Bangladesh
Rohingya Repatriation: Dhaka seeks Delhi’s strong role in UNSC
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has requested India, as a member of the United Nations Security Council, to play a “strong role” in the early repatriation of the displaced Rohingyas to Myanmar.
Prime Minister Hasina and her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi have reiterated the importance of safe, speedy and sustainable return of Rohingyas to their homeland for the greater security of the region.
India which shares border with Bangladesh and Myanmar assured its continued support in this regard, according to joint statement issued on Prime Minister Modi’s two-day state visit that ended on Saturday.
Also read: US urged to lead in finding durable solution to Rohingya crisis
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed appreciation at the generosity of Bangladesh in sheltering and providing humanitarian assistance to the 1.1 million forcibly displaced persons from the Rakhine State of Myanmar.
Bangladesh and Myanmar signed the repatriation deal on November 23, 2017. On January 16, 2018, Bangladesh and Myanmar signed a document on ‘Physical Arrangement’, which was supposed to facilitate the return of Rohingyas to their homeland.
Bangladesh says the Rohingyas do not trust their government, and Bangladesh gave a number of proposals to build trust among them.
Also read: Dhaka seeks global community's constructive role in early Rohingya repatriation
Bangladesh is trying in multiple ways -- bilaterally, multilaterally, tri-laterally and through the judicial system -- to find a lasting solution to the Rohingya crisis.
Bangladesh proposed deployment of nonmilitary civilian observers from Myanmar’s friendly countries -- Japan, China, Russia, India and Asean countries.
Worrying Covid upsurge in Bangladesh: 3,908 new cases, 35 deaths
A growing number of coronavirus cases and an alarming uptrend in the daily infection rate are posing big challenges to Bangladesh in its fight against the deadly virus.
A 2.75 percent rise in the infection rate was recorded on Sunday (17.65 percent) compared to 14.9 percent a day earlier.
The country’s health authorities reported 3,908 new cases and 35 Covid-related deaths during a 24-hour period until Sunday morning.
Now, the local fatality tally stands at 8,904, according to a handout of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). The country reported its first coronavirus-related death on March 18 last year.
Also read: Covid-19: Bangladesh records 3-month high 39 deaths; 3,674 fresh cases
Bangladesh, which announced its first cases on March 8 last year, has so far reported 595,714 infections.
However, the mortality rate was recorded at 1.4 percent on Sunday which was 1.5 percent on Saturday.
So far, 535,941 patients (89.97 percent) have recovered, including 2,019 in the last 24 hours, according to DGHS.
So far, 4,588,830 samples, including 22,136 in the past 24 hours, have been tested.
Also read: Global Covid-19 cases top 126.6 million
Coronavirus cases were first reported in China in December 2019. Until Sunday, countries around the world confirmed 126.6 million cases with 2.77 million fatalities, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.
Fight against Covid
Along with a countrywide vaccination drive, the government has taken a tougher stance to tackle the transmission of Covid-19.
The Health Ministry sent letters to districts, directing the officials concerned to impose fines on people flouting Covid protocols.
Meanwhile, the closure of schools and colleges were extended until May 23 as the situation showed no sign of improvement.
Also read: 36 countries yet to get Covid jabs: WHO
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday said she wants quick steps to fight the fresh surge of Covid-19 cases. “We’ll have to take prompt steps as we did in the past,” she said at a virtual discussion.
She said health guidelines and safe physical distance will have to be maintained at every programme and the use of face masks must be ensured.
Hartal: 30 hurt during clash with cops in Narayanganj
At least 30 people were injured including one with bullet in a clash between hartal supporters and members of law enforcement agencies in Mouchak area of Siddhirganj upazila in Narayanganj on Sunday.
The bullet-hit victim was identified as Sakib, 30.
Jayedul Islam, superintendent of Narayanganj Police, said some hartal supporters took position in Mouchak area and put up barricade on the road by placing logs and burning tyres at noon.
