Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday met his Bangladeshi counterpart A K Abdul Momen and held wide-ranging discussions on ways to take forward the bilateral relations.

Jaishankar meets Bangladeshi counterpart in Dhaka

Dozens received injuries on Sunday as Bangladeshi police fired rubber bullets and tear gas at protesters who rallied over the death of a writer in jail. Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina shrugged off criticism faced by her government.

Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina shrugs off criticism faced by her government

Dozens received injuries on Sunday as Bangladeshi police fired rubber bullets and tear gas at protesters who rallied over the death of a writer in jail.&nbsp;

At a road and a footpath opposite the National Press Club, police dispersed protesters by beating them with batons, television footage live from Channel 24 showed.&nbsp;

Clashes between police and demonstrators from the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) began when police responded to stone hurling by "firing rubber bullets and tear gas", Deputy Commissioner of Dhaka police Sazzadur Rahman told news agency AFP.

"They did not take any permission (for the protests)," he said, defending the police's action.&nbsp;

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/anger-in-bangladesh-after-writer-detained-over-social-media-posts-dies-in-jail-366525">Anger in Bangladesh after writer detained over social media posts, dies in jail</a>

BNP spokesman Rizvi Ahmed said nearly 30 student leaders of the party including a senior leader were wounded in the clashes.&nbsp;

Many cops were also injured, and a policeman was also admitted to the hospital.&nbsp;

The spokeman said over 500 protesters were present at the press club to form a human chain denouncing the death of writer Mushtaq Ahmed.

The 53-year-old writer was arrested in Dhaka in May last year over comments on social media that slammed the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina government's response to the coronavirus pandemic.&nbsp;

He was denied bail at least six times and lost his life on Thursday.&nbsp;

For the last few days, protesters have marched at the Dhaka University denouncing the treatment of Mushtaq Ahmed and other journalists, activists and writers.&nbsp;

Dozens received injuries on Sunday as Bangladeshi police fired rubber bullets and tear gas at protesters who rallied over the death of a writer in jail. At a road and a footpath opposite the National Press Club, police dispersed protesters by beating them with batons, television footage live from Channel 24 showed.

Dozens received injuries on Sunday as Bangladeshi police fired rubber bullets and tear gas at protesters who rallied over the death of a writer in jail. At a road and a footpath opposite the National Press Club, police dispersed protesters by beating them with batons, television footage live from Channel 24 showed. Clashes between police and demonstrators from the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) began when police responded to stone hurling by "firing rubber bullets and tear gas", Deputy Commissioner of Dhaka police Sazzadur Rahman told news agency AFP. "They did not take any permission (for the protests)," he said, defending the police's action. Also read | Anger in Bangladesh after writer detained over social media posts, dies in jail BNP spokesman Rizvi Ahmed said nearly 30 student leaders of the party including a senior leader were wounded in the clashes. Many cops were also injured, and a policeman was also admitted to the hospital. The spokeman said over 500 protesters were present at the press club to form a human chain denouncing the death of writer Mushtaq Ahmed. The 53-year-old writer was arrested in Dhaka in May last year over comments on social media that slammed the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina government's response to the coronavirus pandemic. He was denied bail at least six times and lost his life on Thursday. For the last few days, protesters have marched at the Dhaka University denouncing the treatment of Mushtaq Ahmed and other journalists, activists and writers.

Bangladesh: Clashes erupt over writer's death in jail; protesters, police injured

Massive Protests erupt in Dhaka after death of writer Mushtaq Ahmed inside a high-security prison, who was arrested last year on charges of violating the stringent Digital Security Act.

Mushtaq Ahmed was among four people detained last May after he criticised the government's handling of the coronavirus pandemic.&nbsp;

The 53-year-old, a crocodile farmer who became a well-known government critic, was charged with spreading rumours and conducting "anti-state activities" on Facebook.

Jail authorities told AFP he died on Thursday evening after passing out at a high-security jail outside of the capital Dhaka.

Ahmed had not been suffering from any major illness, said prison chief Mohammad Ghiasuddin.

"We saw him taking only gastric tablets," he added.

