Flight operations at Shah Amanat International Airport in Chattogram were disrupted on Tuesday due to severe weather conditions. From the morning, three flights were unable to land and were diverted to Dhaka, while other flights experienced delays ranging from 30 minutes to one hour. The information was confirmed by the airport’s public relations officer, Engineer Mohammad Ibrahim Khalil.

According to the official, US-Bangla Airlines flight BS350 from Abu Dhabi to Chattogram and Air Arabia flight G9-526 from Sharjah to Chattogram were diverted to Dhaka. Additionally, Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight BG121 from Dhaka to Chattogram returned to Dhaka after failing to land. Heavy rainfall and strong winds with speeds of 80–90 kilometers per hour were reported in the airport area, creating unsafe conditions for flight operations.

The adverse weather caused widespread disruption throughout the day, though no reports of flooding at the airport were mentioned in the source.

Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen paid a courtesy call on Opposition Leader and Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman on Tuesday morning at the official residence on Mintu Road in Dhaka. The meeting took place in a cordial atmosphere, with the Chinese embassy’s Political Section Director Zhang Jing and Political Attaché Ru Qi also present.

During the meeting, both sides discussed various issues of mutual interest and emphasized the importance of the long-standing friendship between Bangladesh and China. They highlighted cooperation in political, diplomatic, economic, and cultural areas, expressing hope that bilateral relations would become deeper and more multidimensional in the future.

The discussion also covered the Teesta Barrage master plan, the China-Myanmar-Bangladesh Economic Corridor, and Chinese investment projects in Bangladesh. The opposition leader sought China’s assistance in resolving the Rohingya crisis and facilitating the repatriation of displaced people.

Multiple explosions were reported in Damascus on July 7, 2026, during French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Syria. According to a security source cited by Reuters, the blasts occurred near the hotel where Macron was staying. The exact cause of the explosions remains unknown, and witnesses described the city shaking from the sudden blasts.

Macron is in Damascus to meet Syria’s interim president Ahmad al-Shara and other senior officials. Local sources reported that one explosion also struck the headquarters of the Syrian Ministry of Tourism, injuring several people. Syrian state media Al-Ikhbariya said the explosions occurred while al-Shara was welcoming Macron at the presidential palace.

The French presidential office, the Élysée Palace, stated that Macron did not personally hear any explosions while en route to his meeting with al-Shara. Authorities have not yet provided further details on the incident or its perpetrators.

Sixty-nine tourists have been stranded at Nafakhum waterfall in Thanchi upazila of Bandarban after several days of rainfall caused the Sangu River to swell, cutting off access to the upazila headquarters. The affected areas include Padma Jhiri, Raja Patar, Amiya Khum, Nafakhum, and Remakri. Local guides and five engine-powered boats have been dispatched to bring the tourists back safely, according to Clement Tripura, general secretary of the Tourist Guide Welfare Association.

In response to the situation, the Thanchi upazila administration has issued an emergency notice banning travel to all tourist centers, hill trails, river routes, remote areas, and risky locations. A tourist from Dhaka, Ashraf, said their group was unable to return the previous day due to strong currents but managed to come back today. Another guide, Gorbel Tripura, reported that some tourists remain in Nafakhum and other nearby spots, while his group has safely returned.

Authorities are monitoring the situation as rescue efforts continue amid rising water levels and travel restrictions in the region.

Police in Fulgazi upazila of Feni district have arrested three individuals accused of embezzling about Tk 5.1 million from government funds through cheque forgery. The suspects—former stenographer-cum-computer operator Partha Sarathi Pal, current office assistant Md. Firoz, and Noor Islam—were detained on Tuesday morning. The alleged fraud involved altering the amount and wording on 26 cheques issued for upazila development projects.

According to police and upazila administration sources, the irregularities were discovered when the acting administrator and Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Fahriya Islam reviewed financial records during a handover process. Discrepancies between cheque counterfoils and bank withdrawals revealed that the amounts had been inflated after obtaining the UNO’s signature. The scheme reportedly continued for about a year until March of the current year.

A case was filed by Abdul Halim Chowdhury Sujon, a stenotypist-cum-computer operator at the upazila office. Police said the accused have given confessional statements during preliminary interrogation, and relevant financial documents are being verified for further legal action.

