Pakistan NA Speaker Asad Qaiser adjourned the session till March 28 citing parliamentary traditions….reports Asian Lite News
The much-anticipated session of the Pakistan National Assembly (NA) to deliberate on the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan filed by the joint opposition, has been adjourned till March 28, The News reported.
NA Speaker Asad Qaiser adjourned the session till March 28 citing parliamentary traditions.
“Prior to this, NA sessions have been adjourned 24 times due to the demise of fellow parliamentarians,” Qaiser said before announcing the adjournment of Friday’s session.
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan (India Narrative_IANS)
Amid claims of the joint opposition to have obtained the support of required numbers for the success of the no-confidence motion against Khan, a 15-point agenda was issued by the NA Secretariat for the 41st session on Thursday night, with the no-trust motion on the ‘Orders of the Day’.
The opposition had submitted a no-confidence motion against the Prime Minister on March 8 and the 14-day constitutional deadline as per Article 54(3) to convene the NA session had expired on March 21.
“This House is of the view that the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan, has lost the confidence of the majority of the members of the National Assembly of Pakistan; therefore he should cease to hold office,” said the text of the resolution.
While the experts described the 100 per cent coverage as a major milestone for the country, the opposition parties and critics of the government have gone silent….write Sumi Khan
With the recent inauguration of the 1,320 MW ultra-supercritical coal-fired power plant in Patuakhali, Bangladesh, the country has now ensured 100 per cent national coverage of electricity, from a mere 47 per cent in 2009, when Sheikh Hasina took over as the Prime Minister of the country.
Hasina’s decade in power has boosted Bangladesh’s power output to a new high, dwarfing the lack of progress made in this critical sphere during the previous BNP regime.
Former advisor to the interim government of Bangladesh in 2006, M. Tamim, who’s also an energy expert and a professor in the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, said that bringing the whole nation under electricity coverage is a ‘great achievement’.
Between 2001 and 2006, the BNP government led by Khaleda Zia had added a meagre 80 MW to the national power output.
In comparison, the Hasina-led Awami League government has boosted Bangladesh’s installed power generation capacity to 25,514 MW now from 4,942 MW in 2009.
The maximum power production rose to 13,792 MW, up four-fold from 3,268 MW 13 years ago, government statistics revealed.
“The biggest thing is that we have been able to illuminate the houses of all the people. For the last 13 years, the government has been working tirelessly for the overall development of the power sector,” Hasina said recently.
While the experts described the 100 per cent coverage as a major milestone for the country, the opposition parties and critics of the government have gone silent.
Pic credits @MoPEMR
In her first in-person speech since the outbreak of Covid-19 two years ago, Hasina had pointed out that her government has managed to distribute power to every house of remote, hilly and hard-to-reach areas by setting up solar panels and through submersible cables.
The newly-operational 1,320 MW plant has placed Bangladesh ahead of India and Pakistan in electricity coverage. India has brought 98 per cent and Pakistan 74 per cent of their respective populations under the electricity network, according to World Bank data.
Installed power generation capacity rocketed to 25,514 MW from 4,942 MW in 2009 in Bangladesh, while the maximum power production rose to 13,792 MW, up four-fold from 3,268 MW 13 years ago.
Of them, 1,160 MW electricity is being imported and 19,626 MW is locally generated, according to data from the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB).
Per capita power generation more than doubled to 560 KW-hour from 220 KWh between 2009 and 2021.
Ten years back, the experts said, such an achievement was unthinkable.
Pic credits @MoPEMR
BNP leader Tarique Zia, the son of fromer PM Khaleda Zia, had told TV channels that citizens would be wrong to expect power in residential areas and shopping malls at the same time. The interview, still available on internet, was seen as an attempt to cover up the BNP’s failure to augment power generation, for which the country, especially its textile industry, was suffering lack of growth.
“My own office is hit by power outages every day for five to six hours — for a country like Bangladesh it is completely unrealistic and even a luxury on part of the countrymen to expect power supply both at home and in shopping malls at the same time. Any plan to bring in the entire population under electricity coverage is nothing but an illusion for any party in the country to dream, announce and achieve,” — was how Tarique Zia had summed the power situation during his Khaleda Zia’s tenure.
Pic credits @MoPEMR
“Industries were particularly hard put to meet export orders on time but that has now changed,” said garments factory owner Mohammed Zakir.
Khondaker Golam Moazzem, research director at the Centre for Policy Dialogue, said: “It is a major achievement of the government. The government had set a target to bring the entire population under electricity coverage. It has worked in the last one decade to attain the goal.”
