Ruhul Kabir Rizvisaid the blockade will begin at 6 a.m. on Wednesday and end at 6 a.m. on Thursday, followed by a complete shutdown….reports Asian Lite News
Bangladesh opposition party BNP on Monday called for a nationwide blockade on Wednesday, followed by a complete shutdown on Thursday.
“We have called for a nationwide blockade on Wednesday and a complete shutdown on Thursday,” BNP Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said while addressing a press conference here.
He said the blockade will begin at 6 a.m. on Wednesday and end at 6 a.m. on Thursday, followed by a complete shutdown.
The Bangladesh opposition parties have observed blockades in seven phases asking the incumbent government to quit and hold the next general elections under supervision of a non-partisan administration.
However, Election Commissioner Rashida Sultana had said that even if the BNP decides to participate in the general elections, polls must be held by January 28, at the latest.
Later, it was announced that Bangladesh will go to the polls on January 7, 2024.
“It is imperative that they (BNP) participate within the stipulated election period, as outlined in the constitution. There is no provision to extend the schedule beyond January 28,” Sultana had said.
Meanwhile, the Election Commission has asked all the candidates to file their nomination by November 30.
The commission will scrutinise the nomination papers from December 1 to 4. Appeals against the nominations can be submitted between December 5 and 6, and if any candidate wants to withdraw, he/she can do so by December 17.
Regarding installation of CCTV cameras at the polling centres, she said: “We are currently not in a position to install the CCTVs as no company has the capacity to install a vast number of cameras.”
Jatiya Party Secretary General Mujibul Haque Chunnu has also announced the list of the candidates, who will be in fray for the general elections.
Meanwhile, two buses were set ablaze in Dhaka’s Shyamoli area on Monday afternoon.
“Two units of firefighters were rushed to the scene which doused the blaze,” Shahjahan Sikder, Deputy Assistant Director (media cell) of Bangladesh Fire Service and Civil Defence, told IANS.
Bangladesh will be receiving its first-ever shipment of cashew nuts all the way from Odisha…reports Asian Lite News
The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Development Authority (APEDA), an organisation under the Ministry of Commerce, played an instrumental role in flagging off cashew nut shipments to the US, Bangladesh, Qatar and Malaysia to mark National Cashew Day on November 23.
Bangladesh will be receiving its first-ever shipment of cashew nuts all the way from Odisha.
After Cote d’Ivoire, India is the second largest producer and exporter of cashew nuts with a share of more than 15 per cent, followed by Vietnam.
India’s top export destinations are the UAE, the Netherlands, Japan, and Saudi Arabia.
Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu are the major Cashew producing states in India. India primarily exports Cashew Kernels with small quantities of Cashew Nut Shell Liquid and Cardanol.
With the UAE and the Netherlands remaining as the top export destinations for Indian Cashew Nuts, APEDA is working towards exploring new markets for cashew in the international markets of Japan, Saudi Arabia, UK, Spain, Kuwait, Qatar, the US and European countries.
APEDA chairman Abhishek Dev said the demand for cashew products has been on the rise, and to see the industry evolve and thrive is a heartening moment. The growth is a testament to the hard work of the farmers, processors, and exporters.
In the future, APEDA may intervene in the automation of the cashew industry. Training of professionals, registration of cashew processing units, and a traceability system will be formulated for cashew, replicating peanuts, he added.
APEDA jointly with its Regional Offices organised programmes to celebrate the National Cashew Day in seven states in collaboration with the Cashew Association, Exporters and Stakeholders. The event included a diverse range of activities such as interaction sessions with the stakeholder of Cashew, Platform for Networking, Knowledge Sharing, and discussion on industry trends and challenges faced in the sector.
The Bangladesh Foreign Secretary said that he briefed the envoys of around 90 countries about the country’s position on various geopolitical and contemporary issues….reports Asian Lite News
Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen, who is in Delhi for Foreign Office Consultations, on Saturday said he has reached out to around 90 heads of mission in the Indian capital about the foreign policy priorities of the Sheikh Hasina government and preparedness for the general elections to be held in January.