Also read: Clashes in Brahmanbaria leave five dead
Bangabandhu Chair to be established at Delhi University
India has announced the establishment of Bangabandhu Chair at the University of Delhi.
In view of the 50th anniversary of the Independence of Bangladesh as well as the establishment of bilateral diplomatic ties, both sides have agreed to jointly commemorate these epochal events in 19 select countries.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina thanked the Indian side for considering Bangladesh’s proposal to name the historic road from Mujib Nagar to Nadia on the Bangladesh-India border as "Shadhinota Shorok” commemorating the historic significance of the road during Bangladesh’s Liberation War.
Also read: Bangabandhu chair to be established at RU in Mujib Borsho
Both sides looked forward to inaugurating the road soon as part of the joint celebrations, according to joint statement.
The Bangladesh side welcomed the decision of the government of India to announce 1000 “Shuborno Jayanti Scholarships” for Bangladeshi students for pursuing education/courses in India.
The two countries noted with satisfaction that the filming of the biopic on Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, under the direction of Indian film director Shyam Benegal, has commenced and is expected to be completed according to schedule.
Also read: Bangabandhu Chair to be established in University of Brasilia in Mujib Year
Both sides stressed on the need to commence work on the Liberation War documentary at the earliest.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended an invitation to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to visit India in 2022 in commemoration of the Golden Jubilee of the establishment of diplomatic relations.
To mark the 50th anniversary of India-Bangladesh friendship, both sides released respective commemorative postage stamps. It was decided to commemorate 06 December as Maitri Diwas, the day when India recognized Bangladesh in the year 1971.
Also read: Establishment of Bangabandhu Chair proposed in Netherlands
Indian Prime Minister Modi extended an invitation to 50 young entrepreneurs from Bangladesh to visit India to connect with the start up and innovation ecosystems in India and meet the venture capitalists.
Land office, 2 other buildings set on fire in Brahmanbaria, Train attacked
Hefazat-e-Islam activists set fire to three buildings including the land office in Brahmanbaria Sadar upazila on Sunday during their countrywide hartal.
They attacked a Chattogram-bound train at Talshohor Rail Station in Brahmanbaria town.
Train communications between Dhaka-Chattogram and Dhaka-Sylhet remained suspended since morning following the attack.
Witnesses said the activists of Hefazat-e-Islam intercepted Chattogram-bound ‘Sonar Bangla Express’ train in the morning and pelted brick chips towards it.
The hartal supporters set fire to Alauddin Music Academy building, land office in Sadar upazila and Industrial School building during the mayhem.
Also read; Clashes in Brahmanbaria leave five dead
They also carried out vandalism in some private and government establishments including Zila Parishad building, municipality building, Police Lines, Industrial School, Land office, Alauddin Music Academy, Foirtala Bus Stand in Sadar upazila.
Meanwhile, the hartal supporters also attacked Brahmanbaria Press Club and confined some journalists to the club building.
President of Brahmanbaria Press Club Riaz Uddin Jami was injured in an attack by the hartal supporters.
Al Mamun Sarkar, general secretary of district unit Awami League, said “The hartal supporters have vandalized different private and government buildings and they also carried out arson attack. These are part of conspiracy.”
Also read: Four killed in clashes with cops in Chattogram
The countrywide dawn-to-dusk hartal enforced by Hefazat-e-Islam protesting police action on their anti-Modi processions in Dhaka, Chattogram and other districts is underway on Sunday.
Navy officer assault case: SC stays HC bail to Irfan Selim
The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on Sunday stayed for four weeks the bail of Irfan Selim, son of Awami League leader Haji Selim, granted by the High Court in a case filed over assaulting a Navy officer in October last year.
Vacation chamber bench of the Appellate Division, Chamber judge Justice Obaidul Hassan stayed the bail after hearing a petition.
On March 18, the High Court granted bail to Irfan Selim in the case.
The HC bench of Justice Jahangir Hossain Selim and Justice Md Badruzzaman granted the bail.