U.S. President Donald Trump has claimed that Walmart reduced product prices at his administration’s request. In a social media post, Trump said the retail giant agreed to lower prices, including a 15 percent cut on ground beef, to mark the nation’s 250th anniversary. However, Walmart’s official statement made no mention of any government involvement, saying the decision was aimed at giving customers and Sam’s Club members better value during the summer season.

The announcement comes as Trump faces criticism over rising inflation during his tenure, which increased from 3 percent to 4.2 percent over the past year. The president has blamed Democrats for high prices and mocked them as “communists” ahead of the upcoming midterm elections. Walmart, which benefited from higher consumer traffic amid inflation, said it would also reduce prices on corn, cherries, ice cream, potato chips, and soft drinks.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, inflation remains elevated, though a temporary truce with Iran has eased oil prices slightly, potentially reducing pressure on consumers.

Continuous heavy rainfall over several days has triggered hill torrents and tidal water intrusion through broken embankments, flooding vast areas of Banshkhali in Chattogram. At least 20,000 people in areas including Chanua, Shekherkhil, Napora, Chambal, Shilkup, Jaldi municipality, Premashia, Kadamrasul, and Pukuria have become waterlogged. Thousands of homes are submerged, leaving residents unable to cook and forcing many into hunger. Fish farms and rural roads have also been inundated, cutting off communication in several villages.

Local social workers and union officials reported that entire neighborhoods such as Madhukhali and Napora are isolated, with key roads and bamboo bridges submerged or damaged. Complaints have surfaced that fishing nets placed in sluice gates are obstructing water flow. Residents have urged immediate government intervention and road repairs to restore access and prevent further damage.

In coastal areas like Khan Khanabad and Baharchhara, tidal water has damaged croplands and homes, raising fears of worsening conditions if embankments are not repaired promptly.

Widespread rainfall continued across Bangladesh on July 7, 2026, as a monsoon low over the Bay of Bengal caused heavy downpours in coastal areas including Chattogram. The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) reported that the low pressure remained strong, prompting authorities to maintain local cautionary signal number 3 at all maritime ports. Fishermen and trawlers in the northern Bay were advised to stay near the coast and navigate carefully due to rough sea conditions.

According to the latest BMD forecast signed by meteorologist Khondoker Hafizur Rahman, the monsoon depression had weakened into a well-marked low over eastern Madhya Pradesh after moving northwest from Odisha and Jharkhand. However, pressure variations over the northern Bay continued to generate gusty winds. Over the previous 24 hours, Chattogram recorded 283 millimeters of rain, Kutubdia 195, Sandwip 167, Bandarban 128, and Ambagan 177, while Dhaka saw 14 millimeters.

The BMD warned that heavy to very heavy rainfall may persist for 48 hours in Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram, and Sylhet divisions, potentially disrupting daily life and flooding low-lying areas. The department said it is monitoring conditions continuously and will issue updates as needed.

Prime Minister’s Information and Broadcasting Adviser Dr. Zahed Ur Rahman said the government will discuss with India, at the state level, the issue of fugitive Awami League leaders allegedly making inciting statements from Indian territory. He made the remarks on Tuesday morning during a weekly press briefing at the Secretariat in response to a question about recent social media videos showing the leaders urging supporters to resist law enforcement in Dhaka.

Rahman stated that the government had previously raised the matter with India and would continue to do so, noting that several of the individuals involved are accused in criminal cases, have warrants issued against them, or have already been convicted. He emphasized that such actions from abroad could harm Bangladesh’s internal law and order and that the government expects cooperation from India in this regard.

The adviser also addressed questions about recent deaths in the Turag River following a police chase involving banned Awami League activists, describing the incident as tragic and under investigation. He urged all citizens to respect the law while awaiting judicial decisions on the party’s legal status.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf issued a message during the funeral of the country’s martyred leader and his family members, declaring that those responsible for the killings, particularly the enemies of the Islamic Ummah, will face divine punishment. He said the ultimate act of revenge would be realized through the liberation of Jerusalem, describing the day of the leader’s final presence in Tehran as a historic moment that strengthened national unity and Islamic awareness.

According to Iran’s state news agency, Ghalibaf praised the Iranian nation for its steadfastness over 47 years of revolution and noted that in the past four months, citizens have repeatedly voiced opposition to the United States and Israel. He emphasized that aggressors on Iranian soil and those responsible for the deaths of martyrs would be punished, asserting that the Islamic Republic remains enduring and victorious with the people’s support.

