Page 6 - Bangladesh

India rejects Bangladesh claim of its role in Khagrachhari clashes

India on Friday trashed as "false and baseless" a senior Bangladeshi official's claim of its involvement in violent clashes in Bangladesh. Following the clashes at Khagrachhari district in Chittagong Hill Tracts in southwestern Bangladesh last week, de-facto home minister Jahangir Alam Chowdhury alleged that the unrest was being fuelled by India. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India categorically rejects these "false and baseless allegations". "The interim government, which is unable to maintain law and order in Bangladesh, has routinely sought to shift the blame elsewhere," he said. "It would do well to introspect and conduct serious investigations into the action of local extremists committing violence, arson and land grab against the minority communities in the Chittagong Hill Tracts," he added. Jaiswal was responding to a question on Chowdhury's remarks during a weekly media briefing. There has been a sharp downturn in India-Bangladesh relations a

Calcutta HC declares Bangladesh deportation of Birbhum residents illegal

The Calcutta High Court on Friday set aside the Centre's decision to deport Sonali Bibi and Sweety Bibi, residents of Birbhum district in West Bengal, along with their families to Bangladesh after terming them as "illegal immigrants". The court directed the Centre to ensure that the six deported citizens are brought back to India within a month. The court also rejected the central government's appeal to grant temporary stay on the order. In July this year, PTI had visited both families in the Paikar area of Murarai, Birbhum post the deportation of the suspects and reported on the plight of the members living on the Indian side of the border. A division bench of Justices Tapabrata Chakraborty and Reetobroto Kumar Mitra passed two orders in connection with a Habeas Corpus petition filed by Bhodu Sheikh who claimed that her daughter Sunali, who is currently nine months pregnant, along with her husband, Danesh Sheikh, and five-year-old son hailing from Murarai in Birbhum, were detained

25 illegal Bangladeshi immigrants held, including 23 from Kanpur Dehat

The Delhi Police has apprehended 25 Bangladeshi immigrants, including 23 from Uttar Pradesh's Kanpur Dehat, an official said on Thursday. According to police, five are minors and 10 are women among the apprehended. All the accused had been residing in India for the last eight years without any legal travel or residential documents, they said. Police carried out the operation in Delhi following intelligence inputs, which led to the interception of two Bangladeshi nationals, identified as Hasan Sheikh (35) and Abdul Sheikh (37), both residents of Satkhira district in Bangladesh. "On interrogation, they revealed that several of their relatives and associates were living in Kanpur Dehat. Acting swiftly, the police team conducted a raid there and apprehended 23 more Bangladeshi nationals," a senior police officer said. All those arrested were found to be working as ragpickers, farm labourers, or engaged in casual occupations, the police said. They have been shifted to the MCD Communit

Mujib's blunders: Manash Ghosh's book reveals how Rahman lost plots

The Power and the Plot Behind His Killing, "covers the troubled years after the freedom struggle, popularly known as the Liberation War, against the genocidal Pakistan Army"

Bangladesh EC bars Sheikh Hasina, her family from voting in 2026 elections

The EC blocked the NIDs of Sheikh Hasina, including 10 members of her family, on February 16, the daily Jugantor reported

B'desh's Chief Adviser Yunus visits Dhakeshwari temple ahead of Durga Puja

Bangladesh interim government Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus on Tuesday visited the Dhakeshwar National Temple to witness preparations for the upcoming Durga Puja and exchanged greetings with members of the minority Hindu community. He went around the temple premises and inspected the preparatory work ahead of the annual Hindu religious festival, state-run BSS news agency reported. Speaking at the function, he said that no government has the right to deny citizens their fundamental constitutional rights. "Whatever faith or ideology one follows, whether rich or poor, every person is first and foremost a citizen. All rights of citizens are guaranteed in the Constitution," he said. "We -- the entire nation is a broader family. The government is committed to ensuring equal rights and dignity for all citizens," The Daily Star newspaper quoted Yunus as saying. The interim chief's greetings came amid widespread concerns over repeated incidents of alleged attacks on members of the Hindu ...

