Page 6 - Muhammad Yunus

Commission on 2009 BDR mutiny seeks deposed Sheikh Hasina's testimony

A commission instituted by Bangladesh's interim government led by Muhammad Yunus on Saturday asked deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina and 14 others to submit their testimony as part of a re-investigation into the 2009 mutiny in the then Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) frontier force. The National Independent Investigation Commission on the 2009 BDR carnage has issued a public notice urging 15 individuals, including former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, to testify as part of its ongoing inquiry, the state-run BSS news agency said. The notice stated that legal measures would be taken against those who will fail to cooperate adding that the special notice was issued expecting to complete the process of recording testimonies of the 15 people, Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) said. The 15 people included the then army chief retired general Moeen U Ahmed, his grand successor general Aziz Ahmed and several other former military and police officers and politicians belonging to Hasina's ousted Awa

Got no official response from India on Hasina's extradition request: Yunus

Bangladesh interim government's Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus has said that Dhaka had sent "formal letters" to India seeking deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina's extradition but received "no official response" from New Delhi. In an interview with UK-based Sky News, Yunus said Hasina will stand trial for "crimes against humanity", the state-run BSS news agency reported. Hasina, 77, has been living in India since August 5 last year, when she fled Bangladesh following a massive student-led protest that toppled her Awami League's 16-year regime. Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has issued arrest warrants for Hasina and several former Cabinet ministers, advisers, and military and civil officials for "crimes against humanity and genocide". "A trial will be taking place. Not only against her, but also all the people associated with her - her family members, her clients or associates," Yunus said. Bangladesh has issued two arrest warrants for her. Yunus said they had sen

Preserving records of atrocities committed by Hasina regime crucial: Yunus

Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus has called for the meticulous preservation of records documenting alleged atrocities committed under the administration of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina. During a Sunday meeting with United Nations officials, Yunus emphasised that without a proper archival system it is difficult to know the truth and ensure justice", Dhaka Tribune reported. A statement issued by the chief advisor's press wing said the chief adviser during his conversation with UN Resident Coordinator Gwen Lewis and UN human rights expert Huma Khan cited the crackdown on demonstrators at Shapla Chattar, police brutality against protesters following the Delwar Hossain Sayedee verdict, and years of alleged extrajudicial killings. The UN officials, in response, reaffirmed their willingness to assist Bangladesh in documenting human rights abuses. This is a process of healing and truth-building, Lewis said, offering the UN's expertise in technical assistance and capacity-building. Yunu

B'desh situation deeply affects me, Yunus has a long way to go: Amartya Sen

Expressing deep concern over the ongoing situation in Bangladesh, Nobel laureate Amartya Sen said his friend Muhammad Yunus, chief adviser of the neighbouring country's interim government, is taking significant steps but has a long road ahead to resolve the impasse. Sen said the situation in Bangladesh had deeply affected him and he was concerned about how the country would navigate the challenges. In an exclusive interview with PTI at his Santiniketan home in West Bengal's Birbhum district, Sen emphasised that Bangladesh, which has largely kept communal forces like Jamaat in check, should continue its admirable commitment to secularism. "The situation in Bangladesh affects me deeply because I have a strong Bengali sense of identity," Sen told PTI. "I have spent a lot of time in Dhaka and began my school education there. Aside from Dhaka, I often visited my ancestral home in Manikganj. On my maternal side, I regularly visited Bikrampur, particularly Sonarang. These places have deep

Yunus invites Musk to visit Bangladesh, launch Starlink satellite service

The statement shared by the Chief Adviser of the Government of Bangladesh on X reads, 'Chief Adviser invites Elon Musk to visit Bangladesh and launch Starlink in 90 working days.'

