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.

Central President of Islami Chhatra Shibir, Zahidul Islam, claimed that the 1971 issue centered around figures like Tikka Khan and Bhutto, who directly facilitated genocide in Bangladesh. Speaking on a talk show, he asserted that those responsible for the genocide must be held accountable. He further argued that since Sheikh Mujibur Rahman released 195 identified war criminals, he should be posthumously tried if held responsible for that decision. Zahidul also praised Ziaur Rahman, stating that he had dismantled divisive politics and initiated inclusive governance.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced plans to increase the UK’s defense budget by 2027 to counter Russian aggression. Addressing Parliament on Tuesday, Starmer stated that Russia’s threats have been evident through three years of war in Ukraine. The UK will raise its defense spending by $17 billion annually and reallocate development aid to increase the defense budget from 2.3% to 2.5% of GDP. He justified this move as necessary to deter authoritarian leaders like Vladimir Putin and proposed sending British troops to Ukraine to help maintain the ceasefire.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has expressed support for Bangladesh’s reform initiatives under Interim Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus. In a letter responding to an earlier communication from Yunus, Guterres acknowledged receipt through his special representative on the Rohingya crisis, Khalilur Rahman. The Secretary-General reaffirmed the UN’s commitment to Bangladesh’s reform process and highlighted ongoing concerns over the Rohingya humanitarian situation. He also confirmed his planned visit to Bangladesh in March.

Israel has set four conditions for the second phase of the ceasefire in Gaza, including the removal of Hamas from the territory. Israeli Minister Eli Cohen warned that if these conditions were not met, the ceasefire agreement could collapse. The conditions include:
1. The release of all Israeli hostages taken on or before October 7.
2. The removal of Hamas from Gaza.
3. The complete demilitarization of Gaza.
4. Full Israeli control over the territory.
On October 7, Hamas launched an attack on Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. The first phase of the ceasefire saw the release of 31 hostages, while nearly 50,000 Hamas members were reportedly killed in Israeli operations.

Following Nahid Islam’s resignation from the advisory council to join a political party, Indian journalist Arka Dev recalled meeting him and the scars from his July 22 ordeal. In a social media post, he expressed suspicion toward those who conveniently forget the brutality Nahid endured. Dev remarked that Nahid and his comrades had fought through hardships, embracing known and unknown martyrs in their struggle to form a government—right or wrong, at least they tried. He noted that Nahid and Mahfuz had internal conflicts but ultimately chose the difficult path, abandoning government privileges to seek new possibilities.

A Sudanese military aircraft crashed near Wadi Sayidna Air Base on the outskirts of Khartoum, killing at least 10 people, including civilians, democracy activists reported. Several others were injured. Military sources cited a technical failure as the cause of the crash, which also damaged nearby homes. Residents reported a loud explosion that disrupted local electricity supply.

Syria is witnessing a historic opportunity for reconstruction, said Interim President Ahmed Al-Sharaa during a national conference of Islamist leaders. Hundreds of Syrians walked the red carpet at the event held at the Presidential Palace, a rare sight since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government last year following the HTS-led coup. In his opening speech, Al-Sharaa declared that Syria has “freed itself on its own.”

Shafiqul Alam, Press Secretary to the Chief Adviser, has alleged that large-scale corruption occurred in Bangladesh’s power and energy sector under state patronage. Speaking at the NEC Conference Room in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, he emphasized the government’s commitment to finding a sustainable solution for the power crisis. He stated that discussions with major companies are underway to drill more gas wells. Efforts are also being made to increase efficiency at Chattogram Port to attract foreign investment. Former Minister Saifuzzaman’s involvement in bank fraud through tunnel projects was also mentioned. Alam described the current economic recovery as nothing short of a “miracle.”

Tasnuva Maha, the wife of Major Tanvir Haidar Noor, who was killed in the Pilkhana massacre, has strongly criticized the recent remarks by the Army Chief, calling them deeply insulting.

“The soldiers of Pilkhana could never have carried out such an attack,” she stated on Tuesday. She further revealed, “Hindi-speaking individuals entered my room. In the three and a half years I lived in Pilkhana with my husband, I never heard any BDR member speak Hindi. But on February 25, I distinctly heard three people speaking in Hindi. My husband had called me and mentioned ‘NSG’ and ‘Indian.’ Doesn’t this prove who was behind the attack?”

Tasnuva also alleged that ISPR had obstructed the broadcast of her speech, her son was unfairly disqualified from ISSB, and she feels unsafe. She expressed concerns about the ongoing investigation, citing lack of cooperation and transparency.

On Tuesday, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth visited the Guantanamo Bay Naval Station in Cuba. During his visit, Hegseth emphasized that protecting American sovereign territory remains a top priority for the Pentagon. He stated, “The department has taken swift action to implement President Trump’s executive order on border security.”

As part of his trip, Hegseth met with officials directly involved in arresting and deporting dangerous illegal immigrants. His visit follows Trump’s recent directive to construct a detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, designed to house at least 30,000 of the “most dangerous” illegal immigrant criminals deemed a threat to the U.S.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has proposed replacing the EB-5 visa program with a new “Gold Card” that would grant eventual U.S. citizenship to foreign investors willing to pay $5 million. Trump argues that instead of gaining citizenship by creating jobs through the EB-5 visa program, wealthy individuals should be able to directly purchase the right to live in the U.S. The EB-5 program, which was introduced by Congress in 1990, allows investors to obtain a U.S. Green Card by making job-creating investments.

The Palestinian resistance group Hamas announced on Tuesday that it has reached an agreement with Israel regarding the release of four Israeli hostages and over 600 Palestinian prisoners. According to the statement, Palestinian prisoners will be released in exchange for the bodies of deceased Israeli hostages. The deal also includes the release of a number of Palestinian women and children. Israel has requested that the bodies of the hostages be transferred via the Red Cross through Egypt. In the previous exchange agreement, Hamas released Israeli hostages, but Israel failed to release the promised 600 Palestinian prisoners.