Stakeholders and experts have called for Bangladesh’s blue economy to be treated as a national priority, emphasizing coordinated initiatives to harness its potential. The call came on Tuesday at a policy discussion titled “Consultation of National Stakeholders on Blue Economy Management in Bangladesh,” organized by the Blue Economy Think Tank at the Doyel Seminar Hall of the CEMEC Institute of Technology in Uttara, Dhaka.

Speakers, including academics, government officials, and private sector representatives, highlighted the sea as a major source of opportunity for Bangladesh. They stressed the need for a national framework, legal structure, and effective policies for sustainable management of marine resources. The discussion underscored stronger inter-ministerial coordination, enhanced collaboration among stakeholders, and inclusion of trained officials and researchers in planning and management.

Participants also noted that public-private partnerships could transform the blue economy into a key source of national income. The consultation was supported by the Australian government under the “Australia Awards–Driving Change: Alumni Grants for Innovation” program, aiming to promote knowledge exchange and capacity building in the sector.

Police in Naogaon have arrested four members of a fraud ring accused of mixing sleeping drugs inside coconuts to incapacitate victims and steal their belongings. The arrests were announced in a press release on Tuesday afternoon after an 18-hour operation across Bogura and Gaibandha districts. Authorities seized a stolen autorickshaw, a motorcycle, eight mobile phones, cash, and sleeping drugs from the suspects.

According to the police statement, the group lured an autorickshaw driver on July 10 by pretending to visit a hospital and offering him a coconut drink laced with sedatives. After the driver lost consciousness, they fled with his vehicle. Using CCTV footage, criminal databases, artificial intelligence, and digital tools, investigators identified and captured the suspects. The arrested individuals are from Cumilla, Barguna, Bogura, and Gaibandha districts.

Police said two of the suspects have prior criminal cases, including murder, while the other two were involved in reselling stolen goods. Legal action is being taken against all four detainees.

A new study by the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b) has found that one in thirteen Bangladeshi women experience menopause before the age of forty-five, a rate higher than the average in low- and middle-income countries. The findings, based on data from 716,648 women aged 30 to 49 across 44 countries, were published in BMJ Global Health. The study identified that 7.5 percent of Bangladeshi women face early menopause, compared to 7.1 percent across similar economies.

Researchers observed that rural women in Bangladesh are 17 percent more likely to experience early menopause than urban women, even after accounting for education, income, and reproductive history. Education emerged as a key protective factor, with higher education levels linked to significantly lower risk. Women marrying or giving birth after age 18 also showed reduced risk.

The study highlights early menopause as a major health indicator, increasing risks of heart disease, osteoporosis, depression, and memory loss. Researchers urged regular screening of menopausal age in women’s health services and called for stronger investment in girls’ education, prevention of child marriage, and equitable access to reproductive healthcare.

Madaripur district police have stated that no brick was thrown at Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's motorcade during his trip to Barishal. Following an investigation, police concluded that confusion arose after a piece of brick was seen flying from the wheel of a vehicle in front of the convoy. The clarification was given by Superintendent of Police Habibur Rahman at a press conference on Tuesday afternoon.

According to the police, after the incident drew attention, members of the police, Rapid Action Battalion, and intelligence agencies began an inquiry. Reviewing video footage and related evidence, investigators found no proof of any attack. The police also said that information circulating on social media claiming a brick attack was inaccurate.

A general diary has been filed at Rajoir Police Station regarding the matter. Authorities said any new findings from the ongoing investigation will be disclosed later.

Dhaka-12 MP Saiful Alam Milon from Jamaat voiced serious concern in the National Parliament on Tuesday over the worsening waterlogging in Dhaka following several days of heavy rainfall. He said that sewage and rainwater have merged, making living conditions unbearable in his constituency and across the city. Speaking on a point of order, he described the situation as a major public hardship.

Milon drew the attention of the Local Government Minister, noting that even areas around the Parliament building and VIP roads such as Bijoy Sarani suffer from severe flooding during the monsoon. He emphasized that many parts of Dhaka face similar conditions and urged the government to take urgent measures to address the crisis.

He warned that without immediate action, residents of Dhaka would continue to face unlivable conditions due to the persistent waterlogging problem.

