Tag: BANGLADESH

It said that attacking someone over their political beliefs is a violation of their right to freedom of expression and these rights must be protected…reports Asian Lite News

Amnesty International on Tuesday called for a ‘swift, impartial, and effective investigation’ into the recent attacks on individuals perceived to be affiliated with the Awami League party in Bangladesh at Zero Point on Sunday. 

It said that attacking someone over their political beliefs is a violation of their right to freedom of expression and these rights must be protected. 

In a post on X, the Amnesty International South Asia, Regional Office said, “Bangladesh: Authorities must swiftly and impartially investigate and hold accountable, perpetrators of the attacks on people perceived to be part of the Awami League at Zero Point on Sunday. Attacking people for their political beliefs is a violation of their right to freedom of expression and association and authorities must take action to protect and foster these rights of all people, regardless of their political affiliations.” 

The call for an investigation follows reports of post-election violence in Bangladesh, where supporters of opposition parties allegedly targeted Awami League members. The violence has raised concerns over the country’s political climate and human rights situation. 

The international community, including the United Nations and other human rights organizations, has expressed concern over the violence and urged the Bangladeshi government to take immediate action. 

Notably, Bangladesh Awami League on Saturday announced a program to observe the death anniversary of Nur Hossain, a slain activist killed in the movement against General Ershad in the 1990s. The party had said it would gather at the zero point, the centre of Dhaka city. 

To counter the announced protests by Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League, a huge number of protestors from various political parties and groups took to the streets of Dhaka on Sunday. 

The protesters included leaders and workers from the Anti-discrimination Student Movement, Bangladesh Nationalist Party, Jamaat-e-Islami, and various other political parties. They took to the streets at Saturday midnight. 

“The Awami League in its current form is a fascist party. There is no way this fascist party will be allowed to hold protests in Bangladesh. Anyone who would try to hold rally, gathering and processions by taking orders from the mass murderer and dictator Sheikh Hasina will face full force of the law enforcing agencies,” said Shafiqul Alam, Press Secretary to the Chief Adviser, Muhammad Yunus, in a Facebook post. 

“The Interim Government won’t tolerate any violence or any attempt to break the law and order situation in the country,” he added. (ANI) 

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The lounge, the first of its kind at the airport, will offer Bangladeshi migrant workers some space to rest and have subsidised food for refreshments…reports Asian Lite News

The Bangladeshi government has launched a special lounge for the country’s millions of migrant workers at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) in the capital, Dhaka.

Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus inaugurated the lounge on Monday, terming migrant workers “nation builders.” He expressed his hope that the lounge would make their travel easy, reports Xinhua news agency.

The lounge, the first of its kind at the airport, will offer Bangladeshi migrant workers some space to rest and have subsidised food for refreshments.

More than 14 million Bangladeshis have reportedly gone abroad with jobs since 1976. Bangladesh mainly sends workers to Gulf states and Southeast Asian countries, including Malaysia and Singapore, to bolster the inflow of remittances.

Remittances, one of the key sources of foreign exchange for the nation, totalled nearly $9 billion in the July-October period, central bank data showed.

ALSO READ: Bangladesh wants more power from Tripura

The top TSECL engineer said that though the outstanding payment of Bangladesh is not much, the corporation is to get Rs 500 crore from the consumers of Tripura….reports Sujit Chakraborty

Energy-starved Bangladesh wanted at least 250 MW of electricity from Tripura, which is currently supplying 50 to 80 MW electricity to the neighbouring country, top officials said here on Tuesday.

Tripura State Electricity Corporation Limited (TSECL) Managing Director Biswajit Basu said that the Bangladesh government has been requesting to supply at least 250 MW of electricity to their country as they have a huge shortage of power to meet the growing demand of consumers.

“Currently we are supplying 50 to 80 MW of electricity to Bangladesh every day. Discussions are going on. But to increase the supply of electricity, Central government’s permission and clearances are vital, requiring signing of an agreement and to fulfil other formalities,” Basu told IANS.

He said that the Bangladesh government almost regularly makes their payments to TSECL for the supply of electricity.