Ghalibaf also urged officials to uphold citizens’ dignity and work tirelessly to strengthen defense, diplomacy, and economic welfare, following the guidance of the late leader and the current Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei.

The Ministry of Health in Bangladesh has announced that dengue diagnosis through the NS1 test will now be available free of charge at all government hospitals. The initiative will remain in effect until December 31, according to an official notification issued by the Health Services Division’s Government Health Management-1 branch on Sunday. The directive instructs the Director General of Health Services to take immediate steps to implement the decision.

The circular states that the decision follows approval from the Finance Division of the Ministry of Finance. The move comes as dengue cases rise across the country with the onset of the monsoon season. So far this year, 7,110 people have been infected, of whom 61.5 percent are men and 38.5 percent are women. Nineteen deaths have been reported in 2026.

The free testing initiative is expected to support early detection and treatment of dengue cases, helping to reduce the disease’s spread and mortality during the current outbreak period.

More than fifty workers at Color & Co. Ltd., a garment factory in Tepirbari area of Sreepur, Gazipur, suddenly fell ill on Tuesday morning, causing panic among staff. The incident began around 10 a.m. when a female worker collapsed on the fifth-floor sewing section, followed by others showing symptoms such as vomiting, abdominal pain, and dizziness. The affected workers were taken to Alhera Hospital at Maona Chowrasta, where most received primary treatment and were later released, while a few remained under observation.

Factory workers said anxiety had persisted since the June 25 death of fellow worker Liza Akter, who died while on duty. The recurrence of illness on the same floor has intensified fear among employees. The cause of the sickness remains unknown. A brief dispute occurred when factory officials allegedly seized a journalist’s phone, later returned after clarification. Administrative officer Sanjib Kumar Dey stated that workers left the premises out of fear, not due to an official closure.

Police and local administration have launched an investigation. The Upazila Nirbahi Officer confirmed that steps are being taken to ensure medical care and determine the cause of the incident.

A woman named Nasima Akter, aged 27, was killed in a landslide triggered by continuous heavy rainfall in Cox’s Bazar’s Jhilongja Union under Sadar upazila on Tuesday, July 7. The incident occurred around 1 p.m. in the Dorianagar Borochhara area, where her house was buried under a collapsed hillside. Her husband and child were seriously injured and taken to Cox’s Bazar District Hospital, where Nasima was declared dead by doctors.

Cox’s Bazar Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer Tahmina Akter confirmed the incident and said the administration had earlier warned residents in risky hilly areas to move to safer locations, but many did not comply. Continuous rainfall has caused multiple landslides across the district.

According to official information, a total of 11 people have died in landslides across Cox’s Bazar over the past two days, including eight in Ukhiya’s Rohingya camps, two in Cox’s Bazar town, and one in Pekua upazila.

Telecommunication, Information Technology, and Science and Technology Minister Fakir Mahbub Anam announced that the Ruppur Nuclear Power Plant will be connected to Bangladesh’s national grid by the end of August. He shared the update on Tuesday morning during a discussion with ICT and telecom journalists at the ICT Tower in Agargaon, Dhaka.

The minister explained that the government is closely monitoring ongoing projects to prevent wasteful spending and ensure timely completion. As part of this effort, uranium has already been loaded into the nuclear reactor. If all processes proceed as planned, the plant will begin supplying electricity to the national grid by late August.

He also mentioned that, following the Prime Minister’s directive, work will soon begin on creating a “One ID” system that will store all information about a citizen from birth to death.

The Revolutionary Workers Party of Bangladesh has strongly condemned a cocktail attack on the National Citizens Party (NCP) rally held at Tarapur field in Savar, where several party members were injured. In a statement issued to the media on Tuesday, the party’s General Secretary Saiful Haque denounced the incident and held the local administration responsible for failing to prevent the attack.

Saiful Haque stated that the assault occurred in the presence of NCP convener and opposition whip Nahid Islam, describing it as evidence of the country’s deteriorating law and order situation. He expressed concern over the overall security environment, noting that even five months after the formation of the elected BNP government, citizens’ safety remains uncertain. He alleged that criminals, extortionists, and mafias continue to operate across the country, threatening public life and undermining local administration.

The statement urged authorities to identify and arrest the attackers immediately and ensure exemplary punishment. It also called on citizens to unite across political lines to resist ongoing terrorist activities nationwide.