United News of Bangladesh

Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodríguez on Friday announced a proposed amnesty law that could pave the way for the release of hundreds of people jailed for political reasons, including opposition figures, journalists and human rights activists. The long-demanded measure, backed by the United States-supported opposition, marks the latest concession by Rodríguez since she assumed control on Jan 3, following the dramatic removal of then president Nicolás Maduro in a US military operation in Caracas. Addressing a gathering of judges, ministers, senior military officers and other officials in a prerecorded televised event, Rodríguez said the ruling party-dominated National Assembly would consider the bill on an urgent basis. “May this law serve to heal the wounds left by the political confrontation fueled by violence and extremism,” she said. “May it serve to redirect justice in our country, and may it serve to redirect coexistence among Venezuelans.” She also announced the closure of Helicoide, a notorious detention center in Caracas where independent organizations have repeatedly documented torture and other abuses. Rodríguez said the facility would be converted into a sports, social and cultural complex for police and nearby communities. The announcement was made in the presence of several officials whom former detainees and rights groups have accused of ordering abuses at Helicoide and other prisons. Outside Helicoide, relatives of detainees watched Rodríguez’s speech on mobile phones, some in tears as others chanted, “Freedom! Freedom!” “God is good. God heard us,” said Johana Chirinos, an aunt of one prisoner, as she cried. Opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate María Corina Machado said in a statement that the measures were not adopted “voluntarily, but rather in response to pressure from the US government.” She noted that people have been imprisoned for political activities for periods ranging from one month to 23 years. “The regime’s repressive apparatus is brutal and has responded to the numerous criminal forces that answer to this regime, and it is all that remains,” Machado said. “When repression disappears and fear is lost, it will be the end of tyranny.” According to the Venezuelan prisoners’ rights group Foro Penal, 711 people are currently detained nationwide for political reasons, including 183 who have already been sentenced. Among those still imprisoned after the 2024 presidential election are former lawmaker Freddy Superlano, Machado’s lawyer Perkins Rocha, and Juan Pablo Guanipa, a former governor and close ally of Machado. The government did not release the text of the proposed bill, leaving unclear how eligibility for amnesty will be determined. Rodríguez said the “general amnesty law” would apply to the entire period of political violence from 1999 to the present, but would exclude those convicted of murder, drug trafficking, corruption or human rights violations. Earlier this month, Rodríguez’s administration announced plans to free a large number of detainees as a goodwill gesture, but families have criticised the slow pace of releases. “A general amnesty is welcome as long as its elements and conditions include all of civil society, without discrimination, that it does not become a cloak of impunity, and that it contributes to dismantling the repressive apparatus of political persecution,” Foro Penal president Alfredo Romero said on social media. The group said 302 detainees have been released since the Jan 8 announcement. Human rights organization Provea also criticised the lack of transparency and the gradual nature of the releases, stressing that freeing those still detained is urgent. It said an amnesty should not be framed as a pardon or act of clemency by the state. “We recall that these people were arbitrarily imprisoned for exercising rights protected by international human rights instruments, the National Constitution, and Venezuelan laws,” Provea said. The US State Department confirmed on Friday that all known US citizens held in Venezuelan prisons had been released. It also said Laura Dogu, who will serve as Washington’s top diplomat in Venezuela, was due to arrive in Caracas on Saturday. Outside another detention center in the capital, Edward Ocariz, who was jailed for more than five months after the 2024 election, joined families demanding the immediate release of detainees. “We, Venezuelans, have all endured so much, all unjust, merciless and trampling on our dignity,” Ocariz said. “No one deserves this. And today, the guilty continue to govern Venezuela.”

Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado has said she will lead her country “when the right time comes” and expressed confidence that she will one day become Venezuela’s first woman president. Speaking to Fox News, Machado said she believes she has a mission to rebuild Venezuela and turn it into a prosperous nation. “I believe I will be elected when the right time comes as president of Venezuela,” she said. Her remarks came a day after she presented her Nobel Peace Prize medal to US President Donald Trump in Washington, calling it a recognition of his support for Venezuela’s freedom. Earlier this month, the United States seized Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in Caracas and took him to New York to face drug and weapons charges. However, Trump has not endorsed Machado as Venezuela’s new leader, saying she lacks enough domestic support. Trump has instead engaged with Venezuela’s interim president Delcy Rodríguez, who previously served as vice president under Maduro. Machado said she has a mandate from the people and wants to serve her country in the most effective way. During her visit to Washington, she also met US senators at Congress as her supporters chanted “María, presidente” and waved Venezuelan flags. Meanwhile, Rodríguez held talks in Caracas with the CIA director on improving relations between the two countries. She later said Venezuela would face the US through political dialogue and announced oil sector reforms to attract foreign investment.   With inputs from BBC

Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel said his government is not holding talks with the United States, a day after President Donald Trump issued threats toward the Caribbean nation following a recent U.S. attack on Venezuela. In a series of posts on X, Díaz-Canel responded to Trump’s suggestion that Cuba should “make a deal, before it is too late,” without clarifying what such a deal would involve. The Cuban leader said any improvement in relations must be grounded in international law and mutual respect, not “hostility, threats and economic coercion.” He said Cuba has always been open to dialogue with U.S. administrations, including the current one, but only on the basis of sovereign equality, noninterference and full respect for Cuba’s independence. Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez echoed the message. Trump said Sunday that Cuba would no longer benefit from oil and financial support from Venezuela following the U.S. attack that toppled Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Venezuela had been supplying Cuba with about 35,000 barrels of oil per day, a key lifeline for the energy-strapped island. Despite that support, Cuba has faced widespread blackouts due to fuel shortages and a deteriorating power grid. Analysts warn that losing Venezuelan oil could worsen the country’s deep economic crisis, compounded by tighter U.S. sanctions and declining tourism revenue. Díaz-Canel emphasized that the only ongoing contacts with Washington are limited technical talks on migration. Meanwhile, uncertainty over U.S.-Cuba relations continues to fuel anxiety among ordinary Cubans already struggling with shortages, inflation and a prolonged economic downturn.

Venezuelans across Latin America expressed mixed emotions after the ouster of former President Nicolás Maduro, with many celebrating the news yet remaining cautious about returning to their homeland, officials and migrants said. In Peru, 22-year-old graphic designer Yanelis Torres printed T-shirts featuring Maduro with slogans like “Game Over,” which quickly sold out in Lima’s largest textile market. Settled or undocumented, most of the estimated 7 million Venezuelans living in Latin America—including 1.5 million in Peru and 2.8 million in Colombia—welcomed the news but remained wary, particularly after U.S. President Donald Trump said he would work with Maduro’s vice president, now interim President Delcy Rodríguez, rather than opposition leaders. For many, economic hardship and political uncertainty remain major barriers to returning. Eduardo Constante, 36, who left Venezuela in 2017 amid a hunger crisis, recounted years spent moving across Latin America before attempting to reach the U.S., only to face closed borders. He said he might return if conditions improve, but worries about food shortages and government repression remain. Experts warn that Venezuelans without legal status face heightened vulnerability to crime and deportation. Yohanisleska de Nazareth Márquez, deported to Mexico with her 3-year-old son, said she plans to apply for asylum in Mexico but fears for her safety. Maureen Meyer of Washington-based WOLA said the diaspora is far from ready to return safely. The political environment in host countries adds further uncertainty. Chile’s incoming President José Antonio Kast has promised to deport undocumented immigrants, while Peru and Colombia are preparing for elections that could affect migration policies. Despite the uncertainty, some Venezuelans abroad remain hopeful. Alexander Leal, in Santiago, dreams of returning one day, and Torres continues her business in Lima while maintaining ties to her family in Venezuela.

The gradual release of prisoners in Venezuela entered a third day on Saturday, as families continued to gather outside prisons hoping to reunite with detained relatives following a government promise of a “goodwill” release. Among those freed was Diógenes Angulo, who had spent a year and five months in detention after being arrested at 17 for posting a video of an opposition protest ahead of the 2024 presidential election. His release sparked emotional scenes as relatives waited nearby for similar news. Angulo said his faith sustained him in prison and expressed hope that others would soon be freed. Despite the government’s pledge, rights group Foro Penal said fewer than 20 detainees had been released by Saturday, while 809 people remained imprisoned. Authorities have not published a list or total number of those eligible for release, deepening uncertainty for families and activists. Those detained include opposition politicians, activists, journalists and military personnel. Several high-profile opposition figures arrested after the 2024 election remain behind bars, while some released individuals have described their freedom as conditional rather than absolute. President Donald Trump welcomed the releases, saying they came at Washington’s request, days after U.S. forces captured former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife in a nighttime raid in Caracas. Their removal has triggered both pro-government demonstrations inside Venezuela and sharp condemnation from acting authorities. The developments come as Venezuela and the United States cautiously explore restoring diplomatic relations severed in 2019. Meanwhile, families continue to wait outside prisons, watching hours pass with little information, uncertain whether the promised releases will expand in the days ahead.  

