Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen on Thursday (July 04, 2024) said China stands ready to take Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's visit as an opportunity to further deepen mutual trust between the two countries, strengthen the synergy of development strategies, consolidate traditional friendship, and work together to realize the Chinese Dream of National Rejuvenation and Bangladesh’s Vision 2041. "Our relationship boasts strong vitality, dynamism, and development potential. It enjoys broad support from our two peoples and will continue to maintain robust and sound development momentum," he said. The Ambassador made the remarks at the DCAB Talk held at Jatiya Press Club. DCAB President Nurul Islam Hasib and General Secretary Ashiqur Rahman Apu also spoke at the event.  The envoy said China stands ready to work with Bangladesh to achieve more practical results in infrastructure, digital economy, clean energy, agriculture, education, healthcare, culture and people-to-people exchanges, thereby assisting Bangladesh in its modernization process. Through PM Hasina’s upcoming visit, he said, the two sides will further enhance coordination and cooperation on regional and international issues, jointly upholding the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries and international fairness and justice. The envoy said China supports Bangladesh’s bid to become a partner country of the BRICS and hopes Bangladesh will be a BRICS member at an early date.  PM’s upcoming China visit a reflection of maintaining balanced diplomacy: Foreign Minister He said China highly appreciates Bangladesh's humanitarian spirit in sheltering more than one million Rohingya refugees. China is actively pursuing all parties involved in the Myanmar conflict to achieve a ceasefire and engage in dialogue, thus paving the way for repatriation of the refugees at an early date.  "China stands ready to support Bangladesh in multilateral arena, jointly safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries, and promoting regional and international peace and stability," Yao said. He said Bangladesh and China share similar values, national dreams, and development paths.  The envoy said China is ready to carry forward the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence with Bangladesh, consolidate political mutual trust, and make China-Bangladesh relations a model of mutual respect and win-win cooperation among developing countries. Through the PM’s upcoming visit, he said, the two sides will achieve new breakthroughs in pragmatic cooperation, bringing more benefits to the people of both countries.  "It has been proven that China is Bangladesh's most reliable partner and most trustworthy friend," said the Ambassador. On Bangladesh's journey toward modernization, he said the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is highly consistent with Vision 2041 and the dream of "Golden Bengal," as well as Bangladesh's national conditions.  "China is Bangladesh's largest trading partner and the second-largest source of foreign investment. China's economic and trade cooperation with Bangladesh comes with no political strings attached nor demands for special privileges. Significant results have been achieved over the past eight years since Bangladesh joined the BRI," he added. Read more: Experts highlight Bangladesh’s need for China in its dev journey, strategic gains anticipated from PM Hasina’s upcoming visit

