Dhaka

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 ...

India Bangladesh tussle over protest outside Dhaka mission in Delhi What’s happening

India has firmly rejected claims from sections of the Bangladeshi media that a protest outside the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi posed a security threat.

India's Bangladesh options: Measured responses will serve New Delhi better

The growing anti-Indian movement has added an element of uncertainty to the safety of Indian economic assets too

Bangladesh minorities protest against lynching of Hindu man, demand justice

The demonstration was held at the National Press Club premises, where several organisations that have long campaigned against attacks on minority communities gathered

India denies Bangladesh media claims on protest outside mission in Delhi

MEA said India is closely monitoring the evolving situation in Bangladesh and urged that those responsible for the killing of Hindu man Dipu Chandra Das be brought to justice

Bangladesh holds state funeral of Osman Hadi amid tight security

Police and paramilitary forces were deployed across the capital for Saturday's funeral but there were no reports of any renewed violence

Bangladesh protests: Media offices set ablaze after Sharif Hadi's Death

Protests erupted in Bangladesh after Sharif Hadi's death, with mobs attacking and setting fire to Prothom Alo and The Daily Star offices in Dhaka, trapping several journalists

Bangladesh unrest: Who was Sharif Osman Hadi, whose death sparked protests?

Bangladesh saw fresh unrest after Sharif Osman Hadi, a leader of Inquilab Mancha and a key face of the July uprising, died from gunshot injuries, triggering protests and political tension in Dhaka

Indian visa application centre in Dhaka closed over security concerns

The Indian Visa Application Centre (IVAC) in Bangladesh's capital Dhaka on Wednesday closed its office in view of the current security situation. The IVAC at Jamuna Future Park in Dhaka is the main, integrated centre for all Indian visa services in the capital. "In view of the ongoing security situation, we wish to bring to your kind notice that IVAC JFP Dhaka will be closed at 2 pm today," the IVAC said in a statement. The IVAC said all applicants with appointment slots scheduled for submission on Wednesday would be rescheduled for a later date. Earlier in New Delhi, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) summoned Bangladesh envoy Riaz Hamidullah and conveyed its strong concern over certain extremist elements announcing plans to create a security situation around the Indian mission in Dhaka. "We expect the interim government to ensure the safety of Missions and Posts in Bangladesh in keeping with its diplomatic obligations," it said. It said the envoy was apprised of India's str

Never allowed territory for activities against Bangladesh's interests: Govt

India on Sunday asserted that it has never allowed its territory to be used for activities inimical to the interests of Bangladesh and pressed for holding the upcoming parliamentary polls in that country in a peaceful atmosphere. India's reaction came hours after the Bangladesh foreign ministry summoned Indian envoy to Dhaka, Pranay Verma, and conveyed its concern over former prime minister Sheikh Hasina's "incendiary" statements from Indian soil. According to a readout released by Dhaka, the foreign ministry also brought to Verma's notice the activities of some members of Hasina-led Awami League while staying in India. "India categorically rejects the assertions made by the interim government of Bangladesh in its press note," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said. It said India has consistently reiterated its position in favour of free, fair, inclusive and credible elections in Bangladesh in a peaceful atmosphere. "India has never allowed its territory to be used for activi

Massive fire breaks out in 12-storey building in Dhaka market, 42 rescued

A massive fire broke out early Saturday on the ground floor of a 12-storey mixed-use building in a market in Bangladesh's capital city, officials said. However, no casualties were reported in the blaze at Jabal E Nur Tower, and fire service officials rescued at least 42 people from the building, the state-run BSS news agency reported. The incident marks the second major fire in a multi-storey building in Dhaka in two months. On October 14, a massive blaze ripped through a chemical warehouse and an adjacent garments factory in the capital, killing at least 16 people. According to news portal tbsnews.net, the Fire Service and Civil Defence received information about the blaze at 5:37 am local time and firefighting units reached the scene at around 5:45 am. Fire service media officer Anwarul Islam said 18 firefighting units were deployed to bring the blaze under control. Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) personnel were also deployed at the site to assist in maintaining law and order, ...