Bangladesh buys more power from India, lifts fuel oil use as demand rises

Power imports, mainly from an Adani Power-run coal-fired plant in eastern India, rose 70 per cent in the seven months through July

Ex-envoys urge Centre to stay alert as turmoil grips India's neighbourhood

As Nepal plunged into chaos in the face of massive anti-government protests, various former Indian ambassadors said New Delhi must watch this unfolding situation "very closely," with some underlining that India's neighbourhood is "indeed in turmoil" which is not a healthy sign. They cited instances of public protests, largely led by youth, that had led to political upheavals and the toppling of governments in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in recent years. The Himalayan nation reeled under a grave political crisis with Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli resigning on Tuesday amid large-scale demonstrations in Kathmandu, and protesters setting on fire the Nepalese leader's private house in Balkot and attacking the residences of various former ministers. Violent protests by youths against a government ban on social media sites rocked Nepal on Monday, with police's use of force leaving at least 19 people dead and over 300 others injured. Veteran diplomat Venu Rajamony said what is happening in Ne

Hilsa prices to pinch pockets this Puja despite Bangladesh exports: Traders

The Md Yunus government in Bangladesh may have chosen to honour the commitment of culinary tradition and issue a notification to export hilsa to India ahead of the festive season, but fish importers in West Bengal aren't sure whether the move will broaden smiles of the average middle class waiting to savour the delight of Padmar Ilish' this Durga Puja. Fish traders on this side of the international border attribute dual factors of lower quantity of export from Bangladesh compared to previous years, as well as higher cost of imports, as reasons behind the high prices of 'rupali shosyo', which means 'silver crop'. Putting apprehensions of an export freeze on hilsa to rest, the Bangladesh government's notice on Monday stated that it has approved in-principle the conditional export of 1200 metric tonnes of hilsa to India this year, in keeping with its traditional Durga Puja gift to Bengalis in India. For this, the Md Yunus government has invited applications from interested exporters i

Empowering women could be Pak's key to recovery after devastating floods

Pakistan faces a second major flood in three years, and experts say empowering women and investing in grassroots initiatives could be the key to resilient recovery and long-term growth

Hindu Kush countries use just 6% of total energy from clean sources: Report

Despite holding immense renewables potential', clean energy accounts for only 6 per cent of total primary energy supply in the countries of the Hindu Kush Himalayas, with hydropower being hugely underexploited', a report said. A new assessment report was released on Friday by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), an eight-nation regional body, during the Asia-Pacific Clean Energy Week in Bangkok. The report said that out of 882 Gigawatts total hydropower potential identified in Afghanistan, Bhutan, Bangladesh, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, the vast majority of that potential (635 Gigawatts) is from the waters of the transboundary rivers of the Hindu Kush Himalaya region. Just 49 per cent of this potential is currently tapped, the report added. Non-hydro clean energy potential (solar and wind) in the Hindu Kush Himalaya region, meanwhile, stands at 3 Terawatts, it said. While the total combined renewable energy targets of the countries of

India's fashion retailers face shortages as Bangladesh import curbs bite

Marks & Spencer, H&M, Zudio, and Lifestyle hit by delays after DGFT restricts garment imports to Kolkata, Nhava Sheva ports

Bangladeshi court jails 1971 war veterans, professor on terrorism charges

A Bangladeshi court on Friday sent 16 people, including several 1971 Liberation War veterans, to jail under the tough Anti-Terrorism Act, a day after a mob allegedly disrupted their scheduled public discussion in the capital. Magistrate Farzana Haque ordered them to be sent to jail after they were produced in court nearly 24 hours after their detention. Police had initially detained them for their protection from public unrest on Thursday. Dhaka police after midnight Thursday said the detainees were being charged under the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2009 without further elaboration. The initial case document submitted in the court suggested at least six of the 16 arrested were in their 70s. "For the sake of a proper investigation, which is yet to be completed, and the identity and address of the accused is yet to be verified, it is absolutely necessary' to keep the accused in custody," read the police application submitted in court. According to media reports, former minister and 1971

Bangladesh EC calls upcoming election 'most risky' in history amid unrest

Bangladesh's Election Commission (EC) on Friday described the national election scheduled for February next year as the "most risky in the country's electoral history, urging officials to brace for unpredictable challenges amid political uncertainty and social unrest. The remarks came a day after it unveiled a roadmap for the election, which has drawn mixed reactions from political parties. "The upcoming general election will undoubtedly be the most risky in Bangladesh's electoral history, Election Commissioner M Anwarul Islam Sarker said at a training programme for election officials, which was also attended by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin. "We may have to confront challenges that we do not yet know, he said. Unveiling the roadmap for the general election, Bangladesh's top electoral body had said the poll schedule would be announced at least 60 days before the voting date. Another election commissioner, Abdur Rahmanel Masud, echoed Sarker's concern, saying tha

