In the most recent daily count, hospitals in Bangladesh reported 2,711 new cases of dengue fever, bringing the year's total number of illnesses to 57,127. According to information released by the Directorate General of Health Services, the mosquito-borne illness killed 12 more individuals in the 24 hours prior to Wednesday morning, bringing the total number of fatalities to 273 overall.

Bangladesh: Dhaka witnesses record death toll after dengue outbreak

Bangladesh's opposition leader Tarique Rahman & his wife have been sentenced to jail. What impact will this have on the country's politics? Molly Gambhir reports.

Gravitas: Bangladesh's opposition leader sentenced to 9 years in jail

<p>A Bangladesh court sentenced the country's exiled opposition leader and his wife in absentia over corruption charges on Wednesday, the news agency AFP reported citing lawyers.</p>

<p>After the court's verdict, thousands of supporters of the Bangladeshi leader took to the streets to stage demonstrations calling the trial politically motivated.</p>

<p>55-year-old Tarique Rahman, who is the acting chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), was sentenced to nine years in prison on Wednesday and his wife Zubaida Rahman, was handed a three-year sentence, Anti-Corruption Commission lawyer Khushid Alam Khan told news agency AFP.</p>

<p>"He was sentenced to nine years in jail for concealing income and accumulating wealth disproportionate to his income, and his wife was sentenced to three years in jail for abetting her husband," Khan said.</p>

<p>BNP lawyer Masud Ahmed Talukder called the sentence "100 per cent politically motivated", saying the case was meant to keep Tarique Rahman "off from politics ahead of the December-January general election".</p>

<p><strong>Also read:</strong> <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/brics-summit-india-confirms-in-person-participation-of-pm-modi-622104">India confirms PM Modi's in-person attendance at BRICS summit in South Africa</a></p>

<h2><strong>What are the protesters demanding?</strong></h2>

<p>The opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its allies have staged multiple protests since last year and called for PM Hasina to step down. They have also demanded that the country hold general elections under a caretaker government.</p>

<p>Senior police official Rawshanul Huq Saikat said that around a thousand BNP supporters rallied outside party headquarters in Dhaka after the Rahmans' sentencing.</p>

<p>BNP’s demand to hold the next election, due in January 2024, by a neutral caretaker government has since been rejected by the incumbent government.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“BNP’s one-point demand is the restoration of democracy in Bangladesh....This can only be achieved through a free and fair election, which is not possible under the current regime,” senior BNP leader Abdul Moyeen Khan told Reuters.</p>

<p>He added, “This government must resign and make way for a free and fair election under an interim government, only through that we can restore a people's government in Bangladesh.”&nbsp;</p>

<p>Western governments have voiced concern over the political climate in Bangladesh, where the ruling party dominates the legislature and runs it virtually as a rubber stamp.</p>

<p>Tarique Rahman, who is based in London since the year 2008, had already been sentenced to life imprisonment in the year 2018 for his involvement in a 2004 grenade attack that claimed the lives of more than 20 people during a political rally for then-opposition leader Hasina. Rahman's mother Khaleda Zia was premier at the time.</p>

<p>Two-time former premier Zia is under effective house arrest after she was sentenced to 17 years in jail in two separate graft cases in 2018.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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A Bangladesh court sentenced the country's exiled opposition leader and his wife in absentia over corruption charges on Wednesday, the news agency AFP reported citing lawyers.

A Bangladesh court sentenced the country's exiled opposition leader and his wife in absentia over corruption charges on Wednesday, the news agency AFP reported citing lawyers. After the court's verdict, thousands of supporters of the Bangladeshi leader took to the streets to stage demonstrations calling the trial politically motivated. 55-year-old Tarique Rahman, who is the acting chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), was sentenced to nine years in prison on Wednesday and his wife Zubaida Rahman, was handed a three-year sentence, Anti-Corruption Commission lawyer Khushid Alam Khan told news agency AFP. "He was sentenced to nine years in jail for concealing income and accumulating wealth disproportionate to his income, and his wife was sentenced to three years in jail for abetting her husband," Khan said. BNP lawyer Masud Ahmed Talukder called the sentence "100 per cent politically motivated", saying the case was meant to keep Tarique Rahman "off from politics ahead of the December-January general election". Also read: India confirms PM Modi's in-person attendance at BRICS summit in South Africa What are the protesters demanding? The opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its allies have staged multiple protests since last year and called for PM Hasina to step down. They have also demanded that the country hold general elections under a caretaker government. Senior police official Rawshanul Huq Saikat said that around a thousand BNP supporters rallied outside party headquarters in Dhaka after the Rahmans' sentencing. BNP’s demand to hold the next election, due in January 2024, by a neutral caretaker government has since been rejected by the incumbent government. “BNP’s one-point demand is the restoration of democracy in Bangladesh....This can only be achieved through a free and fair election, which is not possible under the current regime,” senior BNP leader Abdul Moyeen Khan told Reuters. He added, “This government must resign and make way for a free and fair election under an interim government, only through that we can restore a people's government in Bangladesh.” Western governments have voiced concern over the political climate in Bangladesh, where the ruling party dominates the legislature and runs it virtually as a rubber stamp. Tarique Rahman, who is based in London since the year 2008, had already been sentenced to life imprisonment in the year 2018 for his involvement in a 2004 grenade attack that claimed the lives of more than 20 people during a political rally for then-opposition leader Hasina. Rahman's mother Khaleda Zia was premier at the time. Two-time former premier Zia is under effective house arrest after she was sentenced to 17 years in jail in two separate graft cases in 2018. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Tarique Rahman: Bangladesh's exiled opposition leader sentenced in absentia for graft

The Chairman of Bangladesh's main Opposition party and his wife have been sentenced to jail. The political tensions in the nation remain high amidst elections scheduled for later this year. He has been sentenced to nine years in jail while his wife has been sentenced to three years. Watch to know more in this interview with former diplomat Shamsher Chowdhury.

Bangladesh's exiled acting opposition chief Tarique Rahman sentenced to jail

Bangladesh is in turmoil. Tens of thousands of people are on the streets. Opposition is organising large-scale protests. The protesters are demanding PM Sheikh Hasina’s resignation.

Why are people in Bangladesh calling for PM Sheikh Hasina’s resignation?

Chairman of Bangladesh's main Opposition party and his wife have been sentenced to jail. The political tensions in the nation remains high amidst elections schedule for later this year. He has been sentenced to nine years in jail while his wife has been sentenced to three years.

Bangladesh Opposition Chief Tariq Rahman sentenced to 9 years in jail | WION Newspoint

The capital city of Bangladesh continues to be roiled with demonstrations by the supporters of the Opposition - Bangladesh Nationalist Party. The US has now expressed concerns over the instability and political violence in the country.

Bangladesh continues to be roiled in protests, US issues statement

<p>In a remote village in Southern Bangladesh, I met a middle-aged woman named Salma. However, the term 'remote' must undergo some redefinition as the infrastructural paradigm shift, epitomized by the inauguration of Padma Bridge connecting 21 districts, virtually eradicated the 'remote' mindset, bridging the gap between possibilities and reality. A night-long journey by passenger ferries, locally known as Launches, from the country's southern region to Dhaka has now been squeezed into a mere three-hour drive. Salma's beaming face had a charm that rubbed off on others as she seemed to be rejoicing while coming out of a local Community Clinic. As I approached her and introduced myself as a Professor of liver diseases at the well-known Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University in Dhaka, her enthusiasm to talk to me knew no bounds.</p>

<p>The reason behind her ecstasy soon became conspicuous to me as she had been endowed with a free insulin supply for her diabetes for the whole month from the Community Clinic. Having dealt, as a physician and hepatology specialist, with thousands of fatty liver patients, I am fully aware of the fact that diabetes catalyzes the complications associated with fatty acid. Bangladesh ranks&nbsp;10th in the world in terms of the diabetic population. Therefore, it is a herculean task to reach out to the 180 million population with a complimentary insulin supply, especially when the global economy is still reeling from the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Therefore, I couldn't resist visiting the Community Clinic, which brought so much joy to countless people, including Salma.</p>

<p>As a medical professional, although mainly in tertiary healthcare, I am conversant with the idea of a community clinic. The government undertook this remarkable and futuristic initiative to set up one primary healthcare facility through a public-private partnership for every six thousand citizens in Bangladesh. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina embarked, during her first tenure from 1996-2001, on this mission and set up clinics, which were unfortunately halted by the Khaleda Zia-led government of the BNP-Jammat alliance from 2001-2006. The community clinics were soon transformed into safe havens for addicts to be cloud 9 and cattle to graze. However, the project was revitalized after Awami League was voted to power in 2008.</p>

