Violence
Picketers in support of blockade set bus set on fire in Dhaka's Mugda
Miscreants set a bus on fire in front of Ideal School in Dhaka’s Mugda area today (November 01, 2023) during the ongoing nationwide three-day blockade, said fire service sources.
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Picketers from a procession in support of the blockade set the bus on fire around 10:55 am, creating panic in the area.
3-day blockade: 16 arson attacks till this morning, says Fire Service
Lima Khanam, duty officer of Fire Service and Civil Defence, said a firefighting unit rushed to the spot and extinguished the blaze.
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The second day of the countrywide three-day blockade, enforced by the BNP, Jamaat and like-minded opposition parties, is underway today with incidents of violence and arson attacks.
US says it takes incidents of violence in Bangladesh very seriously, stresses importance of dialogue
The United States has said it is "closely monitoring" the electoral environment in Bangladesh leading up to January’s national election, and they take incidents of violence "very seriously".
At a regular briefing at the US Department of State on Tuesday (October 31, 2023), Spokesperson Matthew Miller said they are engaging and will continue to engage with the government, opposition, civil society, and other stakeholders to urge them to work together for the benefit of the Bangladeshi people, and to ensure free and fair elections that are conducted in a peaceful manner.
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"We do believe that dialogue is important to achieving those goals," he said.
Miller said holding of free and fair elections is the responsibility of everyone - all political parties, voters, government, civil society, and the media.
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"And what we want in Bangladesh is the same thing the Bangladeshi people want, which are free and fair elections conducted in a peaceful manner," the US State Department spokesperson said.
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal on Tuesday said the Election Commission has no option except to hold election on time as per the constitution.
“The EC has to hold the election on time, no matter what the situation is,” the CEC told journalists after his meeting with US Ambassador Peter Haas.
Responding to a question, US State Department Spokesperson Miller said, “Let me just say that we have made clear that we expect the Government of Bangladesh, as we expect every government, to comply with their obligations under the Vienna Conventions for the safe protection of diplomats.”
British high commissioner discusses upcoming elections with AL leaders
3-day blockade: 16 arson attacks till this morning, says Fire Service
At least 16 incidents of arson took place across Bangladesh in over 24 hours till this morning (November 01, 2023) during the road, rail and waterway blockade enforced by the BNP, Jamaat and its allies.
Sources at the media cell of Fire Service and Civil Defence headquarters said that they got information of 16 arson attacks across the country.
The reports of fire incidents reached the fire service control room from 6 am yesterday till 9 am today.
No long route buses leave from Ctg on first day of blockade: 14 held
Among the arson attacks, four occurred in Dhaka city (Postogola, Khilgaon, Baridhara), six in Dhaka division (Savar, Gazipur), three each in Chattogram (Karnaphuli, Rangunia) and Rajshahi (Bogura, Sirajganj) divisions.
Nine buses, two covered vans, two trucks, one pick-up van, two commercial product showrooms and one police box were burned, fire department's media cell said.
AL holding marches, sit-ins on streets protesting BNP-Jamaat’s blockade
A three-day blockade of road, rail and waterways, enforced by BNP, Jamaat and like-minded opposition parties, began on Tuesday (October 31, 2023) to mount pressure on the Awami League government to quit and hold the next election under a non-party, neutral administration.
Countrywide blockade: Long-route bus services from Khulna suspended
US says killing of a police officer and a political activist, burning a hospital and buses are unacceptable
The United States has condemned the political violence that took place in Dhaka on October 28.
During a press briefing on October 30, US Department of State Spokesperson Matthew Miller said, “The reported killing of a police officer, a political activist, and the burning of a hospital and buses are unacceptable, as is violence against civilians, including journalists.”
Read: US Embassy in Dhaka to limit public services on Sunday
Miller said the US encourages the authorities to thoroughly investigate the incidents at the October 28th rally and to hold those responsible for violence accountable.
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He said the holding of free and fair elections is everyone’s responsibility – voters, political parties, the government, the security forces, civil society, and the media.
Miller said diplomats talk to a wide variety of people – civil society organizations, media professionals, business leaders, cultural contributors, educators, and many other types of organizations and individuals.
Read: Ambassador Imran apprises US senators of Bangladesh’s dev journey
"That is what diplomats do as part of their everyday job," the US State Department spokesperson added.
“We have made clear that we will take actions if necessary to support democracy in Bangladesh, and I would never preview those from the podium,” he said while responding to another question.
Opposition parties’ 3-day countrywide blockade underway
A three-day blockade of road, rail and waterways, enforced by BNP and like-minded opposition parties, across the country began this morning to mount pressure on the Awami League government to quit and hold the next election under a non-party, neutral administration.
Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami also enforced the blockade simultaneously from this morning to Thursday evening with the same demands.
Apart from BNP and Jamaat, the 12-party alliance, Jatiyatabadi Samamona Jote, LDP, Gonoforum and People’s Party, Gonotantrik Bam Oikya, Gono Odhikar Parishad, Labour Party and NDM are also observing the programme separately.
Meanwhile, AL has vowed to resist any violence during the blockade.
Read more: Jamaat to observe countrywide blockade program on Oct 31 and Nov 1-2
Police and other law enforcement agencies have already alerted their units to increase vigilance and beef up security across the country.
Police have also taken up positions and set up checkpoints at the entry points and all major points of Dhaka.
After observing a day-long hartal, BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Sunday evening announced the countrywide blockade for three consecutive days.
He, however, said vehicles of newspapers or media, ambulances and vehicles transporting oxygen cylinders and medicines will remain out of the purview of the three-day blockade.
Read more: BNP sends letter to foreign missions blaming govt, police for Oct 28 violence
Shun violence, work together for participatory, peaceful polls: Diplomatic Missions
Diplomatic missions in Dhaka on Monday called on all stakeholders to exercise “restraint, eschew violence and work together” to create the conditions for free, fair, participatory, and peaceful elections.
The missions in a joint statement also expressed deep concern over the recent violence during political gatherings in Dhaka.
“The governments of Australia, Canada, Japan, Republic of Korea, Norway, the United Kingdom, and the United States are deeply concerned by the political violence during political gatherings in Dhaka on 28 October,” said the joint statement signed by the embassies and high commissions of the countries.
The countries extended their condolences for the loss of life and to those injured.
The statement came hours before the scheduled briefing of the government for the diplomats.
The government will brief diplomats stationed in Dhaka, representatives of UN agencies and international organizations on the current situation in Bangladesh this afternoon.
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen will brief the diplomats at state guesthouse Jamuna at 4 pm. Senior Cabinet members and officials of the government will attend the briefing.
BNP men attacked police, vandalised cars in Dhaka’s Kakrail: DB says
Additional Commissioner of Detective Branch (DB) Harun-or-Rashid has said that some BNP activists attacked police in front of the Judges' Residence Complex in Dhaka’s Kakrail earlier today (October 28, 2023).
“Some policemen were injured. Furthermore, they carried out an attack, vandalised and set some vehicles on fire in front of IDB Bhaban at Kakrail,” he said while talking with reporters in front of Kakrail Church.
Currently, BGB members are deployed at Kakrail Church crossing.
He said police have video footage of the incidents.
“We will identify those involved and take appropriate action,” he said.
Police, BNP men clash in Dhaka’s Kakrail area, police box set on fire
The BNP activists who were engaged in violence escaped the scene, and the situation is now under control, he added.
Earlier, a chase and counter-chase between police and BNP leaders, activists occurred in Dhaka’s Kakrail area.
Witnesses said leaders and activists of BNP brought out a procession in the Kakrail area and started going towards InterContinental hotel around 1 pm.
At one stage, police obstructed them, and BNP leaders, activists started throwing brick chips at the law enforcers.
More than 50 detained in extensive search operations at Dhaka’s entry points
Later, police fired rubber bullets, used sound grenades and tear gas shells to disperse them.
The grand rally of BNP has begun in front of its Nayapaltan central office with the participation of thousands of leaders and activists of the party and its associate bodies to press home their one-point demand for holding the upcoming national election under a non-party government.
AL, BNP rallies: 3 vehicles vandalised in Dhaka
BNP wants to destabilise the country, not election: PM Hasina says in Rome
Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has alleged that the BNP doesn’t want election, rather the opposition party seeks to create an abnormal situation in the country.
“The election will definitely be held as per the constitution. BNP knows that the people will not vote for them. Why would the people go to vote for those who were driven out due to vote-rigging? They want to destabilize the country,” she said.
The premier said this on Tuesday (July 25, 2023) while addressing a community event held at her place of residence here in Rome, the capital of Italy. She was in Rome to attend the UN food summit.
She questioned how the BNP can seek votes after killing people through arson violence.
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“They don’t want election. They lick the legs of some of their foreign lords and they want to make the people of the country suffer by them (the foreign lords). They want to hamper the ongoing development trend of the country and its people,” she said.
Hasina said the BNP never wants the welfare of the people of this country. All will have to keep it in mind.
“Their purpose is to catch fish in troubled water. So, their aim is to hamper this progress of Bangladesh,” she told the gathering.
