After an arduous nine-hour effort, forest officials and local villagers successfully rescued a wild elephant that had been trapped in the mud for 22 hours in Chattogram’s Banshkhali Upazila on Thursday afternoon. Anisuzzaman, a ranger at the Jaldi Forest Range, reported that the 40-year-old female elephant was already suffering from malnutrition and had become further weakened due to prolonged immobility. “We first sprayed water on the elephant to remove the mud from its body and soften the ground,” he explained. “With the help of at least 35 villagers, we were finally able to pull the elephant to safety.” The animal has been given saline-infused water, and further medical attention is being arranged.

On Wednesday, officials and employees of the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) staged protests demanding the resignation of Chairman Khandaker Rashed Maksud and his leadership team. They continued their demonstrations with a strike on Thursday. Addressing the situation, Finance Advisor Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed remarked, “This is beyond my jurisdiction. The BSEC Chairman is in charge, and he has been given full responsibility to handle the matter.” He further stated that the government had instructed Maksud to continue his work with even greater rigor. Meanwhile, Maksud affirmed that discussions with the government had taken place, emphasizing that their mandate remains firm: “We must stay on course and strengthen our efforts—there is no room for backing down.”

Dhaka University has reaffirmed its rule requiring students to keep their ears and faces visible during tutorial presentations and examinations. However, some female students have expressed unwillingness to comply. In response, the university’s public relations office issued a statement announcing that female students wearing niqabs or hijabs will be identified by female teachers, officers, or staff to maintain both personal privacy and institutional security. The administration also stated that female assistant proctors may be involved in the identification process when necessary. Additionally, authorities are exploring the feasibility of implementing fingerprint or biometric identification systems in the future.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) arrested three members of the banned extremist group Hizb ut-Tahrir while they were allegedly planning a pre-announced program at Baitul Mukarram. DMP spokesperson Muhammad Talebur Rahman confirmed the arrests on Friday morning. The detainees were identified as Monirul Islam (40), Mohtasin Billah (40), and Mahmudul Hasan (21). The DMP had earlier warned that any attempt by banned organizations to hold gatherings would face strict action. The arrests were made during a late-night raid in Uttara’s Sector 11 and Sector 12.

The Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (BNP’s student wing) has scheduled an emergency press conference on Friday, March 7, to address contemporary issues. According to a late-night press release by Chhatra Dal’s Office Secretary Md. Jahangir Alam, the conference will take place at 3:00 PM at the third-floor conference room of BNP’s central office in Naya Paltan. The student wing is expected to discuss pressing political and organizational matters.

In a special operation on Thursday evening, the Bangladesh Navy recovered a cache of weapons and ammunition in Kutubdia Upazila. While no suspects were arrested, officials revealed that the raid was conducted based on intelligence reports. The recovered items included a single-barrel shotgun, a shotgun, and six rounds of live ammunition, all found abandoned in the Manoharkhali area of Baraghop Union. The seized weapons have been handed over to Kutubdia police for further legal proceedings. The navy has assured continued efforts to prevent illegal arms trafficking in the region.

In a case related to the 2016 police operation at a so-called militant hideout in Kalayanpur, the International Crimes Tribunal has ordered the arrest of former Inspector General of Police (IGP) AKM Shahidul Hoque, former DMP Commissioner Md. Asaduzzaman Mia, and former Mirpur Deputy Commissioner (DC) Md. Jasim Uddin. The operation, which was later deemed controversial, resulted in the fatal shooting of nine young men with Islamic leanings, allegedly under a fabricated narrative. The tribunal has directed authorities to present the three accused before the court on March 24 in connection with charges of crimes against humanity.

The Jessore district BNP has suspended all positions held by Sharsha Upazila BNP Vice President Ruhul Kuddus following allegations of misappropriating rice from the government’s food-friendly program. In a press conference on Thursday afternoon, Kuddus tearfully denied the accusations, claiming he had no involvement in the incident. He alleged that internal conflicts within the party led to a conspiracy against him, resulting in disciplinary action without any investigation. The allegations surfaced after reports that 155 sacks of rice were looted while being transported.

Danish beauty queen and Miss Universe 2024, Victoria Kjær Theilvig, is set to visit Bangladesh in May for humanitarian work, announced Bangladeshi Ambassador to Mexico, Mushfiqur Fazal Ansari. In a Facebook post, he expressed his delight at welcoming Theilvig and her team to the Bangladeshi Embassy. Theilvig made history by becoming the first Miss Universe from Denmark. Her upcoming visit aims to engage in philanthropic activities in Bangladesh.

The Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal has formed a two-member investigation committee to probe the recent clash between students and NCP’s chief organizer, Sarjis Alam, near North South University. In a statement, the student wing announced that Senior Vice President Abu Afsan Mohammad Yahya and Vice President Zahir Rayhan Ahmed would lead the investigation. The committee has been instructed to submit a written report to the central leadership within 48 hours. The incident, which occurred on the 5th of this month, has drawn significant attention and concern among students and activists.

Authorities have arrested Mostakim (20), a key suspect in the murder case linked to the mass uprising in Jatrabari, and Abdul Kader Papu (32), accused of theft and extortion. According to RAB, on August 14, armed assailants attacked unarmed students and civilians with sharp weapons, rods, and sticks during the protests in Jatrabari. Victim Md. Saidul Islam Yasin was brutally hacked and beaten before being left in critical condition near Jatrabari Police Station. He was later taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. The arrest was made as part of the ongoing investigation into the murder.

BNP leader Aminul Haque has accused a certain group of inciting chaos across the country under the guise of mob justice. Speaking on Thursday afternoon, Haque claimed that these individuals are taking the law into their own hands, engaging in unethical activities under the cover of night. “This disorder is unacceptable. It is eroding public trust in the legal system, and the government must take responsibility,” he asserted. Haque also criticized the economic situation, stating that even buying a lemon has become a struggle due to rising prices, which he blamed on an “Awami League syndicate.” He called for an immediate election to restore stability in the country.

Since its establishment in 1957, the Bangladesh Film Development Corporation (BFDC) has played a crucial role in cinema development. However, in recent years, progress has stalled, with critics alleging that the institution has been more focused on politics and commercial ventures than on cinema’s growth. Industry insiders accuse successive administrations under the ruling Awami League of failing to take meaningful steps to advance the industry. In 2018, the government launched a high-rise complex project on 94 katha (1.55 acres) of BFDC land, instead of prioritizing the improvement of theaters, which producers argue should have been the primary focus. The recent appointment of Masuma Rahman Tani as the new managing director has sparked controversy, with critics accusing her of being aligned with authoritarian interests.

In Lohagara, Chattogram, armed hill terrorists attacked three brick kilns—IBM, NBK, and NBM—after their owners refused to pay extortion. The masked attackers, armed with heavy weapons, arrived on motorcycles, assaulted over 20 workers, and looted cash and mobile phones. Police and army forces later inspected the site. The kiln owner claimed the terrorists had been demanding 1.5 million taka for 15 days. Authorities have launched an investigation, promising legal action. The attack has left the area in fear and tension.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, revealed that he had warned the Bangladesh Army against participating in the crackdown during the mass uprising. “Their main concern was what we would say and do. We cautioned the army that if they got involved, they might no longer be able to send peacekeepers. As a result, we saw changes,” Türk stated. He also mentioned that when Professor Yunus took over as the chief advisor of the interim government, he immediately requested an investigative team to look into the incidents, which the UN complied with. Türk noted that Bangladeshi students expressed gratitude for their efforts.