<p>The government mission was leveraged by the public-private partnership initiative and the noble gesture of people, including the ones who donated land for the sake of a healthier nation. To my surprise, even the &nbsp;United Nations General Assembly recently unanimously adopted the resolution termed, “Sheikh Hasina Initiative”, which is the first of its kind in the history of the United Nations to adopt a resolution in the name of an individual. Furthermore, the Community Clinic concept is not limited to providing people with free insulin. People receive healthcare advice, both physically and digitally owing to the digital transformation in Bangladesh, through the project that has spread across the length and breadth of Bangladesh. People are blessed with over 20 types of essential medicines, other than insulin, from these community clinics. Despite the free disbursement of insulin and other drugs, there is no free distribution of antibiotics because anti-microbial resistance has emerged as a global concern.</p>

<p>Apart from the healthcare landscape, other sectors have also undergone a massive transformation. Take the case of Asrayan (a housing project for homeless people), which is the largest resettlement project for people who would otherwise be living on the street without a shade overhead. A huge number of people who used to beg for alms in the city are now living a life of dignity, thanks to the Asrayan project.</p>

<p>The government's array of projects geared towards leading people to self-sufficiency and productivity changed the lives of innumerable people including Salma, who used to entreat for alms at the traffic signals of Dhaka city. The Arsrayan initiative and social safety net gave them comfort, reassurance, and freedom. So, neither the 20-inch LED colour television nor the small refrigerator in Salma’s house nor the 100 cc locally assembled motorbike parked outside her Asrayan home surprise me anymore, not to mention the strawberry that she offered me with tea at her residence. All this paradigm shift touching every sphere of Bangladesh - from Padma Bridge to Asrayan to free healthcare - is attributed to the vision spelled out by Bangabandhu's daughter, which story is now celebrated around the world as 'A Daughter's Tale'.</p>

<p><strong>(Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)</strong></p>

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In a remote village in Southern Bangladesh, I met a middle-aged woman named Salma. However, the term 'remote' must undergo some redefinition as the infrastructural paradigm shift, epitomized by the inauguration of Padma Bridge connecting 21 districts, virtually eradicated the 'remote' mindset, bridging the gap between possibilities and reality.

In a remote village in Southern Bangladesh, I met a middle-aged woman named Salma. However, the term 'remote' must undergo some redefinition as the infrastructural paradigm shift, epitomized by the inauguration of Padma Bridge connecting 21 districts, virtually eradicated the 'remote' mindset, bridging the gap between possibilities and reality. A night-long journey by passenger ferries, locally known as Launches, from the country's southern region to Dhaka has now been squeezed into a mere three-hour drive. Salma's beaming face had a charm that rubbed off on others as she seemed to be rejoicing while coming out of a local Community Clinic. As I approached her and introduced myself as a Professor of liver diseases at the well-known Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University in Dhaka, her enthusiasm to talk to me knew no bounds. The reason behind her ecstasy soon became conspicuous to me as she had been endowed with a free insulin supply for her diabetes for the whole month from the Community Clinic. Having dealt, as a physician and hepatology specialist, with thousands of fatty liver patients, I am fully aware of the fact that diabetes catalyzes the complications associated with fatty acid. Bangladesh ranks 10th in the world in terms of the diabetic population. Therefore, it is a herculean task to reach out to the 180 million population with a complimentary insulin supply, especially when the global economy is still reeling from the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Therefore, I couldn't resist visiting the Community Clinic, which brought so much joy to countless people, including Salma. As a medical professional, although mainly in tertiary healthcare, I am conversant with the idea of a community clinic. The government undertook this remarkable and futuristic initiative to set up one primary healthcare facility through a public-private partnership for every six thousand citizens in Bangladesh. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina embarked, during her first tenure from 1996-2001, on this mission and set up clinics, which were unfortunately halted by the Khaleda Zia-led government of the BNP-Jammat alliance from 2001-2006. The community clinics were soon transformed into safe havens for addicts to be cloud 9 and cattle to graze. However, the project was revitalized after Awami League was voted to power in 2008. The government mission was leveraged by the public-private partnership initiative and the noble gesture of people, including the ones who donated land for the sake of a healthier nation. To my surprise, even the United Nations General Assembly recently unanimously adopted the resolution termed, “Sheikh Hasina Initiative”, which is the first of its kind in the history of the United Nations to adopt a resolution in the name of an individual. Furthermore, the Community Clinic concept is not limited to providing people with free insulin. People receive healthcare advice, both physically and digitally owing to the digital transformation in Bangladesh, through the project that has spread across the length and breadth of Bangladesh. People are blessed with over 20 types of essential medicines, other than insulin, from these community clinics. Despite the free disbursement of insulin and other drugs, there is no free distribution of antibiotics because anti-microbial resistance has emerged as a global concern. Apart from the healthcare landscape, other sectors have also undergone a massive transformation. Take the case of Asrayan (a housing project for homeless people), which is the largest resettlement project for people who would otherwise be living on the street without a shade overhead. A huge number of people who used to beg for alms in the city are now living a life of dignity, thanks to the Asrayan project. The government's array of projects geared towards leading people to self-sufficiency and productivity changed the lives of innumerable people including Salma, who used to entreat for alms at the traffic signals of Dhaka city. The Arsrayan initiative and social safety net gave them comfort, reassurance, and freedom. So, neither the 20-inch LED colour television nor the small refrigerator in Salma’s house nor the 100 cc locally assembled motorbike parked outside her Asrayan home surprise me anymore, not to mention the strawberry that she offered me with tea at her residence. All this paradigm shift touching every sphere of Bangladesh - from Padma Bridge to Asrayan to free healthcare - is attributed to the vision spelled out by Bangabandhu's daughter, which story is now celebrated around the world as 'A Daughter's Tale'. (Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

The daughter’s tale

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's decision to inaugurate 50 new model mosques and Islamic cultural centres across the country is raising eyebrows.

Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina inaugurates model mosques across the country

The question of who should manage the upcoming general election, which is anticipated to take place early next year, divided thousands of supporters of Bangladesh's government and opposition parties at separate demonstrations on Friday in the nation's capital. Both rallies had sizable numbers, but they were orderly and heavily guarded.

Bangladesh: BNP looking at overthrowing Hasina's Awami government

<p>Tens of thousands of supporters of Bangladesh’s main opposition party took to the streets in the country’s capital city of Dhaka, on Saturday (July 29) to demand Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s resignation. During the demonstration, Bangladesh police fired rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse the stone-throwing crowd that had blocked major roads across the city.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>What are the protesters demanding?</strong></h2>

<p>The opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its allies have staged multiple protests since last year and called for PM Hasina to step down. They have also demanded that the country hold general elections under a caretaker government.</p>

<p>This comes after the main opposition has been in disarray since its leader Khaleda Zia was jailed in 2018 on graft charges and has also garnered the support of thousands amid mounting anger over the cost of living in Bangladesh.</p>

<p>BNP’s demand to hold the next election, due in January 2024, by a neutral caretaker government has since been rejected by the incumbent government.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“BNP’s one-point demand is the restoration of democracy in Bangladesh....This can only be achieved through a free and fair election, which is not possible under the current regime,” senior BNP leader Abdul Moyeen Khan told Reuters.</p>

<p>He added, “This government must resign and make way for a free and fair election under an interim government, only through that we can restore a people's government in Bangladesh.”&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>About those injured and arrested</strong></h2>

<p>Clashes between the BNP and its supporters erupted after the police moved to clear thousands of people who had blocked traffic on key roads and highways around the city. Dhaka Metropolitan Police spokesman Faruk Hossain told AFP, “Some officers were injured.”&nbsp;</p>

<p>He added, “We fired tear gas and rubber bullets.” The report citing the police official also said that at least four demonstration sites around the city saw clashes between police and protesters, where 20 officers were injured and 90 protesters were arrested.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Demonstrators at one of the protest sites in Dholaikhal retaliated by throwing rocks at riot police and their vehicles, reported AFP. A police inspector at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital told the news agency that six protesters had been admitted to the hospital with injuries.<br />
<br />
Hossain told AFP that senior BNP leaders Goyeshwar Roy and Amanullah Aman had been taken into police custody, on Saturday, but have not formally been arrested.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“The government tried hard to prevent the rally, but it did not succeed. Our leaders and activists defied all obstacles and came to make the rally a success,” said BNP leader Mirza Abbas. He also said that the police arrested at least 100&nbsp;of its supporters, reported Reuters.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, the police said that they only arrested those who could not provide valid ID.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Hasina’s regime</strong></h2>

<p>The incumbent PM’s Awami League has ruled Bangladesh since 2009 and has been accused of human rights abuses, corruption and creeping authoritarianism. Additionally, &nbsp;opposition and rights groups have criticised Hasina’s government for cracking down on anti-government protests.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em><br />
<br />
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Tens of thousands of supporters of Bangladesh’s main opposition party took to the streets in the country’s capital city of Dhaka, on Saturday (July 29) to demand Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s resignation.