The PM asked all to stay united and protect Bangladesh from this evil force (BNP). “They want to push Bangladesh into an unstable situation again. So, all will have to remain alert in this regard,” she said.
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Stressing that Bangladesh Awami League (AL) will have to come to power to build the country as Smart Bangladesh, the AL president sought votes for her party electoral symbol ‘boat’ again in the next general election.
Referring to imposition of sanction on Rab officials and visa sanction by the USA, the Prime Minister said, “By whom we've curbed terrorism and militancy, sanction is imposed on them. We can’t understand its mystery.”
“Those who had not supported our liberation war want to play games with our country in various ways now. The players can’t be allowed to play. The people of the country will have to remain united,” she went on.
Read more: Work to stop anti-state propaganda abroad: PM Hasina tells country's envoys
The premier asked expatriate Bangladeshis to send remittance through legal channels, search foreign partners to make investment in Bangladesh particularly in ICT, food processing and small industries.
She also urged the expatriates to abide by the laws of their host countries and discouraged the overseas jobseekers to migrate to the foreign countries through illegal channels.
Hasina asked the expatriates to inspire their families and relatives in Bangladesh not to leave an inch of land uncultivated in order to boost food production amid the current global situation.
She said her government has taken steps to improve the food storage system.
The PM focused on her government's successes in different sectors and the progress the country has attained since 2009.
Read more: Declaring you oppose an election tantamount to spoiling election environment: Hasan Mahmud
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At least 9 killed in ethnic clashes in India's northeast, where 100 have died in month of violence
Rival ethnic groups fired at each other in fresh violence in India's remote northeast that left at least nine people dead and some injured, officials said Wednesday.
Security forces rushed to Khamenlok village in Manipur state's Kangpokpi district after clashes broke out Tuesday night between the Kuki and Meitei communities, said L. Sushindro, a state government minister.
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Police found nine bodies early Wednesday, a police officer said on condition of anonymity as he was not authorized to talk to reporters.
Three people have been reported missing, the officer said.
At least 100 people have been killed in severe ethnic clashes in Manipur state since May 3, and thousands of homes have been burned and shops and businesses vandalized.
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Authorities have moved nearly 40,000 people from troubled areas to safer places.
India's Home Minister Amit Shah visited the state early this month and met community leaders to restore peace.
The violence started last month after protests by more than 50,000 Kukis and members of other predominantly Christian tribal communities in Churachandpur and adjoining districts in Manipur state.
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They oppose the majority Meitei Hindu community's demand for a special status that would give them benefits including the right to farm on forest land, cheap bank loans, and health and educational facilities, as well as a specified quota of government jobs.
Minority hill community leaders say the Meitei community is comparatively well-off and that granting them more privileges would be unfair.
The Meiteis say employment quotas and other benefits for tribespeople would be protected.
Two-thirds of the state's 2.5 million people live in a valley that comprises roughly 10% of the state's total area. The Meiteis are Hindus while rival groups, including the Kuki and other tribes, are mostly Christian and mainly live in the surrounding hill districts. Ethnic Muslims constitute about 8% of the state population.
Nothing to worry about new US visa policy; don't want arson, violence: Momen
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Thursday said there is nothing to worry about the newly announced US visa policy, noting that the government is neither feeling pressure nor any discomfort.
With this announcement, he hoped that parties which resort to violence, arson and destruction would remain cautious.
"We don't want arson, violence and destruction. I hope these acts will come down," Momen told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs when his comment was sought.
Responding to a question, Momen said they are not under any additional pressure from the US, noting that the relationship with the US is excellent.
“We are not sure. It is yet to be tested. We do not know yet how helpful it will be. He (Ambassador Haas) could not tell whether they have become successful by applying such policy in any other country,” he told reporters after his meeting with US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas.
Describing the letter he received from the US Secretary of State as very encouraging, Momen said Bangladesh Awami League is committed to holding a free and fair election.
He said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina wants free and fair elections and this policy will further strengthen her position.
"We want free and fair elections. Our Prime Minister is committed to it," Momen said, adding that Awami League always believes in voters.
The Foreign Minister said they see very positively that they received from the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
This policy supports Prime Minister Hasina’s stated commitment to hold free and fair elections in Bangladesh, Momen said, quoting the letter.
He mentioned the use of transparent ballot boxes that made the norm to establish confidence among the electorates as well as the polling officials and agents.
Momen also mentioned a strong National Election Commission is in place.
He said all parties will have to have political commitment for a free and fair election.
Asked whether the government accepts or rejects the new visa policy, Momen said there is nothing to accept or reject as this is a policy announced by the US.
Read more: US govt’s new visa policy does not bother Bangladesh government: Shahriar Alam