Ambassador of Palestine to Bangladesh, Yousef S. Y. Ramadan, on Thursday said the recent ruling by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) gives a sense of optimism for the Palestinians to be independent after 75 years of struggle. "It's the first step on the way. We can build upon this," he said while speaking at the DCAB Talk at Jatiya Press Club. BNP and Jamaat still haven’t uttered a single word against genocide in Palestine: Foreign Minister Responding to a question, Ambassador Ramadan said they should not just stop there. "No. We wanted to wait and see. We want to provide ICJ with the evidence that Israel did commit genocide. This is our duty. This is the duty of everyone," he said. PM Hasina denounces Israeli attacks on Palestine, calls for ending the war The envoy added, "That's what we need ....to continue. And ICJ should continue the work to achieve its goal. It should not just relax." The ambassador said they are extremely grateful to Bangladesh and South Africa for their role. Bangladesh supported the genocide case filed by South Africa with the ICJ. Creation of Palestine state urgent; US key actor in bringing this to reality: Dr Yunus Lauding Bangladesh's position, he said this was a very courageous move from Bangladesh. In the ICJ proceedings, South Africa contended that Israel is violating its obligations under the Genocide Convention with its military assault on Gaza, which began on October 8, 2023, after the attack by Hamas in Israel, which killed 1,200 people and wounded many more. Around 240 people were also taken hostage in the attack. During oral hearings earlier this month, Israel sought to have the case dismissed by the ICJ judges — a motion that was rejected last Friday (January 26). The landmark ruling by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) offers the first concrete hope to protect civilians in Gaza enduring apocalyptic humanitarian conditions, destruction, mass killing, wounding and irreparable trauma, UN experts said today. “The ruling is a significant milestone in the decades-long struggle for justice by the Palestinian people,” the experts said. The ICJ found it plausible that Israel’s acts could amount to genocide and issued six provisional measures, ordering Israel to take all measures within its power to prevent genocidal acts, including preventing and punishing incitement to genocide, ensuring aid and services reach Palestinians under siege in Gaza, and preserving evidence of crimes committed in Gaza. “We echo the sense of urgency demonstrated by the Court in its short, two-week deliberation, as hundreds of Palestinians, primarily women and children, are being killed by Israeli forces every day, resulting in a death toll of 26,751 people in Gaza over the past three months. This amounts to over 1% of the population,” they said. Ambassador Ramadan said that the international community is gradually abandoning Israel that has so far been enjoying impunity just because it is powerful. On January 30, UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron said Britain is ready to bring forward the moment when it formally recognises a Palestinian state. He said Palestinians had to be given a political horizon to encourage peace in the Middle East, BBC reported. When his attention was brought to that, the ambassador said the UK should have been the first to recognise the Palestinian State because all the problems of Palestine were created because of British policy. He said US President Joe Biden is working very hard to find a solution but he should have done it much earlier. Ambassador Ramadan said the international community for long has ignored the Palestinians' issue just because Israel is powerful. "Israel is there fighting us. But who are the countries standing beside it? The powerful countries," he said. Ambassador Ramadan said he does not represent Hamas or Fattah but the Palestine Liberation Organization. “This is a very hot issue. Talk about this,” he said, expressing disappointment over the lack of unity among the Muslim countries while he referred to the unity in Europe. The ambassador said he never felt like a refugee during his nine-year stay in Bangladesh as he always received warmth and love from the people here. DCAB President Nurul Islam Hasib and its General Secretary Ashiqur Rahman Apu also spoke.