“Bangladesh is our good neighbour. Regularly we are talking about the supply of power from our power plant to their country,” the state-owned corporation MD said.

The top TSECL engineer said that though the outstanding payment of Bangladesh is not much, the corporation is to get Rs 500 crore from the consumers of Tripura.

Tripura, an electricity surplus state, had started supplying 100 MW of power to Bangladesh from the state-owned ONGC Tripura Power Company (OTPC) power plant in March 2016.

The power supply sometimes increased to 160 MW.

After the first agreement in 2016, the TSECL subsequently renewed the agreement twice to continue the supply of electricity to Bangladesh.

Another Tripura Power Department official said that in 2020 the TSECL had supplied 40 MW of electricity to Nepal but the supply has been discontinued as Nepal did not approach the Indian authorities afresh.

The NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam (NVVN) is the nodal agency to supply power to Bangladesh from the Tripura power project, the official said.

He said that electricity is being supplied to Bangladesh and most of the northeastern states from the 726 MW generation capacity OTPC gas-based power plant in southern Tripura’s Palatana, 65 km south of Agartala.

The OTPC, a joint venture company of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation, Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services Ltd, IDFC Bank and the Tripura government, set up the 726-MW project at Palatana in June 2013.

According to officials, the OTPC’s combined cycle power plant, which is the largest gas-based power plant in the northeast, is meeting around 35 per cent of the power requirement of seven northeastern states, excluding Sikkim.

The Rs 10,000 crore Palatana power plant is a unique example of the cooperation between New Delhi and Dhaka, which ensured the passage of heavy project equipment and turbines to Palatana in southern Tripura through Bangladesh territory.

Besides the Palatana power plants, Tripura has several other gas-based thermal power projects owned by the state government and North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO), a Central government PSU.

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Remittance mainly comes from Middle Eastern countries, such as the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait….reports Asian Lite News

Remittances from millions of Bangladeshis living and working overseas totalled nearly $9 billion in the July-October period, central bank data showed.

According to the data, released on Sunday, the inflow of remittances from Bangladeshis increased by more than 30 per cent year on year to 8.94 billion dollars in July-October of the 2024-25 fiscal year, reports Xinhua news agency.

The data shows that remittance, one of the key sources of foreign exchange for the impoverished nation, surged over 21 per cent year-on-year to 2,395.08 million dollars in October.

The remittance was 2,404.11 million dollars in September. Bangladesh’s remittances grew 10 per cent year-on-year to 23.91 billion dollars in fiscal 2023-24, with the receipts last June standing at 2.54 billion dollars.

Remittance mainly comes from Middle Eastern countries, such as the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh’s top business body chief said that trade with India will not be affected in the long term due to unrest, despite the decline in trade between the two neighbours.

“After the government change (in Bangladesh), we find some downflow trade between the two countries. But I believe this is not for the long term,” Md. Hafizur Rahman, Administrator of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), said exclusively to ANI.

“India is the second largest import source of raw materials and other goods for Bangladesh. Bangladesh imports from India around USD 14 billion annually. Major part of import is raw materials. When export declines, import of raw materials also declines”, he added.

Rahman said that Bangladesh would overcome the difficult situation soon.

“Recently, Bangladesh faced such a situation where we saw some decline in the import of raw materials. On the other hand, the previous year, we had imported around USD 83 billion from the global market.

Because of the shortage of foreign currency reserves, high exchange rate, and big change in the exchange rate from 85 taka per dollar. Last year, Bangladesh’s imports declined around 20 per cent. It is because of the foreign currency and reserve crisis. I believe within short times, we will overcome,” Rahman, who is also a member of the Bangladesh Competition Commission, said.

“It is a revolutionary change. It has effects for the time being. Now it is calm and quiet. We have the trade relations. Bangladesh’s government is not restricting anything. For our industry, for the people, we want trading relations (with India) in take place all the time,” he added.

Rehman said that despite the political uncertainity Bangladesh’s trade relations remain healthy.