Colombian President Gustavo Petro has warned of a “real threat” of US military action against the country. He made the comments in an interview with the BBC, citing recent remarks by US President Donald Trump about a potential operation in Colombia. Petro said the United States treats other countries as part of its “empire” and risks becoming isolated from the world. He also criticised US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), accusing agents of acting like “Nazi brigades” and of killing US citizens during enforcement operations. The warning came after Trump described a military operation in Colombia as “sounds good” following the US seizure of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Petro said the phone call with Trump was largely dominated by discussions on drug trafficking, Colombia’s position on Venezuela, and broader Latin American affairs. Protests erupted across Colombia in response to Trump’s remarks. Petro said the comments threaten Colombia’s sovereignty and cited the country’s history of foreign interventions as a concern. He stressed that dialogue remains the preferred method to resolve tensions but said Colombia is prepared to defend itself using its terrain and population if needed. Colombia is a major cocaine producer and holds significant reserves of oil, coal, and precious metals. Petro denied allegations linking him to drug trafficking and highlighted his two-decade-long fight against cartels. The president said his “total peace” strategy balances dialogue with armed groups and targeted military action against those who reject peace, leading to a reduction in coca cultivation and homicides in parts of southern Colombia. Petro also confirmed talks with Venezuela’s acting president Delcy Rodríguez to prevent covert operations on Colombian soil.   With inputs from BBC

Venezuela’s Foreign Minister Yvan Gil on Wednesday publicly expressed gratitude for China’s support for his country’s full sovereignty over its territory and natural resources, and for its strong criticism of recent U.S. actions. In a post on his X account, Gil highlighted China’s condemnation of what Beijing and Caracas describe as serious violations of international law and Venezuelan sovereignty, along with acts of intimidation by the United States. At a regular press briefing in Beijing the same day, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning reaffirmed that Venezuela — as a sovereign state — has complete and permanent control over its natural resources and all economic activities within its borders. Mao said U.S. operations “seriously violate international law, gravely infringe upon Venezuela’s sovereignty, and severely undermine the rights of the Venezuelan people,” and that China “strongly condemns these actions.” This statement reflects China’s consistent diplomatic stance following the recent U.S. military operation in Venezuela, which has sparked international criticism and heightened geopolitical tensions in the region.

At least 100 people were killed in the U.S. military operation that ousted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, authorities in Venezuela said Wednesday, as tensions over the dramatic assault escalate. Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello told state television that both Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were injured during the raid early Saturday and later taken into U.S. custody. Cabello condemned the U.S. action as “barbaric and despicable,” saying it harmed many innocent people and could not be concealed. He paid tribute to the president, Flores and those killed in the operation. This is the first official death toll released by Venezuelan authorities. Earlier, the Venezuelan army had published a list of 23 military personnel killed in the operation, and Cuban officials said 32 members of their military and intelligence services stationed in Venezuela also died. Interim President Delcy Rodríguez declared a week of mourning for the fallen, and videos of funerals for soldiers killed in the operation have been shown on state media. The United States has described the mission as a lawful operation but has not confirmed casualty figures provided by Caracas.  

Colombian President Gustavo Petro’s fierce criticism of the Trump administration’s capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro has pushed Colombia into a delicate standoff with its most important ally, even as both sides move to dial back tensions. Petro denounced the U.S. operation as an “abhorrent” violation of sovereignty and compared it to a “spectacle of death,” drawing some of the harshest condemnation of Washington from any world leader. His rhetoric escalated after President Donald Trump said a U.S. military operation in Colombia “sounds good.” Thousands rallied across Colombia Wednesday after Petro called for protests to defend national sovereignty. But the president surprised supporters by softening his tone after a last-minute phone call with Trump. “I had one speech prepared for today, but I have to give another one,” Petro told the crowd. “The first speech was quite harsh. I had to change it.” Petro said he urged Trump to restore direct dialogue, warning, “If there is no dialogue, there will be war.” Trump later described the call as a “Great Honor” and invited Petro to the White House. Despite months of insults, sanctions threats and visa revocations, both leaders appear eager to protect a relationship vital to U.S. counternarcotics efforts and Colombia’s security, underscoring how political pragmatism has tempered an explosive confrontation.

Venezuelan security forces detained at least 14 journalists on Monday as armed police and intelligence agents increased patrols across the capital following the capture of former leader Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces. The journalists were detained while covering developments after Maduro’s arrest, according to a union representing media workers. Most of those held worked for foreign news outlets and were released later in the day, though one reporter was deported. The detentions took place near the National Assembly, where Delcy Rodríguez was sworn in as interim president, and in other areas of Caracas, including Altamira. Two reporters were also detained near the Colombia-Venezuela border before being sent back to Colombia. The union said journalists had their phones checked, equipment searched, and messages reviewed by security personnel. It described the incidents as “alarming” and called for the release of 23 journalists still in detention in Venezuela. Residents reported a heavy presence of police, military forces, and armed pro-government groups on the streets, creating fear among people critical of the authorities. Rights groups say more than 800 political prisoners remain in custody, as repression has intensified since the disputed 2024 election.   With inputs from BBC