Advocate Syed Ahmed Raza stood for the petitioner while deputy attorney general Dr Mohammad Bashir Ullah represented the state.
Also read: Navy officer assault case: HC grants bail to Irfan Selim
On January 27, the High Court rejected the bail of Irfan Selim in the case.
The court also issued a rule asking why Irfan should not be granted bail. The state has been asked to respond to the rule within two weeks.
According to the case statement, a private car hit Bangladesh Navy’s Lieutenant Wasif Ahmed Khan’s motorcycle near Labaid Hospital at Dhanmondi on October 25, 2020 when he and his wife were returning to their Mohammadpur residence from Nilkhet.
Later, some people including Irfan came out of the car and physically assaulted Wasif and verbally abused his wife.
The Navy officer later filed a case with Dhanmondi Police Station, naming four people including Irfan.
The three other accused are AB Siddique Dipu, 45, Md Zahid, 35, and Md Mizanur Rahman, 30. All of them are behind bars now.
Also read: Irfan Selim relieved from narcotics case
On October 26, 2020, Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) detained Irfan from his father’s Devdas Lane residence in Old Dhaka.
Two firearms, 38 walkie-talkies and liquor were seized from Irfan’s house during the drive.
Meanwhile, the government suspended Irfan from the post of councillor on October 27, last year. The Awami League leader’s son has been facing four more cases.
Also read: Assault on Navy officer: High Court denies bail to Irfan Selim
He was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment for keeping walkie-talkies illegally and another six months for possessing illegal liquor on October 26, 2020 by a mobile court led by Rab.
Myanmar crackdown: UN chief demands firm, unified and resolute international response
The UN chief condemned in the strongest terms the killing of dozens of civilians, including children and young people, by security forces in Myanmar on Saturday.
A statement issued by Deputy Spokesman Farhan Haq, Secretary-General António Guterres said, “the continuing military crackdown…is unacceptable and demands a firm, unified and resolute international response,” reports UN News.
As Myanmar’s military celebrated Armed Forces Day with a parade in the country’s capital, Naypyitaw, soldiers and police suppressed protesters during what has resulted in the highest daily death toll since demonstrations began last month.
“The military celebrated Armed Forces Day by committing mass murder against the people it should be defending”, tweeted Tom Andrews, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar.
Also read: Myanmar forces kill scores in deadliest day since coup
He added that the Civil Disobedience Movement is responding with “powerful weapons of peace” and called for the world “to respond in kind with and for the people of Myanmar”.
A situation spiralling downward
On 1 February, following a general election in which Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy party won by a landslide, the military seized control of the country and declared a year-long state of emergency.
As Ms. Suu Kyi remains in detention at an unknown location, protesters have taken to the streets.
In addition to imposing curfews and other restrictions, security forces have used water cannon, rubber bullets and live ammunition to try to disperse the demonstrators, according to news reports.
Also read: 93 killed in one of deadliest days since Myanmar coup
‘Urgent solution’ needed
“It is critical to find an urgent solution to this crisis”, underscored the Secretary-General.
He reiterated an imperative appeal to the military to refrain from violence and repression and upheld that “those responsible for the serious human rights violations committed in Myanmar must be held accountable”.
2 BRTC buses torched in Rajshahi
Unidentified criminals set two stationary buses of Bangladesh Road Transport and Corporation (BRTC) on fire at Rajshahi Truck Terminal in the city’s Amchattar area on Sunday during the countrywide daylong hartal enforced by Hefazat-e-Islam.
Senior Station officer of Fire Service and Civil Defense of Rajshahi Abdur Rauf said the criminals set a bus of BRTC on fire around 6:30 am and the fire spread to another stationary bus of BRTC.
On information, fire fighters rushed to the spot and extinguished the blaze.
Also read: Hefazat’s hartal underway; Dhaka-Chattorgam highway blocked
However, no causality was reported till the filling of this report.
Saiful Islam Khan, officer-in-charge of Shah Makhdum Police Station, said police are investigating the incident.