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A senior YMA leader said that during the organisation’s conference recently, many demands and proposals were unanimously approved and these would be implemented in a phased manner….reports Asian Lite News

Mizoram’s most influential civil society organisation, the Young Mizo Association (YMA) on Wednesday requested the state government to set up proper shelter homes for over 44,000 refugees from Manipur as well as neighbouring Myanmar and Bangladesh living in the northeastern state for some time now. 

A senior YMA leader said that during the organisation’s conference recently, many demands and proposals were unanimously approved and these would be implemented in a phased manner.

“The conference resolved to urge the government to arrange proper shelter homes or accommodation for the people currently sheltered in different districts of Mizoram after they fled from Myanmar, Bangladesh, and Manipur,” he said.

The YMA, which has been involved in all aspects of Mizo society for the past several decades, would also urge the government to set up proper shelter homes in different districts and provide relief and required support on humanitarian grounds.

“The government should also formulate guidelines for managing, supervising and helping the refugees who took shelter in the state after being fled from their original habitat areas,” he said.

During the YMA conference, the organisation decided to intensify its efforts against drug menace and drug peddling and to further promote the Mizo language and steps to protect it.

The incumbent Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) government headed by Chief Minister Lalduhoma has taken several steps for the benefit of the refugees and sought support from the Centre for the purpose.

According to a state Home Department official, a total of 33,004 Myanmar nationals, including 12,572 children, are currently sheltered in different camps, government buildings and rented houses in all 11 districts of Mizoram. They took shelter in Mizoram in phases after the military takeover in the conflict-ridden country in February 2021.

Over 2,000 tribals from the Chittagong Hill Tracts of southeast Bangladesh also took shelter in Mizoram since November 2022 after they fled from their villages in CHT following ethnic troubles in the neighbouring country. Around 7,800 refugees belonging to the Kuki-Zo community from Manipur have also taken shelter in several districts of Mizoram after the ethnic violence broke out in the neighbouring state in May last year.

The refugees from Myanmar, Bangladesh and Manipur belong to the Kuki-Zo-Chin-Hmar-Bawm tribal community who also share ethnic, traditional, cultural and linguistic ties with the Mizos of Mizoram.

The Centre recently allowed the Mizoram government to procure 1,379.34 metric tonnes (MT) of rice from the Food Corporation of India (FCI) warehouses for the refugees from Manipur, Myanmar and Bangladesh. According to a senior Mizoram government official, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) would bear the cost of the rice (Rs 5 crore) while transportation of the rice would be arranged by the Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Ministry and the state Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department.

The official said that after procurement of the rice from FCI warehouses, the Deputy Commissioners of Mizoram’s 11 districts would ensure that it reaches the refugees.

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Turk said that the authorities must hold the perpetrators accountable….reports Asian Lite News

United Nations are investigating the reported attacks on minorities in Bangladesh after August changeover, UN human rights chief said in Dhaka on Wednesday.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk met interim government Chief Adviser, Muhammad Yunus, and other advisers, civil society member, students.

“Our fact-finding mission is investigating allegations of attacks against minorities between 5 and 15 August”, Turk said at a news conference after concluding a two-day visit in Bangladesh.

“Transitions are always fraught with risk – and this is all the more pronounced for vulnerable groups. I commend the efforts made by students and others to protect minorities,” he added.

Turk said that the authorities must hold the perpetrators accountable.

“It is vital that the authorities respond quickly to any incidents reported, by conducting thorough investigations and holding perpetrators accountable. This will help build trust with minority communities, especially in light of troubling campaigns of misinformation and disinformation as well as hate campaigns on social media,” Turk said.

Earlier in September, the Hindu Bouddha Christian Oikya Parishad (HBCOP), the largest organization of minorities in Bangladesh, had called on the United Nations to investigate communal violence against minorities in the country.

“Criminal justice is key, but it is crucial to ensure that charges are not brought in haste, and that due process and fair trial standards are upheld throughout, including in the International Crimes Tribunal”, UN human rights chief said.

Bangladesh authorities are considering using Interpol and other international law enforcement agencies to arrest ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and other her party leaders for alleged crimes against humanity committed during July-August uprising.

“It is key that criminal cases are not filed against individuals solely on the basis of their previous political affiliation, including members or supporters of Awami League”, he added.

