The Bangladesh Navy has intensified its rescue operation to locate six fishermen who went missing after a fishing trawler sank in the Bay of Bengal during a storm. The naval warship BNS Gomti is leading the deep-sea search, continuing operations without interruption to find the missing crew members. The incident occurred when the trawler, carrying 11 fishermen, capsized about 100 to 150 kilometers southeast of Payra seaport last Sunday. Five fishermen were rescued alive, but six remain unaccounted for.

According to reports, all the missing fishermen are residents of Galachipa upazila in Patuakhali district. The Navy is coordinating with other relevant agencies to sustain the search and rescue efforts despite challenging sea conditions. Families of the missing men are anxiously waiting for news as the rescue teams continue their mission.

The ongoing operation highlights the risks faced by coastal fishing communities during adverse weather in the Bay of Bengal and the Navy’s continued commitment to maritime safety.

Flight instructor Leandro Andrés Bertazzo, 42, died after jumping out of a moving Cessna 150 aircraft during a training flight in Toledo, central Argentina, on Saturday, according to the country’s public prosecutor. The incident left his 22-year-old student, identified as Rosario, to land the plane alone. CNN affiliate TN reported that before jumping, Bertazzo told Rosario, “You know what you have to do, carry on,” then removed his headset and seatbelt, opened the door, and exited the aircraft. Rosario managed to land safely despite being in complete shock.

Eduardo Álvarez, director of the Flying Parrot Córdoba flight school where Bertazzo worked, said there had been no signs that the instructor intended to jump. He described Bertazzo as a “beautiful person with a great smile” and expressed disbelief over the event. Álvarez noted that opening a plane door midair is extremely difficult, comparing it to opening a car door at 200 kilometers per hour. Bertazzo had flown earlier that day with another student and was known as an experienced instructor who had also worked in Chile.

Prosecutors have launched an investigation to determine the exact circumstances surrounding Bertazzo’s death.

A 15-year-old boy was arrested in Chandiber Madhya Para under Bhairab Police Station in Kishoreganj after allegedly raping a six-year-old girl. The arrest followed an immediate response from the national emergency service 999. The incident occurred when the child went to play at the boy’s house, where he allegedly assaulted her in the absence of his parents. Neighbors and the victim’s mother rushed in after hearing her screams and found her injured.

According to 999’s media and public relations officer, Inspector Anwar Sattar, the emergency call was received on Wednesday. The call taker, Constable Farzana, and dispatcher, SI Abdul Mannan, coordinated with Bhairab police to ensure prompt action. Police arrived quickly, sent the victim for medical treatment, and detained the accused with local assistance.

The victim’s mother filed a case following the incident. The arrested teenager was presented before court, which ordered his transfer to the Gazipur Juvenile Correction Center.

Iran has claimed that its Bushehr nuclear power plant in the southern part of the country remains undamaged following recent United States attacks. According to reports citing Iranian officials, explosions were heard in the Bushehr area, and debris from missiles was rumored to have fallen on the facility. However, Tehran dismissed these reports, asserting that the nuclear site suffered no damage.

The Bushehr nuclear power plant, built nearly two decades ago with Russian assistance, was not among the targets of the latest US-Israeli strikes. Those attacks primarily focused on Iran’s Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan nuclear facilities, carried out by US B-2 bombers. Russian technical experts were reportedly present at the Bushehr site during the conflict.

Tehran reiterated that the Bushehr facility remains fully secure and operational, emphasizing that no harm occurred despite the regional hostilities.

Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen paid a courtesy call on Brigadier General (Retd.) Dr. A.K.M. Shamsul Islam, the Prime Minister’s Defense Adviser, on Thursday at the Armed Forces Division office in Dhaka Cantonment. The meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere, according to a statement from the Inter-Services Public Relations Directorate (ISPR).

During the discussion, both sides recalled the longstanding and historic friendship between Bangladesh and China. They exchanged views on deepening existing technological and military cooperation and agreed to elevate the strategic partnership between the two nations. The talks also covered expanding opportunities for advanced training of Bangladeshi armed forces personnel in China and promoting defense self-reliance through technology transfer. Joint initiatives to ensure cybersecurity were emphasized, along with a shared commitment to maintaining peace and stability in the region.

The defense adviser praised China’s continued support in Bangladesh’s infrastructure and defense sectors, while the Chinese ambassador commended the government’s modernization efforts and expressed determination to sustain future cooperation.

