Former Vice-Chancellor of Dhaka University, Professor Dr. A.A.M.S. Arefin Siddique, will be laid to rest following a funeral prayer at Dhanmondi Eidgah ground after Jumu’ah prayers on Friday. He will be buried at Azimpur Cemetery beside his parents’ graves. Professor Siddique passed away at 10:45 PM while undergoing treatment for a brain stroke and hemorrhage at Ibrahim Cardiac Hospital.

Reports surfaced that a news anchor and two other employees were dismissed from a television channel after an on-air controversy involving NC Party’s chief organizers, Hasnat Abdullah (South) and Sarjis Alam (North). However, Hasnat Abdullah himself has now urged the reinstatement of the dismissed anchor. He stated, “We fought for the right to express differing opinions, not just for freedom of speech but also for the freedom to dissent.”

On the second day of his visit, UN Secretary-General António Guterres held a bilateral meeting with Foreign Affairs Advisor Tawhid Hossain. Later, he is scheduled to meet Chief Advisor Dr. Muhammad Yunus. In the afternoon, Guterres will travel to Cox’s Bazar, where he will be briefed on the current situation of the Rohingya refugees, with a focus on funding shortages. He will also interact with local residents and attend an iftar event with 100,000 Rohingya refugees. Chief Advisor Dr. Yunus will accompany him on this visit.

ollowing the signing of a visa exemption agreement between Bangladesh and Gambia, Advisor Jahangir Alam Chowdhury stated that the agreement, applicable to diplomatic and official passport holders, would further solidify bilateral relations. He expressed deep gratitude for Gambia’s unwavering support for Bangladesh on the Rohingya issue. Gambia’s leadership in securing justice for the Rohingya at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) with the backing of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has earned high praise, further strengthening ties between the two nations.

At Dhaka University (DU), student organization Islami Chhatra Shibir organized an Iftar event on Thursday, where students received food boxes along with a 500 BDT cash note. The event was reportedly funded by a Turkish organization, TIKA. Approximately 1,500 students attended the gathering, which stood out for its scale and unique approach. A viral video showed students standing in line, collecting their Iftar packs and cash, with visible expressions of joy.

Tarique Rahman has strongly condemned the tragic death of eight-year-old Achiya in Magura, who was a victim of sexual assault. Expressing his grief and outrage, he stated, “Like the rest of the nation, I am deeply shaken by this inhumane act. Such brutality cannot be tolerated.” The horrific incident has sparked nationwide protests, from cities to rural areas. Rahman also revealed that upon learning about the case, he pledged medical and legal assistance for the victim. He accused past authoritarian governments of failing to hold rapists accountable, thereby enabling the repetition of such crimes. He reiterated the need for justice and stronger protections for women and children.

Following discussions in Riyadh last week, the United States proposed a 30-day temporary ceasefire with Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin has agreed to the proposal, stating, “We are open to halting the war. However, we aim for this pause to evolve into lasting peace and address the root causes of this conflict.” He further emphasized that any ceasefire must be tied to resolving the fundamental issues that led to the war, adding that more details on the agreement are necessary.

Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) General Secretary Nasir Uddin Nasir has criticized a newly formed political party, accusing it of lacking originality and being intolerant of criticism. Nasir argued that the party has merely adopted the same policies once introduced by BNP founder Ziaur Rahman. “Whenever they face criticism, they deflect by pointing out the flaws of older parties to justify their own mistakes,” he claimed. He further questioned the party’s stance on foreign policy, arguing that they have yet to provide a clear direction on their governance strategy if elected. Nasir also expressed concerns about the sources of funding backing this new party.

BNP leader Abdul Moin Khan has declared that autocratic rule has no future in Bangladesh, crediting sustained movements and public resistance for forcing authoritarian regimes to flee. Speaking at an event, Moin Khan recalled how unified pro-democracy forces, particularly students, played a pivotal role in the final push against dictatorship. He compared the recent protests to historic prison breaks, citing the storming of the Narsingdi Jail on July 19 as a turning point in the fight for democracy. “There is no greater right than the right of the people,” he affirmed.

The International Crimes Tribunal has been authorized to seize evidence held by the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) in connection with the murder of Abu Sayeed, a student of Rokeya University who was shot dead during a mass uprising. Barrister Moinul Karim confirmed that two cases related to Sayeed’s killing are pending in Rangpur, alongside an additional murder case filed at the International Crimes Tribunal. Investigators sought court approval to transfer relevant evidence from the previous cases to the tribunal, which has now been granted. The ruling is expected to accelerate the investigation.

Jamaat-e-Islami Amir Dr. Shafiqur Rahman has proposed observing March 13 as ‘Asiya Day’ in memory of the young rape victim from Magura. The objective would be to raise awareness about child protection and build a society where every individual, regardless of gender, can live safely. In a statement, Rahman lamented Asiya’s brutal ordeal, describing her as a tragic witness to history. “She left us in tears at 1 PM on Thursday, shaking the entire nation (Inna Lillahi wa Inna Ilayhi Raji’un). May Allah accept her among His most beloved,” he prayed.

Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Ghulam Parwar has strongly condemned the remarks of Advisor Mahfuz Alam, who stated that Jamaat had supported war crimes. Parwar accused Alam of echoing the rhetoric of “foreign spies” like Shahriar Kabir. He reminded Alam that, as an advisor to a non-political interim government, he has no ethical or legal right to target any political party with baseless allegations. Parwar further argued that no evidence linking Jamaat leaders to war crimes was found during Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s rule, adding that Mujib himself granted general amnesty to many detainees. He highlighted that former Jamaat leader Ghulam Azam was later exonerated by the Supreme Court and had his citizenship reinstated.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has condemned the ongoing incidents of rape and violence, linking them to what he describes as the immoral rule of the previous fascist government. Recalling a 2018 incident in Subarnachar where BNP supporter Parul Begum was allegedly gang-raped in front of her children for voting against the ruling party, Fakhrul stated that the culture of impunity has allowed such crimes to persist. He expressed deep sorrow over the recent death of an 8-year-old rape victim, calling it a national tragedy. Fakhrul urged the government to take immediate steps to ensure justice, establish a safe environment for children, and hold perpetrators accountable with exemplary punishment.

Ten workers at a garment factory in Trishal suddenly lost consciousness while on duty. They were immediately rushed to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital for treatment. A special investigation committee has been formed to probe the incident, with a directive to submit a report within three working days. Dr. Emdad Ullah Khan, an associate professor of the medicine department, stated that the affected workers reported dizziness and disorientation before collapsing. Based on medical evaluations, the incident appears to be a case of “Mass Psychological Illness.”

British High Commissioner Sarah Cook has expressed her respect for students’ courage and peaceful protests, stating that such actions contribute to the improvement of law and order, good governance, and national unity. Speaking at an Iftar event hosted by the UK High Commission at the Grand Sylhet Hotel & Resort on Wednesday evening, Cook emphasized the significant contribution of Sylhet’s people to the UK’s economy. She reaffirmed that Bangladesh remains a long-standing friend and partner of the United Kingdom.