“There are concerns that some charges are not founded on proper investigation, including a large number of murder charges against journalists,” he said.

Two months ago, a student-led movement ousted Bangladesh’s Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, after weeks of protests and clashes that killed over 600. Hasina, 76, fled to India on August 5 and an interim government led by Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus was formed. (ANI)

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The government, under the powers provided of the “Anti-Terrorism Act 2009”, banned Bangladesh Awami League’s fraternal organisation “Bangladesh Chatra League..reports Asian Lite News

The Bangladesh interim government has banned Bangladesh Chatra League, the student organisation of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s party Awami League, after a demand by a student group that led the July-August uprising under the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2009.

The government, under the powers provided in sub-section (1) of Section 18 of the “Anti-Terrorism Act 2009”, banned Bangladesh Awami League’s fraternal organisation “Bangladesh Chatra League”, said the Bangladesh Home Ministry in an official notification.

“At various times since the independence of Bangladesh, especially during the last 15 years of dictatorial rule, the Bangladesh Chatra League, the fraternal organisation of Bangladesh Awami League, has been involved in various public security-related activities including killings, torture, harassment in common rooms, trading of seats in dormitories, gangs, rape, and sexual harassment,” said an order issued by Bangladesh Home Ministry.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Anti-discrimination Student Movement, the group led to oust Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, announced five-point demands, including the resignation of Bangladesh President, Mohammed Shahabuddin.

The demands also included banning Awami League’s student organisation, Bangladesh Chatra League.

“Documentary information regarding these have been published in all the major media of the country and some terrorist incidents, the leaders and workers of the organisation have also been proved in the criminal court,” the order issued on Wednesday evening said.

According to the official order, Bangladesh Chatra League leaders attacked the protesting students and the general public with frenzied and reckless armed attacks during the anti-discrimination student movement from July 15.

The official order said, “During the anti-discrimination student movements from July 15, 2024, Bangladesh Chatra League leaders-workers attacked the protesting students and general public with frenzied and reckless armed attacks and killed hundreds of innocent students and persons and endangered the lives of many more people.”

ALSO READ: India hosts Bangladesh officials for Land Port Training

The program, titled “Engineering Excellence: From Blueprint to Border,” focuses on the master planning of smart, green, and resilient land ports. …reports Asian Lite News

India is hosting 10 officials from the Bangladesh Land Port Authority as part of a specialised training program under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme (ITEC).

The program, titled “Engineering Excellence: From Blueprint to Border,” focuses on the master planning of smart, green, and resilient land ports. The training is organised by the Land Ports Authority of India (LPAI).

In a send-off ceremony held by the High Commission of India in Bangladesh on October 20, Deputy High Commissioner (DHC) Pawan Badhe interacted with the officials before their departure.

In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter), the High Commission wrote: “10 officials from Bangladesh Land Port Authority travel to India to participate in a training programme under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme #ITEC. DHC Pawan Badhe interacted with Bangladesh officials during the send-off ceremony organised by @ihcdhaka on 20 Oct.”

The ITEC program has played a pivotal role in fostering bilateral relations between the two countries. Over the past five years, India has provided training to nearly 3,000 young Bangladeshi officials across various disciplines, including accounts, audit, good governance practices, management, IT, data analytics, and renewable energy.

This was emphasised in another X post: “Under #ITEC, over the last 5 years, has provided training programmes to close to 3000 young officials in various disciplines such as accounts, audit, good governance practices, management, IT, data analytics, renewable energy, etc. in India’s premier Institutes.”

India and Bangladesh maintain strong bilateral relations based on shared history, language, and culture. This all-encompassing partnership has grown and matured into a model of cooperation in the region and beyond. Bangladesh is India’s largest trading partner in South Asia, and India is Bangladesh’s second-largest trading partner in Asia. Bilateral trade surged by nearly 44 per cent in the fiscal year 2021-2022, reaching USD 18.14 billion, according to official reports.

Cooperation in the power sector remains a cornerstone of India-Bangladesh relations, with Bangladesh currently importing 1160 MW of electricity from India. (ANI)

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