The first batch of Bangladeshi patients reached China's Kunming for medical treatment, marking a new chapter in the bilateral ties between the East Asian country and Bangladesh. The development came as the nations are celebrating the golden jubilee of friendship. The delegation comprised 14 patients, three of whom were children with congenital heart disease, along with their attendants, five doctors, and five travel agency representatives. The patients and their family members will undergo medical check-ups and receive treatment at designated hospitals, while the doctors and travel agents will assess hospital facilities, accommodation, and travel arrangements.

During a trip to China earlier this year, Bangladesh's Foreign Affairs Adviser Touhid Hossain proposed strengthening bilateral ties in public health, requesting China to facilitate medical treatment for Bangladeshi patients, among other proposals. Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen, during a press conference at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, said the visa process will be expedited as soon as possible to ensure there is no delay in treatment.

Commerce Adviser Sheikh Bashir Uddin pointed out that the prices of daily essentials are now on a downward trend from being stable and are expected to decline further. He was speaking at a gathering of imams and khatibs after Iftar at the Jamia Madania Baridhara auditorium, organised by Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh Dhaka Metropolitan on Wednesday (Mar. 12) evening. The adviser said that wealth inequality was a major factor behind the July uprising. "The roles of Qardh al-hasan (interest-free lending) and Zakat are crucial in eliminating this wealth disparity," he added.

Zakat, he explained, is an effective Islamic model for wealth distribution. It is the responsibility of the individual, not a form of charity. Imams and khatibs can inspire people to pay Zakat, ensuring a balanced distribution of wealth and reducing poverty. Sheikh Bashir Uddin also emphasized that Zakat helps discourage hoarding. The Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) conducts activities worth Tk 12,000 crore annually, with the government's subsidy amounting to Tk 4,500 crore.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Sheikh Md Sazzat Ali announced that private security personnel would be appointed as auxiliary police during Ramadan and Eid celebrations. Speaking at a press conference at the DMP Media Centre, the commissioner explained that he has the authority to assign auxiliary (assistant) police forces in shopping malls and residential areas, saying, "They will have a band in their hands. It will say auxiliary police and they will have the authority to make arrests."

Besides, they will receive legal protection similar to that of regular police officers, he said. The DMP commissioner emphasised that shopping malls in Dhaka remain open late into the night during Ramadan and Eid, saying that certain alleys in the city become deserted during Tarawih prayers. To ensure security during this period, he urged residents to take precautionary measures when leaving their homes or businesses, particularly as many police personnel will be on leave during the holidays.

The interim government formed a new committee, headed by Asif Nazrul, adviser for law, justice, and parliamentary affairs, to review the reserve heist from Bangladesh Bank that took place in 2016. On March 12, the Cabinet Division issued a gazette notification announcing the formation of the six-member committee, which includes Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan, adviser for power, energy, and mineral resources; Faiz Ahmed Taiyeb, special assistant for the ministry of posts, telecommunications, and information technology; Ahsan H Mansur, governor of Bangladesh Bank; Ali Ashfaq, director of Biman Bangladesh Airlines; and Nazrul Huda, chairman of Rupali Bank.

The committee will review the progress of the investigation into the Bangladesh Bank reserve heist of February 2016, assess other government measures taken in this regard, determine responsibility for the incident, and provide necessary recommendations to prevent the recurrence of such an incident. The Financial Institutions Division will provide secretarial support to the committee.