Page 7 - Bangladesh

Bangladesh envoy recalled to Dhaka on urgent call amid strained India ties

Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Reaz Hamidullah overnight reached Dhaka following an urgent call from the foreign ministry amid visibly strained bilateral ties, reports said late Monday. In view of the recent situation in bilateral ties with India, Bangladesh High Commissioner in New Delhi M Reaz Hamidullah was called to Dhaka on an urgent basis, mass-circulation daily Prothom Alo reported. Quoting an unnamed responsible source in the foreign office, the newspaper said Hamidullah reached Dhaka on Monday night in response to the call. He has been summoned to Dhaka for discussions on the recent situation of bilateral relations, the report said.

Bangladesh polls: BNP's Tarique Rahman files nomination papers in Dhaka

Bangladesh Nationalist Party acting chairman Tarique Rahman submitted his nomination papers on Monday for the upcoming elections. The papers were filed around 12:00 pm on Monday at the office of the Dhaka Divisional Commissioner in Segunbagicha, the Daily Star reported. Abdus Salam, BNP chairperson's adviser, accompanied by Professor Dr Farhad Halim Donar, chief adviser of the Doctors Association of Bangladesh (DAB), submitted the nomination on Rahman's behalf. Rahman will contest the February 12 election from the Dhaka-17 constituency. Today is the final day for the submission of nomination papers for the 13th National Parliamentary Election. Speaking at a briefing, Salam expressed gratitude to all, saying city residents warmly welcomed Rahman after 17 years in exile. He added that they expect the people of Dhaka-17 to spontaneously cast their votes for him in the February 12 election. On Sunday, Bangladesh's Election Commission approved the inclusion of Rahman in the voter list

Bangladesh uprising 'guru' distances himself from NCP over Jamaat alliance

The main leader of last year's violent uprising that toppled the then government in Bangladesh, Mahfuz Alam, on Sunday distanced himself from his disciples under the National Citizen Party (NCP) banner over their move to forge an electoral alliance with the Jamaat-e-Islami. In a Facebook post, Alam declined to be a "part of this NCP", as a rift in the party over the alliance issue yielded a memorandum signed by 30 of its senior leaders expressing their stance against the move and two ranking ones announcing their resignation. The fierce 2024 violent street campaign, dubbed the July Uprising, was carried out under the banner of the Students against Discrimination (SAD), and a large offshoot of the platform in February this year emerged as the NCP with interim government chief Muhammad Yunus' blessings. Alam served as the information and broadcast adviser, effectively a minister, and quit the portfolio just ahead of the Election Commission's December 11 announcement of the schedule fo

Ties with India witness a downturn as Bangladesh navigates turbulent 2025

Bangladesh's ties with India witnessed a downturn as it navigated a turbulent 2025 marked by political instability, economic strain and alleged persecution of minorities, leading to a diplomatic tussle between the two neighbours. The relationship between India and Bangladesh hit a rough note after the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India in August last year following anti-government protests. She was sentenced to death in absentia by a tribunal this year for her alleged role in a deadly crackdown during the agitation. Dhaka summoned Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma five times over various issues, while India summoned Bangladesh's High Commissioner Reaz Hamidullah once to express concerns over security in Bangladesh. The transition, from what was widely regarded as an "India-friendly" Awami League government to Muhammad Yunus-led interim dispensation, significantly altered Bangladesh's diplomatic posture. Dhaka's engagement with Islamabad to deepen ties ..

Two suspects in Hadi's murder fled to India, says Bangladesh police

Two primary suspects in the murder of Inquilab Moncho leader Sharif Osman Hadi have fled Bangladesh and are believed to be currently in India, a top Dhaka Metropolitan Police officer said Sunday. Hadi, 32, was shot in the head on December 12 during an election campaign in Dhaka. He was airlifted to Singapore for advanced treatment but died of his injuries on December 18. The suspects, Faisal Karim Masud and Alamgir Sheikh, crossed into the Indian state of Meghalaya with the help of local associates, Additional Police Commissioner (Crime and Operations) of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) S N Md Nazrul Islam told a press conference at the DMP Media Centre. According to our information, the suspects entered India via the Haluaghat border. After crossing, they were initially received by an individual named Purti. Later, a taxi driver named Sami transported them to Tura city in Meghalaya, The Daily Star said, quoting Islam. The DMP officer did not, however, mention when the two esca

