Page 54 - Bangladesh

India gets formal note from Bangladesh over Mamata Banerjee's "shelter" remarks

Recently, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee commented at a rally on the violent clashes in Bangladesh that was neither received well by the Indian nor the Bangladesh government.

Bangladesh quells protests against job quotas but anger, discontent remain

The protests, which started in universities and colleges earlier this month, quickly turned into a more widespread agitation against Hasina and her government

Sri Lanka, B'desh register big wins to enter semifinals of women's Asia Cup

Hosts Sri Lanka and Bangladesh cruised into the semifinals of the women's Asia Cup T20 tournament with comfortable victories over Thailand and Malaysia here on Wednesday. While Sri Lanka thrashed Thailand by 10 wickets in the final group match of the tournament, Bangladesh hammered Malaysia by 114 runs earlier in the day at the same venue. In the first match of the day, Bangladesh rode on opener Murshida Khatun's 59-ball 80 and skipper Nigar Sultana's 37-ball 62 to post a commanding 191 for 2. Opting to bat, Khatun and wicket-keeper Dilara Akter (33) shared 65 runs for the opening wicket before the former joined hands with Sultana to stitch 89 runs for the second wicket to set the foundation for the big total. Bangladesh then restricted Malaysia to 77 for 8 in 20 overs to register a convincing win and a place in the semifinals. In the last group match of the tournament, Thailand could muster only 93 for 7 after opting to bat. Wicket-keeper batter Nannapat Koncharoenkai top-scored

Possibility of Chinese influence on Bangladesh concerning for US: Official

The United States is concerned about the possibility of growing Chinese presence in Bangladesh, a senior administration official has told the lawmakers. We are concerned about the possibility of a growing Chinese presence in Bangladesh. But I would say the Bangladeshis have been pretty careful about not overextending quickly, Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia told the lawmakers during a Congressional hearing on Tuesday. In terms of Russia, Chinese influence in Bangladesh in that area, have you seen any uh things that are concerning in that regard as well? Congressman Bill Keating asked. I would say the most influential country in Bangladesh is actually not Russia or China, it's India. And we have a really active dialogue with India about our policies in Bangladesh and throughout the wider region, Lu said in response to the question. Congresswoman Young Kim said the Chinese Communist Party is a top trading partner for Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and

Bangladesh partially restores telecom services as protests taper off

The country has mostly been calm since Sunday when the Supreme Court scaled down reservations for various categories to 7 per cent

After protests, Bangladesh govt to formally accept ruling on job quotas

The protesters wanted the government to overturn a high court decision last month that reinstated a quota system putting aside nearly 60 per cent of government jobs for certain people

Bangladesh calm amid curfew after top court scrapped some job quotas

No violence or protests reported on Monday morning and media said curfew would be relaxed for 3 hours in afternoon, extended from 2 hours previous day, so that people could buy essentials

More than 4,500 Indian students return from violence-hit Bangladesh

More than 4,500 Indian students have returned home from Bangladesh as the neighbouring country continues to reel under violent clashes that have killed over 100 people. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Sunday that 500 students from Nepal, 38 from Bhutan and one from the Maldives have also arrived in India. It said the Indian missions in Bangladesh are in regular touch with local authorities for the safety and security of Indian nationals. "Thus far, over 4,500 Indian students have returned to India. The High Commission has been making arrangements for security escort for safe travel of Indian nationals to the border-crossing points," the MEA said. It said the Indian High Commission in Dhaka and the assistant high commissions in Chittagong, Rajshahi, Sylhet and Khulna have been assisting the return of Indian nationals home. "The Ministry of External Affairs has also been coordinating with relevant Indian authorities to ensure a smooth passage for our citizens at ...

39 dead in Bangladesh violence. Why are students protesting?

