BARISAL, Sept. 21, 2016 (Xinhua) -- People retrieve a body after a ferry capsized in Bangladesh's Barisal district, Sept. 21, 2016. At least 12 people have been killed and 18 still missing after a ferry capsized in the river of Sondha in Bangladesh's Barisal district, 169 km south of capital Dhaka, on Wednesday. (Xinhua/IANS)
Another 26 bodies were recovered on Monday, bringing the total death toll to 51 from 25…reports Asian Lite News
At least 51 people have died after a boat capsized in a northern Bangladesh district, a senior police officer said.
S.M. Sirajul Huda, Superintendent of Panchagarh District Police, told Xinhua that 26 more bodies were retrieved from the Karatoya river in Bangladesh’s northern Panchagarh district, 468 km away from the capital Dhaka, on Monday.
According to the officer, the jam-packed boat, carrying some 100 passengers, sank on Sunday afternoon, Xinhua news agency reported.
Another 26 bodies were recovered on Monday, bringing the total death toll to 51 from 25, the officer told Xinhua over phone on Monday evening.
“The boat overturned and sank due to overloading,” said the officer.
TV images from the scene showed dozens of bodies in white bags which were retrieved from the river on Monday.
The boat has already been dragged to the river bank, where many were waiting for the bodies of their loved ones to be retrieved from the water.
The police officer added that rescuers had been working against a strong current and choppy river waters, adding that a search was underway as several passengers were still believed to be missing.
Boat accidents in Bangladesh are common due to laxity in safety standards and overloading.
As Bangladesh lies on the lower course of mighty rivers – the Ganga, and the Brahmaputra, the country is crisscrossed by 230 rivers. Notably, around 37 persons drowned in December last year after a passenger ferry hit a cargo ship and sank.
At least 85 people drowned in November when an overloaded triple-decker ferry capsized off Bhola Island in the country’s south.
A week later another boat sank leaving 46 people dead. So far this year, dozens of people have been killed in several smaller boat accidents in Bangladesh.
Naval officials have said more than 95 per cent of Bangladesh’s hundreds of thousands of small- and medium-sized boats do not meet minimum safety regulations and millions of people in Bangladesh rely on boats and ferries to travel to the capital or the delta nation’s major cities, The Daily Star reported. (IANS/ANI)
Assam: 3-day India-Bangladesh festival to be held in October (twitter)
Chief Ministers of north-eastern states and several Union Ministers along with foreign delegates are expected to attend the festival…reports Asian Lite News
To commemorate India’s ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ and Bangladesh’s golden jubilee of independence, a three-day Silchar-Sylhet festival has been planned to be organised in Assam’s Silchar town from October 29-31.
India Foundation, in association with ‘Friends of Bangladesh’, an organisation working to develop Bangladesh’s relations with its neighbourhood, is the joint organiser of the three-day event.
Chief Ministers of north-eastern states and several Union Ministers along with foreign delegates are expected to attend the festival.
BJP MP from Silchar, Rajdeep Roy said that this will be the first grand inter-country festival to be held in Assam to mark the country’s 75 years of independence.
“In the sideline to the event, we will address the issues related to both countries, including trade and commerce, river sharing, apart from intermixing of art, culture and food,” he added.
The organisers have claimed that as Sylhet was partitioned in 1947 from India, the event will act to bridge the gap between the two countries.
Roy said that nearly 10 Bangladesh MPs and a few Ministers are also expected to attend the three-day event.
Major General (retd) of Bangladesh, Samsul Arfin has come to India to look after the things related to organising this major event and said that the festival will further strengthen the ties between India and Bangladesh.
He said: “Sylhet was once a part of Assam and we are hoping to witness the old connection between the two places once again during the festival.”
Improving physical linkages
India has been working on infrastructure on either side of the border. In March 2021, the Prime Ministers of the two countries inaugurated the Maitri Setu, a bridge built over the Feni River, which has reduced the distance between Sabroom in southern Tripura and the Chittagong port to just 111 km.
The government is working on a multi-modal transit hub at Sabroom inclusive of road and rail connectivity that can help goods reach the Chittagong port in a few hours. Road connectivity in Meghalaya’s Dawki, southern Assam’s Sutarkandi and Tripura’s Akhaura linking eastern and south-eastern Bangladesh is also being improved.
