Page 39 - Bangladesh

Bangladesh's Yunus introduces Abdullah as 'brains' behind Hasina's ouster

Bangladesh's chief advisor Muhammad Yunus introduced to an American audience here the brains behind the "meticulously designed" protests that led to the ouster of Sheikh Hasina from power. Introducing the students at Clinton Global Initiative's annual meeting on Tuesday, where Yunus was welcomed by former US president Bill Clinton, the Nobel laureate suggested the protests against then prime minister Hasina and her Awami League were planned. "These are known to be the brains behind the whole revolution. They look like any other young person, you will not recognise them. But when you see them in action, when you hear them speak, you will be shaking. They shook the whole country," said the 84-year-old Nobel laureate while introducing Bangladeshi student leaders. Yunus specifically pointed towards student activist "Mahfuj Abdullah", and called him the "brains behind the whole revolution". "He denies it repeatedly, he said not me many others. But that's how he is recognised, that he is

Bangladesh economic growth threatened by rapidly depleting water resources

Groundwater in the climate-vulnerable country is depleting faster than ever before, according to new research from WaterAid

B'desh to hold talks with India over sharing of rivers: Dhaka official

Bangladesh will soon take steps to hold negotiations with India over the sharing of water of transboundary rivers, an adviser of the interim government said on Wednesday. India and Bangladesh were set to sign a deal on Teesta water sharing during then-Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to Dhaka in 2011, but West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee declined to endorse it, citing a scarcity of water in her state. Speaking at a seminar titled 'Bangladesh's Fair Share of Water in Shared Rivers' here, Water Resources Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan said Bangladesh would soon take steps to hold negotiations with India over the sharing of water from transboundary rivers, state-run BSS news agency reported. She said that the negotiations will be held after considering public opinion and the outcomes of the talks will be shared with the people. Rizwana said although the water sharing of international rivers is a complex issue, the exchange of essential information should not be a political

ADB cuts Bangladesh's growth forecast to 5.1% due to political unrest

The ADB has lowered its forecast for Bangladesh's economic growth to 5.1 per cent primarily due to supply disruptions caused by political unrest in July and August, a media report said on Wednesday. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) had earlier projected that the overall production of goods and services in the South Asian country would grow by 6.6 per cent for the fiscal year (FY) 2024-25, The Daily Star newspaper reported. The Manila-based multilateral lender said it lowered the country's GDP growth projection for the current fiscal due to violent protests and recent floods. The ADB said the fiscal and monetary policies are expected to remain tight, further dampening consumption and investment demand. The lender said the forecast is highly uncertain as significant downside risks cloud the macroeconomic outlook. "These risks primarily stem from ongoing political instability, a fragile law-and-order situation, and vulnerabilities within the financial sector," it said. The ADB's lat

Bangladesh Hasina's son wants role for her party in reforms, election

The BNP said it would like elections held at the earliest opportunity

Ice has started to melt, says BNP leader after meeting with Indian envoy

Recently, in a political outreach, Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka, Pranay Verma, held a meeting with BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakrul Islam Alamgir at the BNP office to discuss relations

Amit Shah's remarks spark strong protest from Bangladesh. What did he say?

Bangladesh has issued a formal protest following recent remarks reportedly made by the Union Home Minister in Jharkhand

Hindu Mahasabha calls for 'Gwalior Bandh' during India-B'desh cricket match

The Hindu Mahasabha has called for a bandh in Madhya Pradesh's Gwalior on October 6 to oppose the India-Bangladesh cricket match scheduled here next month in protest against "atrocities" on Hindus in the neighbouring country. A T20 match is scheduled between India and Bangladesh in Gwalior on October 6. The Hindu Mahasabha is opposing the India-Bangladesh match to be held here on October 6, the outfit's national vice president Jaiveer Bharadwaj told reporters here on Monday. He claimed that "atrocities" on Hindus were still going on in Bangladesh and it was not right to play cricket with Bangladesh. The Hindu Mahasabha has given a call for 'Gwalior Bandh' on the day of the match and there will be no ban on essential commodities, he said. Bharadwaj also demanded that those involved in the "adulteration" of laddus at the Tirupati Balaji temple be given capital punishment. These laddus were also distributed during the consecration function of Ram temple in Ayodhya, he said. This in

Amid Bangladesh turmoil, Adani eyes Indian power grid to link Godda plant

Adani Power's Jharkhand plant, which sells its entire output to Bangladesh, is exploring selling power in India. This comes amid reports that Bangladesh may review its pact with the company

