The Ministry of Home Affairs announced on Sunday that the “Special Security Guidelines 2025” for VIPs and distinguished individuals have been revoked. The decision follows recent controversy surrounding a directive that allegedly violated judicial protocols by undermining the Chief Justice’s authority. The High Court has summoned Senior Secretary Nasimul Gani of the Public Security Division to explain the directive on March 18. Additionally, the court has issued a suo moto rule questioning the legality of the canceled guidelines.

The National Sports Council has renamed the Women’s Sports Complex in memory of Ria Ghosh, a six-year-old girl killed by a stray bullet during the July Uprising. Additionally, the Roller Skating Complex near the National Stadium has been renamed “National Roller Skating Complex,” and the Tennis Complex in Ramna has been renamed “National Tennis Complex.” The National Sports Council Auditorium has also been rebranded, dropping the previous name of Sheikh Kamal.

Students at Chittagong University staged a protest march demanding swift execution of rapists, particularly in light of the rape and murder of eight-year-old Achiya in Magura. Protesters chanted slogans such as “Who are you? Who am I? We are Achiya,” and “Justice! Justice! We want justice!” The demonstration concluded with a gathering at Zero Point, where student leaders demanded immediate legal action against rapists.

At an OIC Foreign Ministers’ meeting on Friday, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan strongly opposed Israel’s occupation plans in Gaza, calling them “completely unacceptable.” He stressed that the root cause of the crisis is Israeli occupation and called for international efforts to prevent further annexation of Palestinian territories. He also rejected any attempts to alter the historical and political status of Al-Haram Al-Sharif in Jerusalem.

A court has ordered the freezing of 191 bank accounts belonging to Summit Group Chairman Aziz Khan, his family, and associated entities. The accounts hold Tk 4.17 billion ($41.74 million). The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) sought the order, citing suspicious transactions and concerns over possible money laundering. The ACC argued that these funds could be transferred abroad or concealed unless immediate action was taken.

A Gaibandha court has sent four suspects to jail in connection with the murder of Jamaat-e-Islami activist Shahabul Islam. The accused include Abdur Razzak Al Rohan, the organizational secretary of the Krishak League’s Sundarganj unit, along with three others. Shahabul was hacked to death at a polling station on January 5, 2014. Ten years later, his brother SM Shahjahan Kabir filed a case on October 22, 2024.

On Saturday, Gaza’s Government Media Office reported that Israeli forces have killed 24 female Palestinian journalists during 15 months of ongoing aggression. In a statement marking International Women’s Day, media chief Salama Maarouf condemned these killings as violations of international humanitarian law. He emphasized that their status as women and journalists did not shield them from Israel’s actions. He also criticized the international community’s silence on the issue.

Home Adviser Jahangir Alam declared that rapists will find no refuge in Bangladesh. Referring to a recent case in Magura, he confirmed that all suspects have been arrested and will face maximum legal punishment. The government has adopted a “zero tolerance” policy on sexual violence, instructing law enforcement to take swift action against offenders. He also reaffirmed that banned extremist group Hizb ut-Tahrir will not be allowed to operate politically under any circumstances.

Mozammel Haque Manik, a schoolteacher accused of raping a fifth-grade student, was physically assaulted by an enraged crowd while being taken to court in Thakurgaon on Sunday. He was later sent to jail. Meanwhile, students and locals staged a human chain protest in front of the District Commissioner’s office, demanding the harshest punishment. District Commissioner Ishrat Farzana assured that no loophole in the law would allow the perpetrator to escape justice.

In a statement on Sunday, Hefazat-e-Islam emphasized that Islam mandates public punishment for rapists. Quoting the Quran, they stated: “Let no pity deter you from carrying out the punishment in accordance with Allah’s command, and let a group of believers witness it” (Surah An-Nur, Ayah 2). They also referenced Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), who sentenced a rapist to death. The statement called for the public execution of former RAB officer Alep Uddin, accused of raping a woman after threatening to kill her husband in a staged ‘crossfire’ incident. Hefazat blamed the rise in rape cases on a culture of impunity.

Information Adviser Mahfuz Alam has announced that the government will take a firm stance against all forms of mob justice. “The law is blind; it does not consider race, religion, gender, or status. Anyone involved in mob justice will be brought under legal action,” he stated following a meeting with the Chief Adviser. He also warned that any attempts to incite chaos, including surrounding police stations or triggering unrest, will be met with strict action.

According to the latest update from Bangladesh Bank on Sunday, the country’s foreign exchange reserves have increased to $21.40 billion, driven by a positive inflow of remittances. As of March 6, the gross reserves stood at $26.60 billion. Based on the IMF’s BPM6 accounting system, the current usable reserves are $21.40 billion. In February alone, remittances amounted to $2.5 billion, equivalent to over Tk 308.29 billion.

The Election Commission (EC) will issue a public notice on Monday inviting applications for new political parties seeking registration ahead of the upcoming national election, confirmed Additional Secretary KM Ali. The commission has already approved the decision, and new parties can apply for registration until April 20. After the application deadline, the EC will review and verify submissions before granting registrations to eligible parties. Currently, 54 political parties are registered with the EC.

Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus expressed astonishment over the decade-long delay in implementing the Saydabad Water Treatment Plant Phase-3 and the Meghna River conservation project. He criticized the lack of progress, stating that excessive groundwater extraction is posing severe environmental risks. Officials reported that nearly 70% of Dhaka’s water supply relies on groundwater, causing an annual drop of 2-3 meters in water levels. The Chief Adviser urged authorities to remove obstacles and minimize costs to expedite project completion.

The International Crimes Tribunal has directed investigators to submit a report by May 12 on the alleged massacre in Uttara during the recent mass uprising. The case involves nine accused individuals, including former mayor Atiqul Islam. Others named in the case include Shahinur Mia, Monowar Islam Chowdhury Robin, Abdullah Al Mamun Mondol, Bashir Uddin, and Delwar Hossain Rubel. Video footage has been used to identify the suspects and support allegations of direct involvement.