Page 60 - Bangladesh

Bangladesh Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus granted bail in embezzlement case

Senior Special Judge Ash-Shams Joglul Hossain of Dhaka Metropolitan passed the order after Yunus surrendered before the court and applied for bail

9 Bangladeshis detained for unauthorised entry into Puri's Jagannath Temple

Nine Bangladeshis were detained by the Odisha Police for allegedly entering the Jagannath Temple in Puri unauthorisedly, an officer said on Monday. They were detained on Sunday evening after a few Vishva Hindu Parishad activists found that several Bangladeshi non-Hindus entered the 12th-century shrine, flouting the temple norms, and lodged a complaint at the Singhadwar Police Station, he said. After getting the complaint, a police team reached the spot and detained the tourists for questioning, Puri Additional SP Sushil Mishra said. We have received a complaint that some non-Hindu people from Bangladesh have entered the temple. We have detained nine Bangladeshis and started questioning them, the additional superintendent of police said. As per temple norms, only Hindus are allowed to enter the shrine. If they are found to be non-Hindu, action will be taken against them, as per law, Mishra said. We are verifying their passports. It was found that one of them is a Hindu. We are che

Police arrest 3 in connection with deadly fire at Dhaka shopping mall

Bangladesh police have arrested three persons, including two owners of a restaurant, in connection with the massive fire that broke out at a shopping mall in the capital Dhaka that killed at least 46 people. The fire broke out around 9:50 pm on Thursday at the restaurant named Kacchi Bhai on the first floor of the building, Green Cozy Cottage, and quickly spread to the upper floors that had more restaurants and a garment shop, according to fire service officials. Two owners of an eatery called Chumuk and the manager of Kacchi Bhai restaurant were arrested on Friday, Dhaka Metropolitan Police Additional Commissioner Kh Mahid Uddin said. He said, The fire started from the food shop on the ground floor of the building. The police will file a case over negligence in connection with the deaths in the fire incident. Besides, anyone from the victim's family can file a case if they want, said the police official. At least 46 people were killed, and over 20 others sustained severe injuries

Fire at seven-storey building in Bangladesh's capital kills at least 44

A fire at a seven-storey building in the central part of the Bangladesh capital overnight has killed at least 43 people and left 22 others injured, Health Minister Dr Samanta Lal Sen said on Friday. The condition of those injured is "critical", he told reporters at a briefing here at 2 am. The fire broke out around 9:50 pm on Thursday at a restaurant on the building's first floor and quickly spread to the upper floors that had more restaurants and a garment shop, according to fire service officials. They said 75 people, including 42 in unconscious state, were taken out of the seven-storey building. Thirteen fire service units were mobilised, the officials said. "Thirty-three people died at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) and 10 at (the nearby) Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery," Sen said. The minister, a burn wound specialist, said 22 people are being treated at both the health facilities and their condition is "critical". "The respiratory sys

Mizoram not to collect biometric data of Myanmar, B'desh refugees, says CM

Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma on Thursday said his government would not collect biometric details of Myanmar and Bangladesh refugees. The chief minister said the Centre is currently providing assistance to the state government to provide relief to refugees from Myanmar and Bangladesh and internally displaced people (IDP) from Manipur, who are taking shelter in the state. Lalduhoma informed the assembly on Thursday that the Ministry of Home Affairs had directed the state government to collect biometric data of Myanmar and Bangladesh refugees in April last year. Although the previous Mizo National Front (MNF) government had initially processed the initiative towards the Centre direction by conducting training and appointing nodal officers, the Council of Ministers in its meeting held in September last year decided not to conduct biometric and biographic enrollment for Myanmar and Bangladesh refugees citing it is not advisable to undertake biometric and biographic preparation due to

India, Bangladesh recognise their constitutions as living documents: CJI

Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud on Saturday said both India and Bangladesh share the tradition of constitutional and judicial systems largely aiming to ensure stability and both nations recognised their constitutions as "living documents." "Our shared tradition aims to ensure stability, but when stability is desired, the stability must never be confused with stagnation," Chandrachud said as he spoke at the valedictory function of a two-day conference here in the presence of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who was the chief guest. We recognise our constitutions are living documents. The constitutions of Bangladesh and India proclaim that they are 'given to the people by the people themselves' as citizens of sovereign nations, Chandrachud said. Bangladesh's Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan chaired the event. Bangladesh's apex court judges took part in the conference, which drew many jurists, senior lawyers, and government leaders including Law Minister Anisul Huq. Earlier