Hundreds of people rallied in Dhaka on Friday to condemn Ahmed's death, while his lawyer Jyotirmoy Barua demanded an independent investigation.

Ahmed's prosecution under the country's Digital Security Act was an example of the "worst form of repression", said Saad Hammadi of Amnesty International.

"No one should have to die solely for exercising their right to freedom of expression," he added.

Around 2,000 cases have been filed under the law since it was enacted by the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in 2018, according to Amnesty.

Many of the country's leading editors and senior journalists have been targeted for prosecution under the law, it added.&nbsp;

The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists demanded "a swift, transparent, and independent investigation" into Ahmed's death.

(With inputs from agencies)

Massive Protests erupt in Dhaka after death of writer Mushtaq Ahmed inside a high-security prison, who was arrested last year on charges of violating the stringent Digital Security Act.

Massive Protests erupt in Dhaka after death of writer Mushtaq Ahmed inside a high-security prison, who was arrested last year on charges of violating the stringent Digital Security Act. Mushtaq Ahmed was among four people detained last May after he criticised the government's handling of the coronavirus pandemic. The 53-year-old, a crocodile farmer who became a well-known government critic, was charged with spreading rumours and conducting "anti-state activities" on Facebook. Jail authorities told AFP he died on Thursday evening after passing out at a high-security jail outside of the capital Dhaka. Ahmed had not been suffering from any major illness, said prison chief Mohammad Ghiasuddin. "We saw him taking only gastric tablets," he added. Hundreds of people rallied in Dhaka on Friday to condemn Ahmed's death, while his lawyer Jyotirmoy Barua demanded an independent investigation. Ahmed's prosecution under the country's Digital Security Act was an example of the "worst form of repression", said Saad Hammadi of Amnesty International. "No one should have to die solely for exercising their right to freedom of expression," he added. Around 2,000 cases have been filed under the law since it was enacted by the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in 2018, according to Amnesty. Many of the country's leading editors and senior journalists have been targeted for prosecution under the law, it added. The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists demanded "a swift, transparent, and independent investigation" into Ahmed's death. (With inputs from agencies)

Anger in Bangladesh after writer detained over social media posts, dies in jail

Bangladesh is under "no obligation" to shelter 81 Rohingya Muslim refugees adrift for almost two weeks on the Andaman Sea and being assisted by neighbouring India, said Bangladesh foreign minister A.K. Abdul Momen.

India`s coast guard found the 81 survivors and eight dead crammed onto a crippled fishing boat and were trying to arrange for Bangladesh to take them, Indian officials said on Friday.

But Momen told Reuters late on Friday that Bangladesh expects India, the closest country, or Myanmar, the Rohingyas` country of origin, to accept them.

"They are not Bangladesh nationals and in fact, they are Myanmar nationals. They were found&nbsp;1,700&nbsp;km (1,100 miles) away from the Bangladesh maritime territory and therefore, we have no obligation to take them," said Momen, who is in the United States.

"They were located 147 km (91 miles) away from Indian territory, 324 km (201 miles) away from Myanmar," he said by phone, adding other countries and organisations should take care of the refugees.

Indian foreign ministry officials did not respond to requests for comment.

External Affairs Ministry spokesman Anurag Srivastava said on Thursday that India was "in discussions with the Government of Bangladesh to ensure their safe and secure repatriation."

India`s foreign ministry did not respond to requests for comment on whether it would accept the refugees onto Indian soil.

One senior Indian official, who declined to be named as he was not authorized to discuss the matter with media, said India planned to help the refugees with food and water, but it was not planning to take them ashore.

New Delhi did not sign the 1951 Refugee Convention, which spells out refugee rights and state responsibilities to protect them. Nor does it have a law protecting refugees, though it currently hosts more than 200,000, including some Rohingya.

More than 1 million Rohingya refugees from predominantly Buddhist Myanmar are living in teeming camps in Muslim-majority Bangladesh, including tens of thousands who fled after Myanmar`s military conducted a deadly crackdown in 2017.

Traffickers often lure Rohingya refugees with promises of work in Southeast Asian countries like Malaysia.

The United Nations refugee agency, UNHCR, expressed alarm this week over the missing boat.