Pakistan foreign minister meets Bangladesh party leaders to strengthen ties

Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar held back-to-back talks with leaders of various political parties of Bangladesh, hours after his arrival in Dhaka to boost bilateral ties. Dar, also the deputy prime minister of Pakistan, on Saturday met with the leaders of former prime minister Khaleda Zia's Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Bangladesh's largest Islamist party, Jamaat-e-Islami. He also met with the leaders of student-led National Citizen Party (NCP), floated recently with interim government chief Professor Muhammad Yunus's blessings. A six-member BNP delegation led by its secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir held a meeting with Dar at the Pakistan Embassy in Dhaka. Shama Obayed, one of the BNP delegates, said their discussions focused on deepening bilateral ties. Obayed added that the talks also covered reviving the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), while Pakistan expressed its wish to see fair elections in Bangladesh. The meeting was .

Not aware of any anti-Bangladesh activities by Awami League in India: MEA

India on Wednesday said it was not aware of any anti-Bangladesh activities in the country by the Awami League party led by former prime minister Sheikh Hasina. New Delhi's comments came after Bangladesh's interim government said that the opening of its offices by the Awami League in Indian cities could adversely impact bilateral ties. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said New Delhi is not aware of any anti-Bangladesh activities by purported members of the Awami League in India or of any action that is contrary to Indian law. "The government does not allow political activities against other countries to be carried out from Indian soil," MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said. "The press statement by the Interim government of Bangladesh is thus misplaced," he said. "India reiterates its expectation that free, fair and inclusive elections will be held at the earliest in Bangladesh to ascertain the will and mandate of the people," he added. In its statement, Dhaka said on Wednes

Interim govt committed to holding polls in Feb 2026: Bangladesh adviser

Bangladesh's interim government is "unwavering" in its commitment to hold general elections in February next year, Law Adviser Asif Nazrul has said, according to media reports on Wednesday. "The government is moving forward with all preparations for the election," Nazrul was quoted as saying by the state-run Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS). "The polls will be held in February, and the government's stance on this remains unwavering," he said after a meeting at the Cabinet Division on Tuesday. The law adviser's comments came amid growing speculation over the elections, following statements by National Citizen Party leaders who dismissed the possibility of polls taking place in February next year without key reforms and the completion of trials initiated by the interim government. Commenting on the issue, Nazrul said that political parties making statements about the timing of the elections is part of the political process. "You have always seen this. Traditionally in Bangladesh, s

Statsguru: How India, Bangladesh fared after a year under Yunus' rule

Despite worsening diplomatic ties and rising anti-India sentiment under Mohd Yunus' rule, India's trade with Bangladesh has seen unexpected growth, led by imports

India bans jute product imports from Bangladesh via all land routes

India on Monday banned imports of certain jute products and ropes from Bangladesh through all land routes with immediate effect, amid strained relations between the two countries. However, according to a notification of the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), these imports are allowed through the Nhava Sheva Seaport. "Imports from Bangladesh shall not be allowed from any land port on the India-Bangladesh Border," it said, adding, "Import of certain goods from Bangladesh to India is regulated with immediate effect." The products included in the list are bleached and unbleached woven fabrics of Jute or of other textile bast fibre; twine, cordage, rope of jute; and sacks and bags of jute. Earlier on June 27, India prohibited imports of a number of jute products and woven fabrics from Bangladesh through all land routes. Those imports are, however, allowed only through Nhava Sheva seaport in Maharashtra. The curbs were imposed on items such as jute products, flax tow and waste

Bangladesh to hold general elections in first week of Feb 2026: CEC

Bangladesh's poll body chief on Saturday said general elections would be held in the first week of February 2025 but ensuring it in a free, fair and impartial manner remained a major challenge. Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin, however said the exact date would be disclosed two months before the schedule was announced. People have lost confidence in the election system, the Election Commission and the administrative machinery involved in the electoral process, state-run Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) quoted Uddin as saying at a function in northwestern Rangpur district. Uddin said his office, however, was working tirelessly to restore this lost trust. The CEC's comments come four days after interim government Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus announced that the polls would be held in February next year. Yunus had made the announcement coinciding with the first anniversary of the ouster of prime minister Sheikh Hasina's Awami League regime on August 5. Uddin feared t