Posts published in “Bangladesh”

The writer is a columnist of The Daily Star. The murders of bloggers, intellectuals, priests, academicians, rights activists, and also persons of ordinary vocations committed by allegedly extremist groups owing allegiance to ISIS have given rise to a heated controversy regarding the organisational existence of such an outfit in Bangladesh. Every time an incident even remotely carrying the hallmarks of religiously motivated extremist groups occurs, there is instant attribution by some western quarters to ISIS.…

BEHIND THE FIREWALL: How China tamed the Internet | This is part of a series examining the impact of China’s Great Firewall, a mechanism of Internet censorship and surveillance that affects nearly 700 million users. BEIJING — First there was the Berlin Wall. Now there is the Great Firewall of China, not a physical barrier preventing people from leaving, but a virtual one, preventing information harmful to the Communist Party from entering the country. Just…

Dhaka: Anyone spreading negative propaganda against the Liberation War or the Father of the Nation, using digital devices, will risk being sentenced to life in prison, according to the draft of a new law. The draft of Digital Security Act-2016 also stipulates two-year imprisonment for “deliberately” defaming someone or hurting anyone’s religious sentiment by publishing or broadcasting something through digital devices. The ICT division of the posts, telecommunication and information technology ministry has prepared the…

London: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has alleged that the BNP-Jamaat nexus joined hands with Israel to oust her government, as they are working against the country and Islam. “The truth can never be suppressed…the BNP-Jamaat clique has joined hands with those who are frequently killing children and women in Palestine,” the prime minister told a discussion at St James Court-Taj Hotel in London yesterday. The UK chapter of Awami League arranged the discussion on the…

LAHORE: Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah on Tuesday said that legal action against proscribed organisations like Jamaatud Dawa (JuD) and Jaish-i-Mohammed (JeM) is not possible since “state itself has remained a part of this”. In an interview with BBC Urdu, Sanaullah said that these organisations are banned but asked, “How can someone proceed with legal action when state is itself involved in the case”. He, however, added that the accusation against PML-N for overlooking extremism…

A prisoner in Dhaka Central Jail has to spend around Tk 30,000 a month for food and other services which the state is supposed to provide for free. The amount is more than some families living in the capital spend a month. A major portion of the inmates’ money goes to the convicts who are given the charge by the jail authority to look after other prisoners. Those in charge take more than Tk 16,000…

Washington yesterday reassured Dhaka about extending all-out assistance in countering violent extremism and terrorism before it took root in Bangladesh. While conveying the US message, diplomats of the country now on a visit to Bangladesh, said they consider Bangladesh an important country since it, being a moderate Muslim country, could be a key player in dealing with the problem of violent extremism. “The message is we bring assistance and we want to coordinate with your…

Dhaka yesterday lodged a strong protest with Naypyidaw over the recent mortar shell attacks and repeated intrusion by Myanmar security forces inside Bangladesh territory. In a note verbale sent to the Myanmar government through the Myanmar embassy in Dhaka, the foreign ministry said the incident of mortar shell attack targeting a Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) camp on May 12 was most unfortunate and totally unwarranted. Such unprovoked firing by the Myanmar security forces is not…

Rajshahi: Police yesterday claimed that an operative of banned militant outfit Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) confessed to his involvement in the killing of Rajshahi University teacher Prof AFM Rezaul Karim Siddiquee. Law enforcers produced the arrestee — Maskawat Hasan alias Sakib alias Abdullah of Bogra — before the court of Rajshahi Metropolitan Magistrate Khalid Hossain in the afternoon. “In his confession, he said he was involved in the murder,” Rajshahi Metropolitan Police Commissioner Shamsuddin told…

Dhaka: BNP leader Aslam Chowdhury, who had drawn controversy after meeting an Israeli political leader in India early this month, was arrested by detectives in the capital yesterday. Maruf Hossain Sarder, deputy commissioner (media) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, said members of Detective Branch (Dhaka North) arrested Aslam in Khilkhet area around 6:00pm. At the time, the BNP joint secretary general was going to Narayanganj, the official said, adding that detectives also detained his driver and…