The Bangladesh government has extended the magistracy powers of armed forces officials for another 60 days. According to an official gazette notification, commissioned officers of the rank of Captain and above in the Bangladesh Army will continue to exercise special executive magistrate powers across the country. This extension, effective from March 15, 2025, will last for two months.

Renowned Pakistani architect Yasmeen Lari has refused to accept the 2024 Wolf Prize, citing Israel’s atrocities in Gaza. The award, established in 1978, honors outstanding contributions in science and arts. Lari, Pakistan’s first registered female architect, has gained global recognition for her innovative designs and humanitarian work. Speaking to Dawn, she stated she had no choice but to reject the award as a stance against injustice. She has previously received prestigious honors, including the 2023 Royal Gold Medal for Architecture.

U.S. President Donald Trump has denied that Palestinians are being forcibly displaced from Gaza, contradicting his previous proposal to turn the region into a luxury destination. Earlier, Trump had suggested that the U.S. should seize control of Gaza and relocate its population, envisioning it as the “Riviera of the Middle East.” In his initial proposal last month, he advocated for the permanent removal of Gaza’s nearly two million residents. However, his latest statement on Wednesday insists that no displacement is occurring.

Human rights organization Fortify Rights has urged Bangladesh and the Arakan Army to establish a ‘humanitarian corridor’ to facilitate aid and trade in Myanmar’s Rakhine State. The group reported that Myanmar’s military junta has been obstructing humanitarian assistance, exacerbating the suffering of civilians. UN Secretary-General António Guterres is expected to discuss humanitarian needs on both sides of the border during his upcoming visit to Bangladesh. Over two million people in Rakhine are in urgent need of food, medicine, and humanitarian aid. Fortify Rights emphasized that establishing a corridor between Bangladesh and Myanmar is crucial for all affected communities.

Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus has expressed deep sorrow over the death of Achia, a child who was a victim of rape in Magura. According to the Press Wing, the child passed away at the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Dhaka. Doctors declared her dead at 1 PM.

Dr. Yunus has also directed authorities to ensure swift justice for the perpetrators involved in the case.

The interim government is actively working to ensure quality healthcare for the people of Bangladesh, stated Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus. In a message marking World Kidney Day, he emphasized that while modern kidney treatment is available in the country, it remains highly expensive. Therefore, alongside treatment, raising public awareness about kidney disease prevention is crucial.

Dr. Yunus also cited a World Health Organization (WHO) warning that by 2040, kidney disease could become the fourth leading cause of death worldwide. Bangladesh is witnessing a rapid rise in kidney disease cases as well. This year’s World Kidney Day theme is: “Are your kidneys healthy? Get tested early, protect your kidney health.”

A business leader in Lakshmipur has apologized after publicly forcing several individuals to squat as punishment for eating at a restaurant without fasting during Ramadan. The incident sparked outrage after a video of the punishment went viral. Following police intervention, the trader issued an apology in a video message on Wednesday night, accompanied by the two victims, Munsurul Haque and Md. Saju. In the video, he was seen embracing the victims while expressing remorse. However, the elderly man with red hair and a beard, who was also involved in the incident, was notably absent from the video.

The condition of the child abuse victim in Magura remains extremely critical, according to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH), as reported by the Chief Adviser’s Press Wing. On Thursday, it was revealed that the child suffered two more cardiac arrests today. The second time, it took nearly 30 minutes of CPR to revive them. The child’s brain is no longer functioning, with a GCS (coma) level of 3. Their blood pressure and oxygen levels are dangerously low. The child is currently receiving treatment at the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) of CMH Dhaka.

A total of 176 Bangladeshi migrants, who were detained or fell victim to human trafficking in Libya, returned home early Thursday morning. The Bangladesh Embassy in Libya had confirmed their repatriation on Wednesday. The embassy also announced that two more flights on March 19 and 26 will bring back over 300 additional Bangladeshis. Among the returnees, 106 were detained at Tripoli’s Tajoura Detention Center, while the remaining 70 voluntarily chose to return due to distressing conditions. The repatriation was facilitated through coordinated efforts by the embassy and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

In a social media post, Mahfuz Alam urged people to stop using the term ‘Shahbaghi’ indiscriminately due to political rivalries. He acknowledged that Jamaat-e-Islami had been complicit in war crimes, but through the recent political upheaval, they have paid their dues. He argued that branding Jamaat-e-Islami as anti-liberation and stripping them of their political rights is unjust. Alam noted that many who participated in the Shahbagh protests were blinded by a sense of nationalist fervor, while others were genuinely seeking justice for war crimes. He criticized how the ruling Awami League and leftist Mujibists used the movement to impose mob rule. Many former participants have since distanced themselves from Mujibist narratives and joined the fight against fascism. He warned that those still loyal to Mujibism, pro-India ideologies, and the Sheikh family would receive no leniency.

The Pakistan military has successfully completed an operation against the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), which had attacked the Zafar Express train and taken passengers hostage in Balochistan. According to military spokesperson General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, all 33 militants involved in the attack were “eliminated.” However, 21 innocent hostages were killed before the operation commenced. Four members of the Frontier Corps were also martyred during the counterterrorism mission. The military stated that the attackers had links to Afghan criminal networks, highlighting the cross-border nature of the operation.

In a landmark ruling, the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice Dr. Syed Refaat Ahmed, has declared that head teachers of government primary schools will now hold the status of second-class gazetted officers. The ruling also ensures that all primary school head teachers will receive salaries under the 10th grade pay scale. The verdict came after the government’s appeal against a previous High Court ruling on January 6, 2022, was dismissed. Despite the ruling being issued over three months ago, its implementation was delayed, prompting head teachers to file a contempt of court case.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has announced a ban on all processions, rallies, and public gatherings in the Bangladesh Secretariat and its surrounding areas until further notice. In a statement issued on Thursday, DMP stated that the decision was made to maintain public order. The restricted zones include the Prime Minister’s official residence, Jamuna, and adjacent areas such as Hotel Intercontinental intersection, Shahbagh intersection, Kakrail intersection, and Minto Road. This prohibition will be effective from Thursday, March 13, until further notice.

The Inqilab Mancha has demanded a ban on the Awami League, citing alleged conspiracies against the nation. The group staged a protest at Shahbagh, calling for the immediate arrest of Ganojagoron Mancha activist Laki Akter and others accused of anti-state activities.

Osman Hadi, the spokesperson for Inqilab Mancha, declared, “Those who support Shahbagh are enemies of Bangladesh. They are adversaries of July, Shapla Square, and Pilkhana. We will not allow fascism to rise again. The Awami League must be banned immediately. The era of deception is over. A party whose leader calls for shooting people from helicopters must not be allowed to exist. We will celebrate Eid after banning the Awami League, Insha’Allah.”

The government has formed a six-member high-level committee, led by legal advisor Asif Nazrul, to review the 2016 Bangladesh Bank reserve theft. Other members include Muhammad Faozul Kabir Khan, Faiz Ahmed Taiyeb, Dr. Ahsan H. Mansur, Ali Ashfaq, and Md. Nazrul Huda. The committee has been tasked with submitting recommendations within three months.