The countrywide dawn-to-dusk hartal enforced by Hefazat-e-Islam protesting police action on their anti-Modi processions in Dhaka, Chattogram and other districts is underway on Sunday.
Also read: Hefazat calls countrywide hartal for Sunday
Hefazat-e-Islam announced the day long countrywide hartal at a press briefing at Purana Paltan in the capital on Friday night.
They also held nationwide demonstrations on Saturday.
Global Covid-19 cases top 126.6 million
With an alarming resurgence in Covid-19 infections , the global cases reached 126.6 million with 2.77 fatalities.
The total case count reached 126, 651,176 while the death toll from the virus mounted to 2,777,020 as of Sunday, said the data compiled by Johns Hopkins University (JHU).
The US has recorded 30,217,893 cases with 548,825 fatalities as of Sunday morning.
Brazil, which is the world’s second worst-hit country has registered 12,490,362 cases while the death toll from the virus climbed to 310,550.
Also read: Global Covid-19 cases top 126 million
Brazil currently accounts for one-quarter of the entire world’s daily COVID-19 deaths, far more than any other single nation, and health experts are warning that the nation is on the verge of even greater calamity, reports AP.
The nation’s seven-day average of 2,400 deaths stands to reach to 3,000 within weeks, six experts told the Associated Press. That’s nearly the worst level seen by the U.S., though Brazil has two-thirds its population. Spikes of daily deaths could soon hit 4,000; on Friday there were 3,650.
India’s total tally reached 11,908,910 and the death toll from the virus stood 161,240 on Sunday.
Situation in Bangladesh
Thirty nine new Covid-19 deaths were recorded in Bangladesh in the last 24 hours until Saturday, the highest single-day death toll in the past 3 months.
According to the latest figures provided by the country’s health authorities, 3,674 more people got infected during the period, pushing up the total caseload to 5, 91,860.
The latest figures have pushed the Covid-19 fatalities to 8,869 according to the handout by Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Also read: Global Covid-19 cases top 125 million
The infection rate jumped to 14.90 percent on Saturday from 13.69 percent a day earlier.
However the death rate stands at 1.5 percent, said the handout.
So far, 533,922 patients (90.22 percent) have recovered, including 1,971 in the last 24 hours, according to DGHS.
Bangladesh reported its first cases on March 8, 2020 and the first death on March 18 the same year.
Health authorities have so far tested 4,566,694 samples, including 24,664 in the past 24 hours.
Amid spike in infections, the government has taken a tougher stance to fight Covid-19 transmission.
The Health Ministry sent letters to districts, directing the officials concerned to impose fines on people flouting Covid protocols.
Also read: Global Covid-19 cases surpass 124 million
The country launched a countrywide vaccination drive on Feb 7. As the daily infection rate keeps rising, the government extended the closure of school and colleges until May 23.
Hefazat’s hartal underway; Dhaka-Chattorgam highway blocked
The countrywide dawn-to-dusk hartal enforced by Hefazat-e-Islam protesting police action on their ‘anti-Modi’ processions in Dhaka, Chattogram and other districts is underway on Sunday.
The Hefazat supporters took position on Basila Bridge in the capital’s Mohammadpur area and blocked the road.
Hefazat activists also brought out a procession in Baitul Mukarram National Mosque area in support of the hartal.
A small number of buses, private cars were seen plying the streets.
UNB’s Narayanganj correspondent reports: Some students of Madaninagar Madrasah put barricade on Dhaka-Chittagong highway by burning tires from Sanarpar to Shimrail crossing in the morning, disrupting Dhaka’s road communications with Chattogram and Sylhet.
Chattogram’s road communications with other parts of the country remained suspended since Sunday morning as no long-route bus left Chattogram due to the hartal, reports UNB’s Chattogram correspondent.
Some students of Al Jamiatul Ahlia Darul Ulum Moinul Islam Madrasah cut roads and created a number of holes on Chattogram-Khagrachhari highway early Sunday, disrupting communications on the road.