In a Facebook post, Tarique Rahman urged the interim government to take immediate steps to ensure the safety of every mother, sister, and daughter in the country. He expressed deep sorrow, shame, and grief over the tragic death of an 8-year-old girl after being raped in Bangladesh. Rahman emphasized that children and women should never face violence, harassment, or oppression. He pledged to work for justice for the victims and mentioned that the BNP has formed two cells – one for medical assistance and the other for legal support.

Following the efforts of Shamsul Huda of Dhaka, the body of Indian national Bijli Kumar Roy, who passed away in jail, was returned to his family. Roy had served a one-year sentence for illegal entry in 2021. Due to a mistake in his address, he couldn’t be sent back to India until now. After falling ill, he was admitted to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital, where he passed away on January 15. His elder brother, Badri Roy, received the body in the presence of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and Border Security Force (BSF). Huda has helped return 43 out of 52 such cases to their families.

The Principal of Shreepur Liberation War Veteran Rahmat Ali Government College, Md. Nurunnabi Akand, has gone missing with important college documents and a massive sum of 50 crore taka. Several murder cases have been filed against him at the Shreepur police station after the fall of the League government. Previously, in 2009, he ousted the former principal after harassment. During his tenure, he operated an extensive hiring racket, recruiting 87 people, including family members, through unethical demands. From 2007 to 2023, he embezzled 200 crore taka. In 2023, he was involved in corruption worth nearly 2 crore taka through fraudulent vouchers. Between 2016 and 2022, he misappropriated 44 crore 55 lakh 50 thousand taka from the college fund. He is now absconding without providing an account of the 50 crore taka.

The Islamabad High Court had ordered that former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan be presented either via video call by 2 PM or in person by 3 PM on Friday. However, prison authorities failed to comply, citing security risks. Islamabad’s Advocate General stated that security concerns made it impossible to bring Khan physically or connect him via video call. The court has now ordered Adiala Jail’s superintendent and the advocate general to submit affidavits explaining the failure to comply with its directive.

Protests erupted in Kishoreganj against BNP advisor Advocate Fazlur Rahman over his controversial remarks about Islamic scholars. Demonstrators, under the banner of ‘Tawhidi Public,’ declared Rahman an ‘unwelcome’ figure in the district and his parliamentary constituency. Protesters emphasized that their movement is not against BNP but against Rahman himself. Religious leader Maulana Mazhar Shah stated that Rahman’s remarks insulted scholars and questioned his use of “Rahman” in his name, accusing him of being anti-Islamic.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has formed two specialized cells to address issues related to women and children. Ruhul Kabir Rizvi announced that these units, composed of legal experts and medical professionals, have been established in all 84 organizational districts. The two units are: the ‘Legal Assistance Cell for Oppressed Women and Children’ and the ‘Health Support Cell for Oppressed Women and Children.’ The central coordinators of these initiatives are Barrister Kaiser Kamal and Rafiqul Islam.

Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has criticized the administration, stating that criminals are being emboldened by weak and sluggish law enforcement. Referring to the case of Achia, who died after being assaulted, Rizvi said the nation cannot accept such incidents. He added that people expected swift implementation of the rule of law at the grassroots level, but the government’s failure has encouraged criminals. Rizvi further alleged that the ruling party has distorted the country’s peace and stability over the last 16 years, prioritizing political interests over justice.

NC Party leader Abdul Hannan Masud has warned against excessive civility in political discourse. He criticized the media establishment allegedly created by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, urging opposition figures not to reinforce its foundations under the guise of politeness. In a social media post tagging Hasnat Abdullah, Masud wrote, “If you truly aim to rebuild this collapsing system for the next generation, then the current media establishment must be dismantled and reconstructed from scratch.”

Government-affiliated organizations, including the banned student wing and elements of the ruling party, are allegedly conspiring to destabilize the nation, now joined by activists from the Shahbagh Gonojagoron Mancha and some left-wing factions. Young protesters have vowed to prevent these groups from infiltrating demonstrations. Inspector General of Police (IGP) Baharul Alam stated that authorities are identifying those instigating attacks on law enforcement. A case has been filed against 12 individuals, and the investigation will determine the involvement of any Shahbagh affiliates or other groups.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has accused Tulip Siddiq of using fraudulent notarized documents to transfer government-owned land to her sister. The investigation, which focuses on illegal allotment of state property, revealed that Siddiq allegedly leveraged her political influence to secure plots in Dhaka’s Purbachal New Town Project for herself and her family. Previously, she resigned from her UK ministerial position amid an ongoing ethical misconduct inquiry.

Reports surfaced that a news anchor and two other employees were dismissed from a television channel after an on-air controversy involving NC Party’s chief organizers, Hasnat Abdullah (South) and Sarjis Alam (North). However, Hasnat Abdullah himself has now urged the reinstatement of the dismissed anchor. He stated, “We fought for the right to express differing opinions, not just for freedom of speech but also for the freedom to dissent.”

At Dhaka University (DU), student organization Islami Chhatra Shibir organized an Iftar event on Thursday, where students received food boxes along with a 500 BDT cash note. The event was reportedly funded by a Turkish organization, TIKA.

Approximately 1,500 students attended the gathering, which stood out for its scale and unique approach. A viral video showed students standing in line, collecting their Iftar packs and cash, with visible expressions of joy.

Tarique Rahman has strongly condemned the tragic death of eight-year-old Achiya in Magura, who was a victim of sexual assault. Expressing his grief and outrage, he stated, “Like the rest of the nation, I am deeply shaken by this inhumane act. Such brutality cannot be tolerated.” The horrific incident has sparked nationwide protests, from cities to rural areas.

Rahman also revealed that upon learning about the case, he pledged medical and legal assistance for the victim. He accused past authoritarian governments of failing to hold rapists accountable, thereby enabling the repetition of such crimes. He reiterated the need for justice and stronger protections for women and children.

Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) General Secretary Nasir Uddin Nasir has criticized a newly formed political party, accusing it of lacking originality and being intolerant of criticism.

Nasir argued that the party has merely adopted the same policies once introduced by BNP founder Ziaur Rahman. “Whenever they face criticism, they deflect by pointing out the flaws of older parties to justify their own mistakes,” he claimed.

He further questioned the party’s stance on foreign policy, arguing that they have yet to provide a clear direction on their governance strategy if elected. Nasir also expressed concerns about the sources of funding backing this new party.

BNP leader Abdul Moin Khan has declared that autocratic rule has no future in Bangladesh, crediting sustained movements and public resistance for forcing authoritarian regimes to flee.

Speaking at an event, Moin Khan recalled how unified pro-democracy forces, particularly students, played a pivotal role in the final push against dictatorship. He compared the recent protests to historic prison breaks, citing the storming of the Narsingdi Jail on July 19 as a turning point in the fight for democracy.

“There is no greater right than the right of the people,” he affirmed.