BNP leader Babul Mia beaten to death in front of wife in Bangladesh

A BNP leader was beaten to death in front of his wife by his rivals in Dhaka, police said. Mohammad Babul Mia, the former vice-president of BNP's Kulla union unit, was killed when he and her wife were harvesting mustard near Akshirnagar Housing of Dhamrai upazila on Friday afternoon, Daily Star Bangladesh reported. Babul's wife Yasmin Begum said villagers had a long-standing dispute over Akshirnagar Housing, a real estate business. "Although my husband was not involved in the matter, local criminals Afsar, Arshad, and Monir had been threatening both of us for days," she alleged. "They beat him with sticks and SS pipes, seriously injuring him. They even gouged out both his eyes. When I and some locals tried to intervene and take him to a hospital, they stopped us. Only after he became unconscious did they leave the place," she said. Babul was later taken to Savar Enam Medical College Hospital where doctors declared him dead. Monirul Islam, officer-in-charge of Dhamrai Police Statio

Reports of attacks on minorities in Bangladesh 'exaggerated': BGB chief

The chief of Bangladesh's border guarding force on Thursday termed the reports of attacks on minorities in his country as "exaggerated", asserting that authorities have taken steps for their protection. Addressing a joint press conference along with chief of India's Border Security Force (BSF) Daljit Singh Chaudhary, Director General of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) Major General Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui said the Bangladeshi delegation has raised objection with regard to fencing at some places along the Indo-Bangladesh border and it was hopeful that the issues would be resolved in the future. Chaudhary, on his part, said infiltration along the international border has come down substantially after the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government on August 5, 2024. On the issue of minorities, Siddiqui said, "Attacks on minorities in Bangladesh are exaggerated. We got several requests from minorities as they were afraid but BGB convinced them that we will help". The BGB chief said

Sheikh Hasina vows to return to Bangladesh, calls Muhammad Yunus 'mobster'

Sheikh Hasina has vowed to return to Bangladesh, accusing Muhammad Yunus of encouraging lawlessness, while Dhaka prioritises her extradition amid rising tensions

Hasina's extradition is Bangladesh interim govt's top priority: Spokesman

Bangladesh interim government chief Muhammad Yunus' office on Tuesday said the extradition of deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina from India was Dhaka's top priority. This is the government's top priority, Chief Adviser Yunus' press secretary Shafiqul Alam said in a media briefing, adding that Dhaka would continue its efforts to extradite Hasina to hold her trial in person. He said it was up to the people and political parties of Bangladesh to decide if her fascist Awami League would be able to carry on politics but those allegedly involved in killings, enforced disappearances and other wrongdoings must be brought to justice. The spokesman said the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights' (OHCHR) fact finding report, released last week, revealed that Hasina committed crimes against humanity during her tenure. After the report of the UN and some reports of rights groups were published, pressure has been mounted (on India to return Hasina to Bangladesh), the

Deposed Bangladesh PM Hasina blames Yunus for lawlessness in country

Deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina has accused Bangladesh's interim government chief Muhammad Yunus for the lawlessness in the country and said he has unleashed terrorists on its people. The 16-year-long Hasina's Awami League regime was toppled in a students' uprising on August 5, 2024 when she fled Bangladesh for India. He (Yunus) dissolved all inquiry committees and unleashed terrorists to butcher people. They are destroying Bangladesh, Hasina said during a virtual interaction with widows and children of slain police officers killed during the July-August violent anti-government protests in 2024. During the conversations, which appeared on social media on Tuesday, Hasina is seen consoling the mourning family members saying she was expecting to return home and avenge the killings. I will return and avenge the deaths of our policemen, she said and added that when her government was toppled, she too narrowly escaped death, by the grace of God, who definitely kept her alive to do .

Muhammad Yunus, Musk hold talks to bring Starlink internet to Bangladesh

Yunus stated that integrating Starlink's connectivity into Bangladesh's infrastructure would create new opportunities for millions and integrate the country more closely into the global economy

Protests erupt against B'desh's Muhammad Yunus outside Blair House in US

The protestors chanted Step down Yunus, we want justice, we want Sheikh Hasina

Protesters attack stall with Nasrin's book in B'desh, Yunus orders probe

A group of protesters stormed a book stall in Dhaka over the display of books by exiled Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasrin, prompting Bangladesh's Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus to order a probe into the "disorderly behaviour", according to a media report The incident took place on Monday at the publishing house Sabyasachi Prokashoni stall at the Amar Ekushey Book Fair, Bdnews24 reported. The incident unfolded on the 10th day of the fair when a group under the banner of Towhidi Janata stormed the Sabyasachi Prokashoni stall at Suhrawardy Udyan over the display of books by exiled Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasrin, the report added. The group surrounded the publisher and chanted slogans, prompting police to intervene and take Sabyasachi publisher Shatabdi Vobo into their control room to restore order, it said. However, the protesters then encircled the police control room, keeping tensions high. Following widespread criticism, Chief Adviser Yunus ordered authorities on Monday evening t

