Bangladesh
Protest against Modi’s visit: 50 injured as Muslim devotees, cops clash in Dhaka
At least 50 people, including several journalists, were injured in a clash between Muslim devotees and police in the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque area on Friday afternoon.
Clashes erupted when police barred people from bringing out a procession after Jum’a prayers protesting against the visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
After the Jum’a prayers, many devotees started shouting slogans near the north gate of the mosque against Modi’s arrival, prompting police to fire rubber bullets and charge batons.
Also read: Modi visit: Protesters clash with cops at Motijheel; 20 injured
Jubo League and Chhatra League activists were also seen around the mosque during the clash. Two motorcycles were set afire in front of the north gate of the mosque where the clashes continued till 2:30pm.
UNB Correspondent M Jahangir Alam was hit by a rubber bullet while reporting from the site.
Clashes broke out again at the south gate of the mosque and continued till 3:30pm. Three motorcycles were set ablaze this time.
2 killed, 10 injured in bus accident in Gaibandha
At least two persons died and nine others sustained injuries when a bus they were travelling in overturned at Fashitola in Gaibandha's Gobindaganj area on Friday morning.
The deceased have been identified as Mohon Mia and Firoz Kabir of Sonatola upazila.
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Officer-in-Charge of Gobindaganj Police Station Mehedi Hasan said that some 10-15 people were on their way for a picnic to Rangpur when the accident occurred around 11 pm.
"The bus overturned after its driver lost control of the vehicle after hitting a CNG-run auto-rickshaw. The two persons were killed on the spot," the OC said.
Road accidents in Bangladesh
Also read:4 killed in Chattogram road crash
Road accidents in Bangladesh continue to claim hundreds of lives every year.
At least 484 people were killed and 673 injured in 427 road accidents in January this year.
According to Road Safety Foundation (RSF) the accident rate increased by 25.58 percent and fatalities by 8.76 percent in January this year compared to the same period last year.
Also read:3 killed in Sirajganj road crash
At least 445 lives were lost in 340 road accidents in January 2020, according to RSF.
In a report released in February 2020, the World Bank said Bangladesh needs to invest an estimated extra $7.8 billion over the next decade to halve its road crash fatalities.
The report attributed the high death rate on Bangladesh’s roads to lack of investments in systemic, targeted, and sustained road safety programmes.
50 years of Bangladesh Genocide commemorated in London calling for int'l recognition
Bangladesh High Commission in London in collaboration with Centre for Genocide Studies of the Dhaka University observed 50 years of Bangladesh Genocide calling for international recognition of the genocide and mass killings of Bangalees by the invading Pakistan army fifty years ago on March 25, 1971.
Bangladesh High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and Ireland Saida Muna Tasneem chaired the commemorative event titled “1971 Bangladesh Genocide and International Recognition.”
Dr Rounaq Jahan, professor of international affairs and senior research scholar at the Columbia University, also an eyewitness of 25 March 1971, presented a comparative narrative of contemporary genocides since the Second World War, international legal jurisprudence and legal opinions on the recognition of the Bangladesh genocide of 1971.
Also read: Resolution marking 50th anniversary of Bangladesh’s independence introduced in US House
International genocides and war crimes experts, including Professor Joann Digeorge-Lutz, Head of the Department of Liberal Studies of Texas A&M University, Yasmin Saikia, Professor of History and Hardt-Nickachos Chair in Peace Studies of Arizona State University and Dr Sachi Dastagir, professor of State University of New York College and Chair, Indian Subcontinent partition documentation project speaking as panelists recommended a number of strategies used by genocide victims such as Rwanda, Bosnia and Cambodia which could create greater awareness about their genocide atrocities.
Dr Mizanur Rahman, Research Director of Bangladesh Institute of International Affairs and former chairman of the National Human Right Commission, Dr Imitaz Ahmed, professor of the International Relations and Director of Centre for Genocide Studies of the Dhaka University, Sultan Mahmud Sharif, a leading organiser of Bangladesh Liberation War in the UK, freedom fighter Dewan Gaus Sultan and Dr Nuzhat Chowdhury, daughter of 1971 martyr intellectual Dr Alim Chowdhury also spoke as panelists.
On the occasion of the 50th anniversary celebration of Bangladesh’s glorious independence inspired by the theme ‘The Eternal Mujib’ Bangladesh High Commission London paid deep homage to the 3 million victims and 200,000 Biranganas of the 1971 genocide committed on the soil of Bangladesh during 1971 War of Liberation.
Also read: 50th Years of Independence: Queen Elizabeth greets Bangladeshis
Expressing her gratitude to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for declaring 25 March as the Bangladesh Genocide Day, High Commissioner Saida Muna Tasneem said, “The government headed by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina started the 1971 war crimes trials through the independent International Crimes Tribunal, Bangladesh. It is now the responsibility of our generation to create global awareness about international recognition of the 1971 Bangladesh genocide and prevent genocide never happens anywhere else.”
