Bitcoin has surpassed the $100,000 milestone as its value continues to surge, spurred by the election of Donald Trump and his crypto-friendly policies. This development follows Trump’s announcement of plans to nominate cryptocurrency advocate Paul Atkins as the next chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), signaling a shift toward lighter regulation in the industry. The cryptocurrency’s meteoric rise began on Election Day, climbing from $69,374 to a peak of $103,713, according to CoinDesk data. This rally comes just two years after Bitcoin plummeted below $17,000 following the collapse of the FTX exchange. However, its sustainability at the $100,000 mark remains uncertain, as the price briefly dipped to under $102,000 on Thursday. FBI urges telecom firms to enhance security after chinese hacking campaign Cryptocurrency Basics Cryptocurrencies are digital currencies that operate on decentralized networks, typically without backing from governments or banks. Bitcoin, the first and largest cryptocurrency, is recorded on a blockchain and is known for its high volatility. Other cryptocurrencies like Ethereum, Tether, and Dogecoin have also gained popularity, though traditional fiat currencies dominate daily transactions. Factors Behind Bitcoin’s Surge Trump’s election win has played a significant role in Bitcoin’s recent performance. The President-elect has pledged to make the U.S. a global hub for cryptocurrency and establish a “strategic reserve” of Bitcoin. His campaign embraced cryptocurrency donations, and he has launched a family venture for crypto trading. The crypto community has welcomed Trump’s victory, anticipating regulatory reforms that could bring legitimacy while reducing red tape. His choice of Paul Atkins, known for opposing heavy market regulation, to lead the SEC aligns with these expectations. This marks a departure from the outgoing SEC chair Gary Gensler’s stricter regulatory approach, which faced criticism from industry stakeholders despite approving spot Bitcoin ETFs earlier this year. Risks and Challenges Cryptocurrency remains a high-risk investment due to its volatility. Bitcoin's history includes dramatic price swings, such as its rise to nearly $69,000 in 2021 before crashing below $17,000 amid rate hikes and the FTX collapse. While investor interest has rebounded, experts urge caution, particularly for those with limited resources. The anticipated lighter regulations under Trump may also reduce protective measures. Generative AI product user base in China reaches 230mln Environmental Concerns Bitcoin mining is energy-intensive and has drawn criticism for its environmental impact. Research indicates that mining emissions in 2020-2021 equaled those from burning 84 billion pounds of coal. While the industry has gradually shifted toward cleaner energy, fossil fuels still dominate its electricity supply. The future of Bitcoin remains uncertain, with potential for further gains or losses, but its recent surge highlights the growing influence of political and regulatory factors on the crypto market.

The United States has laid emphasis on ensuring appropriate representation for those who are in detention in Bangladesh, treating them in line with basic fundamental freedoms and human rights. “We continue to stress and emphasise that even those who are in detention need to be afforded appropriate representation and need to be treated with basic fundamental freedoms and human rights,” said Principal Deputy Spokesperson at the US Department of State Vedant Patel during a regular briefing in Washington on December 3. US appreciates Bangladesh’s interim govt's steps to ensure security for all Patel said they are “consistent” with every government in which they have a relationship with and they are clear that there needs to be the respect of fundamental freedoms; respect of religious freedom and basic human rights. “Any kind of protests should be and need to be peaceful, and that any kind of crackdown – not even crackdown – that governments need to respect the rule of law, they need to respect basic human rights as part of that. And that’s something we’ll continue to emphasise,” the US Department of Statement quoted Patel as saying. Writ petition filed against integrated energy and power master plan seeking climate justice

Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel says she felt “sorrow” at Donald Trump's return to power and recalls that every meeting with him was “a competition: you or me.” In an interview with German weekly Der Spiegel published Friday, Merkel said that Trump “is a challenge for the world, particularly for multilateralism.” “What awaits us now is really not easy,” she said, because “the strongest economy in the world stands behind this president” with the dollar as a dominant currency. Merkel worked with four American presidents while she was German chancellor. She was in power throughout Trump's first term — easily the most tense period for German-U.S. relations of her 16 years in office, which ended in late 2021. She recalled as “a typical scene” a famously awkward moment in the Oval Office when she first visited Trump at the White House in March 2017. Photographers