The experts also attributed this landmark success in the power sector to a key driving force on taking the economy to a new height.
“The economic success is not only seen in cities — it is also visible in the rural areas,” said Moazzem.
“Now we need to work tirelessly to ensure uninterrupted power supply at affordable cost for the people,” said Nasrul Hamid Bipu, Minister for Power Energy and Mineral Resources.
Taliban delegation to attend Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Turkey
Taliban directed that the people should help their system, try to collect Zakat and Ushr and spend it in their place and the organs of the government should refrain from extravagance….reports Asian Lite News
The cabinet meeting of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan said that had they (interim government) got enough money, they would have paid salaries for every single man and woman in Afghanistan but the government is impoverished, so people must assist the government, Khaama Press reported.
The three-day cabinet meeting was held in Kandahar and was headed by the supreme leader of the Taliban, Mullah Hebtullah Akhundzada for the first time.
The Amir al-Mu’minin or Supreme Leader said that if he could, he would set salaries for the Afghan men and women, adding that he understood the problems and hardships of his poor people, but that the economy of the Islamic Emirate was still weak, Bakhtar News reported.
Therefore, the people should help their system, try to collect Zakat and Ushr and spend it in their place and the organs of the government should refrain from extravagance.
Deputy Minister of Information and culture and chief spokesperson of the IEA Zabiullah Mujahid who was one of the participants of the meeting, in a press release, said all government administrations were directed to make efforts in implementing Sharia law so that all Afghans live under the law, Khaama Press reported.
“The meeting was concentrated on rules in government bodies, their activities, interaction with people, seeking a solution for ongoing economic difficulties, and absorbing all Taliban affiliates in security bodies,” the statement said.
Before this tour, South Africa had never lost to Bangladesh at home in 20 years…reports Asian Lite News
Bangladesh registered their maiden ODI series win in South Africa, after sealing it 2-1 when they beat the host by nine wickets in the third and final match, here on Wednesday.
Taskin Ahmed’s first five-wicket haul (5/35) in eight years helped Bangladesh bowl out South Africa for 154. Janneman Malan (39 off 56) and Keshav Maharaj (28 off 39) were the top-scorers for the Proteas.
In reply, skipper Tamim Iqbal (c) smashed a fine unbeaten fifty (87 off 82) as Bangladesh chased down the target in only 26.3 overs. Apart from Tamim, Liton Das (48 off 57) and Shakib Al Hasan (18 not out off 20) also played valuable knocks while Keshav Maharaj (1/36 picked the only wicket for South Africa.
Before this tour, South Africa had never lost to Bangladesh at home in 20 years.
The 2-1 series loss also dents South Africa’s progress towards automatic qualification to the 2023 World Cup, given they are down in ninth place on the ODI Super League points table.
Brief scores: South Africa 154 in 37 overs (Janneman Malan 39, Keshav Maharaj 28; Taskin Ahmed 5-35) lost to Bangladesh 156/1 in 26.3 overs (Tamim Iqbal 87 not out, Liton Das 48) by 9 wickets.
The UN human rights chief also shared her “profound frustration and disappointment” that six months after the Taliban seized power, high school girls have yet to return to the classroom….reports Asian Lite News
Condemning the U-turn over re-opening girls’ secondary schools in Afghanistan, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken rejected the Taliban’s excuses for reversing their commitment to the people of Afghanistan.
“Education is a human right, and the United States rejects the Taliban’s excuses for reversing their commitment to the people of Afghanistan that all Afghans would be able to return to school at all levels today. As many girls and women were returning to secondary classrooms across the country, they were told to go home until further notice,” Blinken said in a statement on Women and Girls’ Education in Afghanistan.
Blinken said that the US stands with Afghan girls and their families, who see education as a path to realizing the full potential of Afghanistan’s society and economy.
“This decision by the Taliban, if it is not swiftly reversed, will profoundly harm the Afghan people, the country’s prospects for economic growth, and the Taliban’s ambition to improve their relations with the international community,” he said.
The UN human rights chief also shared her “profound frustration and disappointment” that six months after the Taliban seized power, high school girls have yet to return to the classroom.
“The de facto authorities’ failure to adhere to commitments to reopen schools for girls above the sixth grade – in spite of repeated commitments towards girls’ education, including during my visit to Kabul two weeks ago – is deeply damaging for Afghanistan”, High Commissioner Michelle Bachelet said in a statement.
Although high schools were set to open their doors to girls nationwide, Taliban authorities reportedly reversed the move early on Wednesday, pending a ruling made on the uniforms they must wear.