More effort needed

India's track record better than APAC peers on SDGs

Strong, stable, prosperous Bangladesh is in India's interest: Prez Murmu

President Droupadi Murmu on Friday said that a strong, stable and prosperous Bangladesh is in India's interest and there is immense political will on both sides to see the relationship grow. Welcoming Foreign Minister of Bangladesh Hasan Mahmud, who had called on the president at the Rashtrapati Bhavan here, Murmu conveyed felicitations to Sheikh Hasina for her unprecedented fourth consecutive term as the prime minister of Bangladesh. She expressed confidence that under her leadership, Bangladesh will achieve new milestones of progress and prosperity. The president said that a strong, stable and prosperous Bangladesh is in India's interest, and there is immense political will on both sides to see the relationship grow. Murmu expressed satisfaction at the progress made in almost all areas of bilateral cooperation such as border and security, trade, connectivity, power, infrastructure, and people-to-people contacts, according to a statement issued by the Rashtrapati Bhavan. She note

India, Bangladesh focussing on 'forward-looking engagement', says MEA

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his Bangladeshi counterpart Hasan Mahmud on Wednesday carried out a comprehensive review of India-Bangladesh ties, especially in areas of cross-border connectivity, defence and security, power, energy, water resources and people-to-people exchanges. Mahmud is on a four-day visit to India from Tuesday, his first bilateral foreign trip since Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina came to power for a fifth term after a landslide victory in the parliamentary elections last month. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said Mahmud's visit enabled both sides to chart out a course of "forward-looking engagement" between the two countries in the new term of the government in Bangladesh. Following the talks, Jaishankar also hosted a dinner in Mahmud's honour. "The two ministers reviewed the progress in wide-ranging areas of bilateral relations, including cross-border connectivity, economic and development partnership, cooperation in defence and security, pow

Tripura's rail connectivity will get further boost, says CM Manik Saha

Tripura's rail connectivity will get a further boost when train service from Agartala to Kolkata via Bangladesh is made operational, said Chief Minister Manik Saha. The trial run of the proposed Agartala and Gangasagar (Bangladesh), which will connect Agartala to Kolkata via Bangladesh, has already been successfully carried out, he said. "... Prime Minister Narendra Modi had promised to provide HIRA (highways, I-way, railway, airway) to the northeastern state and he has done it", Saha said after flagging off the AgartalaDeoghar Express train with LHB coaches at Agartala railway station on Saturday. The Tripura CM said the Centre has sanctioned Rs 260 crore for making Agartala station world-class and Rs 93 crore has been given to convert three railway stations - Dharmanagar, Udaipur and Kumarghat - as Amrit Bharat stations. "Currently, around 18 express and local trains are providing service to the people of the state which once was unbelievable. I thanked Prime Minister Narendra Mo

Citizenship Amendment Act across India in 7 days, says Union minister

Meanwhile, Uttarakhand CM Dhami says state to enact UCC soon

Bangladesh appeals court grants bail to Nobel laureate Yunus in labour case

An appeals court in Bangladesh on Sunday granted bail to Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, who had been sentenced earlier to six months in prison for violating the country's labour laws. The court also agreed to hear an appeal against his sentencing. Yunus who pioneered the use of microcredit to help impoverished people, especially women, filed the appeal seeking bail on Sunday morning before it was granted. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his work in 2006. The 83-year-old economist and three other officials of the telecommunications company were sentenced to six months in prison on January 1, but they were immediately granted 30 days of bail to appeal the verdict and sentence. Sunday's court decision said the bail would remain effective until a final decision is made on the appeal for the sentencing. Defence lawyer Abdullah Al Mamun said the first hearing on the appeal would be held on March 3. The case involves Grameen Telecom, which Yunus founded as a non-profit ...