The Bangladesh Foreign Secretary told ANI that he briefed the envoys about the country’s position on various geopolitical and contemporary issues.
“Apart from attending the FOC, I briefed the Heads of concurrently accredited Missions to Bangladesh based in New Delhi last evening at the Bangladesh High Commission. During the briefing, I also highlighted the Foreign Policy priorities and dynamics of Bangladesh under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina,” he said.
“I briefed the Ambassadors about Bangladesh’s position on various geopolitical and contemporary issues. I also briefed them about the recent political scenario and the preparedness for the next general elections in Bangladesh,” he added.
Masud Bin Momen said Bangladesh has made economic progress, has “socio-economy and political stability” and the country has growing importance in the regional and global platforms.
The Bangladesh Foreign Secretary said he urged envoys to consider opening diplomatic missions in Dhaka.
“Given socio-economic developments, continued stability and growing importance in the regional and global platforms and engagements with the issues of global concern, I requested their respective governments to consider opening diplomatic Missions in Dhaka. I assured them of the Bangladesh Government’s cooperation and assistance in facilitating the process,” he said.
India- Bangladesh Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) were held in New Delhi on Friday.
The Indian delegation was led by Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra and the Bangladesh delegation was led by Masud Bin Momen.
FOC is an institutional dialogue mechanism between the two Foreign Secretaries to review the entire gamut of bilateral relationship.
The Indian side appreciated Bangladesh’s participation in the recently held Virtual G20 summit and the Voice of Global South Summit 2.0.
Both sides held comprehensive discussions on a wide range of issues covering border and security, trade, commerce and connectivity, cooperation in water, power and energy sectors, people-to-people ties and development cooperation in Bangladesh.
Both sides also exchanged views on sub regional, regional and multilateral issues.
Bangladesh will go to the polls on January 7. The Chief Election Commissioner stated that the last day to submit nomination papers will be November 30, whereas the scrutiny of nomination papers will be from December 1 to December 4.
Moreover, the last date for withdrawal of candidature is December 17 and the Election Commission will allot election symbols to candidates on December 18, according to Dhaka Tribune.
Reportedly, the campaign will run from December 18 to January 5 next year at midnight, the CEC said.
FM refutes reports on threats to US envoy
The Bangladesh State Minister of Foreign Affairs, Shahriar Alam had expressed regret over the departure of the US Ambassador Peter Haas amid the announcement of the general elections in the country and called it “unfortunate”.
This comes after certain reports in Dhaka claimed that politicians from the ruling party allegedly threatened the US Ambassador regarding his perceived interference in the elections. However, the State Minister denied these allegations, asserting confidence in the country’s ability to provide adequate security for foreign guests like the ambassador.
“I have a responsibility. All the ambassadors who are posted here are our guests and we are supposed to look after them. Provide them with high security as much as they are also responsible for offering the interests of Bangladeshi diplomats abroad. We know for sure where he is, it’s all his speculation. It’s unfortunate we shouldn’t be discussing all this. But I’m not supposed to disclose his location, it, personal information and its official information. But we know,” the minister told ANI.
Following the announcement of the election date by the election commission, US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas is reported to be leaving the country. Sources in Bangladesh informed ANI that the current status of the US Ambassador to Bangladesh reveals he is presently in Sri Lanka.
Minister Shahriar further discussed the US visa restrictions, emphasising that those who do not comply with the law ahead of Bangladesh’s general election could face a denial of visas by the United States.
“The advice is self-explanatory but we don’t like it… But we respect any country’s decision and I am sure our hope is really that the new visa policy will stop BNP and Jamaat from repeating the atrocities they committed in 2014, But unfortunately, it has failed, so the new visa policy did not help the process at all, so it has to be reviewed by the US.” he told ANI.
The US Department of State had announced to impose visa restrictions on Bangladeshi individuals “responsible for, or complicit in, undermining the democratic election process in Bangladesh”.