UN to support Bangladesh reforms undertaken by Yunus-led interim govt

The United Nations will support Bangladesh in its reform initiatives, including police and election reforms, undertaken by the interim government, a top official of the world body said on Sunday. The chief of the UN in Bangladesh, Gwyn Lewis, met Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus here and discussed a wide range of issues, including reforms, corruption, floods, the Rohingya crisis, and the UN-led investigation into the July-August violence, The Daily Star newspaper reported. Lewis expressed her support for the reform initiatives undertaken by the interim government and thanked Yunus for taking up the extraordinary role, the paper said. Yunus, 84, recently announced the formation of six commissions to reform the judiciary, election system, administration, police, anti-corruption commission and the constitution. The Nobel laureate took oath as the head of the interim government on August 8, three days after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled to India following widespread protes

BSF creates open gyms, bathrooms for women along Bangladesh border in WB

Three open-air gymnasiums and a number of tin sheet-covered bathing sheds for women have been created by a BSF battalion deployed in this frontier area of West Bengal to guard the India-Bangaldesh international boundary. The facilities were created following the Union home ministry's directive to the border forces to engage with the local population, with Home Minister Amit Shah saying these remote locations on the front are not the last but the first villages of the country, and organisations like the Border Security Force (BSF) should take all measures for the betterment of the lives of the citizens residing in these security-sensitive areas, a senior officer told PTI. The 32nd battalion of the BSF has created the open-air gyms near its border outposts of Gede, Kadipur and Tungi in West Bengal's Nadia district. Equipment like parallel bars, waist stretchers, chest press, fun rider, lateral pull down, sit-up trainer, two-sided rotator and "tai chi spinner" have been installed in ..

Fish Importers' Assn hails Bangladesh's decision to lift Hilsa export ban

The Fish Importers' Association on Sunday welcomed Bangladesh's interim government's decision to allow the export of over 3,000 tonnes of Hilsa to India during the upcoming Durga Puja festivities. The association said it was a "good and positive" response, which will satiate the taste buds of Bengalis during the festive season. "We expect the first consignment of Hilsa to arrive in markets in Kolkata and its neighbourhood via the Petrapole border by September 26," Association secretary Syed Anwar Maqsood told PTI here. "It's fine even if 500 of the 3,000 tonnes arrive in the first phase... let Hilsa lovers of West Bengal get a chance to savour their favourite Padma Hilsa from Bangladesh. We thank the interim government for understanding the situation following requests from India. Hilsa is sent every year during Durga Puja. We hope the export of Hilsa to India becomes a more regular affair in the coming days," he said. Maqsood, in a letter to Bangladesh's interim government on ...

Modi, Yunus to not meet at UNGA, Bangladesh foreign adviser will meet EAM

Bangladesh's Foreign Adviser Touhid Hossain on Saturday said that Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus will not be meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, according to media reports. Hossain, former foreign secretary of Bangladesh, said he would hold a bilateral meeting with India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to advance the relationship between the two neighbours, The Daily Star newspaper reported. At a press briefing at the foreign ministry in the afternoon, Hossain said, Sorting out all issues, we want to further advance our relationship based on mutual respect and fairness. "Our meeting with Jaishankar is almost certain. We have to acknowledge that there is a certain level of tension in our relations with India. To resolve any issues, we can't simply deny their existence. We will definitely try to move past the tension and establish a working relationship," Hossain said, according to The Dhaka Tribune ...

B'desh forms committee to probe violence, delegation to visit affected area

Bangladesh government on Friday announced that a high-powered probe committee would soon be formed to investigate all incidents of violence in the three districts of Chittagong hill tracts. A high-level delegation will visit Khagrachhari and Rangamati on Saturday to address the violent situation from Wednesday, officials said. State-run Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) news agency, quoting a press release from the Inter-Services Public Relation Directorate (ISPR), requested people to extend cooperation to law enforcement agencies in maintaining peace and harmony in the three hill districts and calming the ongoing tension. A statement from the Chief Adviser's office said the interim government has directed all forces to exercise restraint and ensure the safety of residents of the three hill districts following recent violence and fatalities. The ISPR statement also raised concerns about the potential for "severe riots" following recent clashes that resulted in at least four ...