Tens of thousands of supporters of Bangladesh’s main opposition party took to the streets in the country’s capital city of Dhaka, on Saturday (July 29) to demand Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s resignation. During the demonstration, Bangladesh police fired rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse the stone-throwing crowd that had blocked major roads across the city. What are the protesters demanding? The opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its allies have staged multiple protests since last year and called for PM Hasina to step down. They have also demanded that the country hold general elections under a caretaker government. This comes after the main opposition has been in disarray since its leader Khaleda Zia was jailed in 2018 on graft charges and has also garnered the support of thousands amid mounting anger over the cost of living in Bangladesh. BNP’s demand to hold the next election, due in January 2024, by a neutral caretaker government has since been rejected by the incumbent government. “BNP’s one-point demand is the restoration of democracy in Bangladesh....This can only be achieved through a free and fair election, which is not possible under the current regime,” senior BNP leader Abdul Moyeen Khan told Reuters. He added, “This government must resign and make way for a free and fair election under an interim government, only through that we can restore a people's government in Bangladesh.” About those injured and arrested Clashes between the BNP and its supporters erupted after the police moved to clear thousands of people who had blocked traffic on key roads and highways around the city. Dhaka Metropolitan Police spokesman Faruk Hossain told AFP, “Some officers were injured.” He added, “We fired tear gas and rubber bullets.” The report citing the police official also said that at least four demonstration sites around the city saw clashes between police and protesters, where 20 officers were injured and 90 protesters were arrested. Demonstrators at one of the protest sites in Dholaikhal retaliated by throwing rocks at riot police and their vehicles, reported AFP. A police inspector at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital told the news agency that six protesters had been admitted to the hospital with injuries. Hossain told AFP that senior BNP leaders Goyeshwar Roy and Amanullah Aman had been taken into police custody, on Saturday, but have not formally been arrested. “The government tried hard to prevent the rally, but it did not succeed. Our leaders and activists defied all obstacles and came to make the rally a success,” said BNP leader Mirza Abbas. He also said that the police arrested at least 100 of its supporters, reported Reuters. However, the police said that they only arrested those who could not provide valid ID. Hasina’s regime The incumbent PM’s Awami League has ruled Bangladesh since 2009 and has been accused of human rights abuses, corruption and creeping authoritarianism. Additionally, opposition and rights groups have criticised Hasina’s government for cracking down on anti-government protests. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Bangladesh: Police clash with protesters demanding PM Sheikh Hasina's resignation, several injured

The political climate in Bangladesh is pretty tense the police are firing rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse crowds.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party, allies stage protest across nation

Sheikh Hasina and Khaled Zia's party at war: Ahead of polls

<p>Bangladesh is set to clear its outstanding payments to LNG suppliers, international oil companies (IOCs), and power plant owners by paying approximately $960 million per month starting from July. The decision was made following a directive from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina ahead of the scheduled elections in the country next year.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Bangladesh power bill row: What is payment structure like?</strong></h2>

<p>Each week, $160 million will be allocated to the Power Division under the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources (MPEMR) to settle debts with power plant owners, while $80 million will go to the Energy and Mineral Resources Division (EMRD) for payments to LNG suppliers and IOCs.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Bangladesh to see more power cuts as demand soars</strong></p>

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<p>To ensure uninterrupted natural gas supplies, Petrobangla Chairman Zanendra Nath Sarker highlighted the need to clear debts to LNG suppliers and IOCs. The MPEMR's Power Division has also requested around $5.921 billion for the fiscal year 2023-24 to ensure continuous electricity supply.</p>

<h2><strong>Bangladesh seeks support from international lenders</strong></h2>

<p>Despite facing financial challenges, Bangladesh aims to settle its energy bills with the support of global lenders to avoid disruptions ahead of the next general election in January 2024.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Petrobangla is currently in discussions to borrow around $500 million from the Islamic Trade Finance Corporation.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/indias-amara-raja-group-secures-130-million-solar-power-project-in-bangladesh-609215">India's Amara Raja Group secures $130 million solar power project in Bangladesh</a></strong></p>

<p>As of June, the government owed approximately $2.4 billion to private independent power producers, $475 million for electricity imports from India, $350 million to gas companies, and $320 million to LNG suppliers.</p>

<p>In addition to addressing outstanding payments, Bangladesh is taking measures to attract foreign investors.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The cabinet committee on economic affairs recently approved the country's first-ever Brent crude-linked model production sharing contract.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This new model, based on a profit-sharing formula, offers enhanced output shares to investors and allows companies to export natural gas after meeting domestic demand. The hydrocarbon price in the model contract is linked to the same benchmark used to purchase LNG.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Despite past setbacks in deep water exploration efforts, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government remains focused to achieve breakthroughs towards developing the energy sector.</p>

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Bangladesh is set to clear its outstanding payments to LNG suppliers, international oil companies (IOCs), and power plant owners by paying approximately $960 million per month starting from July.

Bangladesh is set to clear its outstanding payments to LNG suppliers, international oil companies (IOCs), and power plant owners by paying approximately $960 million per month starting from July. The decision was made following a directive from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina ahead of the scheduled elections in the country next year. Bangladesh power bill row: What is payment structure like? Each week, $160 million will be allocated to the Power Division under the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources (MPEMR) to settle debts with power plant owners, while $80 million will go to the Energy and Mineral Resources Division (EMRD) for payments to LNG suppliers and IOCs. Also watch | Bangladesh to see more power cuts as demand soars × To ensure uninterrupted natural gas supplies, Petrobangla Chairman Zanendra Nath Sarker highlighted the need to clear debts to LNG suppliers and IOCs. The MPEMR's Power Division has also requested around $5.921 billion for the fiscal year 2023-24 to ensure continuous electricity supply. Bangladesh seeks support from international lenders Despite facing financial challenges, Bangladesh aims to settle its energy bills with the support of global lenders to avoid disruptions ahead of the next general election in January 2024. Petrobangla is currently in discussions to borrow around $500 million from the Islamic Trade Finance Corporation. Also read | India's Amara Raja Group secures $130 million solar power project in Bangladesh As of June, the government owed approximately $2.4 billion to private independent power producers, $475 million for electricity imports from India, $350 million to gas companies, and $320 million to LNG suppliers. In addition to addressing outstanding payments, Bangladesh is taking measures to attract foreign investors. The cabinet committee on economic affairs recently approved the country's first-ever Brent crude-linked model production sharing contract. This new model, based on a profit-sharing formula, offers enhanced output shares to investors and allows companies to export natural gas after meeting domestic demand. The hydrocarbon price in the model contract is linked to the same benchmark used to purchase LNG. Despite past setbacks in deep water exploration efforts, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government remains focused to achieve breakthroughs towards developing the energy sector. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Bangladesh to settle hundreds of millions in power bills ahead of national elections

<p>The top court in Bangladesh has ordered Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus to pay more than USD 1 million in taxes. The microfinance pioneer has been ordered to pay up taxes on a USD 7 million donation made to charitable trusts.</p>

<p>Yunus (83) is credited with lifting millions out of poverty with his pioneering micro-credit bank. However, he has had a falling out&nbsp;with Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The prime minister has said that Yunus is "sucking blood" from the poor.</p>

<p>Muhammad Yunus was awarded Nobel Peace Price in the year 2006 for promoting development through Grameen Bank, a bank he founded.</p>

<p>"The Supreme Court... dismissed our petition," Yunus' lawyer Sarder Jinnat Ali told AFP.</p>

<h2><strong>No exemption</strong></h2>

<p>Bangladesh's Supreme Court upheld a decision passed by a lower court. The apex&nbsp;court ruled on Sunday (July 23) that Yunus must pay taxes on his donations as these do not get exemptions under the law.</p>

<p>Yunus donated 767 million takas ($7 million) to Professor Muhammad Yunus Trust, the Yunus Family Trust and the Yunus Centre between 2011 and 2014.</p>

<p>According to the court order, Yunus must pay a total tax of 150 million taka (USD 1.4 million). Out of this, 30 million taka has already been paid.</p>

<p>Yunus founded Grameen Bank in the 1980s. Through his work, Yunus is credited with helping eradicate extreme poverty in Bangladesh. The bank offered microfinance loans to tens of millions of women in rural areas.</p>

<p>Last year Bangladesh's anti-graft watchdog ordered a wide-ranging probe into firms that Yunus chairs. Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina has attacked Yunus personally. She blamed him for World Bank pulling out from a bridge project. The project was mired in corruption allegations.</p>

<p>When the bridge near Dhaka finally opened in June last year, Hasina said Yunus should be "dipped in a river" for jeopardising its completion.</p>

<p>In March, 40 global figures, including former UN chief Ban Ki-moon and former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, published a joint letter calling on Bangladesh to stop "unfair" attacks and harassment of Yunus.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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The top court in Bangladesh has ordered Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus to pay more than USD 1 million in taxes. The microfinance pioneer has been ordered to pay up taxes on a USD 7 million donation made to charitable trusts.