India on Thursday said around 47 of the occupants of the boat are in possession of ID cards issued to them by the UNHCR office in Bangladesh, stating that they are displaced Myanmar nationals.

NO `GLOBAL CONTRACT` TO AID REFUGEES

The refugees have been drifting in international waters after leaving southern Bangladesh on Feb. 11 in the hope of reaching Malaysia.

On Saturday, they were under the aid and surveillance of India as officials were holding talks to return them to Bangladesh, said the senior Indian official who is not authorised to speak to the media.

The boat, which sailed from the massive Cox`s Bazar refugee camp, was carrying 56 women, eight girls, 21 men and five boys.

Many of the survivors, according to Indian officials, were sick and suffering from extreme dehydration, having run out of food and water after the boat`s engine failed four days into their journey.

"Has Bangladesh been given the global contract and responsibility to take and rehabilitate all the Rohingya or boat people of the world?" Momen said. "No, not at all."

Momen said the UNHCR should also take responsibility as many people on the boat hold ID cards from the UNHCR office in Bangladesh.

"If (the refugees) are UNHCR card holders, why did they allow traffickers to take their card holders to adrift on the high sea leading to death?"

UNHCR officials were not immediately reachable for comment.

Bangladesh is under "no obligation" to shelter 81 Rohingya Muslim refugees adrift for almost two weeks on the Andaman Sea and being assisted by neighbouring India, said Bangladesh foreign minister A.

Bangladesh is under "no obligation" to shelter 81 Rohingya Muslim refugees adrift for almost two weeks on the Andaman Sea and being assisted by neighbouring India, said Bangladesh foreign minister A.K. Abdul Momen. India`s coast guard found the 81 survivors and eight dead crammed onto a crippled fishing boat and were trying to arrange for Bangladesh to take them, Indian officials said on Friday. But Momen told Reuters late on Friday that Bangladesh expects India, the closest country, or Myanmar, the Rohingyas` country of origin, to accept them. "They are not Bangladesh nationals and in fact, they are Myanmar nationals. They were found 1,700 km (1,100 miles) away from the Bangladesh maritime territory and therefore, we have no obligation to take them," said Momen, who is in the United States. "They were located 147 km (91 miles) away from Indian territory, 324 km (201 miles) away from Myanmar," he said by phone, adding other countries and organisations should take care of the refugees. Indian foreign ministry officials did not respond to requests for comment. External Affairs Ministry spokesman Anurag Srivastava said on Thursday that India was "in discussions with the Government of Bangladesh to ensure their safe and secure repatriation." India`s foreign ministry did not respond to requests for comment on whether it would accept the refugees onto Indian soil. One senior Indian official, who declined to be named as he was not authorized to discuss the matter with media, said India planned to help the refugees with food and water, but it was not planning to take them ashore. New Delhi did not sign the 1951 Refugee Convention, which spells out refugee rights and state responsibilities to protect them. Nor does it have a law protecting refugees, though it currently hosts more than 200,000, including some Rohingya. More than 1 million Rohingya refugees from predominantly Buddhist Myanmar are living in teeming camps in Muslim-majority Bangladesh, including tens of thousands who fled after Myanmar`s military conducted a deadly crackdown in 2017. Traffickers often lure Rohingya refugees with promises of work in Southeast Asian countries like Malaysia. The United Nations refugee agency, UNHCR, expressed alarm this week over the missing boat. India on Thursday said around 47 of the occupants of the boat are in possession of ID cards issued to them by the UNHCR office in Bangladesh, stating that they are displaced Myanmar nationals. NO `GLOBAL CONTRACT` TO AID REFUGEES The refugees have been drifting in international waters after leaving southern Bangladesh on Feb. 11 in the hope of reaching Malaysia. On Saturday, they were under the aid and surveillance of India as officials were holding talks to return them to Bangladesh, said the senior Indian official who is not authorised to speak to the media. The boat, which sailed from the massive Cox`s Bazar refugee camp, was carrying 56 women, eight girls, 21 men and five boys. Many of the survivors, according to Indian officials, were sick and suffering from extreme dehydration, having run out of food and water after the boat`s engine failed four days into their journey. "Has Bangladesh been given the global contract and responsibility to take and rehabilitate all the Rohingya or boat people of the world?" Momen said. "No, not at all." Momen said the UNHCR should also take responsibility as many people on the boat hold ID cards from the UNHCR office in Bangladesh. "If (the refugees) are UNHCR card holders, why did they allow traffickers to take their card holders to adrift on the high sea leading to death?" UNHCR officials were not immediately reachable for comment.