Govt aims to conduct polls by December in Bangladesh: Khaleda Zia's BNP

Khaleda's Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and rival Hasina's Awami League have governed Bangladesh for most of the past three decades

Bangladesh Chief Adviser Yunus assures BNP to hold elections by December

Bangladesh's Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus Monday assured former prime minister Khaleda Zia's party that his interim government is preparing to hold general elections by December, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party's top leader said. He (Yunus) informed us that they are working to stage the election by December, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir told journalists after a meeting with the interim government chief. "We have repeatedly urged the government to hold polls quickly. We have once again pressed them on this matter. By completing the minimum reforms, engaging in discussions with the reform commissions, and reaching a consensus, we believe elections can be held swiftly," he added. Alamgir also criticised the government over the recent incidents across the country, including the one at Dhanmondi, where the residence of Bangladesh founder Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was demolished by a mob. "The government cannot evade responsibility for these incidents," he said. "We hav

40 arrested in Bangladesh after vandalism at Sheikh Hasina's house

Forty people have been arrested in Bangladesh in an operation launched following a violent attack on a student group's activists during vandalism at an Awami League leader's house on the outskirts of Dhaka that left several people injured, according to a media report. Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus's government ordered "Operation Devil Hunt" on Saturday after the attack on students and civilians in the Gazipur district on Friday night. Superintendent of Police (SP) of Gazipur Chowdhury Jaber Sadek said that the 40 people were rounded up from parts of the district as part of the operation, United News of Bangladesh reported. On Friday night, at least 14 individuals, all belonging to the mobs out to vandalise and destroy all signs of deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina's Awami League party, were injured as they came under attack in Gazipur city's Dakshinkhan area. The violence occurred during the attack on the residence of former Liberation War Affairs Minister Mozammel ...

Yunus urges people to stop attacks on properties of Sheikh Hasina's family

The protesters, reportedly demanding a ban on the Awami League, stormed the premises after breaking open the gate causing destruction

Bangladesh's govt warns of stern action after vandalism across country

Bangladesh's interim government headed by Nobel Peace laureate Muhammad Yunus said Friday it will contain vandalism and arson taking place across the country. The development comes amid concern from a major opposition party and neighboring India over attacks on a historic house linked to ousted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Mobs targeting supporters of Hasina have vandalized homes and businesses in various parts of the country since Wednesday night. Many of the establishments belonging to former lawmakers, Cabinet members and the leaders of Hasina's Awami League party were set on fire, apparently as part of a coordinated campaign involving the former home of Bangladesh's independence leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hasina's father in Dhaka, the capital. The interim government said Wednesday's attack was sparked by Hasina for regularly making provocative remarks from exile to create instability in Bangladesh. The protesters started storming the house one hour before Hasina began

Bangladesh's interim govt shows concern over 'attempts of vandalism, arson'

Bangladesh's interim government of Professor Muhammad Yunus expressed its concern over attempts of vandalism and arson attacks nationwide, hours after it said deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina's remarks caused unwanted demolition of the country's founding father's residence in Dhaka. Chief Adviser Yunus's press wing issued the latest statement on Thursday saying, the interim government observes with deep concern that some people and quarters are trying to vandalize and set on fire different institutions and establishments throughout the country. "The government will prevent such activities with a strong hand. The interim government is ready to protect the life and property of the citizens, it said and promised stern punitive actions against the persons and quarters concerned by law enforcement agencies. Chief Adviser's press wing released the statement hours after the interim government said the Wednesday demolition of Bangladesh's founding father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's 32 ...

B'desh lodges protest with India over Hasina's activities during her stay

Bangladesh on Thursday lodged a protest with India over the "false and fabricated statements" made by deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina during her stay in India, the foreign ministry here said. The development comes a day after Hasina delivered a speech via social media on Wednesday night in which she called upon the countrymen to organise a resistance against the current regime. In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it lodged a "strong protest with the Government of India over the false fabricated comments and statements continuously being made in different platforms including social media, by the former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, instigating instability in Bangladesh". The protest note, handed over to the Acting High Commissioner of India in Dhaka, conveys the "deep concern, disappointment and serious reservation" of Bangladesh, as such statements are "hurting the sentiments" of the people in the country, the statement said. The ministry also emphasised that