The top court in Bangladesh has ordered Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus to pay more than USD 1 million in taxes. The microfinance pioneer has been ordered to pay up taxes on a USD 7 million donation made to charitable trusts. Yunus (83) is credited with lifting millions out of poverty with his pioneering micro-credit bank. However, he has had a falling out with Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The prime minister has said that Yunus is "sucking blood" from the poor. Muhammad Yunus was awarded Nobel Peace Price in the year 2006 for promoting development through Grameen Bank, a bank he founded. "The Supreme Court... dismissed our petition," Yunus' lawyer Sarder Jinnat Ali told AFP. No exemption Bangladesh's Supreme Court upheld a decision passed by a lower court. The apex court ruled on Sunday (July 23) that Yunus must pay taxes on his donations as these do not get exemptions under the law. Yunus donated 767 million takas ($7 million) to Professor Muhammad Yunus Trust, the Yunus Family Trust and the Yunus Centre between 2011 and 2014. According to the court order, Yunus must pay a total tax of 150 million taka (USD 1.4 million). Out of this, 30 million taka has already been paid. Yunus founded Grameen Bank in the 1980s. Through his work, Yunus is credited with helping eradicate extreme poverty in Bangladesh. The bank offered microfinance loans to tens of millions of women in rural areas. Last year Bangladesh's anti-graft watchdog ordered a wide-ranging probe into firms that Yunus chairs. Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina has attacked Yunus personally. She blamed him for World Bank pulling out from a bridge project. The project was mired in corruption allegations. When the bridge near Dhaka finally opened in June last year, Hasina said Yunus should be "dipped in a river" for jeopardising its completion. In March, 40 global figures, including former UN chief Ban Ki-moon and former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, published a joint letter calling on Bangladesh to stop "unfair" attacks and harassment of Yunus. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Bangladesh asks Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus to pay $1.1mn in taxes

<p>At least 17 people were killed and over 30 injured after a bus in southwestern Bangladesh veered off the road and plunged into a roadside pond.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The bus, which had over 60 passengers on board, was bound for Barishal from Bhandari sub-district.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">At least 17 people have been killed and 23 others injured in a road accident in Jhalokati District, about 200 kilometers south of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Dhaka?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Dhaka</a> in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bangladesh?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Bangladesh</a>. Local police said the death toll might rise as a rescue operation continues. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RoadAccident?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RoadAccident</a> <a href="https://t.co/53ldsENY9u">pic.twitter.com/53ldsENY9u</a></p>
— Our World (@MeetOurWorld) <a href="https://twitter.com/MeetOurWorld/status/1682701884401008640?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 22, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>The accident occurred at 9:55 am local time on Saturday (July 22), when the bus driver allegedly lost control of the vehicle while giving way to an auto rickshaw.</p>

<p>The tragic accident prompted the authorities to close the Khulna-Jhalakathi highway, which left hundreds of vehicles stuck in traffic a jam on each side.</p>

<h2><strong>Death toll to rise</strong></h2>

<p>Police informed that several bodies were feared to be trapped inside the bus as efforts were underway to retrieve the bus from the pond, overflowing with water from heavy monsoon rains.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Will Bangladesh benefit from BRICS?</strong></p>

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<p>“The divers have rescued 17 bodies and a police crane is trying to retrieve the bus from the pond filled with water after heavy monsoon rains,” a police officer was quoted as saying by the local media. The official also said that the death toll could rise as more dead bodies might be recovered from the bus.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/two-bangladeshi-banks-introduce-indian-rupee-trade-transactions-to-bolster-foreign-reserves-613220"><strong>Also read:&nbsp;Two Bangladeshi banks introduce Indian rupee trade transactions to bolster foreign reserves</strong></a></p>

<p>Police sub-inspector Gautamm Kumar Ghose said eight women and three children were among the dead.</p>

<p>All injured were being treated at Jhalakathi’s main state-run hospital.</p>

<h2><strong>‘Driver was not attentive’&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Local media quoted some passengers of the bus as saying that the bus driver was not attentive while he drove. “I was sitting just beside the driver’s seat. The driver apparently was not careful or attentive while driving the bus,” said Russell Mollah, a 35-year-old passenger. He alleged that the driver was constantly talking to his assistant and that he asked him to get more passengers on board.</p>

<p>Mollah reportedly lost his father in the accident, while his elder brother was still missing.</p>

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At least 17 people were killed and over 30 injured after a bus in southwestern Bangladesh veered off the road and plunged into a roadside pond. The bus, which had over 60 passengers on board, was bound for Barishal from Bhandari sub-district.

At least 17 people were killed and over 30 injured after a bus in southwestern Bangladesh veered off the road and plunged into a roadside pond. The bus, which had over 60 passengers on board, was bound for Barishal from Bhandari sub-district. At least 17 people have been killed and 23 others injured in a road accident in Jhalokati District, about 200 kilometers south of #Dhaka in #Bangladesh. Local police said the death toll might rise as a rescue operation continues. #RoadAccident pic.twitter.com/53ldsENY9u — Our World (@MeetOurWorld) July 22, 2023 × The accident occurred at 9:55 am local time on Saturday (July 22), when the bus driver allegedly lost control of the vehicle while giving way to an auto rickshaw. The tragic accident prompted the authorities to close the Khulna-Jhalakathi highway, which left hundreds of vehicles stuck in traffic a jam on each side. Death toll to rise Police informed that several bodies were feared to be trapped inside the bus as efforts were underway to retrieve the bus from the pond, overflowing with water from heavy monsoon rains. Watch: Will Bangladesh benefit from BRICS? × “The divers have rescued 17 bodies and a police crane is trying to retrieve the bus from the pond filled with water after heavy monsoon rains,” a police officer was quoted as saying by the local media. The official also said that the death toll could rise as more dead bodies might be recovered from the bus. Also read: Two Bangladeshi banks introduce Indian rupee trade transactions to bolster foreign reserves Police sub-inspector Gautamm Kumar Ghose said eight women and three children were among the dead. All injured were being treated at Jhalakathi’s main state-run hospital. ‘Driver was not attentive’ Local media quoted some passengers of the bus as saying that the bus driver was not attentive while he drove. “I was sitting just beside the driver’s seat. The driver apparently was not careful or attentive while driving the bus,” said Russell Mollah, a 35-year-old passenger. He alleged that the driver was constantly talking to his assistant and that he asked him to get more passengers on board. Mollah reportedly lost his father in the accident, while his elder brother was still missing. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

VIDEO: 17 killed as bus plunges into pond in Bangladesh, over 30 injured

Fresh clashes broke out in Dhaka as the activists from the main opposition party Bangladesh Nationalist Party demanded the resignation of the ruling government. The incident reported one death and 50 injuries this is as per the local media reports. As of now the supporters of the BNP clashed with the ruling party student Wing that is Bangladesh Chatra League in the capital city of Dhaka.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party demands government resignation

The capital city of Dhaka witnessed massive protests by the opposition parties who demanded prime minister Sheikh Hasina's resignation to ensure free and fair elections in January next year. The protestors headed by Bangladesh Nationalist Party saw the largest turnouts in recent times with thousands of supporters hitting the streets.

Thousands of supporters rally in Dhaka as opposition demands Hasina's resignation

<p>Al-Qaeda terrorist&nbsp;Ikramul Haque alias Abu Talha, widely described as one of 'India's most wanted', was arrested in Bangladesh along with his wife in a raid recently, Bangladesh daily Prothomalo reported. He was arrested from the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka on May 30.</p>

<h2><strong>India's 'most wanted' arrested: Who is&nbsp;Ikramul Haque alias Abu Talha?</strong>&nbsp;</h2>

<p>He is&nbsp;the top leader of the Dawah wing of Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) and has nearly a dozen terrorism-related cases registered against him in India. A key recruiter for Al-Qaeda in the subcontinent, the members of&nbsp;Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent arrested in India have named Abu Talha as their recruiter. He is&nbsp;known as 'Maulana Sabet' within Al-Qaeda.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A Bangladeshi citizen, Talha&nbsp;entered India on a tourist visa and&nbsp;admitted himself to Deoband Seminary. He later forged an Indian identity card (Aadhaar Card)&nbsp;in the name of Noor Hossain.</p>

<p>Reports in Bangladeshi media cited CTTC officials as saying that Ikramul’s wife Faria Afrin is also a member of the women’s wing of the terror group.</p>

<h2><strong>The hunt for India's 'most wanted': How Abu Talha was arrested?</strong></h2>

<p>Talha was reportedly arrested on May 30 by Bangladesh's Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime Unit (CTTC) officials.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to a Dhaka-based intelligence source cited by Prothomalo newspaper, India’s anti-terrorism agencies had been seeking Ikramul since last year for his recruitment activities for an Al-Qaeda offshoot. Indian intelligence authorities&nbsp;discovered that Talha had escaped to Bangladesh, following which they contacted their Bangladeshi counterparts. One month before obtaining the information that Talha was one of India's 'most wanted', CTTC had detained him for similar recruitment activities for Al-Qaeda.</p>

<p><strong>Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/al-qaeda-says-latest-video-narrated-by-al-zawahiri-dead-for-five-months-546223">Al-Qaeda says latest video narrated by Al-Zawahiri, deemed 'dead' for five months</a></strong></p>

