A court has granted a seven-day remand for Hitu Sheikh, the prime accused in the Magura child rape case, while three other accused have been placed on five-day remands. The remand hearing took place on Sunday night. The accused include the child’s brother-in-law Sajib Hossain (18), her sister’s father-in-law Hitu Mia (42), a 17-year-old minor, and their mother Jabeida Begum (40). According to the victim’s family, the incident took place last Thursday when the child visited her sister’s home in Nijnanduali village near Magura.

A female garment worker was killed and another injured after being hit by a truck at the Banani Chairmanbari U-turn on Monday. In protest, garment workers blocked both sides of the Chairmanbari road and halted traffic on the Elevated Expressway, causing severe congestion. The deceased was identified as Minara Akter, while the injured worker, Sumaiya Akter, has been admitted to Kurmitola General Hospital. Police are trying to control the situation.

Syeda Rizwana Hasan, environmental adviser, has emphasized the urgent need to increase the use of jute-based products to mitigate the harmful effects of plastic pollution. She highlighted that promoting the widespread use of jute in everyday products is crucial for ensuring sustainable development.

The government, she noted, is working to make affordable jute products more accessible to the public. Rizwana Hasan also pointed out that jute is a symbol of Bangladesh’s heritage and a promising sector for an eco-friendly economy. She urged entrepreneurs to invest in this industry and expand the market for jute-based products both locally and internationally.

Just four days after its official maiden flight, aviation innovator Julhas Molla’s homemade aircraft once again took to the skies. On Sunday, the aircraft soared over the Jamuna riverbank in Jafarganj, with retired Bangladesh Biman pilot Captain Abdullah Al Faruq and officials from the Civil Aviation Authority in attendance. Captain Faruq praised Julhas’ research and emphasized the importance of further development.

During the event, Julhas took his mother and younger brother on an aerial tour aboard a BCL Aviation R66 helicopter while receiving valuable insights on aviation. In recognition of his achievements, software development company BongTis presented Julhas with a check of 50,000 BDT.

A massive fire broke out at Aturar Depot in the Amin Jute Mill area of Chattogram’s Bayezid Bostami police precinct on Sunday at 2:50 PM, reducing 12 shops to ashes. The Fire Service was alerted at 2:58 PM, and eight units from four fire stations—Bayezid Bostami, Kalurghat, and Agrabad—were deployed to control the blaze. Initial reports indicate that the affected shops primarily sold jute, bamboo, and rice husks. Firefighters continued dampening operations late into the evening. Fortunately, no casualties were reported.

At least four Pakistani soldiers were killed in an attack by the Taliban in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, according to an AFP report. The region shares a border with Afghanistan and has witnessed increasing violence in recent years. A senior official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that seven others were injured. Since the Taliban regained power in Afghanistan, violent incidents in Pakistan have surged. The outlawed Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) remains highly active in the country’s northwest, frequently targeting security forces.

A 14-year-old boy has been arrested in New York for allegedly shooting and killing a detective. The incident occurred last Friday night during an exchange of gunfire between police officers and a group of suspects. The deceased officer, 26-year-old Joseph Azcona, had served as a detective in the police department for five years. Authorities confirmed that four additional individuals connected to the incident are now in custody. The teen suspect faces charges of attempted murder and illegal firearm possession.

Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk has once again urged the United States to withdraw from NATO. In a recent post on X, Musk, who was a key figure in the Trump administration’s Department of Energy, reiterated his stance. Earlier, on March 2, he also posted that it was time for the U.S. to exit both the United Nations and NATO. His remarks have fueled debates over the future of the 32-member military alliance. Meanwhile, former U.S. President Donald Trump discussed NATO membership with allied nations on March 6, warning that he would not fund the defense of NATO members who fail to meet their financial commitments.

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.

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.