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.

Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) has temporarily suspended all quota reservations for undergraduate admissions in the 2024-25 academic year. Last year, 59 students were admitted under quota privileges. The Vice-Chancellor stated that a committee would consult stakeholders and recommend a rational quota policy before a final decision is made.

Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP) ADC Mahmuda Begum confirmed that 41 leaders and activists of Awami League and Chhatra League were arrested in the last 24 hours for attempting to create unrest in the city. They face multiple charges, including attacks on students and citizens during the anti-government movement, under special powers and anti-terrorism laws.

The Police Headquarters has responded to published images showing law enforcement blocking an anti-rape protest march at Intercontinental Mor. They claim the full video footage reveals that protesters first attacked the police, prompting a defensive response. The statement emphasizes that publishing selective images that misrepresent events is highly irresponsible and urges the media to act with integrity.

The Malaysian immigration department has arrested 131 undocumented migrants, including 48 Bangladeshis, during a crackdown in Pahang province. The detainees were found to be without valid visas, overstaying their permits, or violating immigration conditions. Among them, 55 were Indonesians, 48 Bangladeshis, 16 Myanmar nationals, one Egyptian, two Pakistanis, one Chinese, and eight Thai nationals.

Two students of Rajshahi University (RU) were attacked on Wednesday afternoon after protesting against derogatory remarks made about a female student’s attire. One of the victims, along with his friend Swadhin, confronted the harassers, identified as Tanmoy and his associates. A verbal altercation ensued, escalating into physical assault, with the accused slapping and punching the protesters.

A young man named Kazi Nizam was hacked to death in Bagerhat following a dispute over a Facebook post. He succumbed to his injuries on Wednesday morning. Police have arrested three suspects and confirmed that the incident was linked to an online dispute.

Legal Adviser Asif Nazrul announced that a draft amendment to the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act has been prepared to halve the duration of rape case investigations and trials. Under the proposed law, the investigation period will be reduced from 30 to 15 days, and trials must conclude within 90 days instead of 180. Judges will be able to proceed with trials based solely on medical certificates if necessary, even without DNA reports.

The Brick Kiln Owners’ Association has announced a 15-day suspension of brick sales nationwide from March 25 if their seven-point demands are not met. This move could leave nearly 5 million workers, including 1 million women, unemployed and cause significant financial losses for 14,000 brick kiln owners. Association President Firoz Haider Khan warned that banks may face difficulties recovering loans worth $800 million if operations are halted.

Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam stated that the government is making every diplomatic effort to ensure the dignified and voluntary repatriation of Rohingya refugees to Myanmar. He mentioned that the UN is organizing a major conference on the Rohingya crisis and that humanitarian aid for Rohingyas has significantly declined. He emphasized the urgent need for nutritional assistance, requiring around $15 million per month in international aid.

Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Mazumdar confirmed that Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus and UN Secretary-General António Guterres will join 100,000 Rohingya refugees for an Iftar meal in Cox’s Bazar this Friday.

The meal will include traditional items such as chickpeas, puffed rice, onion fritters, jilapi, beguni, morichya, and sharbat. The UN Secretary-General is visiting Bangladesh on a four-day tour, following an official invitation handed over by envoy Khalilur Rahman in New York on February 7.

A Dhaka court has sentenced three individuals to life imprisonment for the gang rape of a teenage girl in Kamrangirchar. Additionally, two minors have been given the maximum punishment of 10 years in prison.

The convicts—Mohan, Sabbir, and Russell—were also fined BDT 100,000 each. Failure to pay will result in an additional year of imprisonment. The two minors were fined the same amount, with a similar penalty for non-payment.

The crime occurred on June 17, 2020, when the 13-year-old victim was assaulted by the perpetrators.

The condition of the 8-year-old rape survivor in Magura has worsened, according to Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam. The child, who was visiting her sister’s home when the assault occurred, is undergoing treatment at the CMH hospital. Despite initial signs of improvement, her condition began deteriorating again yesterday. Medical teams are making every effort to stabilize her health.

According to the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Religious Affairs, individuals under the age of 15 will not be allowed to perform Hajj this year. The age will be determined based on the date of birth mentioned in the pilgrim’s passport. Both government-registered and private Hajj agencies, as well as banks involved in Hajj-related transactions, must strictly follow this directive. Those above 15 years must complete pre-registration and official registration to be eligible for Hajj. There will be no exceptions for those under 15.

Police used water cannons and batons to disperse protesting teachers who were marching towards the Chief Adviser’s residence, demanding nationalization of their schools after being excluded from the latest MPO (Monthly Pay Order) enrollment phase. The confrontation, which took place on Wednesday afternoon, left at least five teachers injured. Earlier, the police attempted to negotiate with the teachers, suggesting that only a small delegation proceed to the residence. However, the protesters refused and continued their march, leading to the clash.