Bangladesh under 'no obligation' to accept stranded Rohingya refugees, minister says

Bangladesh has begun administering coronavirus vaccines to sex workers from the country's largest brothel, a vast warren of shacks home to around 1,900 prostitutes.

The South Asian nation has so far vaccinated nearly three million people aged 40 or above with the AstraZeneca jab, but has scrapped the age restriction for sex workers at the town of Daulatdia in the country's west.

"At least 100 sex workers have already got the anti-Covid-19 jabs," Asif Mahmud, health chief in Daulatdia, told AFP.

"It is very necessary to vaccinate the sex workers... Thousands of people visit the brothel every day and the sex workers at the massive brothel are most vulnerable to the virus."

The country has focused on inoculating the elderly, frontline health workers and security forces since its vaccination drive launched early this month, but plans to eventually cover about 80 percent of the population.

The first sex workers from the brothel to receive the jab travelled to a clinic five kilometres (three miles) away, but Mahmud said authorities were also planning a dedicated vaccine centre inside the brothel.

Mohammad Ibrahim, chief doctor in Daulatdia, said "multiple awareness campaigns" were being conducted to encourage more people to get the jab.

Beauty, 40, who goes by one name, said she was initially hesitant as she had heard rumours that people died after receiving the shot.

"But the health officials reassured us. Now we understand it is important as we meet many people every day," she said.

Bangladesh is one of the few Muslim nations where prostitution is legal for women aged over 18, and at least 11 brothels are operational across the country of 168 million.

Beauty said vaccination would improve their incomes as many clients were worried about coronavirus and had been avoiding the congested brothel, which sits near a busy train station.

In March authorities restricted visits to all brothels when they imposed a month-long nationwide lockdown.

This badly hit the livelihoods of many sex workers and their families, forcing some to rely on food and cash handouts. Many left the brothel to work on the streets, community leaders said.

Jhumur Begum, who heads the main association of sex workers at Daulatdia, said vaccination would help them get back on their feet.

"It will drive out the overwhelming fear that you will get the virus if you visit Daulatdia. There were also fears that any outbreak would be very deadly here," Begum said.

Bangladesh is buying about 30 million AstraZeneca vaccine doses from the Serum Institute of India and will receive another 68 million from the Covax initiative, a global effort to encourage equitable distribution for poor nations.

More than 8,300 people have died of the virus in the country while nearly 545,000 had been infected as of Wednesday.

Bangladesh has begun administering coronavirus vaccines to sex workers from the country's largest brothel, a vast warren of shacks home to around 1,900 prostitutes.