At least 39 people have been killed in Bangladesh amidst protests against the civil service quota system. Watch the video to find out why are students protesting. >

BSF to facilitate return of students from violence-hit Bangladesh

The BSF South Bengal Frontier has set up "special help desks" at Integrated Check Posts (ICP) along the India-Bangladesh border to facilitate the safe return of students from the violence-torn neighbouring country. Officials said it is in touch with the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) to coordinate the safe evacuation of students, even during night-time operations. The BSF has successfully assisted in the return of 572 Indian students, 133 Nepalese students and four Bhutanese students so far, the border guarding force said in a statement. "Amid this unrest, many Indian, Nepalese and Bhutanese students studying in various educational institutions in Bangladesh are being sent back to their countries. The BSF South Bengal Frontier has set up special help desks at ICP Petrapole, LCS Gede, Ghojadanga, and Mahadipur to facilitate the safe return of these students," a BSF statement said. "The BSF is in constant touch with BGB. This coordination has ensured the safe evacuation of students ev

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A ray of hope for Indian biz in Bangladesh after top court order

Bilateral trade at a standstill, operations of Indian companies halted due to the turmoil

India-Bangladesh trade comes to standstill as students' protests intensify

Trade between India and Bangladesh via land ports came to a standstill on Sunday as there was no movement of cargo trucks to and fro due to the ongoing student protests in the neighbouring country, officials said. The Bangladeshi side of the Petrapole landport remained non-functional, they said. Nearly one-third of land-based trade between India and Bangladesh takes place through Petrapole. "Trade from other land ports to Bangladesh, including Petrapole, Gojadanga, Fulbari, and Mahadipur, has also stalled as Bangladeshi Customs announced a two-day holiday from Sunday, following the government's declaration of a holiday except for essential services due to unrest," West Bengal Exporters' Coordination Committee Secretary Ujjal Saha said. The cargo trucks that crossed over to Bangladesh on Saturday from Mahadipur port in Malda have not returned, but they are safe, he said. "There has been no movement of trucks (import and export) at the Petrapole border since Sunday morning. Our land

BJP slams Mamata Banerjee for offering shelter to people from Bangladesh

The BJP on Sunday slammed West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for offering shelter to anyone coming in distress from Bangladesh and called it an "evil plan" of the INDIA bloc to settle illegal immigrants from the neighbouring country to Jharkhand to win elections. BJP co-incharge for West Bengal Amit Malviya also questioned Banerjee's authority to offer shelter to anyone coming from other country, saying immigration and citizenship are exclusively in the Centre's domain, and that states have no locus-standi in such matters. This came after the West Bengal chief minister said at a Kolkata rally that in the wake of the escalating violence in Bangladesh, she would keep the doors of her state open for people in distress from the neighbouring country and offer them shelter. Banerjee referred to the United Nations Resolution on refugees as justification for her stand over the possible humanitarian crisis that may emerge on account of the severe law and order breakdown that has ...

B'desh's top court scales back govt jobs quota after unrest killed scores

Bangladesh's top court on Sunday scaled back a controversial quota system for government job applicants after it led to nationwide unrest and deadly clashes between police and protesters that have killed scores of people. The Supreme Court in its verdict ordered 93% of the government jobs to be allocated on a merit-based system, leaving the remaining 7% for relatives of veterans who fought in Bangladesh's war of independence in 1971 and other categories. Earlier, the system reserved 30% of such jobs the relatives of war veterans. Sunday's verdict comes after weeks of demonstrations - mostly led by students - that turned deadly on Tuesday after protesters began clashing with police. During the week, police fired tear gas and rubber bullets and hurled smoke grenades to scatter stone-throwing protesters who filled the streets and university campuses. Sporadic clashes in some parts of Dhaka, the capital, were reported on Saturday but it was not immediately clear whether there were any ..