shouted “handshake!” and Merkel quietly asked Trump: “Do you want to have a handshake?” There was no response from Trump, who looked ahead with his hands clasped. “I tried to coax him into a handshake for the photographers because I thought in my constructive way that maybe he hadn't noticed they wanted such a picture,” Merkel was quoted as saying. “But of course his refusal was calculation.” The pair did shake hands at other points during the visit. Asked what a German chancellor should know about dealing with Trump, Merkel said he was very curious and wanted details — “but only to read them for his own advantage, to find arguments that strengthen him and weaken others.” “The more people there were in the room, the greater was his urge to be the winner,” she added. “You can't chat with him. Every meeting is a competition: you or me.” Read: Hungary's Orbán vows to disregard international arrest warrant for Netanyahu Merkel said she felt “sorrow” at Trump's victory over Kamala Harris in the Nov. 5 presidential election. “It was already a disappointment for me that Hillary Clinton didn't win in 2016. I would have liked a different outcome.” The 70-year-old Merkel, a center-right Christian Democrat who has generally kept a low profile since leaving office, is due to release her memoirs next week.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Wednesday that the Biden administration will allow Ukraine to use American-supplied antipersonnel land mines to help fight off Russian forces. Speaking to reporters during a trip to Laos, he said the shift in policy follows changing tactics by the Russians. Austin said Russian ground troops are leading the movement on the battlefield, rather than forces more protected in armored carriers, so Ukraine has “a need for things that can help slow down that effort on the part of the Russians.” “The land mines that we would look to provide them would be land mines that are not persistent, you know, we can control when they would self-activate, self-detonate and that makes it, you know, far more, safer eventually than the things that they are creating on their own,” Austin said.  

The United States has laid emphasis on exercising fundamental freedoms, including the freedom of expression and freedom of assembly in Bangladesh. "We believe that the people of Bangladesh should be able to exercise their fundamental freedoms, including the freedom of expression, the freedom of assembly," said US Department of State Spokesperson Matthew Miller while responding to a question at a regular media briefing in Washington on October 28. He said they believe that no matter who the ruling party is in Bangladesh, and they have made that clear a number of times from this podium as well in their bilateral engagements. Special cell formed for preserving history of July-August revolution Miller made the remarks when a journalist wanted to know how the US views the impact of the actions on democratic freedom and political expression in Bangladesh in light of a recent report that the Bangladesh police are using the Anti-Terrorism Act to arrest people associated with the Chhatra League, for participating in demonstration. Reports suggest that 252 police sub-inspectors were dismissed from the final recruitment in Bangladesh, allegedly excluding all Hindu officers. Rohingya Crisis: Prof Yunus seeks urgent int’l conf to find solution The journalist wanted to know whether the US State Department has any response regarding the religious discrimination in the Bangladesh law enforcement hiring process. In reply, Miller said he has not seen that report, but obviously, they would oppose any religious discrimination in any process in Bangladesh or anywhere in the world.

The death toll from Hurricane Helene inched up to 227 on Saturday as the grim task of recovering bodies continued more than a week after the monster storm ravaged the Southeast and killed people in six states. Helene came ashore Sept. 26 as a Category 4 hurricane and carved a wide swath of destruction as it moved northward from Florida, washing away homes, destroying roads and knocking out electricity and cellphone service for millions. The number of deaths stood at 225 on Friday; two more were recorded in South Carolina the following day. It was still unclear how many people were unaccounted for or missing, and the toll could rise even higher. Helene is the deadliest hurricane to hit the mainland U.S. since Katrina in 2005. About half the victims were in North Carolina, while dozens more were killed in Georgia and South Carolina. The city of Asheville, in the western mountains of North Carolina, was particularly battered. A week later workers used brooms and heavy machinery to clean mud and dirt outside of New Belgium Brewing Company, which lies next to the French Broad River and is among thousands of city businesses and households affected. So far North Carolinians have received more than $27 million in individual assistance approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, said MaryAnn Tierney, a regional administrator for the agency. More than 83,000 people have registered for individual assistance, according to the office of Gov. Roy Cooper. In