KUET Vice Chancellor Dr. Muhammad Masud told the BBC, “I was appointed by the government. If they decide I am no longer suitable, I’ll step down. Until then, it’s their decision.” Protesters continue their hunger strike, with many hospitalized, vowing not to stop until the VC is removed.

Shibir Secretary Nurul Islam Saddam cautioned, “Out of the 32 students on hunger strike at KUET, 27 have already fallen ill. The VC who owes his position to student protests now clings to power, creating unrest. His resignation is crucial. If any student is harmed, the government will not be able to contain the fallout.” Earlier, Hasnat Abdullah had also expressed solidarity with the students.

Lauren Dreyer, Vice President of Global Engagement at SpaceX, met with Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus to discuss the final phase of launching SpaceX’s satellite services in Bangladesh. Dreyer confirmed, “I’ve instructed my team to be fully prepared for technical deployment by May.” Elon Musk’s other company, PayPal, is also being considered to facilitate digital transactions for the satellite services.

Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus has expressed condolences to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi following a deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir. “We strongly condemn this heinous act. Bangladesh’s position against terrorism remains unwavering,” he stated. Reports suggest 26 individuals were killed in the attack. Prime Minister Modi reportedly cut short his visit to Saudi Arabia and held an emergency meeting at the airport.

The expulsion orders of 37 students from Khulna University of Engineering & Technology (KUET) have been revoked. The decision was made during a syndicate meeting on Wednesday afternoon, as students continued an indefinite hunger strike demanding the resignation of the Vice Chancellor. However, a criminal case filed by an outsider naming 22 students remains active. Meanwhile, students persist with their protest under scorching heat, with many falling ill.

On August 5, Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury and State Minister Zunaid Ahmed Palak, along with ten others, reportedly took refuge in a room within the Parliament complex from morning till around 2:30 AM. They were eventually rescued by the military. Palak has stated he is open to interrogation. The court has granted a two-day police remand in a murder case filed with Vatara police. Shirin Sharmin remains in hiding, with her whereabouts—domestic or abroad—still unconfirmed.

BNP’s Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, after visiting the home of artist Manbendra Ghosh, stated that although pro-democracy forces support the interim government, it lacks constitutional legitimacy. He said it is now the government’s responsibility to determine how the Awami League will operate politically, given it controls the state machinery. Rizvi warned that unless war criminals within Awami League are prosecuted, the current administration will be deemed a failure.

Pakistan’s ARY News has suggested that the recent attack on tourists in Indian-occupied Pahalgam, Kashmir, might have been orchestrated to serve the Modi government’s political agenda. The outlet claimed that such attacks are often used to deflect attention from domestic failures and incite anti-Pakistan sentiment. ARY also reported that pro-government social media accounts quickly began spreading unverified claims targeting Pakistan.

Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus stated at a roundtable discussion in Doha that Bangladesh is currently hosting nearly 1.3 million forcibly displaced Rohingyas from Myanmar, with an additional 32,000 births annually. He emphasized that sustainable repatriation is the only viable solution. Dr. Yunus said the Arakan Army now controls 14 of the 17 townships in Myanmar’s Rakhine state, along with 271 km of the Myanmar-Bangladesh border. He noted that over 100,000 new Rohingya refugees entered Bangladesh since November 2023. Additionally, 909 Myanmar security personnel sought refuge in Bangladesh since February 2024 due to Arakan Army attacks—875 of whom have already been repatriated, with the remaining 34 to be returned soon. Dr. Yunus also highlighted that international funding for the Joint Response Plan is declining, and food assistance programs are facing financial shortages. He expressed hope that Qatar will take a leading role in addressing the crisis.

BNP leader Mirza Abbas has claimed that five senior bureaucrats, including one outside the Secretariat, and certain members of the advisory council are working to derail the Chief Adviser. He warned the Chief Adviser to remain vigilant. Abbas also criticized YouTubers for allegedly fueling instability and questioned why those benefiting from Awami League-linked administrators in the bureaucracy remain untouched.

Asif Mahmud’s Assistant Personal Secretary (APS), Md. Moazzem Hossain, has stepped down from his position. Moazzem clarified that he was not dismissed but voluntarily resigned to pursue a permanent government job. In a statement, he said, “On March 10, 2025, I passed the written exam for a bank job. The BCS written exam is scheduled for May 8, and the bank interview on May 22. That’s why I submitted my resignation to Adviser Asif Mahmud on March 25.” He dismissed media reports claiming he was removed, calling them false. Adviser Asif Mahmud also confirmed the resignation and encouraged anyone with complaints against Moazzem to submit them via the designated complaint email.

The General Secretary of the KUET Teachers’ Association, Dr. Md. Faruk Hossain, stated that the association stands firmly on the matter of upholding the dignity of the Vice Chancellor. “Since the government has intervened, they should take appropriate action if any faults are found. But if a Vice Chancellor is forced to resign due to pressure from any group, we strongly oppose it,” he said. Dr. Hossain also mentioned that teachers were subjected to abuse by students following the incident, and academic activities will remain suspended until justice is served for the assaulted teachers. Association President Dr. Md. Shahidul Islam added, “We are deeply hurt that the Education Adviser did not speak to us today.”

Professor Dr. Asif Nazrul has confirmed that efforts are underway to withdraw politically motivated cases against leaders of Hefazat-e-Islam. He stated that the cases were part of a broader campaign of repression under the Hasina administration, which he labeled as “anti-Islamic.” Nazrul said his office had asked the Attorney General to ensure justice and requested prayers to continue advocating for the oppressed.

Garment workers in Gazipur’s Sripur area staged a protest Wednesday morning, blocking a major highway in Herachala village. The demonstration was sparked by the sudden layoff of 30 workers and the closure of a factory without notice. Protesters ended the blockade after three hours. They said they had returned to work after assurances of reemployment, only to find the factory locked the following day.

To tackle the widespread and often chaotic use of battery-powered autorickshaws in Dhaka, authorities are planning to introduce a new model developed by BUET. In a recent meeting with law enforcement and local stakeholders, Dhaka South City Corporation presented this model, which prioritizes safety features like foot brakes and regulated speed. If approved by the Ministry of Local Government, only licensed rickshaws built under this design will be allowed on city streets. Existing rickshaws will be gradually phased out. This initiative aims for nationwide adoption, with training provided for drivers if needed.