“The denial of education violates the human rights of women and girls – beyond their equal right to education, it leaves them more exposed to violence, poverty and exploitation,” Bachelet explained.
In a statement, the UN Secretary-General said deeply regretted the Taliban’s suspension of the return to school for high school girls.
“The start of the new school year has been anticipated by all students, girls and boys, and parents and families”, said Antonio Guterres. He added that the Taliban move “despite repeated commitments, is a profound disappointment and deeply damaging for Afghanistan.
The denial of education not only violates the equal rights of women and girls to education, it also jeopardizes the country’s future in view of the tremendous contributions by Afghan women and girls.
“I urge the Taliban de facto authorities to open schools for all students without any further delay.” (ANI)
The North’s move came four days after it fired four artillery shots into the Yellow Sea, apparently using multiple rocket launchers, from Sukchon, north of Pyongyang….reports Asian Lite News
North Korea fired an apparent long-range ballistic missile toward the East Sea on Thursday, South Korea’s military said.
The North appears to have launched the projectile at a lofted angle, according to the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS). It did not provide other details, reports Yonhap News Agency.
The North’s move came four days after it fired four artillery shots into the Yellow Sea, apparently using multiple rocket launchers, from Sukchon, north of Pyongyang.
Last week, the North unsuccessfully fired an apparent long-range rocket system.
Concerns have persisted that the North could engage in provocative acts down the road as it made a veiled threat in January to lift its years-long self-imposed moratorium on nuclear and ICBM tests.
Seoul conducts retaliatory moves
South Korea’s armed forces conducted a joint live-fire exercise on Thursday involving some of its key missiles in a retaliatory move against North Korea, according to the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS).
The military shot the missiles from ground, sea and air from around the East Sea hours after the North launched an intercontinental ballistic missile into the sea, Yonhap News Agency quoted the JCS as saying.
Assets mobilised were a Hyunmoo-2 ground-to-ground missile and one Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) missile as well as a Haesung-II ship-to-ground missile and two JDAM air-to-surface missiles, it said.
The drills were aimed at sending a clear counterforce message to North Korea.
The JCS said the South’s military is keeping a close eye on the North’s military activities.
“It has been confirmed that in case of North Korea’s missile launch, (we) have the ability and posture to precisely strike the origin of the missile launch and command and support facilities at any time.”
It added that the North’s ICBM firing amid its rejection of a dialogue offer is a “serious challenge” to the South’s military and its alliance with the US.
Pyongyang’s show of force, the 12th this year, means an end to its self-imposed moratorium on nuclear and a long-range missile testing.
In January, Pyongyang made a veiled threat to lift its voluntary moratorium on strategic weapons tests that it declared in April 2018 amid nuclear diplomacy with Seoul and Washington.
“We are about to emerge for the first time in the history of the world in a trilateral nuclear competition. No longer bilateral. The Soviet Union, the United States — no, it’s China, Russia, and the United States,” said US Senator Reed…reports Asian Lite News
The US is no longer dominating several advanced technologies, an influential American Senator in Washington has observed, saying that India, Russia, and China have advantages on hypersonic technology.
“We’re in a situation where we have technological improvements. We used to dominate technology. That’s no longer the case. Hypersonic, clearly, China and India, Russia have advantages on it,” Senator Jack Reed, Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee said during a nomination hearing on Wednesday.
“We are about to emerge for the first time in the history of the world in a trilateral nuclear competition. No longer bilateral. The Soviet Union, the United States — no, it’s China, Russia, and the United States,” Senator Reed said and asked Dr William LaPlante, to be undersecretary of defence for acquisition and sustainment, how he intends to address these issues.
Dr LaPlante said he hopes to begin immediately to accelerate getting into the mainstream weapons systems.
“These new technologies that you talked about. We do have a lot of initiatives over the last several years, thanks to this committee, using your authority to rapidly contract and to do prototypes. I think that’s very good,” he said.
Patriot_missile_launch_b
“We got to get those capabilities rapidly into the weapons systems, and sometimes, bridge what they call the valley of death. So, I pledge to work with the programme officers to make it their job to do continuous upgrades of technology so we can get back into this race that you talked about,” he added.
He said the mission of delivering and sustaining timely, cost-effective, and uncompromised capabilities for the armed forces and the DOD has never been more important than it is today.
“China, our pacing threat; an increasingly authoritarian Russia focused on regional hegemony; malign actors; and other existential threats pose grave risks to the global order and threaten our way of life,” Dr LaPlante said in his opening remarks.
