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.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has expressed support for Bangladesh’s reform initiatives under Interim Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus. In a letter responding to an earlier communication from Yunus, Guterres acknowledged receipt through his special representative on the Rohingya crisis, Khalilur Rahman. The Secretary-General reaffirmed the UN’s commitment to Bangladesh’s reform process and highlighted ongoing concerns over the Rohingya humanitarian situation. He also confirmed his planned visit to Bangladesh in March.

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.

Following Nahid Islam’s resignation from the advisory council to join a political party, Indian journalist Arka Dev recalled meeting him and the scars from his July 22 ordeal. In a social media post, he expressed suspicion toward those who conveniently forget the brutality Nahid endured. Dev remarked that Nahid and his comrades had fought through hardships, embracing known and unknown martyrs in their struggle to form a government—right or wrong, at least they tried. He noted that Nahid and Mahfuz had internal conflicts but ultimately chose the difficult path, abandoning government privileges to seek new possibilities.

A Sudanese military aircraft crashed near Wadi Sayidna Air Base on the outskirts of Khartoum, killing at least 10 people, including civilians, democracy activists reported. Several others were injured. Military sources cited a technical failure as the cause of the crash, which also damaged nearby homes. Residents reported a loud explosion that disrupted local electricity supply.

Syria is witnessing a historic opportunity for reconstruction, said Interim President Ahmed Al-Sharaa during a national conference of Islamist leaders. Hundreds of Syrians walked the red carpet at the event held at the Presidential Palace, a rare sight since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government last year following the HTS-led coup. In his opening speech, Al-Sharaa declared that Syria has “freed itself on its own.”

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.

On Tuesday, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth visited the Guantanamo Bay Naval Station in Cuba. During his visit, Hegseth emphasized that protecting American sovereign territory remains a top priority for the Pentagon. He stated, “The department has taken swift action to implement President Trump’s executive order on border security.” As part of his trip, Hegseth met with officials directly involved in arresting and deporting dangerous illegal immigrants. His visit follows Trump’s recent directive to construct a detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, designed to house at least 30,000 of the “most dangerous” illegal immigrant criminals deemed a threat to the U.S.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is set to visit Washington on Friday to finalize a major mineral resources deal with the United States, according to former U.S. President Donald Trump. A Voice of America report states that both countries have reached an agreement on the deal, which could potentially improve relations between Trump and Zelensky. Kyiv has confirmed that revenue from Ukraine’s mineral resource management will be directed into a newly established fund, with both nations sharing the proceeds. Previously, Trump had demanded over $5 trillion in mineral resources and $60 billion in U.S. military aid, a proposal that Zelensky had firmly rejected.

After multiple postponements, the South Asian Games (SA Games) are finally set to take place in Pakistan after five years. According to a decision made in a meeting of the South Asian Games Federation in Lahore on Tuesday, the event will be held from January 23 to 31 next year. Bangladesh Olympic Association’s Deputy Secretary General, Ashikur Rahman, and Executive Member, Sirajuddin Alamgir, attended the meeting. The games will be hosted across three cities—Lahore, Islamabad, and Faisalabad. A wide range of sports, including football, hockey, athletics, swimming, volleyball, basketball, handball, cricket, and archery, have been approved for the competition.