On Wednesday afternoon, a group of injured protesters from the July movement staged a sit-in outside the office of Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus in Tejgaon, Dhaka.

They chanted slogans demanding adequate compensation and support. Protesters specifically called for an end to discrimination in categorizing the injured and urged authorities to accelerate the rehabilitation process for the families of those who lost their lives.

They declared that the protest would continue until clear directives were issued. This demonstration follows previous attempts where the injured had blocked key locations in the capital, including Shyamoli, Shahbagh, and the Chief Adviser’s residence, to demand recognition and rehabilitation.

Students at Khulna University of Engineering & Technology (KUET) began vacating their dormitories after the university administration announced an indefinite shutdown on Tuesday. Additional police forces have been deployed at the campus gates. Students stated they were leaving for their own safety. The shutdown follows a violent clash on February 18, prompting student protests with a six-point demand, including the appointment of a new Vice-Chancellor and Pro-Vice-Chancellor. The university’s emergency syndicate meeting justified the decision as a security measure.

Jamaat-affiliated student organization Islami Chhatra Shibir’s central president, Zahidul Islam, has stirred controversy by demanding a posthumous trial of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman for pardoning 195 identified war criminals.

Speaking at a talk show, he claimed that the 1971 genocide was orchestrated by Tikka Khan and Zulfikar Ali Bhutto with direct support from Pakistan. “This massacre must be brought to justice,” he said.

He further argued that since Mujib granted amnesty to 195 war criminals, he should be held accountable, even posthumously. Zahidul also praised Ziaur Rahman, claiming that he had initiated an inclusive political culture in Bangladesh by moving beyond partisan conflicts. He pointed out that Zia had appointed former anti-independence figures to key political positions as both President and Prime Minister.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced plans to increase the UK’s defense budget by 2027 to counter Russian aggression. Addressing Parliament on Tuesday, Starmer stated that Russia’s threats have been evident through three years of war in Ukraine. The UK will raise its defense spending by $17 billion annually and reallocate development aid to increase the defense budget from 2.3% to 2.5% of GDP. He justified this move as necessary to deter authoritarian leaders like Vladimir Putin and proposed sending British troops to Ukraine to help maintain the ceasefire.

A new student organization’s launch event in front of Dhaka University’s Madhu’s Canteen on Wednesday afternoon sparked protests from private university students even before the committee announcement. The protesters claimed they were a significant part of the movement in July but were unfairly excluded from leadership positions. Chanting slogans like “Break the committee, crush it” and “Private action, direct action,” they demanded fair representation.

A new student organization, ‘Bangladesh Democratic Student Parliament’, has been officially announced at a press conference held at Dhaka University’s Madhur Canteen on Wednesday. The organization has been formed by coordinators of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement to advocate for students’ rights and social justice.

Abu Bakr Majumder, former coordinator of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, has been appointed as the central convenor, while Zahid Ahsan will serve as the member secretary. The convening committee also includes Tauhid Mohammad Siam as Senior Joint Convenor, Rifat Rashid as Senior Member Secretary, Tahmid Al Muddassir Chowdhury as Chief Organizer, and Ashrefa Khatun as the spokesperson.

The newly formed organization aims to provide a strong political platform for students and address their grievances through a structured and democratic approach.

Israel has set four conditions for the second phase of the ceasefire in Gaza, including the removal of Hamas from the territory. Israeli Minister Eli Cohen warned that if these conditions were not met, the ceasefire agreement could collapse. The conditions include:
1. The release of all Israeli hostages taken on or before October 7.
2. The removal of Hamas from Gaza.
3. The complete demilitarization of Gaza.
4. Full Israeli control over the territory.
On October 7, Hamas launched an attack on Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. The first phase of the ceasefire saw the release of 31 hostages, while nearly 50,000 Hamas members were reportedly killed in Israeli operations.

Shafiqul Alam, Press Secretary to the Chief Adviser, has alleged that large-scale corruption occurred in Bangladesh’s power and energy sector under state patronage. Speaking at the NEC Conference Room in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, he emphasized the government’s commitment to finding a sustainable solution for the power crisis. He stated that discussions with major companies are underway to drill more gas wells. Efforts are also being made to increase efficiency at Chattogram Port to attract foreign investment. Former Minister Saifuzzaman’s involvement in bank fraud through tunnel projects was also mentioned. Alam described the current economic recovery as nothing short of a “miracle.”