Responding to another question, he said a failed test is one where one doesn’t learn.
“One has to continue to do testing to your point. We tested in 2010, 2011 a combined DARPA, Air Force experiment to fly in a hypersonic glide vehicle from Vandenberg Air Force Base to Kwajalein. The two tests, they both failed, and the United States stopped hypersonic glide vehicle work,” he said.
“China and Russia just kept going. And so you have to test, you have to learn from the tests and just keep going,” LaPlante said in response to Senator Angus King.
The leaders condemned the massacre of Bangladesh people by the Pakistan Army on March 25 in 1971 when a black veil just showed up over the history of mankind….reports Asian Lite News
Scores of people protested in front of National Museum, Shahbag in Dhaka to mark the genocide by the Pakistan Army in Bangladesh in 1971 in which thousands of people, including children, were slaughtered.
The protest organised by Bangladesh Conscious Citizens Committee (BCCC), commemorating Genocide Remembrance Day, saw participation by prominient people including Muktijoddha Professor Dr Neemchand Bhowmik.
Leaders and participants of the human chain protest demanded international recognition of this genocide or Operation Searchlight – a planned military pacification carried out by the Pakistani Army. They also demanded an apology by the Pakistan Government and a trial of Pakistani War Criminals immediately.
Pic credits ANI
The protest was addressed among others by political analyst FF Major General M A Sikder, Co-Convenor F F M D Salauddin, Member Secretary and Chairman of Bangladesh Bharat Sampriti Parishad FF Fazle Ali, Journalist Basudeb Dhar, Secretary-General of Bangladesh Bharat Sampriti Parshad FF Mehidi Hasan Chowdhury and HBCUP leader Nirmal Chatterjee, Professor Sadia Sharmin.
The leaders condemned the massacre of Bangladesh people by the Pakistan Army on March 25 in 1971 when a black veil just showed up over the history of mankind.
Pic credits ANI
The Pakistan Army turned entire Bangladesh into a killing field with its indiscriminate killing, torture of innocent people and unprecedented scale of rapes for nine months.
That was the kickoff of one of the biggest genocides in the world, led by General Yahya Khan of Pakistan, causing the biggest ever humanitarian catastrophe after World War II. They killed 30 lakh people and violated two lakh women and children. Freedom fighters and researchers claim that still, many mass graves in the district and upazila levels remain unidentified. (ANI)
“I want the entire nation to join me on March 27 to send one message: that we are not with evil, we are against it, said Imran…reports Asian Lite News
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday invited the nation to participate in the ruling PTI’s March 27 power show at Islamabad’s Parade Ground, calling on the people to join him in “standing against evil”, Dawn reported.
“Brazenly, in front of everyone, a gang of thieves has been looting the country for the past 30 years and indulging in corruption,” he said.
Khan said that this “gang” had united and put a price on the “conscience” of public representatives, adding that these public representatives “were being bought”.
Pic credits Twitter @PakPMO
“I want the entire nation to join me on March 27 to send one message: that we are not with evil, we are against it. That we are against the crime(s) being committed against democracy and the nation, where the conscience of public representatives is being bought with looted money.”
The whole country should know that no one should have the guts to participate in horse-trading after this, he said.
The Prime Minister’s message comes as the government is facing a no-confidence motion moved by the opposition.
National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser has summoned the session of the lower house to deliberate on the opposition’s no-confidence resolution against Khan on Friday at 11 a.m.
On Wednesday, the premier was informed that the party’s allies had decided to side with the opposition, causing the ruling PTI to gear up efforts to appease its annoyed coalition partners.
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan (India Narrative_IANS)
While addressing a press conference here, the Minister said: “Those who are changing parties and thinking they will get respect, they are wrong.”…reports Asian Lite News
Pakistan Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed on Thursday told members of the ruling PTI that “switching parties won’t earn them any good”, saying that “turncoats must also keep in mind that early elections can also be called in the country”, Dawn reported.
While addressing a press conference here, the Minister said: “Those who are changing parties and thinking they will get respect, they are wrong.”
Rashid Ahmed’s remark come a day before a session of the lower house to deliberate on the opposition’s no-confidence resolution against Prime Minister Imran Khan.
The session called by National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser will commence on Friday at 11 a.m.
On Wednesday,Khan was informed that the party’s allies had decided to side with the opposition, causing the ruling PTI to gear up efforts to appease its annoyed coalition partners.
Meanwhile on Thursday, Khan invited the nation to participate in the PTI’s March 27 power show at Islamabad’s Parade Ground, calling on the people to join him in “standing against evil”.
