Page 21 - Bangladesh

Protesters set fire to Bangladesh founder Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's home

A large group of protesters on Wednesday vandalised and set on fire Bangladesh founder Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's residence in Dhaka during a live online address of his daughter and deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina. Witnesses said several thousand people rallied in front of the house at the capital's Dhanmondi area, which was earlier turned into a memorial museum, since early evening following a social media call for Bulldozer Procession as Hasina was supposed to make her address at 9 pm (BST). Hasina delivered her address organised by the Awami League's now disbanded student wing Chhatra League and called upon the countrymen to organise a resistance against the current regime. They are yet to have the strength to destroy the national flag, the constitution and the independence that we earned at the cost of lives of millions of martyrs with a bulldozer, Hasina said in an apparent reference to Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus's incumbent regime, installed by the Anti-Discrimination ...

India expects cooperative approach from B'desh on cross-border crimes: Govt

India has conveyed to Bangladesh that it expects a cooperative approach from the neighbouring country for combating cross-border crimes, the government informed Parliament on Tuesday. India has also informed Bangladesh that it is observing all existing agreements in this regard, including for fencing along this front, the government said. Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai said in a written reply to Lok Sabha that the total length of the India-Bangladesh border is 4,096.7 km out of which 3,232.21 km has been "covered" with a fence. The minister was asked if border fencing "impacted" bilateral relations between the two countries. "Construction of fencing is an important security measure for securing the border. Fencing helps to ensure a crime-free border by effectively addressing the challenges of cross-border criminal activities, smuggling, movement of criminals and trafficking," Rai said. It has been "conveyed" to the government of Bangladesh that with regard to ...

India-Bangladesh trade connectivity will continue, says India's envoy

The High Commission of India, Dhaka organised an interactive session with leading businesses and business chambers from Bangladesh's textile sector on February 3

Protect religious minorities: Bangladesh's Yunus asks security chiefs

Noting that Bangladesh's country's global image "will be badly damaged" if it fails to protect its religious minorities, Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus on Monday ordered security chiefs to take special measures to prevent attacks on them and safeguard the rights of every citizen. Yunus gave the instructions while reviewing the law and order situation at a high-level meeting with security chiefs here, The Daily Star newspaper reported. He directed police and law enforcement agencies to set up a command centre to intensively monitor the law and order situation in the country. "We have to set up a command centre or a command headquarters, which will coordinate among all police and security agencies," the Chief Adviser told senior security officials. He said the security agencies must ensure maximum use of the latest communication tools to make sure they can quickly intervene in any situation. "Our global image will be badly damaged if we can't protect our religious minorities. We must

Illegal migration reshaping Delhi's demography, impacting polls: JNU report

The JNU report on Delhi's demography notes a marked rise in the Muslim population due to migration from Bangladesh

Bangladesh belongs to all, home of communal harmony: Chief Advisor Yunus

Bangladesh belongs to all of its citizens and is a safe place for all people regardless of religion or caste, Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus has said, as he greeted members of the Hindu community on Saraswati Puja. Hindus in Bangladesh celebrated Saraswati Puja on Monday amid traditional enthusiasm, festivity and religious fervour. In a message on Sunday, Yunus said Bangladesh is an abode of communal harmony. For thousands of years, people of all religions have been living together in this country irrespective of caste, colour and religion," he said. "The country belongs to all of us and is a safe place for all people regardless of religion or caste," he added. Yunus took over as the country's interim leader after a student-led uprising last year forced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to flee to India on August 5, ending her 15-year rule. The interim government "has been relentlessly working to improve the fate of all irrespective of race, religion, and caste and ensure their e

Budget 2025: Maldives gets more aid from India, but what about Bangladesh?

Union Budget 2025: India's foreign aid drops to Rs 5,483 crore in Budget 2025; Maldives sees a hike to Rs 600 crore, Afghanistan's aid doubles, while Myanmar faces a cut amid ongoing internal turmoil

Budget session: Modi govt to table Bill for stricter immigration control

The Modi government will introduce The Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025, in the Budget Session, proposing stricter border control measures amid political debate over illegal immigration