<p>"Ikramul Haque alias Abu Talha is the top leader of AQIS. There are at least 10 cases against him in India. He was most wanted by Indian law enforcement agencies. Recently, after some Bangladeshis were arrested as members of AQIS in Gujarat, they also named Abu Talha as a recruiter. Abu Talha along with his wife was arrested in a raid recently," the Head of Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime Unit (CTTC) of Dhaka and Additional Commissioner of DMP Asad Uz Zaman was quoted as saying by Bangla Tribune.</p>

<h2><strong>Abu Talha's arrest and crackdown on Al-Qaeda offshoot in India, Bangladesh</strong></h2>

<p>The crackdown on Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) started in India after the arrest of a Bangladesh-based terrorist&nbsp;by Assam Police in March 2022. According to sources cited by news agency ANI, the arrest was a result of several months of intelligence operations run by Assam Police going back to at least September 2021. Subsequently, there have been more than 50 arrests all across India. The latest of these was by Gujarat ATS last month where 5 AQIS operatives from Bangladesh were arrested.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;38-year-old teacher arrested for terror-related offences in Singapore</strong></p>

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<p>In October 2022, the Anti-Terrorism Squad arrested 8 AQIS members from Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh, some of them&nbsp;Bangladeshi nationals. They reportedly&nbsp;identified Inamul Haque alias Abu Talha as their top leader to Indian law enforcement agencies.</p>

<p>In May 2023, the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) arrested 4 more AQIS members from Gujarat, all Bangladeshi citizens, who too identified Ikramul Haque, alias Abu Talha, as their recruiter.</p>

<p>Talha regularly trained and recruited members for AQIS in India and Bangladesh.<br />
<br />
<em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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Al-Qaeda terrorist Ikramul Haque alias Abu Talha, widely described as one of 'India's most wanted', was arrested in Bangladesh along with his wife in a raid recently, Bangladesh daily Prothomalo reported.

Al-Qaeda terrorist Ikramul Haque alias Abu Talha, widely described as one of 'India's most wanted', was arrested in Bangladesh along with his wife in a raid recently, Bangladesh daily Prothomalo reported. He was arrested from the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka on May 30. India's 'most wanted' arrested: Who is Ikramul Haque alias Abu Talha? He is the top leader of the Dawah wing of Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) and has nearly a dozen terrorism-related cases registered against him in India. A key recruiter for Al-Qaeda in the subcontinent, the members of Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent arrested in India have named Abu Talha as their recruiter. He is known as 'Maulana Sabet' within Al-Qaeda. A Bangladeshi citizen, Talha entered India on a tourist visa and admitted himself to Deoband Seminary. He later forged an Indian identity card (Aadhaar Card) in the name of Noor Hossain. Reports in Bangladeshi media cited CTTC officials as saying that Ikramul’s wife Faria Afrin is also a member of the women’s wing of the terror group. The hunt for India's 'most wanted': How Abu Talha was arrested? Talha was reportedly arrested on May 30 by Bangladesh's Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime Unit (CTTC) officials. According to a Dhaka-based intelligence source cited by Prothomalo newspaper, India’s anti-terrorism agencies had been seeking Ikramul since last year for his recruitment activities for an Al-Qaeda offshoot. Indian intelligence authorities discovered that Talha had escaped to Bangladesh, following which they contacted their Bangladeshi counterparts. One month before obtaining the information that Talha was one of India's 'most wanted', CTTC had detained him for similar recruitment activities for Al-Qaeda. Also read | Al-Qaeda says latest video narrated by Al-Zawahiri, deemed 'dead' for five months "Ikramul Haque alias Abu Talha is the top leader of AQIS. There are at least 10 cases against him in India. He was most wanted by Indian law enforcement agencies. Recently, after some Bangladeshis were arrested as members of AQIS in Gujarat, they also named Abu Talha as a recruiter. Abu Talha along with his wife was arrested in a raid recently," the Head of Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime Unit (CTTC) of Dhaka and Additional Commissioner of DMP Asad Uz Zaman was quoted as saying by Bangla Tribune. Abu Talha's arrest and crackdown on Al-Qaeda offshoot in India, Bangladesh The crackdown on Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) started in India after the arrest of a Bangladesh-based terrorist by Assam Police in March 2022. According to sources cited by news agency ANI, the arrest was a result of several months of intelligence operations run by Assam Police going back to at least September 2021. Subsequently, there have been more than 50 arrests all across India. The latest of these was by Gujarat ATS last month where 5 AQIS operatives from Bangladesh were arrested. Also watch | 38-year-old teacher arrested for terror-related offences in Singapore × In October 2022, the Anti-Terrorism Squad arrested 8 AQIS members from Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh, some of them Bangladeshi nationals. They reportedly identified Inamul Haque alias Abu Talha as their top leader to Indian law enforcement agencies. In May 2023, the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) arrested 4 more AQIS members from Gujarat, all Bangladeshi citizens, who too identified Ikramul Haque, alias Abu Talha, as their recruiter. Talha regularly trained and recruited members for AQIS in India and Bangladesh. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Al-Qaeda recruiter, 'most wanted' in India, arrested in Bangladesh

Bangladesh is among 20 countries that have applied for membership in the BRICS grouping of countries, with the applications likely to be taken up at the summit meeting in August. Bangladesh sees BRICS membership as a vehicle to further strengthen its export market as well as boost investment in infrastructure. Over the years the BRICS nations collectively have taken on the identity of a strong voice of the global south against Western and American hegemony.

Will Bangladesh benefit from BRICS?

<p>India's Amara Raja Group said on Tuesday it has secured a $130 million solar power project in Bangladesh, marking its debut in the international market.</p>

<p>The project consists of the engineering, design, supply, installation, and commissioning of a 100 megawatt solar power plant.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/bangladesh-transgender-community-on-the-road-to-equality-and-progress-601677">Bangladesh transgender community: On the road to equality and progress</a></strong></p>

<p>It will be funded by the EXIM Bank of India and completed in 18 months, Amara Raja Infra Private Limited (ARIPL), part of the Amara Raja Group, said in a statement.</p>

<p>After the project is commissioned, ARIPL will also provide comprehensive operation and maintenance services for two years, along with warranty spares and consumables, it added.</p>

<p>Bangladesh is facing its worst electricity crisis since 2013, a Reuters analysis of government data shows, due to erratic weather and difficulty paying for fuel imports amid declining forex reserves and a weakened currency.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH&nbsp;Gravitas : Bangladesh to trade in rupees with India</strong></p>

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<p>The South Asian country plans to generate 4,100 MW of clean energy by 2030. Its renewable energy output in electricity generation currently is negligible.</p>

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India's Amara Raja Group said on Tuesday it has secured a $130 million solar power project in Bangladesh, marking its debut in the international market. The project consists of the engineering, design, supply, installation, and commissioning of a 100 megawatt solar power plant.

India's Amara Raja Group said on Tuesday it has secured a $130 million solar power project in Bangladesh, marking its debut in the international market. The project consists of the engineering, design, supply, installation, and commissioning of a 100 megawatt solar power plant. ALSO READ Bangladesh transgender community: On the road to equality and progress It will be funded by the EXIM Bank of India and completed in 18 months, Amara Raja Infra Private Limited (ARIPL), part of the Amara Raja Group, said in a statement. After the project is commissioned, ARIPL will also provide comprehensive operation and maintenance services for two years, along with warranty spares and consumables, it added. Bangladesh is facing its worst electricity crisis since 2013, a Reuters analysis of government data shows, due to erratic weather and difficulty paying for fuel imports amid declining forex reserves and a weakened currency. WATCH Gravitas : Bangladesh to trade in rupees with India × The South Asian country plans to generate 4,100 MW of clean energy by 2030. Its renewable energy output in electricity generation currently is negligible. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

India's Amara Raja Group secures $130 million solar power project in Bangladesh

BRICS expansion is taking place at a fast pace. Several nations are knocking on the door of the BRICS. 19 nations have expressed their interest to join the bloc. Bangladesh is also standing in a queue to gain the membership. The nation hopes to join BRICS in August this year.

Why does Bangladesh want to join BRICS? What does it stand to gain by joining the bloc?

