During an early morning visit to Mirpur, Darus Salam, Adabor, and Mohammadpur police stations on Thursday, the Home Affairs Advisor instructed law enforcement agencies to remain alert to maintain order. He emphasized that the police must ensure people can sleep peacefully and move about without fear. As part of these efforts, monitoring and patrolling have been intensified, and ministry officials have been assigned specific responsibilities. The Advisor warned that those attempting to destabilize the situation would be arrested. While joint operations will cease once conditions improve, other security operations will continue as planned.

Bangladesh Police have arrested 678 individuals in the past 24 hours under Operation ‘Devil Hunt.’ An additional 1,012 people were apprehended under various other charges, bringing the total to 1,690. Law enforcement also seized firearms, including a 4.5mm pistol, a shotgun, and a locally made single-barrel gun, along with ammunition. Authorities confiscated multiple sharp weapons, including machetes, knives, and iron rods.

A young man named Momenul Islam Mokmin (28) was brutally hacked to death in Ashulia due to an ongoing dispute. Police have arrested six suspects linked to the murder. According to locals, the prime suspect, Rubel, had been pressuring Mokmin to join his drug business. Mokmin refused, leading to a deadly confrontation. He was attacked on Tuesday night and succumbed to his injuries hours later.

A group of veiled women in Jessore, led by Musammat Anjuara Begum and Rajiyatunnesa, held a human chain protest demanding fingerprint-based national ID verification instead of facial recognition. They submitted a memorandum to the district election office, citing discrimination against fully covered women. Protesters claimed that thousands of veiled women have been denied citizenship rights for 16 years and face educational discrimination. They urged authorities to make fingerprint authentication mandatory and ensure female officials handle the process.

Following the resignation of Nahid Islam, Mahfuz Alam has been appointed as the new Adviser to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. The Cabinet Division announced the appointment on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications remains under the advisory leadership of Dr. Muhammad Yunus. Nahid Islam resigned from both ministries on February 25 and is expected to lead a new political party launching on February 28.

The World Bank has pledged support for the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) to restore canals, prevent water pollution, and promote sustainable urban development. In a meeting with DNCC Administrator Mohammad Ejaz, World Bank representatives discussed collaborative efforts to combat waterlogging and pollution. Key figures in the delegation included senior water specialists Harsh Goel, David Malcolm Lord, and Arif Ahmed.

In a dramatic incident at the Gazipur District Court, attackers attempted to abduct two recently bailed individuals. The victims, Milon Mia (35) and Babul Mia (40), were brutally beaten and stabbed by the plaintiff’s side, causing panic in the courtroom. Lawyers and bystanders intervened to rescue the victims, while the attackers fled. CCTV footage reportedly shows police present but failing to take action.

China has issued a strong warning after Taiwan announced plans to purchase $7-10 billion worth of weapons from the United States. Chinese State Council spokesperson Zhu Fenglian stated that such deals will not protect Taiwan’s pro-independence forces. She warned that Taiwan remains a mere pawn in a geopolitical game and that China’s 1.4 billion people will never accept its separation. Meanwhile, Taiwan’s leader, Lai Ching-te, dismissed the claims, asserting that Taiwan is not a chess piece but a player in its own right.

In a shocking incident in Rajbari, a mob attacked the Detective Branch (DB) police and freed a detainee. Sub-Inspector Wahidul Hasan was injured in the assault, which took place Wednesday morning in Kazibadha village, Ramkantapur Union. According to the police, the suspect, Farid Sheikh, was caught red-handed with 310 yaba pills and four bottles of Phensedyl. However, as officers attempted to transport him, his family members, both men and women, launched a violent attack. Later, the police returned with female officers and successfully detained the attackers.

A massive fire on February 24 has left Sajek Valley in ruins. The administration has provided aid to affected residents, including BDT 7,000 in cash and 30 kg of rice per household. Initially, travel restrictions were imposed on Monday night for tourist safety, but they were lifted on Tuesday after a situation review. The fire destroyed 98 structures, including 35 resorts and cottages, 36 homes, 7 restaurants, and 20 shops. Many displaced families have taken shelter in local temples and churches.

In a Facebook post on Wednesday, recently resigned Information Adviser Nahid Islam publicly disclosed his financial records. He stated that before assuming the advisory role, he did not have a bank account. On August 21, he opened an account with Sonali Bank to receive his official honorarium. According to his statement, the account received a total deposit of ৳10,06,886 and withdrawals amounted to ৳9,96,188. Nahid clarified that he has no other accounts and that no new properties have been purchased by his family. Additionally, he mentioned that detailed financial records of his personal staff and associates are available and will be made public if necessary.

Dr. Abdul Momen, Chairman of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), has stated that the ACC is yet to be recognized as a constitutional body. Expressing hope that it will gain this status soon, he emphasized that this would significantly enhance its scope of work. Speaking at a public hearing in Pabna, he acknowledged that the commission is striving to act fairly and independently within its current limitations. Referring to politically motivated cases, he warned that blindly following past examples could lead to similar consequences.

On Wednesday, over 50 injured protesters and family members of the July movement staged a sit-in outside Gate 1 of the Chief Adviser’s office, carrying banners, placards, and the national flag.

Lieutenant General (Retd.) Abdul Hafiz, the Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser, met with the protesters and assured them that their demands would be formally conveyed to the relevant ministries.

“I am personally accepting these demands and will ensure they reach the appropriate authorities,” he said, acknowledging the contributions of the injured protesters in the movement.

However, the demonstrators remain firm, stating they will not leave until their demands are fulfilled.

The admission process for the 2024-25 academic year under the cluster system for 19 general, science, and technology universities has been officially announced.

Online applications will open on March 5 at 12 PM and close on March 15 at 11:59 PM. No extensions will be granted.

The entrance exam will cover three subjects: Humanities, Commerce, and Science. Admission tests will be conducted directly at public universities, with question papers based on the Higher Secondary curriculum.

The application fee is set at 1,500 BDT, payable online. Additionally, students applying for the Architecture department must pay an extra 500 BDT for the practical (drawing) test.

Students at Khulna University of Engineering & Technology (KUET) began vacating their dormitories after the university administration announced an indefinite shutdown on Tuesday. Additional police forces have been deployed at the campus gates. Students stated they were leaving for their own safety. The shutdown follows a violent clash on February 18, prompting student protests with a six-point demand, including the appointment of a new Vice-Chancellor and Pro-Vice-Chancellor. The university’s emergency syndicate meeting justified the decision as a security measure.