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 Kobra expressed frustration over the Digital Security Act not being repealed and urged the government advisers, including Asif Nazrul, to step down if they cannot act on justice.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.

Several Bangladeshi companies are forming partnerships with Starlink to provide uninterrupted high-speed internet services in Bangladesh. These local companies have signed agreements with Starlink to set up ground earth stations. According to the office of the Chief Adviser, a delegation from Starlink is currently visiting Bangladesh, where discussions are underway to identify potential installation sites, as well as matters related to land allocation, construction assistance, and infrastructure maintenance. The Bangladeshi companies plan to utilize land, including areas in high-tech parks, for this project. Efforts will continue to implement an effective model in collaboration with Starlink within the next 90 days.

On Saturday, Advisor Sharmin S. Murshid visited the child victimized in Magura at Dhaka Medical College. Expressing her frustration, she said, “How can someone lay a hand on a girl who hasn’t even become a woman yet? Has this country become a land for cowards?” She emphasized that it was everyone’s responsibility to suppress such actions. “Do you think our society is healthy?” she asked. The Advisor assured that she would work to ensure justice. She also mentioned that a campaign involving three ministries and communities would be launched, covering 130 camps from Dhaka, including the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of Social Welfare, mothers, guardians, and children from July. “We will keep these camps under surveillance,” she stated.

Four months have passed since the decision to punish those responsible for the murder of Abu Saeed, a student of BUBT, but no legal action has been taken yet. Despite weapons being found in the rooms of the residential hall’s thugs, no case has been filed against them. Students are outraged by the lack of progress. On October 28th, during the 108th Syndicate meeting, two teachers and seven staff members were temporarily suspended. On January 20th, 71 students involved in the murder were temporarily expelled based on their semester status. While students expressed anger over the lenient punishment, the administration ignored their concerns. Although the university administration had decided to take legal action against 15 individuals involved in the murder, no tangible steps have been taken thus far.

India’s Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh, remarked that India has always sought to maintain strong ties with its neighbors, including Bangladesh. Referring to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, he stated, “We may change our friends, but not our neighbors.” Despite concerns over law and order and the situation of minorities, which India has raised, Bangladesh media has dismissed them as exaggerated.

A protest rally took place in Mohammadpur, Dhaka, calling for the harshest punishment for those involved in the rape of an eight-year-old child in Magura. Protesters expressed anger over multiple recent incidents of rape across the country, where perpetrators are released on bail only to commit even worse acts. The protesters insisted the government must ensure exemplary punishment for each rape incident. One housewife said, “We want women to live safely in society, but we are not being given the safety we deserve. We live in constant fear, not only outside but even inside our homes.”

After 11 years, Jamaat-e-Islami hosted an Iftar with foreign diplomats in Dhaka on Saturday. The party’s Amir, Shafiqul Rahman, explained that this was not possible during the previous Awami League-led government. He emphasized that an interim government must undertake reforms within state structures to ensure Bangladesh never loses its way again. Rahman further stated that Jamaat has strongly supported proportional representation elections in the country, believing this system will better reflect the people’s will and prevent the return of fascist rule.

A press release sent by Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Saturday stated that BNP has postponed its previously scheduled Iftar program with political parties. The statement read, “The Iftar and prayer gathering, organized by Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on March 9 with various political parties, has been postponed due to unavoidable circumstances.”

A fire broke out at the Eltek Aluminum factory in the Fakir Bari area of Gazipur. Six fire units are currently working together to bring the blaze under control. The incident occurred on Saturday (March 8) at approximately 5:30 PM. Firefighters arrived at the scene at 5:50 PM to douse the flames. The extent of damage and whether there were any casualties remain unclear at this time.

Seven individuals, including Salahuddin Salman, a leader of the anti-discrimination movement, have been sent to jail over charges of vandalizing the business premises of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s uncle, Sheikh Kabir, and extorting 300,000 Taka. Seven minors involved in the case have been sent to the Tongi Juvenile Development Center. The court rejected their bail applications and ordered their detention.

NCP leader Sergis Alam expressed that protecting mothers and sisters from exploitation has become a significant challenge. He criticized the state for failing to provide adequate safety for women, stating that the country must ensure security for all citizens. He urged that personal beliefs should not be forced on others, and the law enforcement agencies must be proactive in preventing harassment, particularly in mob culture, which he believes would prove the law enforcement system’s failure if not addressed. Sergis also spoke about his commitment to promoting women’s leadership in the NCP starting in July.

At a protest rally on Saturday afternoon, Samantha Sharmin asserted that questionable laws cannot guarantee women’s safety. She emphasized that violence against women is incompatible with a peaceful society and that citizen safety, including women’s safety, is under threat in the country. She also criticized the government for suppressing women’s rights over the past 53 years, and in reference to the recent rape of an 8-year-old girl in Magura, Sharmin called for justice on the streets, stating that it proves the persistence of a fascist system. She highlighted the need to bring women’s leadership into the restructuring of the state’s power framework.