The United States has condemned the political violence that took place in Dhaka in last month in October and said that it will be “reviewing all violent incidents for possible visa restrictions.” It called for calm and restraint on all sides. (ANI)
According to ADB, this financial assistance is dedicated to enhancing access to quality and affordable tertiary health care in Maharashtra….reports Asian Lite News
In a significant move aimed at advancing healthcare infrastructure and medical education, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has granted approval for a substantial loan package of USD 500 million.
According to ADB, this financial assistance is dedicated to enhancing access to quality and affordable tertiary health care in Maharashtra.
ADB Health Specialist, Nishant Jain emphasized the collaborative efforts between ADB and the Maharashtra state government to realize the vision of providing accessible tertiary health care to all residents by 2030.
Jain said, “ADB has been working with the state government of Maharashtra to achieve its vision of providing affordable and accessible tertiary health care to all by 2030 and strengthen a cadre of quality and professional medical practitioners. This program introduces key policy reforms to strengthen the state’s tertiary health care and medical education. It will also expand medical education and health facilities to provide modern medical services in underserved areas in the state.”
The initiative also aims to fortify a cadre of competent and professional medical practitioners.
The Maharashtra Tertiary Care and Medical Education Sector Development Program, facilitated by this loan, will see the establishment of four medical colleges linked with tertiary care teaching hospitals.
These institutions will incorporate climate- and disaster-resilient features, ensuring gender responsiveness and social inclusivity in underserved districts.
The program also encompasses plans to augment bed capacity in government tertiary care hospitals and recruit a minimum of 500 new doctors for these four newly established governmental medical colleges.
Beyond infrastructure development, ADB is actively contributing to the creation of an enabling environment through policy reforms.
These reforms include measures to attract and retain high-quality medical personnel through performance-based incentives, the implementation of a new talent management policy, and the establishment of India’s first state-led health care and medical education centres of excellence.
To alleviate the burden of out-of-pocket expenses, the initiative will enhance the availability of quality drugs. Additionally, ADB aims to support the efficient management of assets by introducing a pioneering policy in the Indian health sector, focusing on climate-resilient asset planning, management, and sustainability.
The program further strives to instil healthy competition among medical colleges through the implementation of a performance management system.
Recognizing the importance of gender and social inclusion in medical education, ADB is set to assist the state in establishing a gender unit under the Medical Education and Drugs Department.
With its commitment to fostering a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia-Pacific region, ADB, established in 1966 and owned by 68 members, is dedicated to eradicating extreme poverty while continually striving for regional development and well-being. (ANI)
The agreement comprising five projects…reports Asian Lite News
The Bangladeshi government and the World Bank have inked a loan agreement worth over $1 billion to help the country achieve resilient and inclusive growth by improving early childhood development, secondary education, riverbank protection and navigability, urban primary health, and gas distribution efficiency.
The agreement comprising five projects was signed in Dhaka on Thursday by Sharifa Khan, Senior Secretary of Bangladesh’s Economic Relations Division, and Abdoulaye Seck, World Bank Country Director for Bangladesh and Bhutan, Xinhua news agency reported.
Among the projects was the Bangladesh Enhancing Investments and Benefits for Early Years Project which will help improve early childhood development by providing cash transfers and counseling services to about 1.7 million pregnant women and mothers of children under four in vulnerable households.
The Learning Acceleration in Secondary Education Operation Project will help strengthen secondary education by improving learning outcomes and teaching quality, said the Washington-based lender.
It said the Jamuna River Sustainable Management Project 1 and Urban Health, Nutrition and Population Project will improve primary healthcare services for treatment, prevention and referral for common illnesses including mosquito-borne diseases like dengue and help improve riverbank protection and navigability in the Jamuna River, protecting about 2,500 hectares of land from riverbank erosion and flooding.
Apart from this, the bank said the Gas Sector Efficiency Improvement and Carbon Abatement Project will help improve the efficiency of gas distribution and end-use through pre-paid metering systems and reduce methane emissions along the natural gas value chain.
