Facing unrelenting student protests for 29 consecutive days, the Ministry of Education announced late Tuesday night that Dr. Sucharita Sharmin has been relieved of her duties as Vice Chancellor of Barishal University and returned to her previous post. The official notification will be published on the ministry’s website shortly. Additionally, 11 faculty members have resigned from their administrative positions. Earlier in the day, students blocked the Barishal-Kuakata Highway adjacent to the campus from 4:30 PM to 9:00 PM as part of their protest program demanding the VC's removal. A hunger strike was also underway during the demonstration.

Five students of Barishal University have fallen seriously ill during a hunger strike demanding the resignation of Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. Suchita Sharmin. As the protest enters its 29th day, students have also blocked the highway and initiated an academic and administrative shutdown, bringing campus operations to a halt. Eleven students began the indefinite hunger strike on the ground floor of the university on Monday night. Faculty, staff, and other employees have since expressed solidarity with the movement.

Hefazat-e-Islam leader Azizul Haque Islamabadi has condemned the labeling of dissenters as "pro-Pakistani," calling it an attempt to revive an Indian narrative in Bangladesh. “Indian media routinely brands anti-fascist and anti-hegemonic movements in Bangladesh as pro-Pakistan. This tactic is now being echoed locally,” he stated. Islamabadi noted that such rhetoric was used in the past to justify the persecution and execution of top Islamic figures under fascist regimes. “There is no such thing as ‘pro-Pakistan’ in Bangladesh. We call upon all anti-fascist groups to unite on the principles of 1947, 1971, and 2024 to build a pro-Bangladesh political culture,” he added.

Political analyst Professor Ali Riaz stated that the National Consensus Commission is committed to ensuring equal rights for all citizens through the establishment of a democratic and accountable state. “We are working on a framework to protect these rights,” he said. The commission aims to draft a national charter that outlines the vision for a future Bangladesh. “This initiative to reform the state structure is part of the long-standing struggle of political parties,” he added. The aspirations became especially prominent following the mass uprisings in July and August 2024.

In a joint operation by Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) and Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), a crackdown was launched against illegal battery-powered rickshaws. DNCC Administrator Md. Ejaz stated that with the help of DESCO, unauthorized charging stations and production workshops will be shut down. He reiterated that rickshaws will not be allowed on main roads and must operate only on inner roads. "Battery-powered rickshaws are responsible for 20% of road accidents, disproportionately affecting women and children," he said. DNCC, in collaboration with BUET, has approved safe rickshaw designs for select manufacturers. By the end of this month, training programs for rickshaw drivers will begin. Only those who complete the training will receive valid licenses and be allowed to operate approved rickshaws in designated zones.

Development adviser Farida Akhter has said that Bangladesh does not need to adopt modern cattle breeds at the expense of its native ones. "Our focus should be on preserving indigenous cattle while ensuring adequate milk and meat production," she stated. Akhter rejected claims that native breeds are disappearing, saying that foreign breeds have been aggressively introduced under the guise of modernization. "Those promoting foreign breeds have often undermined the value of local cattle, now claiming farmers are uninformed," she added. She emphasized the need for region-based conservation programs and questioned why farmers aren't being incentivized to rear native breeds.

The Ministry of Housing and Public Works has ordered a full audit of the National Housing Authority’s income and expenditures from 2009 to 2024. The ministry directed that detailed information about the pre-formed audit team be submitted prior to the commencement of the review. The National Housing Authority must be kept informed of the audit process, which is to be completed within three months. Upon completion, the Internal Audit Directorate will submit a comprehensive report to the ministry secretary.

The political platform 'July Unity' has called for a ban on the 14-party alliance, including the Jatiya Party, and the cancellation of their political registration. Organizer Mosaddek Ali stated that the Awami League cannot evade responsibility for decades of oppression and wrongdoing. The leaders emphasized that the true reflection of public sentiment would come only when the Awami League is permanently banned from politics. They also demanded that the July declaration be adopted within 30 working days. Additionally, July Unity proposed a meeting with ICT prosecutors to assess progress on trials related to the Awami League. Other demands include freeing the media and cultural space from fascist influence, ensuring justice for all genocides and corruption cases, and bringing collaborators within the secretariat under the law.

With the dissolution of the National Board of Revenue (NBR), two new departments—Revenue Policy Division and Revenue Administration Division—have been formed. Finance Adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed stated that the move was strategic and would not hamper revenue collection. “At the very least, we expect collection to be on par with last year,” he said, noting that separating policy and administration is a common practice globally. He also emphasized a more cautious fiscal approach, saying, “We won’t take loans for mega projects or print money to implement the budget. Whether the budget is large or small will become clear soon.”

In the Romna Batamul bombing case, the High Court has commuted the death sentences of convicts Maulana Tajuddin and Shahadat Ullah Jewel to life imprisonment. Nine other convicts have been sentenced to 10 years in prison and fined Tk 50,000 each. The bombing occurred during the Pahela Baishakh celebrations organized by Chhayanaut on April 14, 2001, killing nine people on the spot and one more later in hospital.

Chief Prosecutor Tajul Islam clarified that “mass murder” refers to mass killings, whereas “genocide” implies ethnic cleansing. He asserted that what occurred in Bangladesh in July was a mass murder—not genocide. “Please don’t spread confusion,” he urged. Earlier, Chinese authorities also commented that the crimes committed in Bangladesh constituted crimes against humanity, not genocide, categorizing them as mass killings or massacres.

Health Adviser Noorjahan Begum stated that access to healthcare services—from admission to treatment—is still not easily available to the general public. “Many doctors fail to arrive on time. Reforms must begin internally, or else changing leadership will make no difference,” she said. She emphasized the need to assign responsibilities to competent professionals and to post qualified doctors to remote areas, even with higher salaries if necessary. The adviser added that the government plans to introduce advanced technology-based services such as robotic physiotherapy to reduce the need for citizens to seek treatment abroad. A proposal to increase doctors’ salaries has been made and is expected to be implemented soon.

Amid ongoing tensions, the US State Department has imposed fresh sanctions on Iran. The sanctions target three senior officials and one organization associated with Iran’s military arms research. Their assets in the US have been frozen, and they are barred from entering the country or engaging in financial transactions with any US entities. US Secretary of State remarked, “Iran is the only country in the world without nuclear weapons that possesses a stockpile of 60% enriched uranium.”

Following a ceasefire, senior military officials from Pakistan and India held discussions via a hotline to explore the possibility of immediate troop withdrawals from border and forward areas. According to the Indian Army, both sides committed to avoiding gunfire and aggressive conduct. Notably, Sunday marked the first peaceful night along the border in recent days.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation regarding ‘Operation Sindoor,’ emphasizing that the operation has only been suspended, not concluded. “Pakistan must understand—our strikes are not over,” Modi warned. He stated that future assessments of Pakistan’s actions will depend on its sincerity in tackling terrorism. “If Pakistan backtracks or deceives, we will act again,” he added. Modi said India’s targeted strikes not only dismantled terror infrastructure but also broke enemy morale. “Wherever terrorists hide, India will strike—and respond forcefully to any attack on our soil,” he concluded.