Visiting international observers today (January 08, 2024) described the just-held 12th National Parliamentary Election in Bangladesh as “free, fair and safe.” “Considering the overall situation, all the observers present here agree that the 12th National Parliamentary Election of Bangladesh was held peacefully and with the participation of the common people. It was free, fair and very safe,” observer Terry L Easley said at a media briefing at Jatiya Press Club. The observer from the US said there was no intimidation of voters by the candidates or parties participating in the election. “This bode well for democracy and voting rights.” “We have heard of some isolated incidents. Like clashes among the supporters of the government's candidates, independent candidates and other parties which is unexpected. But if we review the overall election situation, those incidents are very insignificant,” Easley said. "What we have seen is that the voting process of Bangladesh is similar to many countries in the world," said the leader of international observers team. They said if all the political parties participated in the elections, the atmosphere would have been more beautiful and joyful. Talking to the voters in all the centers they observed, they found that they did not face anyobstacles on their way to vote. They congratulated the Election Commission for conducting the election successfully and efficiently. Jim Bates, former US congressman and an election observer, also spoke, among others. The international observers appreciated participation of women voters. They hoped to make their full report public within two weeks to one month. “I found (it to be a) very peaceful, free and fair election,” Jim Bates told reporters at a separate media briefing Sunday evening. "I’d like to say it’s a free and fair election already," he added. “The thing they keep talking about is low turnout: that’s a misnomer. In some countries, voting goes on till 5/6 pm or even months,” Bates said. He said Bangladesh has the shortest voting time in the world. “So when they say ‘low turnout,’ that’s something to manoeuvre the press,” Bates said. Bates is a former politician who served as a Democratic elected official from San Diego, California. He served four terms in the United States House of Representatives from 1983 to 1991. Chandra Arya , Member of Parliament, Canada and Victor Oh, Senator, Canada also briefed the media separately. The independent election observers from Canada said, "Today the citizens of Bangladesh have exercised their fundamental and valuable right to vote and chose their representatives. Today, in the true spirit of democracy, the people of Bangladesh have determined who get their mandate to take the country forward for the next 5 years." Read more: Election 2024: Former BNP vice chairman Shahjahan Omar wins from Jhalakathi-1 Chandra Arya said they will now wait to see the newly elected representatives of the people who will shoulder the responsibility of governing the country and deliver the commitments made during the course of the election campaign. "We noted that even with the call for boycott, a record number of female candidates and a transgender candidate among the 28 political parties and over 1900 candidates including independents contesting the elections," he said. The observers also noted the efforts of the Bangladesh Election Commission to reach out to voters and specifically to the younger generation to encourage them to participate in the elections. "We confirmed there was a process within the Bangladesh Election Commission to address any complaints from the voters or the political parties or the candidates," Chandra Arya said. "We wish to congratulate the Bangladesh Election Commission on successfully conducting a free and fair elections," he added. "With one of us being an elected Member of Canadian Parliament and having contested and won three times in row, we are personally aware of the complexity of managing an election." The Canadian observers recognized and commended the excellent work of Bangladesh Election Commission in marshaling all the institutions of the state and delivering a "free, fair and successful" election. In a separate briefing, Head of the Russian election monitoring delegation, Andrey Y Shuvot, said they are satisfied with the peaceful elections. These elections are legitimate, he told reporters. Scottish MP Martyn Day in his brief remarks, said the election was fairly smooth, but voter turnout was relatively low. Chief Electoral Officer of Palestine Hisham Kuhali on Sunday said Bangladeshis should be proud of electoral procedures that are in place and expressed satisfaction over the smooth completion of the vote casting. "We noticed quiet and peaceful election. We have not noticed any sign of violence," he told reporters at a media briefing at a Dhaka hotel. Kuhali said the procedures of casting votes were very simple and straightforward. "This is very good by international standards," he said, referring to the time it took to cast a vote. The international observer said people are well informed and well trained who are helping voters to cast their votes. Asked about the voters' turnout, he said, "We are here to judge the voting procedures. You should be proud of your process." Member of Arab Parliament Abdihakim Moalliam described the election as "smooth", conducted in a very efficient way. He appreciated the democratic exercise in Bangladesh, noting that it was a shining example of peace and unity. The foreign observers visited several centres. Around 127 foreign observers are currently in Dhaka to observe the 12th National Parliamentary Election. Read more: Election 2024: China congratulates PM Hasina, says committed to working with her

The publication ceremony of the sportsbook "Ground-Gallery-Stadium" written by veteran sports journalist Mohammad Quamruzzaman was held at the Abdus Salam Hall of the Jatiya Press Club Thursday. Bangla daily Editor Prothom Alo Matiur Rahman unveiled the cover of the book. Former cricketer and chief selector of the national cricket team Lutfar Rahman Makhan presided over the publication ceremony. Quamruzzaman, former sports editor of Dainik Bangla, captain of the Swadhin Bangla football team (SBFT) Zakaria Pintu, SBFT vice-captain Pratap Sankar Hazra, former secretary general of the Bangladesh Olympic Association and hockey player Bashir Ahmed, former vice-chairman of the National Sports Council Colonel M Obaidullah Khan (retired), former national footballer Abdus Salam, Channel 24 Sports Editor Dilu Khandaker, and Krira Jagot Editor Mahmud Hossain Khan Dulal were also present.

The newly elected office bearer and management committee members of Jatiya Press Club (JPC) paid homage to the father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at his mausoleum in Tungipara on Monday. The JPC management committee led by its president Farida Yesmin and general secretary Shyamal Dutta placed a floral wreath at the of mausoleum Bangabandhu and observed one minute of silence for the 'martyrs' of August 15. They also offered Munajat for the salvation of the martyrs of Liberation War and August 15.  