“Bangladesh and the World Bank have a strong partnership focused on achieving the country’s vision of upper-middle-income status by 2031 and higher income status by 2041,” said Khan.
Seck said, “Bangladesh is an important partner for the World Bank toward its vision of a world free of poverty on a livable planet. Since the country’s independence, the World Bank and Bangladesh have had an impactful partnership that lifted millions of Bangladeshi people out of poverty.”‘
The persons identified as Sahida Begum, Abdul Wadud Mandal, Babul Sardar, Sarmin Begum, her three minor sons Ismail Sheikh, Shakil Sheikh and Shakib Sheikh…reports Asian Lite News
At least seven Bangladeshi nationals, including three minors and two women, were deported back to their country through the India-Bangladesh international border at Assam’s Karimganj district, officials said.
All of them entered India from a location close to Agartala in Tripura, according to officials with the Border Security Force (BSF), and they were detained in Assam while on the way to Delhi.
“One of them was arrested a few years ago in the Sivasagar district, while six others were nabbed in Karimganj. Following the arrests, the court ordered their transfer to Goalpara’s Matia Transit Camp,” an official said on Tuesday.
The persons identified as Sahida Begum, Abdul Wadud Mandal, Babul Sardar, Sarmin Begum, her three minor sons Ismail Sheikh, Shakil Sheikh and Shakib Sheikh.
According to the official record, Sahida lives in the Gopalganj district of Bangladesh, while the others hail from the Khulna district in the neighbouring country.
According to BSF authorities, they were deported on Monday through the Karimganj border after Bangladesh acknowledged them as citizens and consented to accept them.
On Monday morning, they were transferred from the Matia transit camp to Karimganj, where they were deported from the vicinity of Zero Point by pillar number 1360 at Sutarkandi-Beanibazar.
During the deportation, an Assam Police squad was also present from the Indian side in addition to the BSF officers.
To receive their nationals, a team from Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and Officer-in-Charge of Beanibazar Police Station, Shimul Roy, travelled from Bangladesh.
This month alone, the country reported 201 deaths…reports Asian Lite News
Bangladesh reported 1,291 new dengue cases and six more deaths in the last 24 hours, bringing the tally to 301,225 and the death toll to 1,549 since January this year, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) said.
This month alone, the country reported 201 deaths, reports Xinhua news agency.
As of Monday, according to the figure reported by the DGHS under the Ministry of Health, 30,080 more dengue cases were recorded after 67,769 people were infected with the mosquito-borne disease in October.
The total number of recovered patients in the South Asian country stood at 294,757 including 1,522 new recoveries, said the DGHS.
Bangladesh experienced its highest spike in dengue cases in September, with 79,598 new infections and 396 deaths reported.
Dengue fever, transmitted through the bite of an Aedes mosquito, causes an acute illness that usually follows symptoms such as headache, high fever, exhaustion, severe muscle and joint pain, swollen glands, vomiting and rash.
Bangladesh has reported more than 1,400 dengue deaths so far this year, with nearly 300,000 people infected by the mosquito-borne disease.
Based on the latest data by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), the dengue prevalence has reached an alarming situation this year, with a total of 283,593 cases and 1,425 deaths recorded as of Wednesday, reports Xinhua news agency.
According to the latest figure reported by the DGHS under the Ministry of Health, the dengue deaths this year included 77 in November, 359 in October, 396 in September, 342 in August and 204 in July.
From November 1 to 7, 12,418 new dengue cases were recorded after 67,769 people were reported to be infected with the mosquito-borne disease last month, according to the DGHS.
The South Asian country recorded eight more deaths and 1,895 more dengue infections in the 24 hours, DGHS data showed.
The country experienced its highest spike in dengue cases in September, with 79,598 new infections and 396 deaths reported.