Four months after winning the SAFF Championship, the Bangladesh women’s football team returns to international action. They will face the United Arab Emirates in a friendly match tonight at 9:30 PM Bangladesh time. Over the past four months, the team has faced internal turmoil, with captain Sabina Khatun, Rituparna Chakma, Sanjida Akter, and 18 other players staging a rebellion against British coach Peter Butler. As a result, Butler has assembled a team of young players led by Afida. A second friendly match is scheduled for Sunday.

A new student organization is set to be announced today (Wednesday) at 3 PM at Dhaka University’s Madhur Canteen, in response to the July uprising.

Abu Bakr Majumder, one of the key student leaders of the movement, confirmed this in a press statement. He stated that a press conference has been arranged to formally declare the organization and share further details.

He also emphasized that this new political student organization is specifically for those who were previously unaffiliated with any political party but actively participated in the July student movement. The goal is to allow them to play a constructive role in solving student issues through this platform.

Tasnuva Maha, the wife of Major Tanvir Haidar Noor, who was killed in the Pilkhana massacre, has strongly criticized the recent remarks by the Army Chief, calling them deeply insulting.

“The soldiers of Pilkhana could never have carried out such an attack,” she stated on Tuesday. She further revealed, “Hindi-speaking individuals entered my room. In the three and a half years I lived in Pilkhana with my husband, I never heard any BDR member speak Hindi. But on February 25, I distinctly heard three people speaking in Hindi. My husband had called me and mentioned ‘NSG’ and ‘Indian.’ Doesn’t this prove who was behind the attack?”

Tasnuva also alleged that ISPR had obstructed the broadcast of her speech, her son was unfairly disqualified from ISSB, and she feels unsafe. She expressed concerns about the ongoing investigation, citing lack of cooperation and transparency.

ATM Azharul Islam, Assistant Secretary General of Jamaat-e-Islami, has been granted permission to appeal his death sentence in a war crimes case. The Supreme Court’s five-member appellate bench, led by the Chief Justice, has scheduled the next hearing for April 22. Earlier, the court had set February 23 for an initial appeal hearing and Tuesday for a review of the verdict. Since the fall of the Hasina government, Jamaat-e-Islami has actively demanded his release through rallies and demonstrations.

Farmers are struggling to recover their production costs as market prices remain low. The situation worsened after cold storage rental fees surged to BDT 250-300 per sack. The influence of syndicates and middlemen has further distressed farmers. The agriculture ministry stated that future subsidies will be region-specific, prioritizing crops that thrive in particular areas. Plans for mobile cold storage units are also in discussion. Officials revealed that last year’s potato cultivation increased fourfold, along with onion farming, leading to a cold storage crisis and financial losses. Farmers who sold potatoes at BDT 70-80 per kg in July-September were forced to sell them at BDT 12 per kg by January.

Fact-checking organization DismissalLab has reported that Donald Trump provided incorrect information regarding the $29.9 million U.S. aid package aimed at strengthening Bangladesh’s political environment. Contrary to Trump’s claim that the funds went to two individuals, the aid was implemented through Democracy International, a U.S.-registered organization managing 218 projects worldwide, including 12 in Bangladesh. Under these programs, 536 young leaders from the Awami League, BNP, and Jatiya Party received training, while The Hunger Project trained 5,410 political activists in tolerance and inclusive political engagement. Additionally, $2 million was allocated to a separate U.S. agency, which collaborated with Dhaka University’s research team on peaceful political activities across Bangladesh.

The new political party emerging from the February 28 mass uprising is set to launch soon, but key figures from the National Citizens’ Committee—Joint Convener Ali Ahsan Zunaid and Joint Member Secretary Rafe Salman Rifat—will not be part of it. They announced their withdrawal via Facebook on Tuesday. Currently, both are visiting China under an invitation from the Chinese Communist Party, led by BNP’s Moin Khan, which has caused friction within the committee. Though they informed party leaders of their decision a week ago, they chose not to make it public earlier for the sake of broader unity. They wished the new party success, urging it to move forward free from political taboos.