Global Climate Strike 2022 was observed in Bangladesh with hundreds of young people turning out in front of Jatiya Press Club in Dhaka today. ActionAid Bangladesh, with 72 countries, organized the Climate Strike in collaboration with Fridays for Future and youth groups. The goal of the climate strike is to urge all nations to act immediately in support of climate justice — by sending a loud, yet nonviolent statement, according to a press release. Read: PM to focus on peace & climate change in her UNGA speech: Momen The youngsters demanded that the government declare a ‘Climate Emergency’ and that world leaders prioritize ‘people not profit’.

BNP on Saturday expressed doubt that the government has taken a move to introduce the universal pension scheme for all citizens as part of its new ploy to plunder public money. Speaking at a rally, party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir also alleged that the government has haired lobbyists with taxpayers’ money to legalise its repressive acts, including enforced disappearance. As part of BNP’s 11-day countrywide programme, its Dhaka north and south city units arranged the rally in front of the Jatiya Press Club protesting the growing price hike of daily essentials and utility services. Also read: AL 'helping big power' make Bangladesh a subservient country: BNP “I’ve seen a media report about whether the government will introduce a universal general pension. They’re not saying anything clearly about it. But can realise that they are going to resort to another trick to loot public money,” Fakhrul said. He said the government will take Tk 1,000 from each person per month for up to 60 years. “If any one dies before the age of 60, their money won’t be given back…that means they’re taking the step as to how people’s money can be looted and their pockets can be cut.” The BNP leader said the government is unable to take any step to resolve people’s problems. “Rather, they’re putting people in danger. People have started now considering this regime as their enemies.”  Why lobbyists?  Fakhrul said though the government was talking tall about the US sanctions on Rab and the force’s some former and current officials, it has now appointed lobbyists to lift the bans by spending $20,000 every month. Also read: Long queues near TCB trucks exposes reality: BNP “Why have you now engaged the lobbyists? The only reason is to legalise and hush up the repressions like killing and enforced disappearance, on people by spending their tax money on lobbyists,” he said. The BNP leader said the government will not be able to hide its misdeeds as those are getting exposed one by one. “You’ve no way to suppress (your misdeeds) no matter what step you take or appoint lobbyists.” Stating that a poster carrying a sobbing photo of a minor daughter of enforced disappearance victim Mahfuzur Rahman Sohel pasted on different walls around the capital, Fakhrul said it has created a commotion all over the world. “This government has looted all of our good things and achievements. The people of this country will never forgive this government. We would like to tell Awami League it won’t be able to subdue people by resorting to enforced disappearance, killing and repressive acts,” he observed.   He urged people, including the youth, to wake up and become involved with their party’s movement for protecting the country from the misrule of the Awami League. “We call upon all democracy-loving and patriotic political parties to initiate a struggle against the horrible fascist regime. Our victory is there for sure.” Fakhrul asked the government to quit and arrange a credible election under a non-party neutral administration before time runs out fast. Corruption  He said the prices of all commodities and services that are needed for people’s survival have gone beyond the buying capacity. “We all need rice, pulses, oil and salt. The lines of people near the TCB’s trucks are getting longer every day. Even people belonging to the middle class are standing in the lines to buy goods from TCB’s trucks.” The BNP leader said the prices of electricity, gas and water have been rising every year for several times only because of corruption and looting by the government and its administrations. “Corruption has become pervasive everywhere in the country.” Awami League has now become a party of looters. “They want to hang onto power by looting public money. There’s no place where there is no corruption and plundering during the rule of this regime.” Referring to a leaked telephonic conversation between Law Minister Anisul Huq and Prime Minister’s Adviser Salman F Rahman, he said they talked about a project of Prime Minister’s son and IT adviser Sajeeb Wazed Joy. He said though their party has long been seeking a clear explanation on the matter, the government still did not pay heed to it. “People want to know why Joy’s name was used for passing the project.”