Bangladesh has begun administering coronavirus vaccines to sex workers from the country's largest brothel, a vast warren of shacks home to around 1,900 prostitutes. The South Asian nation has so far vaccinated nearly three million people aged 40 or above with the AstraZeneca jab, but has scrapped the age restriction for sex workers at the town of Daulatdia in the country's west. "At least 100 sex workers have already got the anti-Covid-19 jabs," Asif Mahmud, health chief in Daulatdia, told AFP. "It is very necessary to vaccinate the sex workers... Thousands of people visit the brothel every day and the sex workers at the massive brothel are most vulnerable to the virus." The country has focused on inoculating the elderly, frontline health workers and security forces since its vaccination drive launched early this month, but plans to eventually cover about 80 percent of the population. The first sex workers from the brothel to receive the jab travelled to a clinic five kilometres (three miles) away, but Mahmud said authorities were also planning a dedicated vaccine centre inside the brothel. Mohammad Ibrahim, chief doctor in Daulatdia, said "multiple awareness campaigns" were being conducted to encourage more people to get the jab. Beauty, 40, who goes by one name, said she was initially hesitant as she had heard rumours that people died after receiving the shot. "But the health officials reassured us. Now we understand it is important as we meet many people every day," she said. Bangladesh is one of the few Muslim nations where prostitution is legal for women aged over 18, and at least 11 brothels are operational across the country of 168 million. Beauty said vaccination would improve their incomes as many clients were worried about coronavirus and had been avoiding the congested brothel, which sits near a busy train station. In March authorities restricted visits to all brothels when they imposed a month-long nationwide lockdown. This badly hit the livelihoods of many sex workers and their families, forcing some to rely on food and cash handouts. Many left the brothel to work on the streets, community leaders said. Jhumur Begum, who heads the main association of sex workers at Daulatdia, said vaccination would help them get back on their feet. "It will drive out the overwhelming fear that you will get the virus if you visit Daulatdia. There were also fears that any outbreak would be very deadly here," Begum said. Bangladesh is buying about 30 million AstraZeneca vaccine doses from the Serum Institute of India and will receive another 68 million from the Covax initiative, a global effort to encourage equitable distribution for poor nations. More than 8,300 people have died of the virus in the country while nearly 545,000 had been infected as of Wednesday.

Bangladesh vaccinates sex workers at largest brothel

The United Nations refugee agency called on Monday for the immediate rescue of a group of Rohingya refugees adrift in their boat in the Andaman Sea without food or water, many of them ill and suffering from extreme dehydration.&nbsp;

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said it did not know the exact location of the vessel and understood that some passengers had died. The boat had left southern Bangladesh about 10 days ago and experienced engine failure, it said.&nbsp;

"Immediate action is needed to save lives and prevent further tragedy," UNHCR said in a statement, offering to support governments by providing humanitarian help to those rescued.&nbsp;

A senior Indian coast guard official confirmed to Reuters that the boat has been tracked to an area off the Andaman and Nicobar islands.&nbsp;

At least eight people had died on the boat, according to Chris Lewa, director of the Arakan Project, a group that monitors the Rohingya crisis.&nbsp;

Lewa said Indian navy vessels that were close by had provided food and water to those on the boat. "But we still don't know what they will do afterwards," he added.&nbsp;

A spokesman for India's navy did not provide details of the situation but said a statement would be issued later.&nbsp;

According to UNHCR, the boat set out from the Bangladesh coastal district of Cox's Bazar, where about a million Rohingya live in dire conditions in sprawling refugee camps.&nbsp;

Hundreds of thousands of Rohingya fled to Bangladesh after a deadly crackdown by security forces in Myanmar in 2017.&nbsp;

Authorities in Bangladesh said on Monday, they were unaware of any boats leaving the camps. "If we had such information, we would have stopped them," said Rafiqul Islam, an additional police superintendent in Cox's Bazar.&nbsp;

The United Nations refugee agency called on Monday for the immediate rescue of a group of Rohingya refugees adrift in their boat in the Andaman Sea without food or water, many of them ill and suffering from extreme dehydration.

The United Nations refugee agency called on Monday for the immediate rescue of a group of Rohingya refugees adrift in their boat in the Andaman Sea without food or water, many of them ill and suffering from extreme dehydration. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said it did not know the exact location of the vessel and understood that some passengers had died. The boat had left southern Bangladesh about 10 days ago and experienced engine failure, it said. "Immediate action is needed to save lives and prevent further tragedy," UNHCR said in a statement, offering to support governments by providing humanitarian help to those rescued. A senior Indian coast guard official confirmed to Reuters that the boat has been tracked to an area off the Andaman and Nicobar islands. At least eight people had died on the boat, according to Chris Lewa, director of the Arakan Project, a group that monitors the Rohingya crisis. Lewa said Indian navy vessels that were close by had provided food and water to those on the boat. "But we still don't know what they will do afterwards," he added. A spokesman for India's navy did not provide details of the situation but said a statement would be issued later. According to UNHCR, the boat set out from the Bangladesh coastal district of Cox's Bazar, where about a million Rohingya live in dire conditions in sprawling refugee camps. Hundreds of thousands of Rohingya fled to Bangladesh after a deadly crackdown by security forces in Myanmar in 2017. Authorities in Bangladesh said on Monday, they were unaware of any boats leaving the camps. "If we had such information, we would have stopped them," said Rafiqul Islam, an additional police superintendent in Cox's Bazar.