Mizoram is keen on bridges across the Khawthlangtuipui river (Karnaphuli in Bangladesh) for faster access to the Chittagong port. Apart from the India-Bangladesh Protocol Route involving the Brahmaputra, cargo ships from Bangladesh have reached Tripura through the Gomati River and Assam’s Karimganj via the Kushiara River.
In June this year, the Mitali Express, a train running bi-weekly from New Jalpaiguri in northern West Bengal’s North Bengal region to the capital city of Dhaka, Bangladesh, began its maiden journey.
Due to the pandemic, it was delayed by 14 months following its virtual inauguration in March 2021.
By connecting Bangladesh with North Bengal, the Mitali Express facilitates travel for Bangladeshi tourists to favoured Indian destinations like Darjeeling, Dooars, and Sikkim. It, therefore, opens up more opportunities to establish robust people-to-people connections.
BARISAL, Sept. 21, 2016 (Xinhua) -- People retrieve a body after a ferry capsized in Bangladesh's Barisal district, Sept. 21, 2016. At least 12 people have been killed and 18 still missing after a ferry capsized in the river of Sondha in Bangladesh's Barisal district, 169 km south of capital Dhaka, on Wednesday. (Xinhua/IANS)
According to the official, the jam-packed boat, carrying some 100 passengers, capsized on Sunday afternoon…reports Asian Lite News
The number of deaths due to a boat capsize in Bangladesh’s Karatoya river has increased 32 on Monday, with more than 30 people still unaccounted for, a senior police official said.
The official told Xinhua news agency that seven more bodies were retrieved from the river in Panchagarh district, 468 km away from the capital Dhaka.
According to the official, the jam-packed boat, carrying some 100 passengers, capsized on Sunday afternoon.
“Another seven bodies were recovered on Monday morning, which brings the total death toll to 32 from 25 on Sunday,” the official told Xinhua.
“A search operation is still underway for the missing people,” he said, adding that the boat had been dragged to the bank.
The police official said rescuers had been working against a strong current and choppy river waters.
“The boat sank due to overloading,” he added.
Ferry and boat disasters are common in Bangladesh.
Ferries are still a key means of transport in the South Asian country and most of them are often overcrowded.
PM Hasina said that the uncertainty over the repatriation led to widespread frustration in the country and cross-border organised crimes including human and drug trafficking are also rising…reports Asian Lite news
The Rohingyas refugees are causing serious ramifications on Bangladesh’s economy, environment, security and socio-political stability of the country, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said and urged United Nations to play an “effective role” in this matter.
While addressing the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Bangladesh PM said, “Prolonged presence of Rohingyas in Bangladesh has caused serious ramifications on the economy, environment, security and socio-political stability.”
PM Hasina, who is also in New York to attend the UNGA, said that the uncertainty over the repatriation led to widespread frustration in the country and cross-border organised crimes including human and drug trafficking are also rising.
“The situation can even potentially fuel radicalization. If the problem persists further, it may affect the security and stability of the region and beyond,” PM Hasina added.
Remembering the five years of 2017 mass exodus of the Rohingyas to Bangladesh from Myanmar, Hasina said that despite the engagements with Naypyidaw and engagements with the UN, “not a single Rohingya was repatriated to their ancestral homes in Myanmar.”
“The ongoing political turmoil and arms conflict in the country has made the repatriation of Rohingya even more difficult. I hope the UN will play an effective role in this regard,” she added.
“We need to prove that in times of crisis, UN is the cornerstone of the multilateral system. Therefore, in order to gain the trust and confidence of the people at all levels, the United Nations must lead from the front and work to fulfil the expectations of all,” she said.
She further said, “Bangladesh believe that antagonism like war or economic sanctions, counter-sanctions can never bring good to any nation. Dialogue is the best way to resolve crises and disputes.”
Hasina today gave utmost importance on dialogue to resolve crises and disputes, urging the world community to stop arms race, war and sanctions for building a peaceful world.
“My urge to the conscience of the world community- stop the arms race, war, and sanctions, ensure food and security of the children; build peace,” she said.