Illegal Bangladeshi, Rohingya migrants major security threat: Nitesh Rane

Maharashtra minister Nitesh Rane has claimed Bangladeshi nationals and Rohingyas staying illegally in India is a major security concern and an attempt to Islamise the society. The BJP leader further said illegal immigrants should not be allowed to stay in India. "Illegal Bangladeshis and Rohingyas staying here is a major security concern. It is an attempt to Islamise our society. Past experience shows this is a serious threat to Mumbai and the country. It is an attempt to take control of the city or the state," Rane told reporters here on Wednesday. He said BJP leaders, including Mangal Prabhat Lodha and Kirit Somaiya, were working to protect Mumbai's interests. Illegal immigrants should not be allowed to stay in India, and should be "dumped" in Pakistan and Bangladesh, the minister said. "We do not want such dirt here. There are dumping grounds like Pakistan and Bangladesh. It is better to dump such dirt there. Not a single Bangladeshi or Rohingya should be staying here," he ...

Will seek to scrap 'uneven agreements' with India: Bangladesh home adviser

Bangladesh's interim government on Wednesday said that it would seek to scrap some "uneven agreements" on borders with India during the meeting of the directors general of the border guards of the two countries next month. "Discussions will be held over all sorts of border-related agreements with India, Home Adviser Lt Gen (retd.) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said. He said the Bangladeshi side would seek to cancel some uneven agreements related to border management alongside and discuss other related issues. He said that northeastern Kulaura Railway Station is an inter-country railway station which is situated three kilometres inside Bangladesh while Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) intends not to allow free entry of Indians there and instead proposes the installation of an immigration checkpoint with a customs facility on the border. BGB chief Maj Gen Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui is set to hold the meeting with Border Security Force (BSF) counterpart Daljit Singh Chaudhary in Delhi

Saif stabbing case: Accused Bangladeshi national sent to judicial custody

A court here on Wednesday remanded a 30-year-old Bangladeshi national, arrested for allegedly stabbing actor Saif Ali Khan, in 14-day judicial custody noting there was no fresh ground for extending his police custody. Mohammad Shariful Islam, the accused, was produced before the Bandra magistrate court at the end of his police custody. Police sought an extension of his custody for two days for further investigation. The court, however, noted that the accused was in police custody for more than ten days. The record reflected that the investigation was over, no fresh ground for custody was noticed, and the police can seek his fresh custody within the permissible period if anything new came to light, the magistrate said. As per the police, the accused, arrested from adjoining Thane, is a Bangladeshi who changed his name Mohammad Shariful Islam Shehzad to 'Bijoy Das' after entering India illegally. The Bollywood star was repeatedly stabbed with a knife by an intruder inside his 12th

Awami League calls for protest seeking resignation of Yunus-led govt in Feb

Ousted former prime minister Sheikh Hasina's Awami League has announced a series of protests demanding the resignation of Professor Muhammad Yunus-led interim government for its "oppression" of the minority Hindu community in Bangladesh. This comes as the first major demonstration by the Awami League, whose most of the leaders have either been arrested or underground since the fall of the Hasina-led government on August 5 last year following a students-led anti-discrimination movement. According to a statement posted on Awami League's verified Facebook page, the party will take to the streets starting February 1 to press for the resignation of the interim government and implement the strike and blockade programmes. The statement said the party would distribute leaflets and campaign for their demands from Saturday to Wednesday. Protest marches and rallies will be held nationwide on February 6, followed by demonstrations and rallies on February 10. It said a nationwide blockade has

Train services resume in Bangladesh after railway workers end strike

The strike, which began on Tuesday, caused significant disruptions for commuters and businesses

Trains cancelled across Bangladesh as railway staff goes on strike

Trains were cancelled across Bangladesh on Tuesday as railway staff went on strike for higher pensions and other benefits, affecting tens of thousands of passengers and freight transport. Saidur Rahman, acting president of the Bangladesh Railway Running Staff and Workers Union, said the strike was called after a meeting with the interim government headed by Nobel Peace laureate Muhammad Yunus failed to reach a deal late Monday. Rahman said the strike would continue indefinitely if the government does not accept their demands. The state-run railway system carries some 65 million passengers per year in a densely populated nation of 170 million people. It employs about 25,000 people and operates a network of over 36,000 kilometers (22,000 miles). The main Kamlapur Railway Station in the capital, Dhaka, was mobbed by hundreds of disappointed passengers who were not aware of the strike. Many waited for hours before going home. As the country's railway adviser visited, passengers shoute