Thousands left homeless as fire in Bangladesh slum destroys 1,500 shanties

A fire in a crowded slum in Bangladesh's capital has burned or damaged 1,500 shanties, leaving thousands homeless, authorities said Wednesday. No casualties were reported. The blaze, which began Tuesday evening at the Korail slum in Dhaka, was doused Wednesday after 16 hours, said Rashed Bin Khalid, a duty officer at the Department of Fire Service and Civil Defense. The fire service's director, Lt Col Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury, said about 1,500 shanties were burned or damaged in the blaze and thousands remained homeless. According to official data, about 60,000 families many of them climate refugees live in the slum which has an area of more than 160 acres (65 hectares). The slum straddles Dhaka's upscale Gulshan and Banani neighbourhoods, and it is surrounded by clusters of high-rise apartment and office buildings. Heavy smoke blanketed the area as flames engulfed the dwellings overnight. On Wednesday, the residents who lost their homes were desperate to collect their ...

Sheikh Hasina sentenced to death in Bangladesh: A turning point in Dhaka’s political crisis

A Bangladesh tribunal has sentenced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to death for crimes against humanity linked to last year’s student protest crackdown. The verdict, delivered in absentia

Sporadic violence reported as B'desh awaits Hasina's verdict amid security

Bangladesh enforced heightened security across Dhaka and other regions overnight amid sporadic arson and crude bomb attacks ahead of Monday's verdict by a special tribunal against deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina in a case of alleged crimes against humanity. Authorities ordered strict military, paramilitary and police vigil after reports that Hasina's now-disbanded Awami League had announced a two-day shutdown ahead of the International Crimes TribunalBangladesh (ICT-BD) verdict. Unidentified people on Sunday night set on fire the vehicle dumping corner of a police station complex and detonated two crude bombs outside the residence of an advisory council member of interim government chief Professor Muhammad Yunus, besides triggering explosions at several intersections in the capital. Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) asked its personnel to shoot violent protesters on sight as tensions spiralled. ICT-BD prosecutors have sought the death penalty for Hasina, 78. I stated over the .

Bangladesh on alert as tribunal sets verdict date for deposed PM Hasina

The Bangladesh capital on Thursday woke up to heightened security vigil over the Dhaka lockdown call by deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina's now disbanded Awami League, coinciding with a tribunal's planned announcement of a verdict date against her. The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT-BD) is set to go ahead with its scheduled task, a prosecution team member of the special court briefly said. Authorities called up army troops, paramilitary Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and police in riot gear to spread a security blanket in and around the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT-BD) complex, while their security vigil amid the Awami League prompted thousands to stay indoors. Witnesses and reports said Dhaka streets looked unusually empty, though many commuters stepped out of their homes and cautiously headed to workplaces and schools. However, many private institutions, including universities, preferred to operate online, fearing the outbreak of violence. "We are hearing all kinds o

Flight from Delhi delayed due to Dhaka airport closure: Air India

Air India's flight from Delhi to Dhaka was delayed on Saturday due to closure of the airport in the Bangladesh capital following a fire incident. On Saturday afternoon, a massive fire broke out at the cargo complex of Dhaka's Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, forcing authorities to suspend all flight operations. Air India was scheduled to operate the Delhi-Dhaka flight in the evening. "Due to closure of Dhaka airport for all flight operations, flight AI237 scheduled to operate from Delhi to Dhaka on 18 October has been delayed. "Consequently, the return flight AI238 set to operate from Dhaka to Delhi will also have a delayed departure," the airline said in a statement. While regretting the inconvenience caused to passengers, the airline said ground teams at Delhi and Dhaka are offering immediate assistance to them. Apart from Air India, IndiGo also operates flights to Dhaka.

Major fire breaks out at Dhaka airport, flight operations suspended

There were no immediate reports of casualties; units from the Bangladesh Fire Service, Civil Aviation Authority, the Bangladesh Air Force and the Navy were jointly battling the fire

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

Reckoning in Dhaka: A year since the coup, Bangladesh is in a shambles

An indecisive "interim" government under Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus is increasingly prey to non-democratic Islamists, who envisage a Bangladeshi caliphate. None of this augurs well for the country

Year after uprising, Bangladesh struggles to find political stability

Abdur Rahman Tarif was talking to his sister Meherunnesa over the phone when the voice on the other end of the call suddenly fell silent. In that moment, Tarif knew something bad had happened. He rushed home, dodging the exchange of fire between security forces and protesters on the streets of Dhaka. When he finally arrived, he discovered his parents tending to his bleeding sister. A stray bullet had hit Meherunnesa's chest while she was standing beside the window of her room, Tarif said. She was taken to a hospital where doctors declared her dead. Meherunnesa, 23, was killed on Aug 5 last year, the same day Bangladesh's former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was forced to flee the country in a massive student-led uprising, which ended her 15-year rule. For much of Bangladesh, Hasina's ouster was a moment of joy. Three days later, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus took over the country as head of an interim government, promising to restore order and hold a new election after ..