Following reports in Dhaka, it is alleged that politicians from the ruling party have issued threats to the US Ambassador over his perceived involvement in the elections….reports Asian Lite News
Shahriar Alam, the State Minister of Foreign Affairs in Bangladesh, conveyed his regret regarding the departure of US Ambassador Peter Haas amid the announcement of the country’s general elections, deeming it as “unfortunate.”
This comes after certain reports in Dhaka claimed that politicians from the ruling party allegedly threatened the US Ambassador regarding his perceived interference in the elections. However, the State Minister denied these allegations, asserting confidence in the country’s ability to provide adequate security for foreign guests like the ambassador.
“I have a responsibility. All the ambassadors who are posted here are our guests and we are supposed to look after them. Provide them with high security as much as they are also responsible for offering the interests of Bangladeshi diplomats abroad. We know for sure where he is, it’s all his speculation. It’s unfortunate we shouldn’t be discussing all this. But I’m not supposed to disclose his location, it, personal information and its official information. But we know,” the minister told ANI.
Peter Haas
Following the announcement of the election date by the election commission, US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas is reported to be leaving the country. Bangladesh is set to hold its general election on January 7.
Sources in Bangladesh informed ANI that the current status of the US Ambassador to Bangladesh reveals he is presently in Sri Lanka.
Minister Shahriar further discussed the US visa restrictions, emphasizing that those who do not comply with the law ahead of Bangladesh’s general election could face a denial of visas by the United States.
“The advice is self-explanatory but we don’t like it… But we respect any country’s decision and I am sure our hope is really that the new visa policy will stop BNP and Jamaat from repeating the atrocities they committed in 2014, But unfortunately, it has failed, so the new visa policy did not help the process at all, so it has to be reviewed by the US.” he told ANI.
The US Department of State had announced to impose visa restrictions on Bangladeshi individuals “responsible for, or complicit in, undermining the democratic election process in Bangladesh”.
The United States has condemned the political violence that took place in Dhaka in last month in October and said that it will be “reviewing all violent incidents for possible visa restrictions.” It called for calm and restraint on all sides.
Taking to violent incidents for possible visa restrictions.”The statement of the US Department of State comes after a police officer and a political activist were killed during the clashes between the BNP and police.
The US Embassy in Dhaka called for calm and restraint on all sides. Taking to is violence against civilians, including journalists. “We call for calm and restraint on all sides. We will be reviewing all violent incidents for possible visa restrictions.” (ANI)
Jamaat, recognized as Bangladesh’s largest and well-organized political movement, has been distant from political power since its involvement in the Bangladesh National Party-led government in 2006….reports Asian Lite News
The Democracy Forum (TDF) hosted a webinar named ‘Jamaat-e-Islami, Bangladesh – the subcontinental Brotherhood?’ during which speakers presented differing perspectives on whether the ascendance of Jamaat-e-Islami, Bangladesh, would lead the nation towards regression or if it held the potential to engage in the democratic process, as per a press release by The Democracy Forum.
TDF President, Lord Bruce welcomed panellists to the webinar, which examined the circumstances surrounding the re-emergence of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami (BJI) as a democratic movement, after a decade of political isolation.
He spoke of the political rally held by Jamaat-e-Islam in Dhaka in June this year that appeared to signal a revival in its prospects as a political force. Referencing Jamaat’s history, he outlined how it was established in 1941 and is a movement dedicated to pursuing the ideal of “Hakimiya” to ensure the incorporation of Islamic ideology into all aspects of state governance.
Although widely credited today as Bangladesh’s most populous and arguably best-organised political movement, Jamaat has not been close to exercising power since 2006 when it participated in the BNP (Bangladesh National Party) led government. Lord Bruce highlighted how the record of Jamaat as a responsible political party and coalition partner serving in the former BNP government has been marred by evidence of violence and intimidation and how for the past 15 years, Jamaat has been proscribed as a political actor.
Associate Professor of World Religions and Culture at the University of Dhaka, Shafi Mostofa looked back at Jamaat’s history, agenda and strategy, as well as on its controversial role in Bangladesh’s 1971 War of Independence. He considered the organisation’s contribution to democracy; how Jamaat became king maker and an important factor in Bangladeshi politics and how Jamaat has been used in Bangladesh politics by secular parties.