Bangladesh high commissioner announces direct flights with Pakistan

To further strengthen bilateral ties, Bangladesh's High Commissioner to Pakistan announced plans to begin direct air services between Bangladesh and Pakistan. According to The Express Tribune, Mohammad Iqbal Hussain was speaking at a press conference in Peshawar on Saturday. Hussain emphasised the deep and historic relationship between the two countries and expressed the intention to initiate direct flights to facilitate travel and connectivity. He noted that such a move would enhance cooperation in various sectors, including tourism, education, and trade. However, no timeline for the direct flights was announced. The High Commissioner also highlighted the growing trade and diplomatic relations between Bangladesh and Pakistan, stating that these ties would continue to grow stronger. He underscored Bangladesh's commitment to freedom of expression, noting how social media has empowered the younger generation to voice their rights, contributing to a robust culture of free speech in

Awami League won't be allowed to contest Bangladesh polls: Yunus' adviser

Bangladesh's deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina's Awami League would not be allowed to participate in elections, a key adviser of Muhammad Yunus's interim government said on Saturday. "The elections will be contested among pro-Bangladesh groups only, said Mahfuz Alam, a top leader of the Anti-Discrimination Movement, which spearheaded the mass uprising that toppled Hasina's Awami League regime and forced her to flee the country on August 5 last year. Addressing a street rally at central Chandpur district, Alam said only former prime minister Khaleda Zia's Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Jamaat-e-Islam and other pro-Bangladesh groups would carry on their politics in the country. He added that either of these will establish future governance through a fair electoral process. "But Awami League's rehabilitation will not be allowed in this country, said Alam, a de facto minister without portfolio in Chief Adviser Yunus's administration. Alam stated that no election would take pla

Keeping a close watch on neighbours: India as ISI officials visit B'desh

Against the backdrop of an increase in engagement between Bangladeshi and Pakistani military officials, India on Friday said it keeps a close watch on developments in the neighbourhood having a bearing on national security and takes "appropriate" action if required. Pakistani spy agency ISI's Director General of Analysis Maj Gen Shahid Amir Afsar and certain other officials are currently visiting Bangladesh, according to reports. The visit to Dhaka by the Pakistani military officials came after a delegation of Bangladeshi military officials toured Pakistan and held meetings with the three service chiefs. "We keep an eye on all activities around the country and in the region, as well as all activities affecting national security, and the government will take appropriate steps," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in response to a question at his weekly media briefing. He said India's approach towards Bangladesh has been to maintain friendly ties. "We support

Father of accused alleges son being framed in Saif stabbing case

The father of the Bangladeshi man accused of stabbing actor Saif Ali Khan will soon approach that country's foreign ministry and the Indian High Commission for the release of his son, who he said was being framed for reasons unknown to him. In a 12-minute interview, Mohammad Ruhul, the father of Shariful Islam, told PTI over the phone from Bangaldesh that his son did not have proper documentation for his stay in India and he lived in constant fear of being arrested. He alleged that the man seen in the CCTV camera footage was not Shariful and added that his son was being framed. "I will get in touch with the Bangaldeshi foreign ministry and also seek help from the Indian High Commission in Dhaka for the release of my son," Ruhul told PTI. He claimed that he learned about his son's arrest through Facebook and news channels and added he had not been contacted by police in this connection. "The police have not said anything to us," Ruhul told PTI. He revealed that Shariful entered In

22 injured in clashes between BNP factions in Bangladesh despite Sec 144

According to the Dhaka Tribune, the conflict occurred in the Ismailpur area of Shyamnagar after tensions escalated between the two groups

Bangladesh court acquits Khaleda Zia in 10 year-old sabotage case

A court in Bangladesh acquitted BNP Chairperson and former prime minister Khaleda Zia on Wednesday in a sabotage case filed in the southeastern Cumilla district 10 years ago. Additional District and Session Judge Court-2 of Cumilla Afroza Jesmin passed the order as there was no evidence against 79-year-old Zia, who is now undergoing treatment in London, the state-run BSS news agency reported. The court observed that the case was filed on political grounds and harassment, the agency said. The case was filed against 32 people, including Zia, in the Special Powers Act, 1974, at Chouddagram Police Station in Cumilla in connection with damaging and setting fire to a covered van during a strike on January 25, 2015. Zia was the 32nd accused in the case. No specific evidence was found against Zia and she has been acquitted, Public Prosecutor Kaimul Haque Rinku was quoted as saying by bdnews24 news portal. He added that 32 people were named in the FIR, but 42 people were charged afterwards