Buncombe County, where Asheville is located, FEMA-approved assistance has surpassed $12 million for survivors, Tierney said Saturday during a news briefing. “This is critical assistance that will help people with their immediate needs, as well as displacement assistance that helps them if they can’t stay in their home,” she said. She encouraged residents impacted by the storm to register for disaster assistance. Read:  At least 64 dead and millions without power after Helene's deadly march across the Southeast “It is the first step in the recovery process,” she said. “We can provide immediate relief in terms of serious needs assistance to replace food, water, medicines, other life safety, critical items, as well as displacement assistance if you cannot stay in your home.” Helene’s raging floodwaters shocked mountain towns hundreds of miles inland and far from where the storm made landfall on Florida’s Gulf Coast, including in the Tennessee mountains that Dolly Parton calls home. The country music star has announced a $1 million donation to the Mountain Ways Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to providing immediate assistance to Hurricane Helene flood victims. In addition, her East Tennessee businesses as well as the Dollywood Foundation are combining efforts, pledging to match her donation to Mountain Ways with a $1 million contribution. Parton said she feels a close connection to the storm victims because so many of them “grew up in the mountains just like I did.” “I can’t stand to see anyone hurting, so I wanted to do what I could to help after these terrible floods,” she said. “I hope we can all be a little bit of light in the world for our friends, our neighbors — even strangers — during this dark time they are experiencing.” Walmart U.S. President and CEO John Furner said the company, including Sam’s Club and the Walmart Foundation, would increase its commitment and donate a total of $10 million to hurricane relief efforts. In Newport, an eastern Tennessee town of about 7,000, residents continued cleaning up Saturday from the destruction caused by Helene's floodwaters. Mud still clung to the basement walls of one Main Street funeral home. The ground-floor chapel of another nearby was being dried out, a painting of Jesus still hanging on the wall in an otherwise barren room. Newport City Hall and its police department also took on water from the swollen Pigeon River. Some of the modest, one-story homes along its banks were destroyed, their walls crumbled and rooms exposed. Read more: Tropical Storm Helene moves toward western coast of Africa Farther east in unincorporated Del Rio, along a bend in the French Broad River, residents and volunteers toiled to clean up. The smell of wood hung in the air as people used chainsaws to cut through downed trees, and Bobcats beeped as they moved mangled sheet metal and other debris. Many homes sustained damage, including one that slid off its foundation.

Police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse violent demonstrators in Rome as tens of thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters took to the streets in major European cities and around the globe Saturday to call for a cease-fire as the first anniversary of the Hamas attacks on Israel approached. Huge rallies were held in several European cities, with gatherings expected to continue over the weekend and peak on Monday, the date of the anniversary. In Rome, several thousands demonstrated peacefully Saturday afternoon until a smaller group tried to push the rally toward the center of the city, in spite of a ban by local authorities who refused to authorize protests, citing security concerns. Some protesters, dressed in black and with their faces covered threw stones, bottles and paper bombs at the police, who responded with tear gas and water cannons, eventually dispersing the crowd. At least 30 law enforcement officers and three demonstrators were injured in the clashes, local media reported. The rally in Rome had been calm earlier, with people chanting “Free Palestine, Free Lebanon,” waving Palestinian flags and holding banners calling for an immediate stop to the conflict. In London, thousands marched through the capital to Downing Street amid a heavy police presence. The atmosphere was tense as pro-Palestinian protesters and counterdemonstrators, some holding Israeli flags, passed one another. Scuffles broke out as police officers pushed back activists trying to get past a cordon. At least 17 people were arrested on suspicion of public order offenses, supporting a proscribed organization and assault, London's Metropolitan Police said. In the northern German city of Hamburg, about 950 people staged a peaceful demonstration with many waving Palestinian and Lebanese flags or chanting “Stop the Genocide,” the DPA news agency reported, citing a count by police. Two smaller pro-Israeli counterdemonstrations took place without incident, it said. Several thousands protesters gathered peacefully at Paris’ Republique Plaza in a show of solidarity with the Palestinian and Lebanese people. Many were waving Palestinian flags while holding posters reading ”stop the genocide,” “free Palestine,” and “hands off Lebanon.” Pro-Palestinian demonstrators also gathered at New York’s Times Square to call for a cease-fire, chanting “Gaza!" to a drumbeat. Some wore keffiyeh scarfs, waved Palestinian and Lebanese flags and held a large cardboard image of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with red paint symbolizing blood across his face. Rallies were also planned in several other cities in the United States as well as in other parts of the world, including Denmark, Switzerland, South Africa and India. In the Philippines, dozens of left-wing activists protested near the U.S. Embassy in Manila, where police prevented them from getting closer to the seaside compound. Read: Tens of thousands join pro-Palestinian rallies in Europe amid high alert as Oct. 7 anniversary nears Pro-Israeli demonstrations are expected to be held Sunday because Jews across the world are still observing Rosh Hashana, or the Jewish new year. This year, emotions will be high for many given that the midpoint of the 10 days spanning Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur is Oct. 7 — the one-year anniversary of the Hamas attack that killed 1,200 Israelis and triggered the ongoing war in Gaza. High security alerts Security forces in several countries warned of heightened levels of alert in major cities, amid concerns that the escalating conflict in the Middle East could inspire new terror attacks in Europe or that the protests could turn violent. Pro-Palestinian protests calling for an immediate cease-fire have repeatedly taken place across Europe and around the globe in the past year and have often turned violent, with confrontations between demonstrators and law enforcement officers. Italian authorities believed that the timing of Saturday's rally in Rome risked the Oct. 7 attack being “glorified,” local media reported. Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi also stressed that, ahead of the key anniversary, Europe is on high alert for potential terror attacks. “This is not a normal situation. … We are already in a condition of maximum prevention,” he said. Ben Jamal, director of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign in Britain, said he and others will keep organizing marches until action against Israel is taken. “We need to be out on the streets in even bigger numbers to stop this carnage and stop Britain being drawn into it,” Jamal said. In Berlin, a march is scheduled from the Brandenburg Gate to Bebelplatz on Sunday. Local media reported that security forces have warned of potential overload because of the scale of protests. German authorities pointed to increasing antisemitic and violent incidents in recent days. Read more:Dozens arrested in new pro-Palestinian protests at UCLA Earlier this week in France, Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau warned the country’s regional prefects, expressing concern about possible tensions and saying that the terrorist threat was high. Thousands rally in DC for Gaza and Lebanon About 3,000 people demonstrated within sight of the White House, protesting the year-old Israeli siege of Gaza and the widening attacks on Lebanon. Amid a heavy police presence, the protesters gathered at Lafayette Park, the same site as the summer 2020 protests against police brutality and the death of George Floyd in police custody. The crowds chanted, “Resistance is justified when people are occupied!” One speaker on stage commemorated Oct. 7, 2023, as “the day that Gazans finally broke out of their prison.” The crowds then marched through downtown D.C., with police closing the streets ahead of them. Dozens of protesters carried signs criticizing the Biden-Harris administration’s handling of the issue. One sign read: “Abandon Harris ’24.” Law student Annette Tunstall said she had a brief moment when she considered voting Democrat after Biden stepped down and Harris assumed the candidacy. But she lost faith when she said pro-Palestinian voices were muzzled at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Read more:Police clear Pro-Palestinian tent encampment at George Washington University, dozens arrested “I really wanted to feel like I could vote for her in good conscience,” Tunstall said. “I don’t think it would have taken a lot for thousands of pro-Palestinian people to hold their nose and vote for Harris.” A tense and bloody year On Oct. 7 last year, Hamas launched a surprise attack into Israel, killing 1,200 Israelis, taking 250 people hostage and setting off a war with Israel that has shattered much of the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip. More than 41,000 Palestinians have been killed since then in Gaza, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not differentiate between fighters and civilians. Nearly 100 Israeli hostages remain in Gaza, with fewer than 70 believed to be alive. Israelis have experienced attacks — missiles from Iran and Hezbollah, explosive drones from Yemen, fatal shootings and stabbings — as the region braces for further escalation. In late September, Israel shifted some of its focus to Hezbollah, which it seeks to push back from its border in parts of south Lebanon where the group is entrenched.