She continued that “We believe without addressing root causes of conflict, we cannot sustain peace.”
Wanting to see a peaceful world with enhanced cooperation and solidarity, shared prosperity and collective actions, Sheikh Hasina said “We share one planet, and we owe it to our future generations to leave it in a better shape.”
During her last visit to India this month, Bangladesh’s PM talked about the Rohingyas and said that the Rohingya migrants are a “big burden” on Bangladesh and the country is reaching out to the international community to ensure they return to their homeland.
Refugees in the Kutupalong Rohingya Refugee Camp in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, in July, 2018. (Photo: UN/IANS)
In an interaction with ANI, Hasina confessed that the presence of lakhs of Rohingyas in Bangladesh had created challenges for her regime.
“Well you know… for us it’s a big burden. India is a vast country; you can accommodate but you don’t have much. But in our country… we have 1.1 million Rohingya. So well… we are consulting with the international community and also our neighbouring countries, they should also take some steps so that they can go back home,” Hasina said.
The Bangladesh prime minister said that her government had tried to take care of the displaced community keeping the humanitarian aspect in mind.
Bangladesh has in the past faced a big influx of Rohingya from Myanmar’s Rakhine state.
Last month in August, Bangladesh witnessed 5 years of Rohingya mass exodus from Myanmar. (ANI)
With the biggest festival for Hindus in Bangladesh – Durga Puja – approaching, this sort of fake news is seen as a ploy by the party to instigate “fresh spell of attacks”…reports Asian Lite News
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) took to its official Facebook page to “trigger communal disturbance” in Raozan Upazila of Chittagong, a place that is known for its rich history of communal harmony.
A Facebook post by the BNP, unleashing a scare campaign, suggested that Buddhist citizens in the area have been attacked. However, netizens, specially local community leaders, promptly protested to the “fake news” and termed it “baseless”.
social media
With the biggest festival for Hindus in Bangladesh – Durga Puja – approaching, this sort of fake news is seen as a ploy by the party to instigate “fresh spell of attacks”.
Rumours on social media have long been abused by the militant wings as a key tool to instigate attacks on minorities in the country.
In 2021, pictures of a “Hindu” devotee placing a copy of holy Quran on the lap of Lord Hanuman was widely circulated on social media, which led to a series of attacks on temples across the country on an unprecedented scale. However, the police investigation later found that a radical Muslim youth put the holy book on the lap of Lord Hanuman and circulated the pictures to create mayhem.
Known for commiting horrendous war crimes in association with the Pakistani army in 1971, Jamaat later got a new lease of life after the country’s first military dictator General Ziaur Rahman, also the founder of BNP, took over the reigns of the country after the assassination of country’s founding father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1975.
Bangladesh has witnessed a significant spike in dengue cases this month, with 5,826 cases and 24 deaths registered…reports Asian Lite News
The number of dengue cases in Bangladesh has surpassed the 12,000 mark this year as 438 new cases were confirmed in the last 24 hours, the biggest single-day spike since January, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Bangladesh has witnessed a significant spike in dengue cases this month, with 5,826 cases and 24 deaths registered, Xinhua news agency quoted the DGHS as saying.
In August, 3,521 more dengue cases were recorded after 1,571 people were infected with the mosquito-borne disease in July, according to official figures.
Dhaka and its neighbouring districts are the most vulnerable to the risk of mosquito-borne diseases, according to the DGHS, with 315 dengue cases reported in Dhaka in the last 24-hour period.
The fresh infection tally indicates the fast-rising trend of the mosquito-borne disease in the Bangladeshi capital city.
Authorities in Dhaka have recently strengthened mosquito eradication drives as dengue infections usually start rising in the country during the June-September period.
The envoys have assured that they will inform their headquarters to raise the issue at the UN….reports Sumi Khan
Authorities in Dhaka have informed envoys of the ASEAN member nations on the ongoing tense situation along the Bangladesh-Myanmar border, seeking their cooperation to stop the violence that may destabilise the whole region.
The development comes after a Rohingya man was killed on September 17 as mortar shells fired from the Myanmar side hit the no-man’s land, Five others were also injured in the incident.
