Tensions between Dhaka University and its seven affiliated colleges reached a boiling point, as clashes broke out between the students, turning the DU campus and the area around Nilkhet and on towards Science Laboratory in the capital into a warzone on Sunday (Jan 26). The next day, DU authorities announced that eight years after their re-affiliation, the University and its seven affiliated colleges would sever ties. No new students of the seven colleges would be admitted to the 2024-25 session under DU.

The existing students of the colleges would continue studies under the DU administration.

DU Vice-Chancellor Prof Niaz Ahmed Khan made the announcement after an emergency meeting with the principals of the affiliated colleges at his office. By the end of the week, the University Grants Commission was considering the establishment of a new public university named "July 36 University," which would be formed for the seven government colleges in the capital previously under Dhaka University.

The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council (BHBCUC) reported 174 attacks on religious minorities in Bangladesh over a period of four months and 11 days - August 21 to December 31 last year. A total of 23 were killed and nine were raped in these incidents. The data was prepared based on information published in different media outlets, BHBCUC disclosed this week, at a 'press conference against existing communal violence and disparity'.

Acting general secretary Manindra Kumar Nath read out a written statement at the event. He said these communal incidents took place mainly in rural areas. In some incidents, several families were attacked. The BHBCUC report said 64 of these incidents were of killing and repression on women, either rape or gang rape. Attacks on places of worship, vandalism, loot and arson were also common. The report mentioned 25 incidents of forcible usurpation of houses, land and businesses of religious minorities.

After remaining stable for nearly three weeks due to strict measures by the Bangladesh Bank, the remittance dollar market has once again started to become volatile, with rates rising amidst mounting pressures on banks to clear overdue payments. According to senior officials, the current buying rate for remittance dollars has climbed to Tk122.5, an increase of 50 paisa over the past two weeks, with a notable 20p hike on Tuesday (Jan 28) alone.

However, banks continue to report the rate as Tk122 to the Bangladesh Bank, in line with its December directive. It also mandated that the difference between buying and selling rates must not exceed Tk 1, warning of fines for non-compliance. A senior official of a private bank told UNB that the remittance dollar rate had remained between Tk 121.5 and Tk 122 in line with the central bank's instructions. However, with overdue import payments piling up, competition among banks to secure dollars intensified, leading some banks to purchase at a higher price.

Addressing the complexities of the cases before the International Crimes Tribunal, Special Adviser to the Chief Prosecutor Toby Cadman this week warned the intricacies involved leave no scope for expedited justice. "These cases are intricate and require time," Cadman said, during a press briefing at the ICT premises on Monday (Jan. 27), after participating in the legal proceedings of the tribunal for the first time.

While expressing confidence in Chief Prosecutor Tajul Islam's leadership and commitment to ensuring justice, he also mentioned plans to engage with legal professionals and the government to bring about further changes to the tribunal's legal framework. These changes, he said, would be necessary to enhance the tribunal's impartiality and align its proceedings with both domestic and international standards. That suggests there are still gaps in the tribunal's Act, and further amendments will be in the offing, on his advice. As earlier, it will have to be done through presidential decree.