Will stop free movement at Myanmar border, protect it like Bangladesh: Shah

Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday said the government will end the free movement of people at the India-Myanmar border, and fence it completely so that it can be protected like the country's boundary with Bangladesh. Shah made the announcement while addressing the passing out parade of the first batch of the five newly constituted Assam Police Commando battalions in Guwahati. "The Narendra Modi government has decided that the India-Myanmar border, which is open, will be protected by barbed fencing. The entire border will have barbed fencing like what we have at the India-Bangladesh border," he said. "The Indian government is rethinking the free movement agreement with Myanmar. Now, the Government of India is going to stop this facility," he added. The Free Movement Regime allows people living on both sides of the border to travel 16 km into each other's territory without a visa. Four Indian states -- Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram, share a 1,643-km-long border w

Two sides of political Islam

Depending on one's viewpoint, global political Islam is either at its strongest or weakest. But the real unwinnable wars are between Islamic states

Tiger Logistics, Bangladesh-based Sikder Group sign pact to increase trade

Homegrown Tiger Logistics (India) on Friday said it has signed an agreement with Bagladesh-based Sikder Group to establish a Joint Venture (JV) for global trade. Sikder Group handles the development and operations of the Mongla Economic Zone at Mongla Port, which is the second-largest seaport in Bangladesh, Tiger Logistics (India) said in an exchange filing. The development comes in continuation of the strengthening of connectivity between the two nations, as Bangladesh granted India permanent access to Chattogram and Mongla Port in April 2023. Recognising the increasing demand for international logistics, particularly between India and Bangladesh, the company aims to play a pivotal role in stimulating economic growth in the region. Tiger Logistics (India) Ltd announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with PowerPac Holdings Limited, a concern of Sikder Group, Bangladesh, to formalise a strategic partnership and establish a joint venture (JV) in the logistics sec

Sheikh Hasina sworn in as prime minister of Bangladesh for fifth term

Sheikh Hasina was on Thursday sworn in as the prime minister of Bangladesh for the fifth term, days after her Awami League party won an overwhelming majority in the general elections boycotted by the main opposition BNP and its allies. President Mohammad Shahabuddin administered the oath of office to 76-year-old Hasina at a ceremony joined by politicians, foreign diplomats, civil society figures and senior civil and military officials. Following the prime minister, the new members of cabinet were sworn in by the president. Hasina's party won 223 seats in the 300-member Parliament. Major opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) of ex-prime minister Khaleda Zia boycotted the elections after their demand for a non-party caretaker government to oversee the January 7 polls was rejected.

B'desh votes for continuity as Hasina comes to power, but it needs change

The League's pitch to voters was simple: The party had helped the country post impressive growth numbers and should be allowed to keep doing so

Sheikh Hasina govt's 36-member new cabinet set to take oath today

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina won the Gopalganj-3 constituency in a landslide victory, her eighth term as a Member of Parliament and fifth term as the PM

Bangladesh elections not free or fair, says US, UN also voices concern

A day after Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's party emerged victorious at the polls, the US and UN voiced concern over violence and reports of irregularities on the day of elections, with Washington noting that the polls were not free or fair and regretted that not all parties participated in the ballot. The US State Department, in a press statement Monday, said that Washington remains concerned by the arrests of thousands of political opposition members and by reports of irregularities on elections day in Bangladesh. The United States shares the view with other observers that these elections were not free or fair and we regret that not all parties participated, the State Department said. While noting that Hasina's Awami League won a majority of seats in the January 7 parliamentary elections, the State Department said that Washington condemns violence that took place during elections and in the months leading up to it. We encourage the Government of Bangladesh to credibly .

India a great friend: Bangladesh PM Hasina after her election victory

Describing India as a "great friend" of Bangladesh, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday said the two neighbours have resolved many problems bilaterally, a day after she won an overwhelming majority in the general elections and secured a record fourth straight term. The 76-year-old leader, who has been ruling the strategically located South Asian nation since 2009, won a fifth overall term in the one-sided election on Sunday, which witnessed a low turnout. "India is a great friend of Bangladesh. They have supported us in 1971 and also in 1975. They gave shelter to me and my sister and my other family members," she said, referring to her period in exile when she stayed in India for six years after the killing of her family members. In August 1975, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, his wife and their three sons were assassinated in their home by military officers. His daughters Hasina and Rehana survived the purge as they were abroad. "We consider India as our next-door neighbour. We had many