The Mohonpur-Taltola connecting road in Debidwar upazila of Cumilla has remained unpaved for seven decades since its construction with soil. The 1.5-kilometer stretch, linking Mohonpur Bazar and Taltola village, becomes muddy and nearly impassable even after light rain, causing daily suffering for thousands of residents from three nearby villages. During the monsoon, the road turns almost unusable, disrupting movement for students, farmers, traders, and general commuters.

Locals report that the poor condition of the road severely hampers access to schools and madrasas, while rickshaws, vans, and goods carriers cannot operate, making it difficult for farmers to market their produce. Transporting patients, pregnant women, and the elderly to hospitals becomes extremely challenging, and accidents from slipping in the mud are frequent. Residents have long demanded the road’s paving, citing its impact on education, healthcare, agriculture, and local economic activities.

According to the Debidwar Upazila Local Government Engineering Department, an estimate for paving the road has been submitted to the project director. Once approved, the tender process will begin to start construction work.

Students from various educational institutions staged a protest in front of the National Parliament building in Dhaka on Tuesday, demanding the resignation of the Education Minister. The demonstrators attempted to break through police barricades to enter the Parliament premises. Law enforcement personnel were seen on alert to maintain order during the protest.

Earlier in the day, students blocked the Science Lab intersection from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and later gathered at Dhaka University for a brief sit-in. They then moved to the Dhaka Board of Secondary and Higher Education, where they continued their demonstration until 3:10 p.m., before returning to the Science Lab area to resume the blockade.

The protest reflected growing student unrest over issues related to the education ministry, though no official response from the authorities was mentioned in the report.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman met a three-member delegation from the voluntary organization BD Clean on Tuesday, July 14, at his office in the National Parliament. The meeting focused on BD Clean’s ongoing activities to build a cleaner Bangladesh, protect the environment, and raise public awareness. State Minister for Local Government Mir Shahe Alam was also present during the meeting.

The delegation included Champa Akter and Zahirul Islam Robi, both former chief coordinators, and Masudur Rahman, the current chief coordinator. Founded on June 3, 2016, with a single volunteer, BD Clean now operates in 58 districts and 165 upazilas with more than 58,000 members. Over the past decade, the organization has cleaned 18 canals, 7 rivers, and 76 parks while conducting regular cleanliness drives and awareness programs.

During the meeting, the Prime Minister praised BD Clean’s volunteers for their contribution to creating a cleaner and more livable Bangladesh and emphasized expanding such public awareness initiatives. The BD Clean representatives expressed their commitment to working under his leadership to make Dhaka cleaner, more livable, and environmentally friendly.

A fire broke out at an unauthorized mini petrol pump in Gurudaspur upazila of Natore on Tuesday afternoon, destroying the pump along with three nearby shops and two residential houses. The incident occurred around 1 p.m. at Godown Mor in Nazirpur Bazar. Two fire service units from Gurudaspur and Natore brought the blaze under control after about two hours of effort. No major injuries or casualties were reported.

According to fire service and local sources, the fire started while workers were repairing the fuel tank of Messrs Nuru Enterprise, which had been operating without fire service approval for several years in a densely populated area. The flames quickly spread to adjacent shops and homes, causing extensive damage estimated at around 3 million taka. The pump owner, Nurul Islam, and his son were not found at the scene.

Local residents and victims demanded justice and compensation, blaming the unapproved petrol pump for their losses. Fire officials said the exact cause and total damage would be confirmed after investigation.

Bangladesh Bank has granted a special facility to Shinepukur Ceramics Limited, a company owned by Salman F Rahman, former adviser on private industry and investment to the prime minister. The central bank issued a directive on Tuesday allowing the company to open import letters of credit (LCs) for raw materials with a 100 percent margin through Sonali Bank. This exemption will remain effective until December 31, 2027, and temporarily suspends the application of Section 27 KaKa(3) of the Bank Company Act for the firm.

The directive clarifies that neither the government nor Bangladesh Bank will bear any liability for loans or financing extended under this facility, and lenders cannot seek financial support from them in the future. Shinepukur Ceramics faced legal complications in opening LCs since August 5, 2024, after its parent group, Beximco, was classified as a loan defaulter. Although Shinepukur itself is not a defaulter, it was affected by the group’s classification.

The central bank issued the directive following approval from the Ministry of Finance. A similar exemption had previously been granted to Abdul Monem Sugar Refinery for one year under comparable circumstances.

