A court has issued an order to frame charges against Additional Police Superintendent Mohammad Nazmul Hasan Rajib in a dowry-related case involving his second wife. The plaintiff’s lawyer, Zulfiqar Ali, informed that the court passed this order during the hearing on Thursday. According to the allegations, on October 26, 2023, Nazmul married the plaintiff while concealing his first marriage. He allegedly took a dowry of 21 lakh 40 thousand Taka and subjected the plaintiff to abuse when she refused to meet further demands. This led to the filing of the case. Additionally, there is an ongoing case against him for fetal homicide.

A group of current and former students from Dhaka University staged a protest against a rape incident that took place on a moving bus en route to Rajshahi. The demonstration was supported by the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement and the Bangladesh Student Rights Council.

Protesters blamed the government for a culture of impunity regarding sexual violence and demanded the resignation of the Home Adviser. Sumaiya Akter, one of the protestors, stated, “Even though we have fought for an equal Bangladesh, we still have to take to the streets against violence against women on February 21.”

She further criticized the Home Adviser for remaining silent while perpetrators escape justice. Protesters also alleged that rapists often receive protection from political leaders, allowing them to evade legal consequences.

Malaysia has lifted the ban on Indian Islamic scholar and speaker Dr. Zakir Naik from delivering public speeches. The restriction, imposed temporarily in 2019, is no longer in effect, according to Malaysian media.

During a parliamentary session, a member of parliament questioned the Home Minister about whether the ban on Naik was still in place. In response, the minister confirmed that the restriction was temporary and has since been lifted.

Al Jazeera reports that Zakir Naik remains on India’s wanted list over allegations of money laundering and promoting hate speech. In 2019, Malaysia took a stance against him after his controversial remarks about Malaysian Hindus and Chinese communities sparked outrage.

A tragic accident on the Bogura-Nogoa highway resulted in the death of four passengers when a truck collided with an auto van. The incident took place at Dupchanchia Mail Bus Stand around 8:30 PM on February 21. The victims, returning from a tile factory, were traveling in the auto van when its axle broke, causing the truck to crash into it. Three others were seriously injured. Authorities are investigating, and the truck driver remains at large.

A fire at a mill near Talatla Market in Khilgaon, Dhaka, was brought under control after two hours of intense effort by Fire Service teams. Ten fire units worked tirelessly to contain the blaze, which was finally under control by 9:35 PM on Friday. Fire Service officials reported that the fire started around 7:30 PM in a garage corner and quickly spread to the mill. Explosions were heard from cylinders in the garage, causing significant damage to many vehicles.

Renowned poet Abdul Hai Shikdar has stated that Bangladesh’s independence will be at risk if the aspirations of the July Revolution are not understood. Speaking at a conference titled Contemporary Bangladesh, he emphasized that appointing Dr. Yunus as the Chief Adviser was one of the best decisions made by the students. He argued that without this, India would have strangled the revolution in its cradle. He further stressed the need to provide the Chief Adviser with a path for stability and peaceful resolution. Shikdar also warned that India could disintegrate Bangladesh within 24 hours, adding that only Yunus’ influence keeps Modi acting like a meek cat.

A Dhaka court has granted a two-day remand for five individuals arrested under the Arms Act following a reported gunfight with joint security forces at Chand Udyan in Mohammadpur.

The detainees—Md. Miraj (25), Al Amin (24), Mohammad Hossain (24), Mominul (20), and Mehdi Hasan (19)—were presented before the court, where law enforcement requested a seven-day remand. The court, however, approved a two-day remand for each.

According to the case details, security forces were conducting a patrol when the accused allegedly opened fire without warning. In response, the forces retaliated, resulting in the deaths of three individuals.

A recent comment by the U.S. President, which appeared to blame Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for the war, stirred controversy. In response, EU’s top diplomat Kaja Kallas clarified on Thursday that she initially assumed the U.S. President had mistakenly confused Zelensky with Russian President Vladimir Putin when referring to a “dictator.”

Kallas emphasized that Zelensky is a democratically elected leader, chosen through free and fair elections. She further explained that during wartime, many countries suspend elections as per their constitution, and Ukraine has followed the same practice.

Baraigram Police Station’s Officer-in-Charge (OC) Sirajul Islam has been withdrawn following allegations of robbery on a moving passenger bus, harassment of a female passenger, and negligence of duty. Rajshahi Range DIG Mohammad Shahjahan ordered his withdrawal during a visit on Friday. Victims complained of not receiving police assistance, and the OC failed to report the incident to superiors. Authorities have sought an explanation from him, and he has been temporarily transferred to the Natore police lines. Further investigation is underway, with potential disciplinary action pending the findings.

The interim government will take action against Superintendents of Police (SPs) who were in charge of 64 districts during the controversial 2018 elections under the Awami League government. Adviser Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan announced that these SPs will be made Officers on Special Duty (OSD) or sent into mandatory retirement. Similar measures have already been taken against Deputy Commissioners (DCs) involved in the 2014, 2018, and 2024 elections. Officials with over 25 years of service are being retired, while others are being made OSD.

In the past 24 hours, authorities arrested 461 more people under Operation Devil Hunt, bringing the total to 7,310 since February 8. The police also apprehended 1,189 individuals in other cases and recovered several weapons, including firearms and ammunition. The operation was launched after an attack on students at former minister A.K.M. Mozammel Haque’s residence in Gazipur. The interim government initiated the crackdown to strengthen security, though student leaders claim they were attacked while trying to prevent a robbery. One student later died from injuries.

Interim Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus emphasized that learning English does not mean abandoning Bengali, as multilingualism is common worldwide. Speaking at the International Mother Language Medal ceremony, he highlighted that the 1952 language movement was fundamentally about self-determination and cultural liberation. He noted that technological advancements influence language dominance, with global interest shifting towards the languages of leading nations. However, he stressed that a country’s global influence—technological or otherwise—naturally increases interest in its language and culture.

Former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly narrowly escaped a road accident. While traveling to Bardhaman for an event, a truck rear-ended his car. Fortunately, neither Ganguly nor his companions were injured, though two of his escort vehicles were damaged. This marks the second accident in his family, as his daughter Sana was also involved in a crash in January when a bus hit her car.

A 50-year-old unidentified woman was killed after being hit by a Subarna Express train in Nangalkot, Comilla. The accident occurred at 9:30 AM on Friday. Witnesses reported that despite the railway crossing barrier being down, she attempted to cross, leading to her tragic death. Local authorities confirmed that her family later collected the body.

A case was filed at Mirzapur Police Station in Tangail three days after a robbery and sexual harassment incident on a moving bus. Passenger Omar Ali filed the complaint, alleging that he was robbed on Monday night. However, he expressed surprise upon seeing the bus driver and supervisor also present at the police station to file a case. He accused them of being involved in the crime. The robbery took place on a bus traveling from Dhaka to Rajshahi.