A local Awami Labour League leader in Rajabad village under Nabiganj municipality, Habiganj, allegedly led a group early Thursday morning to forcibly build a tin-roofed house on a public road used by the family of late teacher Abdul Matin Master. The construction reportedly blocked the only access route to their home, leaving several family members confined and preventing school-going children from attending classes. Police visited the scene and restored calm but did not remove the obstruction. Abdul Momen Dilip, a family member, has filed a written complaint with the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO).

According to local sources, the disputed road had been maintained by Abdul Matin Master for about 25 years. A previous land transaction between the family and Labour League leader Mazharul Islam Opu failed due to ownership record issues. Despite earlier repairs by a relative, the conflict reignited when Opu and his brother allegedly occupied the road. UNO Ruhul Amin, currently in Dhaka, said he would look into the matter upon return.

Tension remains high in the area, with locals fearing possible clashes if the dispute is not resolved soon.

Former BNP lawmaker Harunur Rashid has alleged that Jamaat-e-Islami led the 'mob culture' under the Yunus government. He made the remarks on Wednesday night during a talk show on a private television channel. Rashid said the interim government had planned to prolong the election process under the pretext of reform, during which the rule of law was absent and law enforcement officials were afraid to act.

He further stated that Jamaat-e-Islami was at the forefront of this situation. Referring to the electoral history of Chapainawabganj, Rashid noted that although Jamaat had not won any seats there in the past 50 years, it secured three seats this time. He hinted at an internal understanding between the Awami League and Jamaat in this context.

Rashid added that for a healthy political culture, the ruling party must respond to criticism with patience. He warned that without timely elections, the country's future would have been uncertain.

The Ganosamhati Andolon has welcomed the Supreme Court’s Appellate Division verdict that reinstated the caretaker government system and referendum provisions in the Constitution. In a statement issued on Thursday, acting chief coordinator Dewan Abdur Rashid Nilu and executive coordinator Abul Hasan Rubel said the ruling marks an important step toward ensuring people’s voting rights.

The leaders noted that Ganosamhati had opposed the Fifteenth Amendment since its passage in 2011, arguing that abolishing the caretaker system and referendum provisions without public consent undermined democracy and citizens’ political rights. They described the new verdict as a constitutional recognition of their long-held position and a reaffirmation of people’s sovereignty, democracy, freedom of expression, and the foundation for free and fair elections.

However, the statement added that the ruling alone does not resolve Bangladesh’s constitutional crisis. The leaders called for continued constitutional reforms to ensure balance of power, full judicial independence, equal rights for all ethnic groups, and protection of citizens’ fundamental freedoms, urging immediate implementation of the July Charter through parliamentary discussion.

A young man named Siam Muktar Bhuiyan, aged 20, died on Thursday morning while undergoing treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital after being injured in a clash between two groups over a land dispute in Araihazar, Narayanganj. The incident occurred around 9 p.m. on Wednesday in front of Chapra Mosque at Laskaradi village under Brahmandi Union. At least fifteen people were injured in the confrontation.

Police and local sources reported that the conflict stemmed from a long-standing land dispute between two relatives, Matin (50) and Delwar (48). A local arbitration held a few days earlier failed to resolve the issue, leading to renewed tension and violence. Siam, who had recently returned from abroad, was among those injured and later succumbed to his injuries.

According to police, the clash was primarily caused by the ongoing land dispute. Araihazar Police Station’s investigation officer Ripon Kumar stated that legal action is being taken and the situation is currently under control, though local tension remains high.

Amnesty International has called for an investigation into Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon as possible war crimes. In a statement released on Thursday, the human rights organization said that during fighting with Hezbollah, Israel carried out air raids that wiped out entire families. Amnesty reviewed three Israeli attacks on civilian homes between March 6 and 13, which killed 24 people, including 12 children.

The organization stated that these incidents should be investigated as war crimes, emphasizing that the strikes destroyed entire families. Amnesty also reported that when it asked the Israeli military about the purpose or targets of the three attacks, no specific information was provided.

The statement, citing Al Jazeera as a source, underscores growing concern over civilian casualties in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

All schools and colleges in Chattogram city remained closed for the third consecutive day on July 9, 2026, due to continuous heavy rainfall, waterlogging, and flooding. The Chattogram City Corporation confirmed that its educational institutions would stay shut until July 9, while the district education officer said the closure was for student safety. The Bangladesh Technical Education Board also postponed diploma examinations scheduled for Thursday at three centers in Chattogram.