A national roundtable titled “Meaningful Tourism: Prospectives on Planning and Sustainability” was held on Tuesday, July 14, at Daffodil International University’s International Conference Hall in Birulia, Savar. The event brought together leading stakeholders from Bangladesh’s tourism sector. German tourism expert Professor Dr. Wolfgang Georg Arlt presented the keynote paper, highlighting strategies for developing the country’s tourism industry through meaningful engagement and sustainability.

The roundtable, moderated by Associate Professor Mahabub Parvez and opened by Dean Professor Dr. Mohammad Rakibul Kabir, aimed to promote the concept of “Meaningful Tourism” as a tool for ensuring both tangible benefits and emotional satisfaction for all stakeholders. Participants included representatives from TOAB, ATAB, PATA Bangladesh, Bangladesh Tourism Corporation, Novoair, InterContinental Dhaka, and The Westin Dhaka.

Speakers noted that climate change, artificial intelligence, and evolving traveler behavior are reshaping global tourism. They emphasized that Bangladesh, despite its rich culture and biodiversity, has yet to realize its full potential, attracting only 650,000 foreign tourists in 2025 who spent 440 million USD. They urged focusing on service quality and regional markets to transform challenges into opportunities.

A new satirical group called the 'Broiler Chicken Party' has emerged in Bangladesh following a viral social media audio comparing students to farm chickens. The group was launched on Facebook on Tuesday by members of the country's Gen-Z student community under the slogan 'We are not insulted, We are awakened.' Within a few hours, the page gained around 1,700 followers by 6 p.m.

The initiative comes amid ongoing student protests against the government's decision to continue Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examinations despite heavy rainfall and severe waterlogging. Students have been demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dr. A N M Ehsanul Haque Milan. The viral audio mocking students triggered widespread criticism, prompting the creation of the satirical page as a form of protest.

The Facebook page features humorous posts, images, and videos supporting the student movement and calling for the minister’s resignation, reflecting growing frustration among young people over education policy decisions.

A Gopalganj court has sentenced a man to life imprisonment for killing his father in 2023. The verdict was delivered on Tuesday afternoon by District and Sessions Judge Mohammad Shamsul Haque. In addition to life imprisonment, the convict was fined 20,000 taka, with an additional six months in jail in case of non-payment.

According to the case details, on May 13, 2023, in the Char Manikdah Kazi’s Bazar area of Gopalganj Sadar upazila, drug addict Alim Kazi attacked his father, Ismail Kazi, with a machete after being told to stop using abusive language. Ismail Kazi was taken to Gopalganj 250-bed General Hospital, where doctors declared him dead. The victim’s other son, Selim Kazi, later filed a murder case.

Following police investigation and witness testimony, the court handed down the sentence in the presence of the accused. Advocate M. M. Julkadar represented the prosecution, while Advocate Abu Taleb Sheikh defended the accused.

New erosion has emerged along the Padma River in Louhajang upazila of Munshiganj as rising water levels and strong currents caused parts of a recently built embankment to collapse. The permanent riverbank protection structure, constructed at a cost of Tk 527.5 crore and stretching 9.10 kilometers, has developed cracks and subsidence in several spots near Gaodia. Hundreds of families living along the river are now gripped by fear after sections of the embankment, completed only one and a half months ago, began to sink into the river.

Local residents expressed frustration, saying they had hoped the new embankment would finally protect them from decades of recurring erosion. Witnesses reported that the collapse began suddenly on Sunday afternoon near Gaodia Bazar, prompting families to move belongings to safety. Officials from the Water Development Board and the upazila administration visited the site, assuring that emergency repairs were underway and the situation was being monitored.

Residents have demanded a full investigation into the project’s design, construction quality, and materials, warning that without swift action, Gaodia Bazar and nearby areas could face severe erosion in the coming days.

Continuous rainfall and a sudden flash flood have caused extensive damage to about 432 hectares of agricultural land in Rajasthali upazila of Rangamati district. The incident occurred late Friday night, leaving farmers and jhum cultivators facing financial losses worth several crores of taka, according to local officials.

Upazila Agriculture Officer Md. Mintu Mia stated that the heavy rainfall and flash flood submerged large areas of farmland, severely affecting local crop production. Upazila Nirbahi Officer Yusuf Hasan said the disaster has caused widespread damage to the agricultural sector in Rajasthali. Authorities are currently collecting field-level data and preparing lists of affected farmers across the upazila’s three unions.

Officials expect to have a clearer picture of the total damage within a few days as assessments continue in the affected areas.