On Thursday at 11:00 AM, Advisor Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan visited the grave of martyr Abrar Fahad in Kumarkhali, Kushtia. Following the visit, he met with Abrar’s family members and inaugurated an expansion project for the Abrar Fahad Jame Mosque.

Later, he attended the opening ceremony at the Abrar Fahad Stadium, located beside the Kushtia-Jhenaidah highway. He is also scheduled to hold a discussion session with various officials during his visit.

The government has warned launch operators against charging extra fares during Eid travel. Brigadier General (Retd.) Dr. M Sakhawat Hossain stated that fare charts must be publicly displayed, and violations will lead to fines and route permit cancellations. Authorities will also enforce traffic regulations at Sadarghat and prohibit speedboats and bulkheads from operating at night. Fitness inspections for launches will begin immediately. Officials have assured strict action, including license suspension, against those who break regulations or disrupt transport order.

The High Court has summoned Senior Home Secretary Nasimul Gani for demeaning and disrespecting the Chief Justice and the judiciary in a state security directive. A joint High Court bench comprising Justice Fatema Nazib and Justice Shikdar Mahmudur Raji issued the order on Thursday, directing the Home Secretary to appear in court on March 18.

According to lawyer Shishir Monir, the state security directive issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs on March 2 placed the Chief Justice below the Home Secretary and Range DIG in terms of status. However, according to the state’s hierarchy of ranks, the Chief Justice holds a much higher position.

A Dhaka University (DU) staff member arrested for harassing a female student was granted bail within 24 hours of his arrest. The accused, Mostafa Asif Arnab, was taken into custody following allegations that he verbally harassed the student in front of the Raju Memorial Sculpture on March 5. According to the complaint, he confronted her about not wearing a veil and made inappropriate remarks. When she attempted to call the university proctor, he fled the scene. Later, the proctor handed him over to Shahbagh police. Despite police efforts to keep him in custody, the court granted him bail soon after his arrest.

Thirteen fishermen, stranded at sea for four days after their fishing trawler’s engine failed, were rescued by the Bangladesh Coast Guard near Dublarchar in the Sundarbans. The fishing boat MV Ma Babar Doa had been drifting helplessly when an emergency call was made to the national helpline (999). Acting on the distress call, a four-member rescue team from the Coast Guard’s western zone reached the scene and successfully rescued all 13 crew members. The fishermen were later taken to safety along with their vessel.

The death toll in Gaza has risen to 48,450 after 30 more bodies were recovered from the rubble. According to reports, four more Palestinians were killed in Israeli shelling in the past 48 hours, while another wounded victim succumbed to injuries. The ongoing ceasefire agreement has halted the mass killings that lasted over 15 months, but search and rescue operations continue to recover bodies from destroyed areas.

The Bangladeshi government has formed 15 reform commissions to prevent further human rights violations, with six commissions already submitting their reports. These reports align with findings from the United Nations Human Rights High Commissioner. Legal Advisor Asif Nazrul stated that Bangladesh will work even more closely with the UN Human Rights Office to implement these reforms. He made these remarks at the “Charting the Path Forward” event, attended by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk. The event also screened the documentary Jatrabari: An Evidence to Massacre, created by journalist David Bergman.

A Dhaka University student was harassed on the street for her choice of clothing, leading to the arrest of the perpetrator, Mostafa Asif Arnob (25). A group of people gathered at Shahbagh Police Station late at night, demanding his release. After an eight-hour protest, they dispersed around 9:30 AM. Shahbagh Police Station’s officer-in-charge confirmed that Arnob had been presented in court. University authorities handed him over to the police on Wednesday evening after he stopped the female student on the street and aggressively criticized her attire, accusing her of not adhering to conservative dress codes. Arnob worked as a bookbinder at the university’s central library.

In an interview with BBC on Thursday, Professor Muhammad Yunus stated that it is up to the Awami League to decide whether they want to participate in the upcoming elections. “I cannot make that decision for them,” he said. He further clarified that it is the Election Commission’s responsibility to determine which parties can contest the elections. The chief advisor mentioned that the national parliamentary elections are scheduled to take place between December this year and March next year. Reflecting on his initial experience in governance, he admitted to being unprepared for the challenges but emphasized that restoring law and order and stabilizing the economy were top priorities for the new government.

The U.S. Trump administration is set to deport undocumented Bangladeshi immigrants, similar to nationals of other countries residing illegally. The U.S. Embassy in Dhaka recently informed the Bangladesh government about the deportation process. However, the exact number of Bangladeshi immigrants facing deportation and the timeline for the process remain unclear. An inter-ministerial meeting, chaired by Home Affairs Advisor Jahangir Alam, was held at the Secretariat on Wednesday to discuss the matter. The Bangladeshi government has agreed to take back its citizens but has requested that they not be deported in shackles, as seen in the case of Indian nationals. The U.S. has agreed to this request.

An armed man was severely beaten by locals in Dhaka’s Moghbazar area on Wednesday night after a mosque loudspeaker announcement alerted residents. Police sources identified the injured man as Mahfuzur Rahman, an associate of top criminal Subrata Bain. He was taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital for initial treatment. Following the incident, police and military forces launched an operation in the Moghbazar T&T Colony area, which is still ongoing. After receiving medical attention, Rahman was handed over to his family.

Hundreds of women took to the streets in a torch rally, demanding a complete ban on public smoking. Local residents joined the protest in solidarity, urging strict enforcement of Bangladesh’s Tobacco Control Act (2005). Protesters called for a nationwide smoking ban in public places and strict measures against illegal drug dealers. They also voiced concerns over the rampant spread of drugs in the Lalmatia area, where young boys and girls are openly using narcotics, leading to a rise in juvenile delinquency.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a final warning to Hamas, demanding the immediate release of all Israeli hostages held in Gaza. In a statement, he urged Hamas leaders to free the captives and leave Gaza, emphasizing that the people of Gaza have a chance at a better future. “A bright future awaits you, but if you keep the hostages, that won’t happen. If you take such actions, you are dead!” Trump wrote. Meanwhile, for the first time since 1997, his administration has engaged in direct talks with Hamas. On the other hand, Israel has imposed a blockade on Gaza, causing severe shortages of food and humanitarian aid.

On Wednesday, Shahadat Hossain (27), a leader of the anti-discrimination student movement, was brutally attacked in Tongi over a minor dispute. The victim has filed a formal complaint at Tongi East Police Station. Shahadat stated that his motorcycle was rear-ended by a pickup van, and when he protested, the driver and a group of garage owners launched an armed attack on him. He sustained serious injuries to his hands, back, and head and is currently receiving medical treatment.

A devastating fire broke out late at night in a slum near the Shahi Mosque in Gabtali. Eight fire service units have been deployed to control the blaze. Fire service officer Rakibul Hasan confirmed the incident, stating that they received the fire alert at 3:08 AM at Abdullah Slum in Gabtali. Immediate response teams rushed to the scene and worked tirelessly to contain the flames. The cause of the fire and details on casualties remain unknown. According to the latest reports, the fire has been extinguished.