<p>Sri Lanka this week reached a deal with Russian nuclear giant Rosatam&nbsp;to build a nuclear power plant that may run two reactors and generate 300 megawatts of energy, the Sri Lankan ambassador in Russia said.</p>

<p>"We will go for a nuclear power plant … There are options actually … two sources, 300 megawatts," Janitha Abeywickrema Liyanage told Sputnik on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.</p>

<p>The ambassador said that having its own power plant would allow the Indian Ocean island nation to overcome the energy crisis.</p>

<p>Reports in the Russian media stated that Moscow&nbsp;will speed up the approval process to begin the construction in the near future.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/g20-nations-should-try-and-stop-the-russia-ukraine-war-bangladesh-fm-tells-wion-567397">G20 nations should try and stop the Russia-Ukraine war, Bangladesh FM tells WION</a></strong></p>

<p>"There is a proposal and there is approval to follow the procedures from the Sri Lankan cabinet, and the International Atomic Energy Agency is also now looking at it, and they have set up certain working groups. Rosatom has set up four working groups in four different areas," Janitha Abeywickrema Liyanage said.</p>

<h2><strong>Russia has agreed to take back nuclear waste from proposed plant: Sri Lanka</strong></h2>

<p>Earlier in March,&nbsp;Sri Lanka Atomic Energy Board (SLARB) chairman SRD Rosa told Sri Lankan newspaper Daily Mirror that the country plans to have either off-shore or on–shore Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) that have a power capacity of up to 100 MW per unit.</p>

<p>With the use of nuclear power generators, the country plans to minimise the use of fossil fuels that have already put a burden on the debt-ridden economy of the South Asian island nation.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Russia offers to help build Sri Lanka's first nuclear power plant</strong></p>

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<p>The newspaper had quoted Rosa as saying: "The government has sought to implement the project in collaboration with the Russian government. The required technology will be provided by them, and they had also agreed to take back the nuclear waste. The Russian government has the technology to reprocess the nuclear waste."</p>

<p>Russia is also building Bangladesh its first nuclear power plant, named&nbsp;Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant. It is located on the bank of the Padma river about 160 km from capital Dhaka. With its first nuclear plant, Dhaka, like Colombo hopes to reduce its dependence on coal and other fossil fuels.</p>

<p>India too is a stakeholder in the R-NPP, making the project the first Indo-Russian nuclear project outside India.</p>

<p>So far, it is not clear if India would have any stakes in the proposed nuclear plant in Sri Lanka.</p>

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Sri Lanka this week reached a deal with Russian nuclear giant Rosatam to build a nuclear power plant that may run two reactors and generate 300 megawatts of energy, the Sri Lankan ambassador in Russia said.

Sri Lanka this week reached a deal with Russian nuclear giant Rosatam to build a nuclear power plant that may run two reactors and generate 300 megawatts of energy, the Sri Lankan ambassador in Russia said. "We will go for a nuclear power plant … There are options actually … two sources, 300 megawatts," Janitha Abeywickrema Liyanage told Sputnik on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. The ambassador said that having its own power plant would allow the Indian Ocean island nation to overcome the energy crisis. Reports in the Russian media stated that Moscow will speed up the approval process to begin the construction in the near future. Also read | G20 nations should try and stop the Russia-Ukraine war, Bangladesh FM tells WION "There is a proposal and there is approval to follow the procedures from the Sri Lankan cabinet, and the International Atomic Energy Agency is also now looking at it, and they have set up certain working groups. Rosatom has set up four working groups in four different areas," Janitha Abeywickrema Liyanage said. Russia has agreed to take back nuclear waste from proposed plant: Sri Lanka Earlier in March, Sri Lanka Atomic Energy Board (SLARB) chairman SRD Rosa told Sri Lankan newspaper Daily Mirror that the country plans to have either off-shore or on–shore Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) that have a power capacity of up to 100 MW per unit. With the use of nuclear power generators, the country plans to minimise the use of fossil fuels that have already put a burden on the debt-ridden economy of the South Asian island nation. Also watch | Russia offers to help build Sri Lanka's first nuclear power plant × The newspaper had quoted Rosa as saying: "The government has sought to implement the project in collaboration with the Russian government. The required technology will be provided by them, and they had also agreed to take back the nuclear waste. The Russian government has the technology to reprocess the nuclear waste." Russia is also building Bangladesh its first nuclear power plant, named Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant. It is located on the bank of the Padma river about 160 km from capital Dhaka. With its first nuclear plant, Dhaka, like Colombo hopes to reduce its dependence on coal and other fossil fuels. India too is a stakeholder in the R-NPP, making the project the first Indo-Russian nuclear project outside India. So far, it is not clear if India would have any stakes in the proposed nuclear plant in Sri Lanka. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

After Bangladesh, Sri Lanka to be powered by Russia-built nuclear energy facility

The Bangladesh bank has raised interest rates, signaling a tight monetary policy for the first half of the new fiscal year. These measures come as Bangladesh faces inflationary pressures stemming from pandemic-related spending, surging commodity prices and a weaker taka currency. Consumer prices rose by 9.94% in may, surpassing the average inflation target of 6%.

Bangladesh bank raises interest rates | World Business Watch

<p>Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has sent 600 kg of mangoes as a gift to chief minister of Indian state West Bengal Mamata Banerjee, said officials in High Commission of Bangladesh, reported Press Trust of India. Reports in other Indian media outlets said that in addition to West Bengal CM, the mangoes were also sent to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Droupadi Murmu and Congress leader Sonia Gandhi. West Bengal CM had sent mangoes to PM Hasina six days ago.</p>

<p>A press note from the High Commission of Bangladesh in Kolkata said that the mangoes were handpicked specially for the Indian side from the orchards of Rajshahi region which is famous for its delicious crop.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch | Bangladesh: Jamaat-e-Islami holds its first political rally after a decade</strong></p>

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<p>"Mangoes comprising the 'Himsagar' and 'Langra' variants have been sent to Banerjee, as part of diplomatic efforts. Last year, too, we had sent mangoes," an official in the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission said as quoted by PTI.</p>

<p>The annual diplomatic gesture from PM Hasina first came into prominence in the 1990s when she gifted the famous 'hilsa' fish to prominent Indian leaders. These included then Chief Minister of West Bengal Jyoti Basu.</p>

<p>PM Hasina is expected to visit India for G20 Summit.</p>

<h2><strong>The mango diplomacy</strong></h2>

<p>Gifting mangoes may appear odd to the uninitiated but this convention has been part of diplomacy between countries in the region.</p>

<p>India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru had gifted mangoes to China's Mao Zedong.</p>

<p>The mango diplomacy has been also observed in domestic politics of India. West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee has in past gifted Himsagar mangoes to her political opponents to cool the tempers. 'Himsagar' aptly means 'an ocean of soothing ice'.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/bangladesh-transgender-community-on-the-road-to-equality-and-progress-601677">Bangladesh transgender community: On the road to equality and progress</a></strong></p>

<p>Six days ago, Banerjee has sent mangoes to Indian PM, president and the Bangladesh PM.</p>

<p>Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina had sent mangoes in 2021 as well. At that time Bangladeshi trucks containing 2600 kg of 'Haribhanga' mangoes had entered India.</p>

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Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has sent 600 kg of mangoes as a gift to chief minister of Indian state West Bengal Mamata Banerjee, said officials in High Commission of Bangladesh, reported Press Trust of India.

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has sent 600 kg of mangoes as a gift to chief minister of Indian state West Bengal Mamata Banerjee, said officials in High Commission of Bangladesh, reported Press Trust of India. Reports in other Indian media outlets said that in addition to West Bengal CM, the mangoes were also sent to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Droupadi Murmu and Congress leader Sonia Gandhi. West Bengal CM had sent mangoes to PM Hasina six days ago. A press note from the High Commission of Bangladesh in Kolkata said that the mangoes were handpicked specially for the Indian side from the orchards of Rajshahi region which is famous for its delicious crop. Watch | Bangladesh: Jamaat-e-Islami holds its first political rally after a decade × "Mangoes comprising the 'Himsagar' and 'Langra' variants have been sent to Banerjee, as part of diplomatic efforts. Last year, too, we had sent mangoes," an official in the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission said as quoted by PTI. The annual diplomatic gesture from PM Hasina first came into prominence in the 1990s when she gifted the famous 'hilsa' fish to prominent Indian leaders. These included then Chief Minister of West Bengal Jyoti Basu. PM Hasina is expected to visit India for G20 Summit. The mango diplomacy Gifting mangoes may appear odd to the uninitiated but this convention has been part of diplomacy between countries in the region. India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru had gifted mangoes to China's Mao Zedong. The mango diplomacy has been also observed in domestic politics of India. West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee has in past gifted Himsagar mangoes to her political opponents to cool the tempers. 'Himsagar' aptly means 'an ocean of soothing ice'. Also Read | Bangladesh transgender community: On the road to equality and progress Six days ago, Banerjee has sent mangoes to Indian PM, president and the Bangladesh PM. Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina had sent mangoes in 2021 as well. At that time Bangladeshi trucks containing 2600 kg of 'Haribhanga' mangoes had entered India. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Mango diplomacy: Bangladesh PM gifts mangoes to PM Modi, Bengal CM Banerjee

The hardline Islamist organisation Jamaat-e-Islami held a political rally in Dhaka on Saturday demanding the setting up of a caretaker government to hold the next general elections in Bangladesh. This was the first political rally held by the Jamaat-e-Islami since 2013 when its registration as a political party was cancelled by the order of the High Court.

