a maximum of five percent through parliamentary legislation. The ruling party’s general secretary Obaidul Quader urged protesters to suspend disruptive programs until the Supreme Court’s final hearing in early August.

Sarjis Alam, chief organizer of the National Citizen Party (NCP) for northern Bangladesh, declared that the Awami League’s downfall had occurred and that its political end had been sealed in Delhi. He made the remarks on Thursday night at the ‘July March’ event held at Baluchar field in Chatmohar, Pabna. Alam urged citizens to support political forces aligned with Bangladesh’s interests and to reject corruption, extortion, and political influence in public services.

He criticized the country’s education and healthcare sectors, blaming political interference for poor management and irregularities in school and hospital operations. Alam also alleged that unqualified individuals were being appointed to educational committees and called for the elimination of drugs, extortion, and abuse of power from society. Addressing allegations of embezzlement against the NCP, he dismissed them as baseless political propaganda.

Alam further accused Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s administration of politicizing the bureaucracy and engaging in repression. The event concluded with the announcement of Akhtar Hossain Lebu as the NCP’s mayoral candidate for Chatmohar municipality.

U.S. President Donald Trump is facing a deepening crisis over his Iran policy following renewed American airstrikes in the Hormuz Strait last Wednesday. The attacks came after an assault on ships in the area, leaving Trump with two difficult choices: escalate the conflict, risking major human, economic, and political costs, or attempt to revive a flawed memorandum of understanding with Tehran that has already collapsed. The memorandum, signed just three weeks earlier and drafted by Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff and adviser Jared Kushner, has been criticized for its vagueness and lack of enforceable terms.

As Trump travels to a NATO summit in Turkey, he has declared the Iran memorandum “finished” and called Iran “crazy,” though he left open the possibility of further talks. Analysts cited by CNN say expanding the war would be costly and risky, while economic pressure might be a more viable path. Critics within the U.S. have questioned the administration’s lack of consultation with experienced officials, and experts warn that either escalation or withdrawal could damage U.S. interests and global energy stability.

Trump’s social media threats and unverified claims of Iranian eagerness for a new deal have further fueled uncertainty about Washington’s next move.

Scientists have, for the first time, directly observed the creation of new seafloor in the Indian Ocean, marking a rare opportunity to witness Earth’s crust regenerating itself. The event occurred in 2024 when a series of earthquakes caused more than three feet of new seabed to form. The findings were published in the journal Nature, led by marine geophysicist Jean-Yves Royer, whose team had recently installed monitoring instruments in the area as part of the OHA-GEODAMS observatory project.

The observatory, consisting of 15 monitoring stations, was designed to detect seismic and geological changes on the ocean floor. Just two months after installation, the instruments captured detailed data as a section of an undersea ridge collapsed by about 13 feet and its sides moved apart by over three feet. Using underwater microphones and pressure sensors, the researchers traced the process to high-pressure magma pockets deep within the Earth that forced molten rock upward, forming new crust.

The equipment will continue collecting data until 2027, and researchers hope the project will inspire similar studies in other rapidly expanding seafloor regions.

Former US Marine Corps officer Dan Grazier said that the United States has given an appropriate response to Iran’s attacks on commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz. He noted that US forces have carried out strikes on Iranian military installations along the southern coast and targeted small Iranian vessels operating in the strait. These vessels are reportedly used by Iran to obstruct ships passing without Tehran’s authorization.

Speaking to Al Jazeera, Grazier explained that Iran’s advantage lies in not needing to project military power far from its shores. Even minor disruptive actions by Iran can create significant challenges for the United States and Israel. He emphasized that Washington now needs to find a way to end the ongoing conflict, describing it as a complex asymmetric war.

According to Grazier, the United States has yet to find a solution to this type of warfare, underscoring the difficulty of managing the situation in the Strait of Hormuz.

The Bangladeshi government has finalized the dismissal of 80 police officers accused of involvement in killings and abuses during the July–August 2024 uprising. According to the Ministry of Home Affairs and intelligence sources, the officers, ranging from Deputy Inspector General to Assistant Superintendent of Police, were identified as loyalists of the former Awami League government. Three officers—Mishu Biswas, Jewel Chakma, and Mahmudul Hasan—have already been formally dismissed through a ministry order issued on Thursday.

The list includes several high-profile former officials such as Biplob Kumar Sarkar, Harun-or-Rashid, Proloy Kumar Jowardar, Syed Nurul Islam, and K.M. Ehsanullah, many of whom are reported to be fugitives. They are accused of ordering or participating in shootings against protesters and opposition activists, as well as other human rights violations. Cases under murder and explosives laws have been filed against many of them.

Home Ministry Additional Secretary Kazi Mohammad Saiful Islam confirmed that legal proceedings are ongoing against the 80 officers and that further dismissals will follow in phases. Some of the accused are also under investigation for alleged corruption and illegal wealth accumulation.