Page 3 - Dhaka

Bangladesh freezes bank accounts of 17 ISKCON members for 'sedition'

Bangladesh's authorities have ordered freezing for 30 days the bank accounts of 17 people associated with ISKCON, including its former member Chinmoy Krishna Das arrested this week on sedition charges, media reports said Friday. The move comes after the Bangladesh High Court rejected a petition seeking a ban on International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), following the killing of a lawyer in a clash between the Hindu leader's supporters and security personnel. The Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) sent these directives to different banks and financial institutions on Thursday, suspending all types of transactions related to these accounts for a month, newspaper Prothom Alo said. The financial intelligence agency under the central Bangladesh Bank asked the banks and financial institutions to send information, including updated transaction statements of accounts related all businesses owned by these 17 individuals, within the next three working days, it said.

Bangladesh steps up security, arrests 6 for lawyer's killing amid protests

Police also detained 21 others for vandalism and assaulting police officers during the unrest

Bangladesh fast tracks payment to Adani Power ahead of November 7 deadline

The Gautam Adani-owned company reduced the power supply to Bangladesh to 700-800 MW this month, nearly half than earlier, after failing to secure its dues of $846 million

Petition seeking ban on deposed B'desh PM Hasina's Awami League withdrawn

A writ petition filed in a high court in Bangladesh seeking a ban on ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's Awami League and several other parties was withdrawn on Tuesday. Leaders of the anti-discrimination students' movement, which led to the ouster of Hasina's 15-year regime on August 5, on Monday in a petition in Dhaka High Court sought the court's directions to prevent the Awami League and 10 other parties from conducting political activities in the country. Court officials and lawyers said three top leaders or coordinators of the movement -- Sarjis Alam, Hasnat Abdullah and Hasibul Islam -- decided not to proceed with the petition that also questioned the past three general elections in 2014, 2018 and 2024 which installed Hasina-led Awami League to power. The elections were staged amid allegations of massive vote manipulation or boycott by the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) led by former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia and several other parties. The moveme

India-Bangladesh DG-level border talks scheduled for November postponed

The DG-level border talks between India and Bangladesh, scheduled to be held in Delhi next month, have been postponed following a change in plan by the neighbouring country, official sources said on Friday. The bi-annual talks led by the heads of the Border Security Force (BSF) and its Bangladeshi counterpart the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) were to be tentatively held between November 18 and 22 in the national capital, the first such meeting after the collapse of the Sheikh Hasina government on August 5. Sources told PTI that the Bangladeshi side informed about the postponement and indicated that they were working on "an early date" for the meeting to be held. Overall, it will be the 55th edition of the Director General (DG)-level talks between the two forces that also includes officials from the home and external affairs ministries, and anti-narcotics, Customs and some other federal agencies from both the countries that have a stake in border management. The last edition of thes

Three injured in rift between police, Hindu clan going to dip idol in Dhaka

At least three people were injured in a clash that broke out between police and Hindu community going to immerse idols following the conclusion of Durga Puja in an Old Dhaka locality, a media report said on Monday. The three people, including a police officer, were injured when miscreants threw bricks from the rooftop of Nur Super Market in Patuatuli area of Old Dhaka on the procession heading to immerse idols in the Buriganga river late Sunday night, The Daily Star newspaper said quoting an eyewitness. Following the attack, members of the Hindu community tried to enter the market but faced resistance from the police. Kotwali police station Officer-in-Charge Md Enamul Hasan told the newspaper, The locals attempted to enter the market. For the sake of the market's security, we resisted them from entering, which eventually led to the clash." The officer further said that unable to control the situation, he informed the army and they arrived and dispersed the crowd. The situation is n

Committed to helping Bangladesh expand economic opportunities, says US

The US on Sunday assured Bangladesh's interim government of its commitment to helping the country expand economic opportunities, build institutional capacity, and uphold human rights. The US commitment came as a high-level US delegation met Foreign Adviser Md Touhid Hossain. "We are committed to helping expand economic opportunities, build institutional capacity, uphold human rights, and mitigate climate risks with our partner, Bangladesh," the US Embassy in Dhaka posted on X after the meeting. The US delegation at the meeting was headed by Assistant Secretary for International Finance of the US Department of Treasury Brent Neiman. The delegation also included US State Department Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asia Donald Lu, The Daily Star newspaper said. "Great to meet the foreign affairs adviser at Padma House," said the embassy. Neiman also met Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed. After the meeting, the embassy said: We support Bangladesh's path towards renewed dynami

Bangladesh crisis: Hindus protest over demand for new minority law, justice

Hindu protesters in Dhaka and Chattogram carried signs demanding swift justice through a fast-track tribunal for those responsible for the attacks on the community