The High Commissioner said the massacre of 1971 is in no way less significant than those in Cambodia, Bosnia, Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia; and pledged to create greater awareness on Bangladesh genocide amongst British political, humanitarian and think-tank circles and said today’s event is part of the effort.
Dr Mizanur Rhaman spoke on international legal provisions for recognition of Bangladesh genocide of 1971 and said that the recognition of Bangladesh genocide is indispensable for sake of justice.
Dr Imitaz Ahmed said Bangladesh 1971 genocide should get international recognition as the mass killing on 25 March and the following months was intended to destroy the entire Bengalee nation.
Dr Nuzhat Chowdhury described the brutal intellectual killings on 14 December 1971 and demanded an unconditional apology from the Pakistan army and their collaborators.
Earlier, messages from the President and Prime Minister on the Day were read out and special prayers were offered, seeking eternal peace for Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, his martyred families, the martyrs of March 25 and the glorious liberation war.
Also read: Pakistani war criminals should be brought under trial: Envoy
A one-minute silence was observed in honour of the martyrs of 71 Genocide.
A documentary on the genocide was also screened. Dedicating to the 1971 martyrs, Political Counsellor Dewan Mahmudul Haque recited a famous poem of eminent poet Shamsur Rahman.
Members of the British-Bangladeshi diaspora joined the virtual event and paid their profound respects to the Father of the Nation and the martyrs killed on March 25 genocide and during the nine-month glorious liberation war.
Ambassador Rabab Fatima presents credentials to Peru
Rabab Fatima, Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the United Nations in New York and the concurrently accredited Ambassador of Bangladesh to Peru with residence in New York has presented her copies of credentials to the Foreign Minister of Peru, Allan Wagner Tizon.
At a virtual ceremony held on Thursday, Ambassador Fatima conveyed the greetings of the President and Prime Minister of Bangladesh to the Peruvian Government and people.
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She mentioned that her presentation of credentials coincides with the celebration of the 50th anniversary of Bangladesh’s independence.
The Ambassador reiterated her commitment to work towards strengthening the ties of friendship and excellent relations between the two countries and peoples, at all fronts, bilateral as well as multilateral.
She conveyed the best wishes of the government of Bangladesh for the continued progress and prosperity of Peru, especially during this challenging time brought by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Ambassadors of 13 countries presented their copies of credentials to the Foreign Minister of Peru on the same day.
Due to the extraordinary situation posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Peruvian authority organized this virtual event, which concurrently accredits Ambassador Fatima as non-resident Ambassador of Bangladesh to Peru.
Also read:Rabab Fatima appointed Bangladesh's envoy to UN
The formal ceremony for presenting the credentials to the Peruvian President will be held at a suitable date later.
There are some Bangladeshi nationals in Peru. The Permanent Mission in New York extends necessary cooperation and support to them as required.
PM releases commemorative stamp marking Golden Jubilee
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday released a commemorative postage stamp, a first-day cover and a data card, marking the Golden Jubilee of Bangladesh's independence.
Also read:PM releases postal stamp on Bangabandhu's birth centenary
She released the stamps and the first-day covers of Tk 10 each and the data cards of Tk 5 each at her official residence Ganobhaban in the afternoon. Two special cancellers were used on the occasion.
Also read:Postage stamp launched marking PM's birthday
Posts and Telecommunications Secretary Afzal Hossain and Director General of Bangladesh Post Office Md Siraj Uddin were present on the occasion, among others.
Also read:PM releases postage stamp on Victory Day
The stamps, first-day covers and data cards would be sold from Philatelic Bureau of Dhaka GPO from today and those would be available at other GPOs and head post offices across the country later.
Bomb-like object found near Kalurghat Radio Station
The law enforcers Thursday cordoned off an under-construction building near Chattogram's Kalurghat Radio Station as they found a bomb-like object along with a large stock of sticks and torches.
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Chattogram Metropolitan Police's (CMP) Chandgaon Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Mustafizur Rahman said, "We are suspecting that the object and sticks were stored to orchestrate violence during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bangladesh visit."
Tipped off, a large number of policemen sealed off the 10-storey building of Bashudha Builders – located opposite the Kalurghat Radio Station – at around 8pm, Mustafizur said.
"After that, the police searched every floor of the building. One person was arrested while trying to flee during the drive."
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At one stage of the search, a large number of torches were found in a room on the third floor. The bomb disposal unit of CMP was called as a bomb-like object was found there, the OC said.
It was also learned that the BNP planned to carry out a day-long programme on 26 March in Kalurghat Radio Station area – which bears the memory of its founder and former president Ziaur Rahman – on March 26 to mark the Golden Jubilee of Bangladesh's Independence.
However, the programme was later postponed in response to the recent spike in Covid-19 infection and fatalities in the country.
