Posts published in “Bangladesh”

report in The Daily Star, July 21, 2018 Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI), a New Delhi-based human rights organisation, has urged the central government of India and the Assam government to “uphold their constitutional obligations to ensure the safety and security of all, without fear or favour.” Reports from Assam state speak of deep anxieties and confusion over the run-up to the publication of the second draft of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and…

by Shakhawat Liton and Ashutosh Sarkar in The daily star,July 19, 2018 The government has been referring to a Supreme Court “order” on the reservation of 30 percent quota for the children of freedom fighters for the last few days, arguing that it cannot be changed. But the fact is it was a mere observation of the court and the government has no obligation to abide by it, legal experts have said. In a verdict…

report in Dhaka Tribune, July 19th, 2018 The Election Commission has launched all out preparations to hold the upcoming polls in Rajshahi, Barisal, and Sylhet city corporations, in a free, fair, and transparent manner. The commission’s Secretary Helaluddin Ahmed said: “We will do whatever it takes to host neutral polls, so voters can cast their votes without any trouble in the three cities on July 30. The commission will also not tolerate any sort of…

Left Democratic Alliance (LDA), a newly formed platform of eight left-leaning parties, yesterday demanded that the present parliament be dissolved before the schedule for the next general election is announced. The alliance was floated yesterday through a press conference at Mukti Bhaban — headquarters of Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB). In the briefing, the LDA also demanded formation of a neutral election-time government and reorganisation of the Election Commission after discussions with all political parties…

by Pallab Bhattacharya in The Daily Star. July 19, 2018 the writer is a special correspondent at The Daily Star. Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh’s first official visit to Bangladesh was meant for the sixth edition of the home minister-level meeting. This was the second such meeting in two years. But the event went beyond the trappings of a routine high-level bilateral event primarily for three reasons. First, security cooperation has become a key pillar…

by Md. Arifuzzaman & M Jashimuddin in Prothom Alo, July 18, 2018 Barishal: All the mayoral candidates in Barishal polls, except ruling Bangladesh Awami League’s Serniabat Sadiq Abdullah, have voiced concerns over fair polls, fearing that there might be a recurrence of election irregularities in the civic polls. Addressing a views-exchange meeting organised by the very election commission, six out of seven mayoral mayoral candidates said they cannot rely on the election commission with regard…

The International Crimes Tribunal-1 yesterday found four Moulvibazar men guilty of committing genocide during the Liberation War and handed down death penalties to all of them. The four, who were members of notorious Razakar force, have also been given jail until death for another charge — committing crimes against humanity. However, the jail term would naturally be merged into the death sentence, the tribunal said. “In the case in hand, it stands proved that the…

report in Dhaka Tribune, July 17, 2018 at 05:54 pm Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said that she does not understand the logic behind the movement demanding reformation of the existing quota system in government job “What is the reason behind this sudden movement against the quota system? We do not understand,” she said on Tuesday, reports UNB. She said those who appear in the Bangladesh Public Service Commission’s (BPSC) examinations have to go through…

report in Prothom Alo, Jul 17, 2018 Dhaka: At least 592 incidents of rape were reported across the country in the last six months till June 30 this year. Among the rape incidents, 98 women and children became victims of gang rape, 29 were killed after being raped and 61 others escaped attempted rape. Besides, 65 women and children were sexually harassed during the period. Bangladesh Mahila Parishad (BMP), an organisation working for protecting women’s…

report in Prothom Alo, Jul 16, 2018 at 22:48hrs Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Monday said the activities of the current government give an impression that a ‘non-political and external force’ runs the country. “I find no similarity between the current Bangladesh Awami League and the pre-1971 Awami League. Once it had struggled for the independence, democracy and people’s rights, but now it has become the most repressive party,”…