Editors Council accuses section in Bangladesh's govt of allowing violence

Bangladesh's newspaper Editors Council has accused a section of the interim government of allowing the recent spate of violence in the country after the death of Inqilab Mancha leader Sharif Osman Hadi. Hadi was shot in the head on December 12 during an election campaign in Dhaka. He was airlifted to Singapore for advanced treatment but died of his injuries on December 18. The same evening, a mob set on fire the offices of two mass circulation newspapers, Daily Star and Prothom Alo. Over half a century-old progressive cultural groups, Chayanat and Udichi Shilpi Goshthi, in the capital were also destroyed. They also lynched a Hindu factory worker in central Mymensingh. We clearly know an announcement came to demolish the Prothom Alo, Daily Star and the Chhyanat one or two days before the attacks. The people of the country know, and the government as well knows who gave the announcement, Editors Council President Nurul Kabir said at an event of the Broadcast Journalists Centre (BJC)

After 17 years in exile, BNP leader Tarique Rahman registers as voter

BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman on Saturday completed the formalities to enlist himself on Bangladesh's voter list and obtain a national identity (NID) card, two days after his return from over 17 years of self-exile in London. The 60-year-old leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) visited the Election Commission (EC) office in Dhaka under tight security, where he provided fingerprints and iris scans for biometric enrollment, news portal tbsnews.net reported. He earlier submitted his voter registration application online, officials said. Tarique Rahman has already filled out the online form and has come to complete the registration by providing his fingerprints and iris scan, ASM Humayun Kabir, director general of the National Identity Registration Wing of the Election Commission, told reporters. He is expected to receive his NID card within 24 hours, the official said. Rahman's daughter Zaima also completed her registration formalities for the NID card. Foolproof ..

Tarique Rahman offers prayers at Hadi's grave amid tight security in B'desh

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) acting chairman Tarique Rahman on Saturday visited Dhaka University and offered prayers at the grave of slain student leader Sharif Osman Hadi amid heavy security. The 60-year-old BNP leader also offered prayers at the grave of Bangladesh's national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam, located beside the Dhaka University Central Mosque, The Daily Star newspaper reported. Hadi was buried beside the grave of Nazrul Islam on December 20. Rahman paid respects at the grave of Hadi, a spokesperson of Inqilab Moncho, who was shot dead earlier this month in an attack that has heightened political tensions ahead of national elections scheduled for February. Traffic for both vehicles and pedestrians was halted on both sides of the road from Shahbagh towards Dhaka University during the visit, while members of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and police were deployed along the route, news portal tbsnews.net reported. BNP Secretary General M

Pop singer James' concert cancelled in Bangladesh after attack; 25 injured

At 10 pm, convener of the organising committee announced James's performance cancelled due to the volatile situation, following Faridpur district administration instructions

We condemn Das' killing, reject anti-India narrative in Bangladesh: MEA

The Ministry of External Affairs condemned the killing of Dipu Chandra Das and flagged over 2,900 cases of minority violence in Bangladesh, urging the interim government to ensure their security

Pro-Hindu protesters rally in Kolkata over attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh

Activists of Hindu Sanhati, a fringe pro-Hindu outfit, took out a rally to the office of the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata on Friday to protest the alleged attacks on minority Hindus in the neighbouring country. The rally started from Sealdah station in north Kolkata and was headed for the diplomatic mission office in Beckbagan in the central part of the city, raising slogans against alleged atrocities on minority Hindus across the border. The protesters said they planned to submit a memorandum with demands of the granting of protection to the Hindus in that country and stern legal action against those perpetrating violence against the minorities. A large contingent of police was deployed, and security barricades were put up around the office of the deputy high commissioner with the intent of not allowing the protesters to reach the premises. The demonstrators blocked the AJC Bose Road in front of the mission office and began a sit-in agitation after they were stoppe

Bangladesh interim govt condemns Rajbari killing, denies communal angle

In a statement, the interim government claimed that, based on police information and preliminary investigations, the incident was not related to communal violence