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Modi arrives in Dhaka to join twin celebrations
A red carpet was rolled out at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HISA) on Friday morning as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived here on a two-day official visit.
The Indian Prime Minister is the fifth among the world leaders after the Maldives, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bhutan to attend the celebrations of the birth centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the golden jubilee of the country’s independence. It is Modi's first visit outside India since the start of the pandemic.
Also read:Modi to bring 12 lakh more vaccine doses as gift for Bangladesh
During his stay, he is also scheduled to visit the Orakandi temple in Kashiani upazila of Gopalganj, with an eye on wooing the Matua community in view of assembly elections in West Bengal, where they number nearly 30 million and can influence the vote in a number of seats. Orakandi serves as the headquarters of the community.
Modi will also visit the Jessoreswari Devi Temple at Ishwaripur under Shyamnagar in Satkhira district.
The VVIP aircraft carrying the Indian Prime Minister and his entourage landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HISA) at 10:30am.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina welcomed her Indian counterpart at the VVIP tarmac of the airport presenting him a flower bouquet.
The Indian Prime Minister was received by a 19-gun salute, followed by a guard of honour by a smartly turned out contingent drawn from Bangladesh Army, Navy and Air Force at the airport.
Both the prime ministers witnessed the state honour staying on the makeshift dais while the national anthems of the respective countries were played.
Later, the Indian prime minister also inspected the parade.
Also read:India committed to deepening ties with Bangladesh: Modi
On the occasion, ministers, state ministers, civil and military high officials, among others, were present at the airport.
Pakistani war criminals should be brought under trial: Envoy
Bangladesh High Commissioner to Canada High Dr Khalilur Rahman has said the Pakistani war criminals should be brought under due trial without which the process of doing justice to the victims of the 1971 Genocide in Bangladesh would not be done.
While addressing a Genocide Day discussion in Ottawa, he said it is their duty to inform the international community about the genocide that took place in Bangladesh. “Efforts are on to get the Genocide Day recognised internationally.”
Also read: Trial of Pakistan's 1971 Genocide: It's for Bangladesh to decide
The High Commissioner said he is trying to establish a genocide corner at the Human Rights Museum in Winnipeg with the objective of mobilising public opinion in support of getting Genocide Day recognised internationally.
The Bangladesh High Commission in Ottawa observed National Genocide Day of Bangladesh on Thursday.
The programme includes the observance of silence, reading out of the messages followed by a special discussion.
The Bangladesh High Commissioner, Deputy High Commissioner and all the officers and officials of the High Commission were present at the event.
A one-minute silence was observed to pay homage to all the martyrs and then the messages of the President and Prime Minister were read out by the officers of the High Commission for the audiences.
At the open discussion held on the importance and the significance of the day, the speakers said 50 years back, on 25 March 1971, Pakistan Army launched “Operation Searchlight” resulting in the worst genocide in human history over a period of nine months till the Pakistan Forces were defeated by the Bangladesh Freedom Fighters under the leadership of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
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They emphasised that this day should be internationally recognised, and all should work together in this regard.
High Commissioner Rahman first paid homage to the Father of the Nation for leading the nation to achieve Independence.
He also paid respect to all victims of Genocide in 1971, the martyrs and tortured women and the valiant freedom fighters for whose sacrifice the country achieved Independence.
The High Commissioner said the observance of the Genocide Day should have been started earlier than 2017as it is an immensely important day in Bangladesh’s history.
He expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for her decision to observe the day as Genocide Day from 2017.
The High Commissioner said it was the decision of the Prime Minister to establish the International War Crimes Tribunal after winning the elections in 2008.
He mentioned that the International War Criminal Tribunal already tried and convicted Bangladeshi collaborators and associates of the Pakistani war criminals.
Also read: No war criminals at Victory Day programmes: Minister
Independence Day: PM Hasina pays homage to Bangabandhu
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid tributes to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on Friday morning on the occasion of Bangladesh’s Independence and National Day.
On her return from the National Memorial at Savar, the Prime Minister paid homage to the Father of the Nation by placing a wreath at his portrait in front of Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi 32 in the city.
After placing the wreaths, she stood there in solemn silence for some time as a mark of deep respect to the memory of Bangabandhu, the architect of Bangladesh Independence.
Sheikh Rehana, the youngest daughter of Bangabandhu, was present on the occasion.
Independence Day: President, PM pay tributes to martyrs of Liberation War
President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid tributes to the martyrs of the Liberation War by placing wreaths at the National Memorial at Savar on Friday morning, marking Bangladesh’s Independence and National Day.
This year, the country is celebrating the Golden Jubilee of its Independence.
President Hamid first placed wreaths at the altar of the memorial followed by the Prime Minister.
After placing the wreaths, the President and the Prime Minister stood there in solemn silence for some time as a mark of profound respect to the memories of the martyrs of the 1971 great Liberation War.