Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday (March 13, 2023) questioned as to why an advertisement needs to be published in a foreign newspaper with names of 40 people pleading in favour of Nobel Peace Prize winner Dr Muhammad Yunus. “I don’t know what to answer. But I have a question. Why should an advertisement be given begging names of 40 people for a person who is so famous and a Nobel Prize recipient? That again is in a foreign newspaper,” she said. The prime minister made the remarks while answering a question from UNB Editor Farid Hossain at a press conference on the outcome of her recent official visit to Qatar. She also said 40 people did not issue any statement for Dr Yunus, but it was an advertisement. “The names of 40 people were used there (in advertisement) in favour of our particular person.” Read more: Pressures on Sheikh Hasina won’t work: PM The prime minister said there are laws in the country and everything goes according to those laws, no matter who the person is. “Our judiciary is completely independent. We protect workers' rights. There is a separate body to oversee who pays taxes properly and collects taxes. We have a labour court to deal with if someone breaks any law regarding the matters or snatches the rights of the workers,” she said. As the head of the government, Sheikh Hasina said she has nothing to do regarding these matters. “What more can I say? But I just want to remind everyone that we have built the Padma Bridge,” she said.  Read More: Sufficient commodities in stock, refrain from panic buying during Ramadan: Govt

Filipino journalist and Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Ressa announced in a speech in Hawaii Tuesday that the Philippine government is affirming a previous order to shut down Rappler, the news website she co-founded, which has gained notoriety for its reporting of President Rodrigo Duterte's bloody crackdown on illegal drugs. The Philippines' Securities and Exchange Commission affirmed its earlier decision to revoke the certificates of incorporation of Rappler, Ressa said while speaking at the East-West Center in Honolulu. “Part of the reason I didn’t have much sleep last night is because we essentially got a shutdown order,” Ressa told the audience. Last year, Ressa became the first Filipino and she and Russian Dmitry Muratov became the first working journalists in more than 80 years to win the Nobel Peace Prize. She was a featured speaker at this week's East-West Center’s International Media Conference. The order is dated June 28 and reaffirms the earlier decision to revoke the certificates of incorporation of Rappler Inc. and Rappler Holdings Corp., Rappler said in a statement. “We are entitled to appeal this decision and will do so, especially since the proceedings were highly irregular," the statement said. Read: Journalist Maria Ressa reflects on Nobel Peace Prize win “We’re not shutting down,” Ressa said. “Well, I'm not supposed to say that.” No announcements about the decision appeared on the Philippines Securities and Exchange website before business hours in the Philippines, where it was already Wednesday. The AP was not able to immediately reach Ressa in Honolulu. She co-founded Rappler in 2012. The website is one of several news agencies deemed critical of Duterte's policies. Since taking office in 2016, Duterte has openly lambasted journalists who write unfavorable stories about him. He has particularly bristled at critical coverage of his anti-drug campaign, which has left thousands of mostly poor suspects dead and drawn international condemnation. President-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr., and Vice President-elect Sara Duterte — Duterte's daughter — take office Thursday after winning landslide victories in last month's elections. Ressa was convicted of libel and has remained free on bail while the case is on appeal. The Philippines' Securities and Exchange Commission revoked Rappler's license over what it ruled was a breach of the ban on foreign ownership and control of media outlets.