In a social media post, Mahfuz Alam urged people to stop using the term ‘Shahbaghi’ indiscriminately due to political rivalries. He acknowledged that Jamaat-e-Islami had been complicit in war crimes, but through the recent political upheaval, they have paid their dues. He argued that branding Jamaat-e-Islami as anti-liberation and stripping them of their political rights is unjust. Alam noted that many who participated in the Shahbagh protests were blinded by a sense of nationalist fervor, while others were genuinely seeking justice for war crimes. He criticized how the ruling Awami League and leftist Mujibists used the movement to impose mob rule. Many former participants have since distanced themselves from Mujibist narratives and joined the fight against fascism. He warned that those still loyal to Mujibism, pro-India ideologies, and the Sheikh family would receive no leniency.

The Pakistan military has successfully completed an operation against the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), which had attacked the Zafar Express train and taken passengers hostage in Balochistan. According to military spokesperson General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, all 33 militants involved in the attack were “eliminated.” However, 21 innocent hostages were killed before the operation commenced. Four members of the Frontier Corps were also martyred during the counterterrorism mission. The military stated that the attackers had links to Afghan criminal networks, highlighting the cross-border nature of the operation.

In a landmark ruling, the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice Dr. Syed Refaat Ahmed, has declared that head teachers of government primary schools will now hold the status of second-class gazetted officers. The ruling also ensures that all primary school head teachers will receive salaries under the 10th grade pay scale. The verdict came after the government’s appeal against a previous High Court ruling on January 6, 2022, was dismissed. Despite the ruling being issued over three months ago, its implementation was delayed, prompting head teachers to file a contempt of court case.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has announced a ban on all processions, rallies, and public gatherings in the Bangladesh Secretariat and its surrounding areas until further notice. In a statement issued on Thursday, DMP stated that the decision was made to maintain public order. The restricted zones include the Prime Minister’s official residence, Jamuna, and adjacent areas such as Hotel Intercontinental intersection, Shahbagh intersection, Kakrail intersection, and Minto Road. This prohibition will be effective from Thursday, March 13, until further notice.

The Inqilab Mancha has demanded a ban on the Awami League, citing alleged conspiracies against the nation. The group staged a protest at Shahbagh, calling for the immediate arrest of Ganojagoron Mancha activist Laki Akter and others accused of anti-state activities.

Osman Hadi, the spokesperson for Inqilab Mancha, declared, “Those who support Shahbagh are enemies of Bangladesh. They are adversaries of July, Shapla Square, and Pilkhana. We will not allow fascism to rise again. The Awami League must be banned immediately. The era of deception is over. A party whose leader calls for shooting people from helicopters must not be allowed to exist. We will celebrate Eid after banning the Awami League, Insha’Allah.”

The government has formed a six-member high-level committee, led by legal advisor Asif Nazrul, to review the 2016 Bangladesh Bank reserve theft. Other members include Muhammad Faozul Kabir Khan, Faiz Ahmed Taiyeb, Dr. Ahsan H. Mansur, Ali Ashfaq, and Md. Nazrul Huda. The committee has been tasked with submitting recommendations within three months.

Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) has temporarily suspended all quota reservations for undergraduate admissions in the 2024-25 academic year. Last year, 59 students were admitted under quota privileges. The Vice-Chancellor stated that a committee would consult stakeholders and recommend a rational quota policy before a final decision is made.

Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP) ADC Mahmuda Begum confirmed that 41 leaders and activists of Awami League and Chhatra League were arrested in the last 24 hours for attempting to create unrest in the city. They face multiple charges, including attacks on students and citizens during the anti-government movement, under special powers and anti-terrorism laws.

The Police Headquarters has responded to published images showing law enforcement blocking an anti-rape protest march at Intercontinental Mor. They claim the full video footage reveals that protesters first attacked the police, prompting a defensive response. The statement emphasizes that publishing selective images that misrepresent events is highly irresponsible and urges the media to act with integrity.

The Malaysian immigration department has arrested 131 undocumented migrants, including 48 Bangladeshis, during a crackdown in Pahang province. The detainees were found to be without valid visas, overstaying their permits, or violating immigration conditions. Among them, 55 were Indonesians, 48 Bangladeshis, 16 Myanmar nationals, one Egyptian, two Pakistanis, one Chinese, and eight Thai nationals.

Two students of Rajshahi University (RU) were attacked on Wednesday afternoon after protesting against derogatory remarks made about a female student’s attire. One of the victims, along with his friend Swadhin, confronted the harassers, identified as Tanmoy and his associates. A verbal altercation ensued, escalating into physical assault, with the accused slapping and punching the protesters.

A young man named Kazi Nizam was hacked to death in Bagerhat following a dispute over a Facebook post. He succumbed to his injuries on Wednesday morning. Police have arrested three suspects and confirmed that the incident was linked to an online dispute.

Legal Adviser Asif Nazrul announced that a draft amendment to the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act has been prepared to halve the duration of rape case investigations and trials. Under the proposed law, the investigation period will be reduced from 30 to 15 days, and trials must conclude within 90 days instead of 180. Judges will be able to proceed with trials based solely on medical certificates if necessary, even without DNA reports.

The Brick Kiln Owners’ Association has announced a 15-day suspension of brick sales nationwide from March 25 if their seven-point demands are not met. This move could leave nearly 5 million workers, including 1 million women, unemployed and cause significant financial losses for 14,000 brick kiln owners. Association President Firoz Haider Khan warned that banks may face difficulties recovering loans worth $800 million if operations are halted.

Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam stated that the government is making every diplomatic effort to ensure the dignified and voluntary repatriation of Rohingya refugees to Myanmar. He mentioned that the UN is organizing a major conference on the Rohingya crisis and that humanitarian aid for Rohingyas has significantly declined. He emphasized the urgent need for nutritional assistance, requiring around $15 million per month in international aid.