In a similar incident on August 28, two mortar shells from Myanmar also landed in Bangladeshi territory.
“We told them that Myanmar should not be allowed to destabilise the whole region and create obstacles for the Rohingya repatriation,” acting Foreign Secretary Admiral (Retd) Khurshed Alam said after a briefing on Tuesday morning.
He said Bangladesh has asked the envoys to take actions so that the falling of mortar shells and bullets from Myanmar side does not happen anymore.
The envoys have assured that they will inform their headquarters to raise the issue at the UN.
They also appreciated that Bangladesh has been handling the issue diplomatically, “not getting into the trap of Myanmar’s provocation”, Alam said.
The shooting and bombing by Myanmar military and Arakan Army since early August have been creating panic in the Bangladesh side of the border, he said, adding: “We told them that, please take actions so that the conflicts do not create any pressure on the Bangladeshis.”
On Monday, the Foreign Ministry of Bangladesh summoned the Myanmar Ambassador in Dhaka and lodged a protest over the violence.
Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen said Myanmar Ambassador U Aung Kyaw Moe was summoned and a strong protest was lodged through a diplomatic letter.
“We asked him so that recurrence of such incidents does not happen in the future. We strongly protected this incident,” Momen said.
Also on Monday, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said “no more Rohingya will be allowed to enter the country”.
“We are facing problems with the Rohingya refugees in our country. So, we won’t allow more Rohingya to enter our country,” he said.
“We are a peaceful country. We don’t want to disturb anyone’s peace. We always want to maintain peace.”
Meanwhile, U Zaw Phyo Win, a top official at Myanmar’s Foreign Ministry, called in Manjurul Karim Khan Chowdhury, Ambassador of Bangladesh to Myanmar, to speak about the situation at the border.
The Myanmar official blamed the Arakan Army and the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Group (ARSA) for the recent incidents of cross-border shelling to create “negative consequences” on the existing “cordial bilateral relations” between Bangladesh and Myanmar.
He also claimed that on September 7, the Bangladeshi side was notified of the information of the trenches and bases of the AA and ARSA militants located “inside Bangladesh” through diplomatic channels and reiterated Myanmar’s call to take necessary and immediate actions to investigate on the ground and dismantle those structures and bases.
PM Sheikh Hasina said that many people can lodge complaints about disappearances, but you have to judge how true it is…reports Asian Lite News
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in an exclusive interview with the BBC during her stay in the UK to pay respect to the late Queen Elizabeth II told that she herself struggled for establishing the democratic process and free fair election in Bangladesh and free and fair election was only held during the Awami League regime.
“Of course, it is my struggle to establish democratic system and free fair election only during the Awami League time you can see free fair election,” she said while replying to a question regarding her government’s commitment to make the next election be free and fair by BBC journalist Laura Kunessberg.
During the interview that was aired on Sunday, the Prime Minister said that many people can lodge complaints about disappearances, but you have to judge how true it is.
The Prime Minister told the BBC that her country had military rulers for a long time, directly or indirectly, overtly or covertly.
“In 1975, my father (Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman) was assassinated. He was the then president of the country and you know that my entire family, my mother, my three brothers, two sisters in -laws, other family members, and a total of 18 members were brutally murdered” she said.
Since then, for 21 years, she said the country had witnessed coups time and again, adding that there were attempts of coups for around 20 times and every time there was bloodshed. “There was no democracy, no democratic rights, so I struggled to establish democracy in my country,” she said.
About the allegations of disappearance, Sheikh Hasina said, “many people can place allegations, but how far it is true, you have to judge. Before knowing that no one should make any comment.”
The Prime Minister told the BBC that military rulers ruled the country for long and they formed parties and never went to the people of the country to ask to vote for them.
“They (military dictators) used the army, used the administration and used everything just to cling to power,” she said.
About launching crack downs on allegations of disappearance, the premier questioned the BBC journalist, “How many people disappear in your country as well as other countries? You can judge. All these issues I think first you have to take into consideration, all the information you should collect, then you can accuse.”
On how importance of Commonwealth to you and Bangladesh, she said, “Of course (it has great value), when we are together, there are many opportunities there, so it is good and important as we have one place where we can exchange our views, can adopt some ideas, or deliver some good jobs for the countries or the people. So that is why I feel it is good.”
