At least 30 people, including 18 with gunshot wounds, have been injured in a violent clash over a land dispute in Dirai Upazila, Sunamganj. The conflict erupted between groups led by former Union Parishad chairman Lutfor Rahman Chowdhury and ex-UP member Abdus Salam on one side, and locals Ashiq Mia and freedom fighter Shafik Chowdhury on the other. The violence escalated when Ashiq Mia’s supporters, armed with traditional weapons, gathered in a field. In response, Lutfor Rahman’s faction opened fire, resulting in injuries on both sides.

Students of Chittagong University (CU) have once again staged protests demanding the revocation of expulsion orders against nine female students and the resignation of three members of the proctorial body. The protest follows the emergence of a Facebook post by Proctor Dr. Tanvir Mohammad Haidar Arif and leaked messages from Assistant Proctors Dr. Korban Ali and Nurul Hamid on Messenger and WhatsApp, leading students to call for their resignation. Student leader Isha De stated that the situation escalated after an assistant proctor allegedly physically assaulted a female student. Despite this, a house tutor who stood by the students was forced to resign, revealing an administrative bias. Protester Tanmoy criticized the expulsion notice, particularly its sixth charge, which vaguely mentions “other offenses,” calling it a mockery of justice.

Two prisoners, including a convict in the BDR mutiny case, have died while undergoing treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH). The deceased are Sheikh Jubair Hossain (65), a former BDR member, and Shamsul Alam (44), a general inmate. According to prison authorities, Sheikh Jubair was admitted to the hospital on March 5 and passed away at around 3:30 AM on Saturday night. Shamsul Alam, who was hospitalized on February 4 due to illness, died around 2:00 AM the same night while receiving treatment.

According to data from Bangladesh Bank, the country’s gross foreign exchange reserves have dropped to $25 billion after making payments to the Asian Clearing Union (ACU). Under the IMF’s BPM6 calculation standard, the reserves now stand at $19.7 billion. Previously, on March 6, the gross reserves were $27.6 billion, with BPM6 reserves at $21.4 billion. The ACU is a regional clearing mechanism that facilitates financial transactions among member countries, including Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Iran, the Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. The organization, headquartered in Tehran, settles trade payments every two months through member central banks.

Students in Thakurgaon court premises identified Jubo League leader Jahangir Alam during an anti-rape protest and attacked him before handing him over to the police. Jahangir had previously assaulted student protesters with a machete on August 4, injuring several. After months of attempting to blend in, he joined the protest on Sunday, only to be recognized and beaten by angry students. Police have taken him into custody and are verifying any pending cases against him before taking legal action.

The Election Commission (EC) has sent a letter to the government requesting to retain control over national ID services. The letter was addressed to the Cabinet Secretary, the Chief Secretary to the Chief Adviser, the Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs, and the Secretary of the Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division. The Cabinet Division has drafted a Civil Registration Ordinance to centralize services such as national ID, birth and death registration, marriage and divorce registration, and unique ID issuance. Following this move, EC officials and employees staged a protest on Thursday, demanding that NID services remain under the Election Commission’s authority.

Dhaka University students organized a stick march in protest against rape and violence against women. The demonstration began at the Raju Memorial Sculpture near TSC at around 2:45 PM, moving through VC Square, Nilkhet, Katabon, and Shahbagh before returning to the starting point. The protesters demanded the removal of Advisor Jahangir Alam Chowdhury and the establishment of a fast-track tribunal for rape cases. Their nine-point demand also included effective measures to combat sexual violence, robbery, and theft; necessary amendments to existing laws; institutional reforms; and proper implementation of the Witness Protection Act to ensure the safety of victims and witnesses.

The Finance Ministry announced that government employees, including those in semi-government and autonomous institutions, will receive their March 2025 salaries in advance on March 23 ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr. Pensioners will also receive their payments on the same date.

The Ministry of Home Affairs announced on Sunday that the “Special Security Guidelines 2025” for VIPs and distinguished individuals have been revoked. The decision follows recent controversy surrounding a directive that allegedly violated judicial protocols by undermining the Chief Justice’s authority. The High Court has summoned Senior Secretary Nasimul Gani of the Public Security Division to explain the directive on March 18. Additionally, the court has issued a suo moto rule questioning the legality of the canceled guidelines.

Students at Chittagong University staged a protest march demanding swift execution of rapists, particularly in light of the rape and murder of eight-year-old Achiya in Magura. Protesters chanted slogans such as “Who are you? Who am I? We are Achiya,” and “Justice! Justice! We want justice!” The demonstration concluded with a gathering at Zero Point, where student leaders demanded immediate legal action against rapists.

At an OIC Foreign Ministers’ meeting on Friday, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan strongly opposed Israel’s occupation plans in Gaza, calling them “completely unacceptable.” He stressed that the root cause of the crisis is Israeli occupation and called for international efforts to prevent further annexation of Palestinian territories. He also rejected any attempts to alter the historical and political status of Al-Haram Al-Sharif in Jerusalem.

Home Adviser Jahangir Alam declared that rapists will find no refuge in Bangladesh. Referring to a recent case in Magura, he confirmed that all suspects have been arrested and will face maximum legal punishment. The government has adopted a “zero tolerance” policy on sexual violence, instructing law enforcement to take swift action against offenders. He also reaffirmed that banned extremist group Hizb ut-Tahrir will not be allowed to operate politically under any circumstances.

Mozammel Haque Manik, a schoolteacher accused of raping a fifth-grade student, was physically assaulted by an enraged crowd while being taken to court in Thakurgaon on Sunday. He was later sent to jail. Meanwhile, students and locals staged a human chain protest in front of the District Commissioner’s office, demanding the harshest punishment. District Commissioner Ishrat Farzana assured that no loophole in the law would allow the perpetrator to escape justice.

In a statement on Sunday, Hefazat-e-Islam emphasized that Islam mandates public punishment for rapists. Quoting the Quran, they stated: “Let no pity deter you from carrying out the punishment in accordance with Allah’s command, and let a group of believers witness it” (Surah An-Nur, Ayah 2). They also referenced Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), who sentenced a rapist to death. The statement called for the public execution of former RAB officer Alep Uddin, accused of raping a woman after threatening to kill her husband in a staged ‘crossfire’ incident. Hefazat blamed the rise in rape cases on a culture of impunity.

Information Adviser Mahfuz Alam has announced that the government will take a firm stance against all forms of mob justice. “The law is blind; it does not consider race, religion, gender, or status. Anyone involved in mob justice will be brought under legal action,” he stated following a meeting with the Chief Adviser. He also warned that any attempts to incite chaos, including surrounding police stations or triggering unrest, will be met with strict action.