A street drama 'Rokte lekha Bangla Bhasha’ written in the context of Language Movement in 1952 was performed in the city on Monday in remembrance of the language martyrs. On the occasion of Martyrs' Day and International Mother Language Day, Open Dialogue Bangladesh (OPD) hosted the street drama in front of Jatiya Press Club. In backdrop of Pakistan's conspiracy against the Bangla language and Bengali culture and the persecution of Bengalis by Pakistani forces since the partition in 1947 were highlighted in the drama 'Rokte Lekha Bangla Bhasha’. Read:Bangladesh Mission in New Delhi pays homage to language martyrs The drama was directed by Samad Bhuiyan and presented by his team. Artists Umme Salam Shimu, Vashkar Roy, Naima Akhter, Steve Aaron Barai, Smriti Akhter, Tahfimul Islam Apu, Fatema Akhter Trisha, Sajjad Masood Soumya, Sabrina Islam, Ariful Islam, Abdur Rahman Rakib and Samad Bhuiyan performed in the play. The artists presented national and patriotic songs before the 30-minute street drama.

Speakers at a discussion on Monday said Pakistan’s conspiracy against Bangla language and Bengali culture has not stopped yet which was started immediately after the partition in 1947.  The discussants said people responded to the conspiracy by defeating Pakistanis in the Language Movement and the War of Liberation but the conspiracy of Pakistan and its followers continues.   The discussion titled ‘Twenty-one to seventy-one: the Golden Jubilee of Independence and the Mujib Year’ was organised marking the Martyrs' Day and International Mother Language Day at Jatiya Press Club.  Read: Street drama 'Rokte Lekha Bangla Bhasha' performed in city Voluntary organization Media Forum for Human Rights and Environmental Development (MHED) organized the discussion. President of Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) Omar Farooq was the chief discussant. President of Dhaka Union of Journalists Quddus Afrad and President of Bangladesh-India Sampriti Parishad Freedom Fighter Professor Fazle Ali spoke as special guests with MHED's Advisor and President of Indian Media Correspondents Association, Bangladesh (IMCAB) Basudeb Dhar in the chair.  Besides, NAP Secretary General Golam Mostafa Bhuiyan, General Secretary of Indian Media Correspondents Association, Bangladesh (IMCAB) Masum Billah, Treasurer Aminul Haque Bhuiyan, Executive Director of MHED Rafiqul Islam Sabuj were present.  Read:Ekushey observed in Canberra with participation of Bangladesh community, foreigners The speakers said Pakistanis were trying to impose Urdu language in 1952 by saying that Urdu was the language of Muslims and Islam.  But this is not true, even Urdu is not the provincial language in any province of Pakistan, they said.  The speakers said Pakistanis determined the character of a language from their communal consciousness and thinking.

BNP on Sunday extended its support to the students demanding half bus fare for them, and urged the government to take steps to meet their demand. “We extend our full support to the demand of the students. We demand that steps be taken to provide them with half passes by reducing the fare. The government can provide subsidy, if necessary, in this regard,” BNP secretary genarel Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir told a rally. Read:Demo for half bus fare: Students give 48-hour ultimatum Jatiyatabadi Swechchasebak Dal arranged the progarmme in front of the Jatiya Press Club, demanding BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s treatment abroad. The BNP leader said the students have been staging demonstrations demanding 50 percent discount in public transport as the costs of their studies have gone up. Besides, he said the poor and lower-income families are facing serious difficulties to cope with the growing price hike of all essentials, including rice, oil, pulses and salt and education materials like books and pens for their children. He said the government has deepened public sufferings by increasing the bus fare. “This anti-people government raised the diesel and kerosene prices by 15 percent…transport owners and workers had gone on a strike immediately demanding a hike in transport fares and the government increased that.” Read: Chhatra Odhikar Porishod demand notification to ensure students' half bus fare The BNP leader alleged the prices of fuel and the transport fares have been hiked in the interest of Awami League’s ‘corrupt syndicates’ who make their pockets heavier with public money. “The government is now saying it has reduced the fares of BRTC-run buses, but it can’t do the same regarding the private buses. When you can control private business and all other things, why can’t you reduce the bus fares for our students?” he said. He said the government needs to take steps for reducing fares of private buses even by giving Tk 2,000-3,000 crore subsidy to facilitate the students in pursuing their studies.