Curfew extended in Bangladesh as top court set to rule on job quotas

Bangladeshi authorities extended a curfew across the country on Sunday as the nation's top court was expected to rule on a civil service hiring quota that has led to days of deadly clashes between police and protesters, killing scores of people. The nationwide demonstrations called for mainly by student groups began weeks ago to protest a quota system that reserves up to 30% of government jobs for relatives of veterans who fought in Bangladesh's war of independence in 1971. Violence erupted Tuesday, with the Daily Prothom Alo newspaper on Saturday reporting the death of at least 103 people so far. Bangladeshi authorities haven't shared any official numbers of those killed and injured. During the week, police fired tear gas and rubber bullets and hurled smoke grenades to scatter stone-throwing protesters who filled the streets and university campuses. Sporadic clashes in some parts of Dhaka, the capital, were reported on Saturday but it was not immediately clear whether there were

379 students enter India from Bangladesh via Tripura border in last 2 days

Altogether 379 students entered India in the last two days from violence-hit Bangladesh through integrated check posts in Tripura, a Border Security Force official said here on Sunday. Of the total returnees, 365 crossed over the international border on Saturday and four on Friday, he said. The returnees include three Nepalese students. A total of 379 students entered India in the past 48 hours from violence-hit Bangladesh through check posts at Srimantapur in Sepahijala and Agartala (Akhaura) in West Tripura, and more are expected to return on Sunday," the BSF official said. According to him, students, who are stranded in Bangladesh's Brahmanbaria and Dhaka, are expected to return on Sunday. Land Ports Authority of India (LPAI), Agartala, Manager Debasish Nandi told PTI, Our facilities are open on Sunday for the people, including students, who want to return home. The ICP Agartala remains open till 11 pm to receive the students stranded in Bangladesh." BSF, Tripura Frontier, ...

In new advisory, US asks citizens not to travel to violence-hit Bangladesh

The United States has recommended that its citizens do not travel to Bangladesh and allowed the voluntary departure of its non-emergency government employees and family members in view of the ongoing civil unrest in the South Asian country. The development comes just a day after the US issued a new travel advisory for Bangladesh, urging Americans to reconsider their travel to the strife-torn country. Authorities in Bangladesh has imposed a strict curfew across the country and military personnel patrolled parts of the capital to quell further violence after days of clashes over the allocation of government jobs left more than 40 people dead and hundreds injured. The US Department of State raised the Travel Advisory Level for Bangladesh to Level 4 -- 'Do Not Travel'. "Do not travel to Bangladesh due to civil unrest, crime, and terrorism," the State Department said, adding, "The department allowed for the voluntary departure of non-emergency US government employees and family ...

284 more people enter India from Bangladesh via Meghalaya, say officials

Altogether 284 more people entered India on Saturday from violence-hit Bangladesh via Dawki integrated check post in Meghalaya's West Jaintia Hills district, officials said. Of them, 168 are from Nepal and 115 from India, including eight students from Meghalaya, and one from Canada, they said. "In the past three days, a total of 953 people from India, Nepal and Bhutan, mostly students, and one from Canada have crossed over through Dawki ICP to the country from Bangladesh due to agitation there," a senior home department official said. The Meghalaya government has activated a helpline number for those who have been in violence-hit Bangladesh and are seeking assistance from the authorities of the northeastern state. Violence escalated in Bangladesh's capital Dhaka and elsewhere over protests by students, demanding reforms to the quota system for government jobs. The protesters are demanding an end to a quota system that reserves up to 30 per cent of government jobs for relatives of

EAM says ministry fully focused on ensuring safety of Indians in Bangladesh

Nearly 1,000 Indian students have returned to India from Bangladesh through various land transit points or by flight, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Saturday as the neighbouring country continued to reel under deadly clashes that reportedly left over 90 people dead. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said the MEA is fully focused on ensuring safety and well being of the Indians in Bangladesh. Indian missions in Bangladesh are in regular touch with authorities concerned to ensure safety and security of Indian nationals and students, the MEA said. "Thus far, 778 Indian students have returned to India through various land ports. In addition, around 200 students have returned home by regular flight services through Dhaka and Chittagong airports," it said. Bangladesh has been reeling under deadly clashes with protesting students demanding the Sheikh Hasina-led government to scrap a controversial job quota system. Over 90 people have been killed in the clashes that b