Families in Bangladesh fight for justice against forced disappearances

In a dimly lit room in Dhaka, Baby Akhtar clutches a faded photograph of her husband, Tarikul Islam Tara, who vanished twelve years ago after allegedly being taken by Bangladesh's security agencies, a personal tragedy reflecting the broader nightmare of enforced disappearances that has haunted Bangladesh for over the last 15 years. I have been waiting for my husband for the last 12 years. My life and family have been ruined for no fault of mine. We want justice. We hope that the interim government will give us justice. I want my husband back, she said as tears rolled down her cheeks. The fate of hundreds like Tara remains shrouded in uncertainty following the recent ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, whose administration was accused of presiding over systematic enforced disappearances. With Hasina's departure, the interim government has taken a significant step by forming a commission to investigate these cases. However, for the families still waiting, the commission's

Bangladesh crisis: Students clash with paramilitary personnel, 50 injured

At least 50 people were injured in Dhaka on Sunday when students clashed with hundreds of paramilitary personnel protesting for job regularisation

Hindus, Muslims both protected Dhaka's ancient temple after turmoil: Priest

Describing the deity of the ancient Dhakeswari Temple here as a "mother to all humans", a priest of the revered shrine said several Hindus, Muslims and others from the local community had come together to guard it soon after the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government in Bangladesh. The centuries-old temple in old Dhaka has many mosques in its vicinity and chimes of temple bells at times merge with the sound of 'azaan' emerging from nearby mosques. PTI on Friday visited the Sree Sree Dhakeswari National Temple, one of the prominent shakti peethas', and interacted with priests and members of the Hindu community who visited the shrine. While a young married couple had come to seek blessings for their two-month-old daughter, a woman lit candles at a corner of the temple courtyard facing the sanctum sanctorum and diligently prayed. "People of many religions come here to pray. And, Maa (Goddess) is mother to all humans whether it is Hindus, Muslims, Christians or Buddhists. They come here

UN team to arrive in Bangladesh's Dhaka to probe killings of protesters

A team of UN experts is set to arrive in Dhaka on Thursday to set a framework for the fact-finding mission that will investigate the killings of at least 650 protesters ahead of and in the aftermath of Sheikh Hasina's resignation as the prime minister earlier this month. "This is the primary UN team of experts before the UN fact-finding mission comes and investigates (the atrocities). We are expecting to sign an agreement of framework for the probe," The Daily Star newspaper quoted a UN official based in Dhaka as saying on Wednesday. The UN team is expected to discuss detailed terms and conditions for investigating all the human rights violations that took place between July 1 and August 15, the official said. The delegation will stay here for at least a week and meet the civil society groups, victims of human rights violations, students and government officials and any other actors concerned, the official added. Foreign ministry officials also confirmed the arrival of the ...

Bangladesh crisis hits India's tourism: 90% drop in Bangladeshi visitors

The situation worsened two weeks ago when former PM Sheikh Hasina resigned amid student protests, resulting in temporary flight disruptions and suspension of all visas except those for medical reasons

Dhaka University students protest in solidarity with Kolkata demonstrators

Students at the prestigious Dhaka University in Bangladesh held a protest in solidarity with ongoing demonstrations over the rape and murder of a woman trainee doctor at R G Kar Medical College in Kolkata in the neighbouring country. The protest, organised under the banner "Awaaz Tolo Nari" (Raise Your Voice, Women), on Friday, took place at the Raju Sculpture in Dhaka University, Dhaka Tribune newspaper reported. "We are aware of the non-cooperative attitude of the medical college administration regarding the Moumita rape case in Upper Bengal. As women, we demand that the administration provide maximum legal assistance, strictly enforce the law, and announce the verdict promptly," Dhaka Tribune quoted Rahnuma Ahmed Niret, a student from the Department of Physics, as saying at the event. Anya Fahmin, a student of the Department of Anthropology, added: "Women worldwide face rape, and we fully support the ongoing movement for fair accountability in the RG Kar Hospital case in Kolkata.

1.4 bn Indians stand with Bangladesh amid violence against minorities: Modi

Amid the ongoing violence against Hindus and minority groups in Bangladesh, PM Narendra Modi said that India wishes that its neighbouring countries always 'walk the path of prosperity and peace'

Bangladesh to prosecute student protest killings in international tribunal

The Muhammad Yunus-led interim government announced that the murders conducted within the period from July 1 to August 5 will be tried by the International Crimes Tribunal

Sheikh Hasina demands justice for Bangabandhu, condemns rioters' acts

Bangladesh crisis: Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina demanded a thorough investigation into the killings and acts of sabotage across the nation

Murder case filed against former Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina, six others

Bangladesh crisis: A murder case has been registered against Sheikh Hasina and six others for their involvement in the death of a grocery shop owner on July 19

Balance with big powers important: Bangladesh foreign affairs advisor

Hossain said on Friday that it was important for Bangladesh to have good relations with all countries

Centre forms panel to oversee safety of Indians, minorities in Bangladesh

Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced that the committee will be led by the Additional Director General (ADG) of the Border Security Force (BSF) for the Eastern Command