According to the board’s notice, the postponed exams include the final tests for Diploma in Textile Engineering and Diploma in Agriculture programs at the Agriculture Training Institute, Chattogram, the Women’s Polytechnic Institute, Chattogram, and the Textile Institute, Chattogram. Exams in other districts under the board are continuing as planned. The new schedule for the postponed exams will be announced later.

Earlier, the Chattogram Education Board suspended all HSC and equivalent exams in flood-affected districts, while other boards continued their tests. Chattogram University also halted all classes, and several private schools postponed midterm and pre-test exams until conditions improve.

Two farmers were killed in separate lightning strikes on Thursday morning in Raninagar and Manda upazilas of Naogaon district. The victims were identified as Sakhawat Hossain, 55, son of Mohammad Khaybar Ali of Malshan village in Raninagar, and Ismail Sardar, 50, son of Tahir Sardar of Elenga Mridhapara area in Manda.

According to Raninagar Police Station officer-in-charge Mohammad Zakaria, rain had started on Wednesday night, and Sakhawat Hossain was working in his field near his home when he was struck by lightning. In Manda, Union Parishad Chairman Abdul Matin Mondal said Ismail Sardar was also working in his field when the sky suddenly became cloudy and heavy rain began, followed by a thunderbolt that killed him instantly.

Authorities said necessary measures have been taken following the incidents.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has projected Bangladesh’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth at 4.5 percent for the 2026–27 fiscal year, according to its updated Asian Development Outlook released on Thursday. The forecast suggests a modest improvement from the estimated 3.7 percent growth in the previous fiscal year but remains significantly below historical levels. The ADB noted that high inflation, weaknesses in the banking sector, energy supply constraints, and global economic uncertainty continue to weigh on the country’s recovery.

The report attributes last year’s slower growth to high inflation, weak exports, stagnant private investment, rising energy costs, and adverse global conditions. It expects some positive effects this year from easing inflationary pressure, regulatory reforms, improved governance, and sustained remittance inflows. However, the ADB warned that recovery will remain slow due to structural challenges, including energy shortages, high production costs, and limited competitiveness.

The inflation forecast for 2026–27 has been raised from 8.5 to 8.8 percent, reflecting recent adjustments in fuel, gas, and electricity prices. The ADB also cautioned that escalating Middle East conflicts or rising global oil prices could further strain Bangladesh’s external balance and fiscal management.

Leaders of the National Citizens Party (NCP) are set to inaugurate the party’s southern regional July march from Feni on Thursday at 5 p.m. The event, titled “July Awakening to Build the Nation,” will begin at the Sonagazi Upazila square. Central leaders including NCP convener and opposition chief whip Nahid Islam MP, southern coordinator Hasnat Abdullah MP, central spokesperson Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan, joint convener Abdullah Al Amin MP, organizational secretary Suja Uddin Sajib, and student affairs secretary Ali Ahsan Junaid are expected to attend.

According to NCP’s Feni district member secretary Shah Waliullah Manik, the initiative aims to honor the historic July uprising and convey its democratic spirit to new generations. The party has announced a month-long program titled “July Awakening to Build the Nation,” featuring discussions, cultural events, marches, public outreach, tributes to martyrs, and competitions involving professionals and citizens.

Throughout July, the NCP plans to highlight key moments of the July uprising and mobilize public awareness on issues such as implementing referendums, increasing employment, resolving power shortages, controlling commodity prices, and strengthening border security.

State Minister for Local Government Mir Shahe Alam stated that he is not a friend of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, describing himself instead as an ordinary worker of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). Speaking at a dialogue with the Bangladesh Secretariat Reporters Forum (BSRF) in Dhaka on Thursday, he explained that his interactions with the Prime Minister stemmed from his responsibilities in the Bogura district BNP and his role as an elected representative.

Addressing recent media reports that described him as a friend of the Prime Minister, Alam said his connection with Tarique Rahman is limited to political and regional familiarity. He emphasized that their relationship is not personal, noting their age difference and distinct backgrounds. Alam added that such portrayals could be misunderstood by the public and his family.

He urged journalists to refrain from presenting him as a friend of the Prime Minister and requested awareness to prevent further misrepresentation of his relationship with Tarique Rahman.