Now at present, you see, she said one country cannot go alone as it is an interdependent world, adding, “So, under this circumstance, Commonwealth means a lot for the member countries. Each country can work together—because there are many countries, developed countries, developing countries and poor countries, small island countries.”
About personal memory with Queen Elizabeth II she said it was 1961 when she (Queen) visited then East Pakistan and she had the opportunity to see her (for the first time in person).
She said: “We are very young and went to my father’s (Bangabandhu’s) office, because we knew that she was passing through that road. So, all of us, the whole family, are eagerly waiting in the windows with binoculars. So, we can see her more (clearly).”
The premier added that when she became the prime minister, she met the queen in every Commonwealth summit.
“I attended about seven commonwealth summits. Every time I had the opportunity to talk to her,” she said, adding that she said they discussed each other for a long time as she went to attend the Olympic games in response to the invitation of the late Queen.
Recalling beautiful memories with the late queen, the Prime Minister, “She (Queen) had a wonderful memory and she used to inquire about me saying where Hasina was if she didn’t see me.”
The Prime Minister said her Majesty is a queen of the United Kingdom, no doubt about it.
“But she is a leader of the Commonwealth also. As a member of the commonwealth countries, she has a great value to us,” she said.
The Premier said the late Queen was the monarch for about 70 years, adding, “I feel for this world she was not only a queen, but also a very affectionate and motherly personality, whenever I met her, I felt that.”
Last year, Bangladesh fetched home about 60 billion US dollars from goods exports, he said, adding that readymade garment export makes up 82 per cent of the country’s annual income….reports Asian Lite News
Bangladesh has embarked on a high growth path with an aim to double its export earnings in just four years, country’s Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi said.
Addressing a meeting with the Overseas Correspondents Association of Bangladesh (OCAB) at the National Press Club in Dhaka on Saturday, he said the government has planned an export target of 100 billion US dollars by 2026.
“We’re planning an export target of 80 billion US dollars by 2024 and 100 billion US dollars in 2026,” Xinhua news agency reported quoting the minister.
Last year, Bangladesh fetched home about 60 billion US dollars from goods exports, he said, adding that readymade garment export makes up 82 per cent of the country’s annual income.
He said ready-made garments (RMG), including knitwear and woven, would be given a special priority as always to achieve goods export target.
“We’ve potential to export more readymade garments,” said the minister, adding the country’s ready-made garments industry sector looks bright further as China has already announced to raise duty-free access to 98 per cent Bangladeshi products.
Apart from this, he said China’s garment industry is relocating.
“As a result, our chances have increased. We’ve skilled manpower, and low cost of production.”
As part of various efforts to bolster export, the minister said the government is taking special initiatives to increase the export of 10 products including ICT, leather, plastic, light engineering and jute.
“Bangladesh has already started working to address challenges hindering export growths,” he said, adding they are attaching very importance to sign more PTA (preferential trade agreement) or FTA (free trade agreement).
“We have already preferential trade agreement with Bhutan. Negotiations are underway seriously to conclude trade agreements like PTA or FTA with several other countries.
The Bangladeshi government earlier said only cardholders will be able to buy the items from TCB-designated dealers and other permanent sales points concerned…reports Asian Lite News
The Bangladeshi government on Sunday launched a special sales drive of essentials at subsidised rates across the South Asian country to help millions of low-income families cope with soaring prices.
Senior Secretary of Bangladesh’s Commerce Ministry, Tapan Kanti Ghosh inaugurated the special sales drive at a dealer point in the national capital Dhaka.
The drive run by the state-owned Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) is aimed at selling essentials at subsidised prices for 10 million low-income families across the country, Xinhua news agency reported.
The Bangladeshi government earlier said only cardholders will be able to buy the items from TCB-designated dealers and other permanent sales points concerned.
Under the drive, each of the cardholders will get two litres of cooking oil, two kilograms of lentils, one kilogram of sugar and two kilograms of onions.
To ease the burden of low-income families, the government launched the special drive for delivering basic commodities to selected families as higher energy and commodity prices are pushing up inflation in the country.
