by FM Mizanur Rahaman & Emrul Hasan Bappiin The Daily Star, Nov 12, 2023The Police Headquarters in August asked all its units to implement a set of measures by September 15 to prevent recurrence of militants or criminals getting snatched away. Some of the vital measures, however, are yet to be implemented. The measures were adopted based on 14 recommendations placed by a high-powered committee formed to investigate the incident of two death-row convicts in…
Posts published in “Bangladesh”
By Mohiuddin Alamgir in The Daily Star, Nov 09, 2023Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal and four election commissioners are set to meet with President Mohammed Shahabuddin today to discuss whether the election schedule can be announced on November 14 or 15. The EC will make the final decision about when to announce the election schedule after today’s meeting at the Bangabhaban, The Daily Star has learnt from people informed with the proceedings. It is…
AFP report in Dhaka Tribune, Nov 9, 2023The UN rights chief Volker Turk has urged Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina to release main opposition leader Khaleda Zia for urgent medical treatment outside the country. Bangladeshi physicians have said Zia, a two-times former premier, was at “high risk” of dying without overseas medical intervention abroad after the Hasina government rejected pleas to let her leave. Zia, 78, heads the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and…
by FM Mizanur Rahaman in The Daily Star in Nov 9, 2023When “Senuwara Begum” of Cox’s Bazar surrendered to a court and eventually landed in prison in connection with a narcotics case, there was no reason for suspicion. However, when her fingerprints were taken in jail last month so that those could be matched with the records in the NID server, Senuwara turned out to be Monira Begum of Teknaf. A probe found that Monira…
by Nawaz Farhin Antara in Dhaka Tribune, ov 8, 20223Active BNP leaders and activists are deciding on their own how to implement each program of the one-point movement in the absence of guidance from the party leadership. Grassroots activists are out of touch with BNP top-level leaders as most of them are on the run or have switched off their phones in fear of being jailed. Leaders of the opposition party are outwardly confident in…
Report in The Daily Star, Nov 08, 2023As many as 30 journalists were assaulted while covering BNP activists’ clashes with police and supporters of Awami League on October 28, said International Federation of Journalists in a statement. “The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) condemns the attacks and urges local authorities to investigate all harassment and violence towards Bangladeshi journalists and media workers,” it said. “Among those assaulted during the political rally was Mohammad Ali Mazed,…
Report in The Daily Star, Nov 08, 2023After a one-day pause, BNP-Jamaat is going to enforce a fresh 48-hour nationwide blockade of roads, railways, and waterways starting 6:00am today amid the ongoing arrest spree of BNP leaders and activists. A bus was set on fire in the capital’s Malibagh area last night. Receiving the information at 11:03pm, two fire engines rushed to the spot and were trying to douse the fire, said Talha Bin Zasim,…
Report in The Daily Star, Nov 08, 2023The UN yesterday expressed concern over the large number of people arrested in Bangladesh recently. Stéphane Dujarric, spokesman for the UN secretary-general, said this at a press briefing in response to a reporter saying that BNP did not participate in the Election Commission’s dialogue even though the party was demanding fair elections. “Well, I can’t speak to why, I mean, I don’t have the details. I can’t speak…
AL’s election preparations: Initiatives to bring BNP leaders in election individually, not the party
by Anowar Hossain in Prothom Alo, Nov 8, 2023Dhaka: Governing Bangladesh Awami League has intensified its initiatives to encourage a certain section of the leaders of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) to break away from the party and contest in the upcoming 12th parliamentary elections individually. They have already targeted 60-70 leaders of the party and started communicating with them in different ways. The concerned sources of the ruling party said they hope some 40-50 leaders…
By Mokammel Shuvo , Porimol Palma in The Daily Star, Nov 07, 2023Rohingya refugees who interacted with the Myanmar delegation in Cox’s Bazar at the end of last month expressed their resolve to return to their original homes, not to the villages or camps set up for them in the Rakhine State. The delegates, however, were not able to make a commitment in this regard. They could only say they would discuss the matter with…
by Anowar Hossain in Prothom ALo, Nov 7, 2023 Dhaka: Governing Bangladesh Awami League (AL) is determined to keep Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) from breaking free of its current predicament, especially as many of its leaders are in jail, and a significant number are in hiding. The policymakers of the ruling party maintain that they will not be swayed by criticism, and they are not inclined to yield to any foreign attempts, pressures, or requests.…