Four Bangladeshi infiltrators pushed back by Assam Police: CM Himanta

Assam Police on Friday pushed back two Bangladeshis who attempted to cross the international border at Karimganj district, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said. He said on Thursday also Assam Police pushed back four Bangladeshis who attempted to cross the border in Karimganj district. "In line with our zero-tolerance policy toward illegal infiltration, earlier today @assampolice successfully pushed back the following Bangladeshi nationals who attempted to cross the International Border at Karimganj," Sarma posted on X on Friday. The two illegal immigrants were identified as Dilara Begum and Shoel Hawladar, he said. In another post on the micro-blogging site on Thursday evening, Sarma had said four Bangladeshi nationals were pushed back. "Maintaining strict vigil along the Indo-Bangladesh border, @assampolice identified four Bangladeshi nationals near the border in Karimganj," he said. They were identified as Romida Begum, Abdul Elahi, Marijna Begum and Abdul Sukkur. "They wer

Exports demand likely to keep Bajaj Auto's shares under pressure

While domestic 2W will grow by 7-8 per cent (13 per cent up in motorcycle volumes in FY25 till August), there's weakness in the 100cc segment with low single-digit growth

B'desh instability not to impact credit quality of Indian firms: CRISIL

Leading research firm CRISIL Ratings said in its report that the recent political turmoil in neighbouring Bangladesh is unlikely to have any near-term impact on the credit quality of Indian corporates. The report said that there has also been no significant impact on India's trade with Bangladesh going forward, while the effect will vary based on industry specific exposure. It said a prolonged disruption can affect the revenue profiles and working capital cycles of some export-oriented sectors for which Bangladesh is either a demand centre or a production hub. In the financial year 2023-24, total trade with Bangladesh was around USD12,949 million, with Indian exports at USD 11,065 million and imports at USD 1884 million. The report said sectors such as cotton yarn, power, footwear, soft luggage and FMCG could see a negative impact. On the other hand, sectors like shipbreaking, jute, readymade garments would benefit, the report said. India's trade with Bangladesh is relatively low

Bangladesh's interim govt gives Army magistracy powers for 2 months

Bangladesh's interim government has granted magisterial powers to the Army for two months to improve law and order in the country and prevent "subversive acts". The Ministry of Public Administration issued a notification on the government's decision on Tuesday, saying it will be applicable with immediate effect. The powers will be given to commissioned officers of the Army. The order will remain in force for the next 60 days. Section 17 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, or CrPC, which awards Army officers the status of special executive magistrates, says these officers shall be subordinate to the district magistrates, or deputy commissioners, bdnews24.com reported. This authority including arrest and dispersal of unlawful rallies has been conferred upon commissioned officers of the Army. In self-defence and extreme need, the officer can open fire, said an adviser to the interim government on Tuesday, The Daily Star newspaper reported. "We are witnessing subversive acts and disru

Why Centre is allowing B'desh cricket team's India tour: Aaditya Thackeray

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray on Tuesday sought to know why the Centre was "going soft" on BCCI and allowing the Bangladesh cricket team to tour India when the minority Hindu community was facing violence in the neighbouring country. In a post on X, Thackeray said trolls in India are engineering hatred on the pretext of violence in Bangladesh, while the BCCI is hosting its team. "I wonder why those who have actively campaigned against this violence, don't speak to the @BCCI and ask questions? Or is it only about creating hate in India and election propaganda?" he said. The first Test between India and Bangladesh starts on September 19. "Just keen to know from the Ministry of External Affairs, whether Hindus in Bangladesh faced violence in the past 2 months, as told to us by some media and social media? If yes, and hindus and other minorities faced violence, then why is the bjp run Government of India going so easy on the BCCI and allowing the tour? If no, then is the ..

No near-term impact of B'desh situation on India's trade: CRISIL Ratings

Crisil Ratings on Tuesday said the recent developments in Bangladesh did not have a significant impact on India's trade and it does not foresee any near-term impact on the credit quality of India Inc. Crisil Ratings said the effect will vary based on industry/sector-specific nuances and exposure. "We do not foresee any near-term impact on the credit quality of India Inc either," it added. However, a prolonged disruption can affect the revenue profiles and working capital cycles of some export-oriented industries for which Bangladesh is either a demand centre or a production hub. Also, the movement in the Bangladeshi currency Taka, will have to be watched, the credit ratings agency said. "Recent developments in Bangladesh haven't had a significant impact on India's trade and going forward, the effect will vary based on industry/sector-specific nuances and exposure. We do not foresee any near-term impact on the credit quality of India Inc either," Crisil Ratings said. Companies into