Bangladesh finished arguably the most mortifying series on Saturday night when they won by 10 wickets against the USA but lost the 3-match series by 2-1. USA, who are currently 19th in the ICC T20I ranking, have registered their only 2nd and 3rd wins against a test-playing side in the 2024 US vs BAN T20I series. Let’s take a look at the possible reasons for the miserable performance of the Tigers.  How the Series Went The 3-match series was won by the USA by 2-1. They wrapped up the series in the first two games after winning by 5 wickets and 6 runs. The stats table suggests that the best performers of the series are from Bangladesh. Yet the US team got a better outcome than the Bangladesh team in this series. The first game saw Bangladesh batting first and registering a score of 153. It was a good recovery considering Bangladesh were 65/2 after 10 overs. Tawhid Hridoy’s 58(47) and Mahmudullah Riyad’s 31(22) gave Bangladesh a fighting total. Steven Taylor picked 2 wickets for 9 runs in his 3 overs.  In response, the USA were 99/5 after the 16th over needing 55 off 24 deliveries. From here, Harmeet Singh scored a blistering 33 off 13 and made a partnership of 62(31) with Corey Anderson (34 off 25) to ensure the victory of the USA and bagged the man of the match award. Mustafizur Rahman picked up a couple of wickets but gave away 41 runs.  Read more: Third T20I v USA: Bangladesh break records in consolation win that fails to console The 2nd game saw an even poorer Bangladesh side. The bowlers might have done a good job restricting the USA for 144. But the batters didn’t complement them. Bangladesh needed 26 runs from 24 balls at one stage with 5 wickets in hand. But a brilliant 9-ball spell from Ali Khan which saw him grabbing 3 wickets for only 9 runs was enough to hand USA the victory. He picked the man of the match in this game. The 3rd game was a mere formality but saw the best of Bangladesh in the series. Thanks to Mustafizur Rahman’s career-best figure of 4-1-10-6, Bangladesh restricted the USA to 104/9. The small target was chased down by the opening partnership of Soumya Sarkar (43* off 28) and Tanzid Tamim (58* off 42) with 50 balls and 10 wickets to spare. The latter scored his 3rd half-century in a career of seven games. 

The Copa America 2024 is scheduled to take place from 20th June to 14th July. Ahead of it, CONMEBOL has published the fixture of the tournament which will take place in the USA. It is the 48th edition of the oldest, still-running international football competition in the world. Argentina are the defending champions of COPA America.  Host and Venues the Copa America 2024  CONMEBOL has a unique way of choosing the hosts for the Copa America. Usually, the responsibility of organizing the tournament is allotted by alphabetical rotational order. In that system, the Copa America 2024 was originally supposed to be hosted by Ecuador. However, Ecuador declined the opportunity. Then Peru and the USA showed interest, and the USA was selected as part of the new strategic partnership of CONMEBOL and CONCACAF.  Table: List of Stadiums Stadium Name Location (States) AT&T Stadium Texas Mercedes-Benz Stadium Georgia Q2 Stadium Texas Bank of America Stadium North Carolina MetLife Stadium New Jersey NRG Stadium Texas SoFi Stadium California Levi's Stadium California State Farm Stadium Arizona Allegiant Stadium Nevada Arrowhead Stadium Missouri Children's Mercy Park Kansas Hard Rock Stadium Florida Inter&Co Stadium Florida . Read more: 19-year-old Utshob taking Bangladesh to the global boxing ring Groups and Fixtures of the 2024 Copa America Tournament The Copa America 2024 will be contested by 16 teams. The teams are divided into 4 groups of four. The top two teams from each group will qualify for the quarter-final rounds. From there, single knock-out games in quarter-finals, semi-finals, and finals will decide the champions. Table: Groups Group A Group B Group C Group D Argentina Mexica USA Brazil Peru Ecuador Uruguay Colombia Chile Venezuela Panama Paraguay Canada Jamaica Bolivia Costa Rica . Read more: Bangladesh v USA: Freak storm in Houston