He spoke of how the party is interconnected to geopolitical factors and how nationalist and secular failures allowed Jamaat-e-Islami to flourish. Referencing the rise of political Islam, Dr Mostofa discussed Jamaat history in which its stated goal is to embrace Islam, covering all material and spiritual aspects of human life guided completely by the Quran.
Mohammed Sinan Siyech, PhD Candidate, Islamic & Middle East Studies Programmed, University of Edinburgh examined Jamaat-e-Islami’s transnational connections, and its organisational structure in Bangladesh. He spoke of how political Islam is transnational with different manifestations to counter pan-Arab nationalism.
Maidul Islam, Assistant Professor of Political Science, Centre for Studies in Social Sciences, Calcutta assessed the influence of Jamaat-e-Islami in Contemporary Bangladeshi Politics, 2008-2023, focusing on the more recent electoral results, the crisis of Jamaat and the possible challenges the organisation faces in contemporary Bangladesh. He also asked whether Jamaat still has any real potential to revamp itself and make a mark in Bangladesh politics by using an alternative platform and making tactical social and political alliances.
In a tactical change, Jamaat’s leadership is now considering changing its position from the time of the Bangladesh Liberation War, although for some, its fundamental position has not changed, even though the rhetoric has become softer.
Dr Md Nazrul Islam, Professor of Political Studies, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet, Bangladesh explored the theme of Jamaat and democracy and spoke of opportunities for reconciliation between Jamaat and democracy within secular and semi-secular parties.
Speaking about the position of Jamaat on democracy, he said that neither Islam nor democracy is monolithic, therefore political Islam is not monolithic either. He suggested, too, that Jamaat and democracy are not necessarily incompatible adding that the party has supported constitutionalism and electoral politics. (ANI)
Workers continued their protests, rejecting the government’s announcement of a 56 percent wage increase Tuesday….reports Asian Lite News
A total of 130 readymade garment factories on outskirts of Bangladesh capital Dhaka have suspended operations for an indefinite period due to ongoing worker protests for higher wages.
Mohammad Sarwar Alam, a superintendent of Industrial Police, told journalists Saturday that a section of workers has still been demanding a minimum monthly wage of 23,000 taka (209 U.S. dollars), Xinhua news agency reported.
Workers continued their protests, rejecting the government’s announcement of a 56 percent wage increase Tuesday.
The protests have reportedly led to vandalism of cars and factories, with clashes between police and workers erupting in and around Dhaka.
A female garment worker was killed in a clash between police and workers demonstrating for a pay hike in Gazipur’s Konabari area on the outskirts of Dhaka on Wednesday.
Paramilitary Border Guard Bangladesh soldiers have been deployed in major industrial zones in and around Dhaka.
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Political row
Recently, a cover story on Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in a recent edition of the Time magazine, titled ‘Hard Power: Sheikh Hasina and the Fate of Democracy in Bangladesh’, has drawn frowns from many back home.
The cover feature, authored by Charlie Campbell, wasn’t received too well by netizens, leaders of the ruling Awami League and activists, and those who hold Prime Minister Hasina in high regard.
However, it appears that many readers may not have delved deeply into the content of the article, which presents a multifaceted view of Sheikh Hasina’s tenure, according to the Bangladesh-based Daily Asian Age.
Throughout her tenure in office since 2009, Hasina has faced numerous challenges, including the BDR mutiny, the economic recovery post-Covid, the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.
While not highlighting her achievements as the country’s premier, the cover feature in Time magazine raised concerns over the elections of 2014 and 2018.
“Bangladesh has taken an authoritarian turn under Hasina’s Awami League party. The last two elections were condemned by the US, EU and others for significant irregularities, including stuffed ballot boxes and thousands of phantom voters. She won 84% and 82% of the vote, respectively,” the cover story read.