Bangladesh: Jamaat-e-Islami holds its first political rally after a decade

<p>India and Bangladesh will hold biannual talks between their border guarding forces in Delhi from June 11 during which the two sides are expected to discuss a host of issues related to combating cross-frontier crimes and measures to create better synergy.</p>

<p>A 15-member delegation of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), led by its director general (DG) Major General AKM Nazmul Hasan, landed in Delhi on Saturday. Border Security Force (BSF) DG Sujoy Lal Thaosen and senior officers of the force welcomed them at the airport, officials said.</p>

<p>The four-day talks will conclude on June 14 at a BSF camp in southwest Delhi's Chhawla area.</p>

<p>"The conference is being organised to discuss the border-related issues and for better coordination between both border guarding forces."</p>

<p>"Discussions will be held on how to jointly curb the various trans-border crimes and timely sharing of information between both the border guarding forces," a BSF spokesperson said in a statement.</p>

<p>Further, there will be deliberations on developmental and infrastructural works, joint efforts for effective implementation of Co-ordinated Border Management Plan (CBMP) and Confidence Building Measures (CBMs), the spokesperson said.</p>

<p>This will be the 53rd edition of the talks and the last such meeting was held in July last year when the BSF delegation travelled to Dhaka.</p>

<p>The BSF guards the 4,096-km-long international border with Bangladesh on India's eastern flank.<br />
These talks were held annually between 1975 and 1992 but they were made biannual in 1993 with either side alternately travelling to the national capitals of New Delhi and Dhaka.</p>

<p>A senior BSF officer had earlier told PTI that the relations between the two countries and their border forces are very good and the conference is expected to enhance these ties. A 'joint record of discussions' will be signed by the two sides at the end of the conference.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

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India and Bangladesh will hold biannual talks between their border guarding forces in Delhi from June 11 during which the two sides are expected to discuss a host of issues related to combating cross-frontier crimes and measures to create better synergy.

India and Bangladesh will hold biannual talks between their border guarding forces in Delhi from June 11 during which the two sides are expected to discuss a host of issues related to combating cross-frontier crimes and measures to create better synergy. A 15-member delegation of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), led by its director general (DG) Major General AKM Nazmul Hasan, landed in Delhi on Saturday. Border Security Force (BSF) DG Sujoy Lal Thaosen and senior officers of the force welcomed them at the airport, officials said. The four-day talks will conclude on June 14 at a BSF camp in southwest Delhi's Chhawla area. "The conference is being organised to discuss the border-related issues and for better coordination between both border guarding forces." "Discussions will be held on how to jointly curb the various trans-border crimes and timely sharing of information between both the border guarding forces," a BSF spokesperson said in a statement. Further, there will be deliberations on developmental and infrastructural works, joint efforts for effective implementation of Co-ordinated Border Management Plan (CBMP) and Confidence Building Measures (CBMs), the spokesperson said. This will be the 53rd edition of the talks and the last such meeting was held in July last year when the BSF delegation travelled to Dhaka. The BSF guards the 4,096-km-long international border with Bangladesh on India's eastern flank. These talks were held annually between 1975 and 1992 but they were made biannual in 1993 with either side alternately travelling to the national capitals of New Delhi and Dhaka. A senior BSF officer had earlier told PTI that the relations between the two countries and their border forces are very good and the conference is expected to enhance these ties. A 'joint record of discussions' will be signed by the two sides at the end of the conference. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

India-Bangladesh border talks to begin in Delhi from Sunday

<p>In Muslim-majority Bangladesh, transgender people are commonly known as <em>hijra</em>, a derogatory term. Considered a harbinger of bad omen they are despised in families as well as in society. Life has not been fair to them forcing them to become street beggars. The social rejection has led them to live in ghettos where many of them go to bed without a proper meal. This miserable living condition of the country’s third-sex population has started changing thanks to some humanitarian steps undertaken by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government.</p>

<p>Consider the gift a group of 15 transgender people received ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr, the largest religious festival the Muslims in Bangladesh celebrated in the last week of April. The transgender inhabitants at the remote northern village were overjoyed after receiving houses given free under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s Ashrayan project. The project has been launched to provide government-built houses to homeless and landless people. For the first time, transgender people were included in the widely admired scheme.</p>

<p>“We used to live in the same flat in an extremely cramped condition with little privacy,” said Sumi Khan, a member of the 15-strong group. Their struggle to rent a house became almost impossible due to reservations entertained by rural folk about transgenders, as in most predominantly Muslim countries. This Eid, she said, heralded a new dawn in their lives, thanks to the first-of-its-kind housing scheme rolled out by the Prime Minister that seeks to ensure no one in her country remains homeless and landless.</p>

<p>“Now we can live a decent life owing to the residential scheme organised by the prime minister”, said an elated Sumi, adding “This priceless gift will change the course of our lives and ensure economic empowerment.” According to the population census published in July, Bangladesh has a little more than 12,000 transgender people among the national population of 170 million.</p>

<p>As society is still heavily prejudiced against the transgender community, most children born with this gender identity are driven out of their families and left with the only option of living in their own community, surviving mostly on the alms given by the people, according to rights activists. But with the inclusion of Sumi and her community under this comprehensive housing scheme, these decades-old dogmas are taking a hit.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/eight-killed-in-deadly-ethnic-clashes-in-bangladesh-police-on-toes-fearing-more-violence-580350">Eight killed in deadly ethnic clashes in Bangladesh, police on toes fearing more violence</a></strong><br />
<br />
According to media reports, as of March this year, at least 140 transgender community people have been brought under the housing scheme across the country and they have now reportedly found new means of livelihood. Before this scheme, finding a permanent shelter was like chasing a distant dream for almost all of the beneficiaries, but now a glimmer of hope has dawned in their lives.</p>

<p>Official documents illustrating activities of the project shows a record number of 3.5 million lives that broke the cycle of poverty, thanks to allocation of houses among 7,00,000 families (or 3.5 million people) since the beginning of the project in 1997. Of the said number, over 5,00,000 families were endowed with a new home over the last three years, in sync with the announcement of the premier on the eve of the celebration of the birth centenary celebration of the country’s founding father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.&nbsp;"No one will remain homeless," announced the premier marking the anniversary.<br />
<br />
And the cluster of beneficiaries evolved into an inclusive model given all fragmented segments including families affected by global warming in coastal belts, ethnic minorities, ultra-poor, beggars, elderly people, widows, women abandoned by their husbands, insolvent freedom fighters, climate victims, transgender, Dalit, ethnic groups, persons with disabilities found shelter, let alone new means of living also. &nbsp;</p>

<p>Another remarkable aspect of this unique scheme has been the joint ownership of houses for the male and female beneficiaries. Domestic violence, coupled with discriminatory inheritance law and draconian religious dogmas, entrenched deeply within the societal fabric, held back the economic empowerment of half of the population — women — for decades.</p>

<p>But finally the gulf of odds are withering, with the rolling out of the initiative, led by the Premier herself, entitling women with land rights. The visionary move has yielded real and measurable gains, already a manifestation of turning Sheikh Hasina's electoral pledge of ensuring equal rights for women.</p>

<p>"I have a specific plan and I will reveal it in time," announced the premier in 2009 on her plan about empowering women with entitlement rights to property. &nbsp;Now a decade down the line, she has lived up to the promises with her pledge. Among all 7,00,000 families who found a shelter for a lifetime, the provision of joint ownership — husband and wife — have already made a remarkable impact on the lives of women and their children under the initiative.</p>

<p>As joint ownership ends the dominance of husbands to call the shots in day-to-day affairs, this new entitlement heralds a new dawn on the lives of female beneficiaries as they have found freedom to get involved in income-generating activities too. Despite the fact that the female labour force participation in rural areas has increased significantly in Bangladesh thanks to women's growing involvement in the agriculture sector and urban-rural migration brought on by the global coronavirus pandemic, a World Bank report, years back found among rural households that own agricultural land, only 13% of women have sole or joint ownership of agricultural land, compared to 70% of men.</p>

<p>Now gone are the days when a woman often requires the use of land rights through her relationship to a man – usually a husband or a father – those rights are subject to the continuation of that relationship. “It’s time to say goodbye to these threats from husbands that change in relationship status can jeopardise women’s rights over property and other assets,, thank you Premier, your vision gave a new meaning to our life and for the posterity ” added one beneficiary.</p>

<p><strong>Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.</strong></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

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In Muslim-majority Bangladesh, transgender people are commonly known as hijra, a derogatory term. Considered a harbinger of bad omen they are despised in families as well as in society.