puts 3-match pre-World Cup series in doubt Table: Match Dates and Times adjusted in Bangladesh Standard-Times Date Team 1 vs Team 2 Time (BST) Stadium Group Stage 21-Jun-24 Argentina vs Canada 6:00 AM Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Georgia 22-Jun-24 Peru vs Chile 6:00 AM AT&T Stadium, Texas 23-Jun-24 Ecuador vs Venezuela 4:00 AM Levi's Stadium, California 23-Jun-24 Mexico vs Jamaica 7:00 AM NRG Stadium, Texas 24-Jun-24 USA vs Bolivia 4:00 AM AT&T Stadium, Texas 24-Jun-24 Uruguay vs Panama 7:00 AM Hard Rock Stadium, Florida 25-Jun-24 Colombia vs Paraguay 4:00 AM NRG Stadium, Texas 25-Jun-24 Brazil vs Costa Rica 7:00 AM SoFi Stadium, California 26-Jun-24 Peru vs Canada 4:00 AM Children's Mercy Park, Kansas 26-Jun-24 Chile vs Argentina 7:00 AM MetLife Stadium, New Jersey 27-Jun-24 Ecuador vs Jamaica 4:00 AM Allegiant Stadium, Nevada 27-Jun-24 Venezuela vs Mexico 7:00 AM SoFi Stadium, California 28-Jun-24 Panama vs USA 4:00 AM Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Georgia 28-Jun-24 Uruguay vs Bolivia 7:00 AM MetLife Stadium, New Jersey 29-Jun-24 Colombia vs Costa Rica 4:00 AM State Farm Stadium, Arizona 29-Jun-24 Paraguay vs Brazil 7:00 AM Allegiant Stadium, Nevada 30-Jun-24 Argentina vs Peru 6:00 AM Hard Rock Stadium, Florida 30-Jun-24 Chile vs Canada 6:00 AM Inter&Co Stadium, Florida 1-Jul-24 Mexico vs Ecuador 6:00 AM State Farm Stadium, Arizona 1-Jul-24 Jamaica vs Venezuela 6:00 AM Q2 Stadium, Texas 2-Jul-24 Bolivia vs Panama 7:00 AM Inter&Co Stadium, Florida 2-Jul-24 USA vs Uruguay 7:00 AM Arrowhead Stadium, Missouri 3-Jul-24 Brazil vs Colombia 7:00 AM Levi's Stadium, California 3-Jul-24 Costa Rica vs Paraguay 7:00 AM Q2 Stadium, Texas Quarter-Finals 5-Jul-24 A1 vs B2 7:00 AM NRG Stadium, Texas 6-Jul-24 B1 vs A2 7:00 AM AT&T Stadium, Texas 7-Jul-24 C1 vs D2 4:00 AM Allegiant Stadium, Nevada 7-Jul-24 D1 vs C2 7:00 AM State Farm Stadium, Arizona Semi-Finals 10-Jul-24 Winner of Quarter-Final 1 vs Winner of Quarter-Final 2 6:00 AM MetLife Stadium, New Jersey 11-Jul-24 Winner of Quarter-Final 3 vs Winner of Quarter-Final 4 6:00 AM Bank of America Stadium, North Carolina Third Place 14-Jul-24 Defeated Team of Semi-Final 1 vs Defeated Team of Semi-Final 2 6:00 AM Bank of America Stadium, North Carolina Grand Finale 15-Jul-24 Winner of Semi-Final 1 vs Winner of Semi-Final 2 6:00 AM Hard Rock Stadium, Florida Conclusion The Copa America 2024 will kick off on the 20th of June with defending champion Argentina taking on Canada at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Runner-ups Brazil will begin their journey on 24th June against Costa Rica at SoFi Stadium. Host USA will play their first match at AT&T Stadium against Bolivia. The tournament will close its curtains on the 14th of July at the Hard Rock Stadium.  Read more: Copa America 2024: Brazil Squad Analysis

Road Transport and Bridges Minister and General Secretary of the Awami League, Obaidul Quader, has said that the government is indifferent to US sanctions and visa policies. His comments came during a discussion today (May 14, 2024) with journalists at the Secretariat addressing contemporary issues. Quader remarked that US Assistant Secretary of State Donald Lu has come to Bangladesh with his own agenda, emphasizing that the government did not extend an invitation to him. “I do not want to discuss this matter. They come and go as part of their routine,” Quader mentioned. BNP rally means arson, havoc and bloodshed: Obaidul Quader Regarding Lu’s visit, Quader commented, “He is not even a Foreign Minister! Why all this fuss about him! He has come here out of necessity, they have their agenda. When relationships exist, discussions on various issues related to those relationships will happen.” Quader also referenced previous discussions related to visa policies and sanctions before the elections, highlighting that the stance remains unchanged. “We do not care about any kind of sanctions or visa policies,” Quader declared when asked about the political implications of Lu’s visit. Read more: Donald Lu in Dhaka to "strengthen bilateral cooperation" with Bangladesh