Dhaka University campus witnessed intense protests as students demanded the resignation of Adviser Jahangir Alam Chowdhury. Demonstrators issued a 24-hour ultimatum for the highest punishment of rapists, including those responsible for the brutal assault on eight-year-old Aasiya. The victim remains in critical condition in the PICU, with doctors confirming her condition is deteriorating.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has reported that clashes between Bashar al-Assad’s loyalists and the country’s security forces have resulted in over 1,000 deaths within two days. The conflict began last Thursday in Latakia province, with casualties including 745 civilians, 125 security personnel, and 148 Assad loyalists. Rami Abdul Rahman stated that the violence in Alawite strongholds such as Jableh and Baniyas marks one of the deadliest escalations in Syria’s 13-year-long civil war.

On March 6, an eight-year-old girl named Aasiya was raped while visiting her elder sister’s home in Magura. Shockingly, her brother-in-law was complicit in the crime, aiding his father in gaining access to the child. The victim’s sister revealed that 20 days before the incident, her father-in-law had attempted to assault her. When she informed her husband, he took no action. Frustrated, she left for her parental home, but was later convinced to return, bringing her younger sister along—leading to one of the most horrifying crimes imaginable.

At midnight on Sunday, residential students of Dhaka University's Sufia Kamal Hall staged a protest march, later joined by students from Shahidullah Hall. They also held a torch procession, demanding public trials for rapists. Protesters chanted, "We want justice!", "No place for rapists in our beloved Bangladesh!", and "Who are you? Who am I? Aasiya, Aasiya!" Meanwhile, the child victim remains unconscious in the ICU at CMH.

Recognizing women's undeniable role in the progress and advancement of civilization, Chhatra Shibir has called for safeguarding women's rights and ensuring their rightful dignity. In a statement, the organization highlighted that during the July uprising, women stood at the forefront alongside students and the public. Many sacrificed their lives in the fight for people's rights. On International Women's Day, Chhatra Shibir honors their bravery and sacrifice. The statement also pointed out that in the past five years, at least 11,758 women and girls have been victims of abuse, with 6,305 cases of rape. The organization strongly condemned these heinous crimes and demanded exemplary punishment for the perpetrators while emphasizing the dignity and rights Islam grants to women.

Two British retina specialists, Dr. Mahi Mukit and Dr. Niaz Islam, have arrived in Dhaka to provide medical treatment to those who suffered eye injuries during the July Uprising. They began treating patients at the National Institute of Ophthalmology and Hospital on Saturday and will continue today, performing surgeries if necessary. Dr. Niaz Islam, a British citizen of Bangladeshi origin, noted that while local doctors have provided good treatment, many patients lack awareness and understanding of their conditions. The specialists are also focusing on counseling the patients.

At the Iftar gathering of the Law Reporters Forum, Attorney General Md. Asaduzzaman called upon journalists to act as vigilant watchdogs against judicial corruption. Praising the forum’s role in legal reporting, he expressed hope that it would continue exposing corruption in the judiciary, ensuring accountability and transparency.

Sumi Akhter, wife of martyr Selim Talukder from Nalchity, has given birth to a baby girl, bringing both joy and sorrow to the grieving family. Selim, a pro-democracy activist, was killed in the anti-discrimination movement on July 31 last year. Just three days later, on August 4, the couple’s first wedding anniversary passed in mourning. On August 8, Sumi discovered she was pregnant. This Saturday, their daughter was born via C-section, filling the fatherless home with new life.

Students of Begum Rokeya Hall, Dhaka University, staged a torch procession demanding public execution for rapists. Accusing authorities of allowing perpetrators to roam freely, student leader Farzana Akhter Arju stated, “Rape incidents occur daily, yet we rarely see justice served.” She demanded exemplary punishment not only for male perpetrators but also for female accomplices involved in such crimes.

NCP Secretary Akhtar Hossain has called for the trial of all rape cases, including the recent Magura incident, in fast-track courts. He urged the government to take immediate action, criticizing the slow progress in judicial reforms. Akhtar noted that delays in investigations often result in flawed reports, denying justice to victims. He emphasized the need for an independent judiciary free from political influence, stating that after 54 years, Bangladesh has an opportunity to overhaul its judicial system to ensure no victim has to cry for justice again.

Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus has instructed the immediate digitization of citizen services in four key ministries and government agencies: the Land Ministry, National Board of Revenue, Ministry of Commerce, and Bangladesh Road Transport Authority. The initiative includes automating internal processes, ensuring 100% electronic file management, implementing enterprise resource planning, and introducing digital signatures. Additionally, he has directed the adoption of secure APIs for data exchange, replacing manual form-filling to enhance efficiency and interoperability.

BNP leader Syed Emran Saleh Prince has asserted that people do not approve of using Islam for political purposes. He stated that the sacred religion does not condone chaos, brutality, or extremism. According to him, the ruling Awami League has falsely accused Islamic scholars for political gains, while certain groups, knowingly or unknowingly, engage in actions under the guise of Islam that label scholars and Muslims as terrorists worldwide. Prince also highlighted that true Islamic scholars play a crucial role in shaping an ideal nation.

BNP leader Salahuddin Ahmed has stated that there will be no national consensus on holding the parliamentary and constituent assembly elections simultaneously. He made this remark in a recent interview with Reuters’ Nahid Islam following a proposal to hold both elections together. Salahuddin emphasized that the constituent assembly is solely a forum for drafting the constitution, while the national parliament has the authority to amend it comprehensively. He further added that the proposed extensive amendments would essentially create a new constitution. Additionally, he urged political figures to avoid using unnecessary and politically irrelevant terminology.

Khadijatul Kobra, a student of Jagannath University who endured 15 months in prison under the Digital Security Act during the Awami League’s tenure, has called for accountability if Asif Nazrul fails to deliver justice. She stated, “I am one of the worst examples of the fascist regime’s brutality. I was imprisoned for 15 months without any reason, without saying or doing anything wrong.” She further emphasized, “Perhaps they used me as an example to show that no matter who you are—a woman or a student—if you speak against them, you will suffer.” Kobra expressed frustration over the Digital Security Act not being repealed and urged the government advisers, including Asif Nazrul, to step down if they cannot act on justice.

Two young men from Rajair, Madaripur, have died in a boat accident in the Mediterranean while attempting to travel to Italy via Libya, just a month after a similar tragedy. The deceased have been identified as Nasir Matubbar (35) and Suman Howlader (19), while the identities of the missing persons remain unknown. Last February, 20 to 25 people from Rajair died in a similar incident. Some survivors returned and informed the families of Nasir and Suman’s deaths on Saturday. The two had left their homes on February 8 to travel through Libya to Italy, having paid 1.7 million BDT to a broker named Arif. They set off from Libya on the night of March 3, but tragically died when the boat sank.