All must unite to maintain law and order: Tarique Rahman at Dhaka rally

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) acting chairman Tarique Rahman on Thursday called on countrymen to join hands to maintain law and order, in his first address to party supporters hours after his arrival in Dhaka after a gap of 17 years. Whatever political party we belong to, whatever religion we believe in, whether we are non-partisan individuals -- all must join hands to maintain law and order, he told thousands of party supporters gathered at the July 36 Expressway in the capital, where he went straight after arriving at the airport. Rahman's call for maintaining law and order came amid a fresh wave of unrest and political instability gripping Bangladesh following the killing of prominent youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi, who was a prominent face in last year's mass protests that forced the collapse of the Sheikh Hasina government. Rahman, the 60-year-old son of ailing former prime minister Khaleda Zia, has emerged as a leading contender for prime ministership in the ...

After 17 yrs in exile, BNP leader Tarique Rahman returns to Bangladesh

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) acting chairman Tarique Rahman returned home to a rousing welcome on Thursday after over 17 years in self-exile, a move that is expected to energise his party workers ahead of the February 12 parliamentary elections. Rahman, the 60-year-old son of ailing former prime minister Khaleda Zia, has emerged as a leading contender for prime ministership in the polls even as the country's Islamist party, Jamaat-e-Islami has been trying to expand its support base. The homecoming of the BNP heir apparent comes amid a fresh wave of unrest and political instability gripping Bangladesh following the killing of prominent youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi, who was a prominent face in last year's mass protests that forced the collapse of the Sheikh Hasina government. Rahman, accompanied by wife Zubaida and daughter Zaima, was received at the Hazrat Shahjalal International airport in Dhaka by BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and other senior party ...

Who is Tarique Rahman, the BNP leader returning to Bangladesh after 17 yrs?

Tarique Rahman, elder son of Bangladesh's former President Ziaur Rahman and ex-PM Khaleda Zia, returned from London on Thursday after nearly 17 years in exile

BNP leader Tarique Rahman set to return to Bangladesh after 17 yrs today

The flight is scheduled to make a stopover in Sylhet before landing at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka at around 11:20 am (local time)

WB land ports see protests over atrocities against Hindus in Bangladesh

As police prevented the march from proceeding, protesters squatted on the road and attempted to break through barricades, leading to scuffles

BNP's Tarique Rahman set to return to Bangladesh after 17 years in exile

The BNP has begun arrangements to accord Tarique Rahman a grand reception on his return

US lawmakers express concern over ban of Bangladesh's Awami League party

A group of US lawmakers has expressed concern over the total ban of the Awami League political party ahead of elections scheduled in Bangladesh early next year. The lawmakers have said that the Bangladeshi people deserve to be able to choose an elected government in a free and fair election. Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee Representative Gregory Meeks, Chairman of the Subcommittee on South and Central Asia Representative Bill Huizenga, Ranking Member Subcommittee on South and Central Asia Sydney Kamlager-Dove and Member of Congress Julie Johnson on Tuesday sent a letter to Chief Adviser of the Interim Government of Bangladesh Mohammed Yunus expressing concern over the total ban of a political party ahead of elections in February. The letter's cosigners include Representative Tom Suozzi. The lawmakers said that it is vital that the interim government work with parties across the political spectrum to create the conditions for free and fair elections that allow

Bangladesh govt to take responsibility of Dipu Das' family: Senior adviser

Bangladesh interim government's senior adviser on Tuesday said that the state will take responsibility of the family of the Hindu worker who was lynched on blasphemy charges last week. Education adviser C R Abrar met the bereaved family of 25-year-old Dipu Das, who was killed by a mob and his body set on fire on December 18 in Mymensingh. The state has taken the responsibilities of taking care of Dipu Das' child, wife and parents, Abrar said, calling the killing of the garment factory worker a brutal crime which has no excuse. Abrar said ahead of meeting the family, he held talks with Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, who asked him to convey to them the government's profound sorrow and deepest condolences. According to newspaper reports, Das' father Rabi Chandra Das demanded justice for his son's killing, describing the condition of the family to the adviser. Yunus's office, meanwhile, reconfirmed that financial and welfare assistance would be provided to Das' family, and relevant ...