In Muslim-majority Bangladesh, transgender people are commonly known as hijra, a derogatory term. Considered a harbinger of bad omen they are despised in families as well as in society. Life has not been fair to them forcing them to become street beggars. The social rejection has led them to live in ghettos where many of them go to bed without a proper meal. This miserable living condition of the country’s third-sex population has started changing thanks to some humanitarian steps undertaken by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government. Consider the gift a group of 15 transgender people received ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr, the largest religious festival the Muslims in Bangladesh celebrated in the last week of April. The transgender inhabitants at the remote northern village were overjoyed after receiving houses given free under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s Ashrayan project. The project has been launched to provide government-built houses to homeless and landless people. For the first time, transgender people were included in the widely admired scheme. “We used to live in the same flat in an extremely cramped condition with little privacy,” said Sumi Khan, a member of the 15-strong group. Their struggle to rent a house became almost impossible due to reservations entertained by rural folk about transgenders, as in most predominantly Muslim countries. This Eid, she said, heralded a new dawn in their lives, thanks to the first-of-its-kind housing scheme rolled out by the Prime Minister that seeks to ensure no one in her country remains homeless and landless. “Now we can live a decent life owing to the residential scheme organised by the prime minister”, said an elated Sumi, adding “This priceless gift will change the course of our lives and ensure economic empowerment.” According to the population census published in July, Bangladesh has a little more than 12,000 transgender people among the national population of 170 million. As society is still heavily prejudiced against the transgender community, most children born with this gender identity are driven out of their families and left with the only option of living in their own community, surviving mostly on the alms given by the people, according to rights activists. But with the inclusion of Sumi and her community under this comprehensive housing scheme, these decades-old dogmas are taking a hit. ALSO READ| Eight killed in deadly ethnic clashes in Bangladesh, police on toes fearing more violence According to media reports, as of March this year, at least 140 transgender community people have been brought under the housing scheme across the country and they have now reportedly found new means of livelihood. Before this scheme, finding a permanent shelter was like chasing a distant dream for almost all of the beneficiaries, but now a glimmer of hope has dawned in their lives. Official documents illustrating activities of the project shows a record number of 3.5 million lives that broke the cycle of poverty, thanks to allocation of houses among 7,00,000 families (or 3.5 million people) since the beginning of the project in 1997. Of the said number, over 5,00,000 families were endowed with a new home over the last three years, in sync with the announcement of the premier on the eve of the celebration of the birth centenary celebration of the country’s founding father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. "No one will remain homeless," announced the premier marking the anniversary. And the cluster of beneficiaries evolved into an inclusive model given all fragmented segments including families affected by global warming in coastal belts, ethnic minorities, ultra-poor, beggars, elderly people, widows, women abandoned by their husbands, insolvent freedom fighters, climate victims, transgender, Dalit, ethnic groups, persons with disabilities found shelter, let alone new means of living also. Another remarkable aspect of this unique scheme has been the joint ownership of houses for the male and female beneficiaries. Domestic violence, coupled with discriminatory inheritance law and draconian religious dogmas, entrenched deeply within the societal fabric, held back the economic empowerment of half of the population — women — for decades. But finally the gulf of odds are withering, with the rolling out of the initiative, led by the Premier herself, entitling women with land rights. The visionary move has yielded real and measurable gains, already a manifestation of turning Sheikh Hasina's electoral pledge of ensuring equal rights for women. "I have a specific plan and I will reveal it in time," announced the premier in 2009 on her plan about empowering women with entitlement rights to property. Now a decade down the line, she has lived up to the promises with her pledge. Among all 7,00,000 families who found a shelter for a lifetime, the provision of joint ownership — husband and wife — have already made a remarkable impact on the lives of women and their children under the initiative. As joint ownership ends the dominance of husbands to call the shots in day-to-day affairs, this new entitlement heralds a new dawn on the lives of female beneficiaries as they have found freedom to get involved in income-generating activities too. Despite the fact that the female labour force participation in rural areas has increased significantly in Bangladesh thanks to women's growing involvement in the agriculture sector and urban-rural migration brought on by the global coronavirus pandemic, a World Bank report, years back found among rural households that own agricultural land, only 13% of women have sole or joint ownership of agricultural land, compared to 70% of men. Now gone are the days when a woman often requires the use of land rights through her relationship to a man – usually a husband or a father – those rights are subject to the continuation of that relationship. “It’s time to say goodbye to these threats from husbands that change in relationship status can jeopardise women’s rights over property and other assets,, thank you Premier, your vision gave a new meaning to our life and for the posterity ” added one beneficiary. Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Bangladesh transgender community: On the road to equality and progress

<p>After Nepal and Pakistan, now Bangladesh has sought explanation on the ‘Akhand Bharat’ [undivided India] mural that has been installed in the new Indian Parliament building.</p>

<p>Bangladesh’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam said that he has “instructed” the Bangladesh Embassy in Delhi on Monday to contact India’s Ministry of External Affairs to “get India’s official explanation on this matter”.</p>

<p>However, he said that there was “no reason to express doubts” about the explanation that the Indian MEA&nbsp;had offered after protests erupted in Nepal against the mural.</p>

<p>But for “further clarification”, the government has asked the mission in Delhi to contact India’s foreign ministry, he added.</p>

<p>“What we have learnt is that India’s Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson said that this is a map of the Ashoka Empire, 300 years before the birth of Christ. It includes a map of the area at that time and a mural. The mural depicts the journey of people. There may be cultural similarities, but it has nothing to do with politics,” Alam was quoted as saying in local media.</p>

<p>The minister was referring to the statement provided by&nbsp;MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi during a recent press briefing.</p>

<p>“The mural in question depicts the spread of the Ashokan empire and the idea of responsible and people-oriented governance that he adopted and propagated. That’s what the mural and the plaque in front of the mural says. And I really don’t have anything further to add to that,” Bagchi had said.</p>

<p>Bangladesh is the third South Asian country that has raised objections to the mural that seemingly depicts India’s expanding boundaries across the sub-continent.</p>

<p>Pakistan was the first to raise the issue, followed by Nepal when its Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' came to India on a four-day visit.</p>

<p>'Akhand Bharat', which means ‘Undivided India’, was a concept espoused by Hindutva nationalists envisaging that neighbouring countries like Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, the Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka would become a part of India. The concept seeks to recall the glorious past of undivided India, when past empires used to extend to much of geographical regions that are currently independent nations in South Asia and Southeast Asia.</p>

<h2><strong>Rumblings in Bangladesh</strong></h2>

<p>Even though Bangladesh’s ruling establishment has sought clarification, the opposition parties seem to have taken umbrage at the mural saying that it threatens the country’s sovereignty.</p>

<p>According to the Prothom Alo newspaper, almost all parties except the ruling Awami league have spoken about the mural openly.</p>

<p>“There has been sharp reaction and debate in Bangladesh’s political circles over the map of ‘Akhand Bharat’ (Undivided India) that is on display in the form of a mural at India’s new Parliament building,” the daily reported.</p>

<p>Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, the BNP secretary-general, was quoted by the newspaper as saying: “Displaying Bangladesh as part of the undivided map of any other country is a threat to the country’s independence and sovereignty.”</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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After Nepal and Pakistan, now Bangladesh has sought explanation on the ‘Akhand Bharat’ [undivided India] mural that has been installed in the new Indian Parliament building.

After Nepal and Pakistan, now Bangladesh has sought explanation on the ‘Akhand Bharat’ [undivided India] mural that has been installed in the new Indian Parliament building. Bangladesh’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam said that he has “instructed” the Bangladesh Embassy in Delhi on Monday to contact India’s Ministry of External Affairs to “get India’s official explanation on this matter”. However, he said that there was “no reason to express doubts” about the explanation that the Indian MEA had offered after protests erupted in Nepal against the mural. But for “further clarification”, the government has asked the mission in Delhi to contact India’s foreign ministry, he added. “What we have learnt is that India’s Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson said that this is a map of the Ashoka Empire, 300 years before the birth of Christ. It includes a map of the area at that time and a mural. The mural depicts the journey of people. There may be cultural similarities, but it has nothing to do with politics,” Alam was quoted as saying in local media. The minister was referring to the statement provided by MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi during a recent press briefing. “The mural in question depicts the spread of the Ashokan empire and the idea of responsible and people-oriented governance that he adopted and propagated. That’s what the mural and the plaque in front of the mural says. And I really don’t have anything further to add to that,” Bagchi had said. Bangladesh is the third South Asian country that has raised objections to the mural that seemingly depicts India’s expanding boundaries across the sub-continent. Pakistan was the first to raise the issue, followed by Nepal when its Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' came to India on a four-day visit. 'Akhand Bharat', which means ‘Undivided India’, was a concept espoused by Hindutva nationalists envisaging that neighbouring countries like Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, the Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka would become a part of India. The concept seeks to recall the glorious past of undivided India, when past empires used to extend to much of geographical regions that are currently independent nations in South Asia and Southeast Asia. Rumblings in Bangladesh Even though Bangladesh’s ruling establishment has sought clarification, the opposition parties seem to have taken umbrage at the mural saying that it threatens the country’s sovereignty. According to the Prothom Alo newspaper, almost all parties except the ruling Awami league have spoken about the mural openly. “There has been sharp reaction and debate in Bangladesh’s political circles over the map of ‘Akhand Bharat’ (Undivided India) that is on display in the form of a mural at India’s new Parliament building,” the daily reported. Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, the BNP secretary-general, was quoted by the newspaper as saying: “Displaying Bangladesh as part of the undivided map of any other country is a threat to the country’s independence and sovereignty.” (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Now, Bangladesh seeks clarification on ‘Akhand Bharat’ mural in new Indian Parliament

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