UN refugee agency calls for rescue of Rohingya stranded at sea

Bangladesh's garment industry is trying to recover from the COVID-19 crisis but buyers from America and Europe have started to cancel their orders one by one and as a result, the garment industry is under the threat again.

COVID-19 hits Bangladesh's garment industry. Pandemic soured long-term demand

While Bangladesh's garment industry tries to recover from the COVID-19 crisis buyers from Europe and America have started cancelling orders one by one. As a result, Bangladesh's largest export trade is under threat.

WION Fineprint: Bangladesh's garment workers continue to face COVID-19 hardships

India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will be visiting the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka on March 4 for a one-day visit. The key focus of the visit will PM Modi's visit to the country on March 26 for Bangladesh's 50th Independence Day celebration.

Indian EAM Jaishankar to visit Dhaka ahead of PM Modi's trip

Bangladesh authorities have sent a fourth group of Rohingya refugees from Myanmar to a newly developed island in the Bay of Bengal on Monday.&nbsp;

The roughly 2,000 Rohingya, who had been living in the sprawling refugee camps of Cox's Bazar, were sent to Bhasan Char, an island specifically developed to accommodate 100,000 of the one million Rohingya, who have fled from neighbouring Myanmar, M. Mozammel Haque, a commander of the Bangladesh navy, told reporters.&nbsp;

With Monday's group, more than 7,000 refugees have moved to the island since the process started in December.&nbsp;

The government has said the arrangement is good for the refugees and the island is designed to offer better living conditions. The government has insisted that refugees moving to the island have done so voluntarily.&nbsp;

More than one million Rohingya have fled waves of violent persecution in their native Myanmar and are currently living in overcrowded, squalid refugee camps in Cox's Bazar district.&nbsp;

Bangladesh has said that ultimately it is up to Myanmar to take the refugees back and has called on the international community to put pressure on Myanmar's government to ensure their safe return.&nbsp;

The latest relocation follows a February 1 coup in Myanmar that put the military firmly back in control. The refugees living in Bangladeshi camps say they are now even more fearful to go back to Myanmar.&nbsp;

The island surfaced only 20 years ago and was not previously inhabited. It was regularly submerged by monsoon rains but now has flood protection embankments, houses, hospitals and mosques built at a cost of more than $112 million by the Bangladesh navy.&nbsp;

The government said the new development schemes in the island have made the island safe for living.

Bangladesh authorities have sent a fourth group of Rohingya refugees from Myanmar to a newly developed island in the Bay of Bengal on Monday. The roughly 2,000 Rohingya, who had been living in the sprawling refugee camps of Cox's Bazar, were sent to Bhasan Char, an island specifically developed to accommodate 100,000 of the one million Rohingya, who have fled from neighbouring Myanmar, M.

Bangladesh authorities have sent a fourth group of Rohingya refugees from Myanmar to a newly developed island in the Bay of Bengal on Monday. The roughly 2,000 Rohingya, who had been living in the sprawling refugee camps of Cox's Bazar, were sent to Bhasan Char, an island specifically developed to accommodate 100,000 of the one million Rohingya, who have fled from neighbouring Myanmar, M. Mozammel Haque, a commander of the Bangladesh navy, told reporters. With Monday's group, more than 7,000 refugees have moved to the island since the process started in December. The government has said the arrangement is good for the refugees and the island is designed to offer better living conditions. The government has insisted that refugees moving to the island have done so voluntarily. More than one million Rohingya have fled waves of violent persecution in their native Myanmar and are currently living in overcrowded, squalid refugee camps in Cox's Bazar district. Bangladesh has said that ultimately it is up to Myanmar to take the refugees back and has called on the international community to put pressure on Myanmar's government to ensure their safe return. The latest relocation follows a February 1 coup in Myanmar that put the military firmly back in control. The refugees living in Bangladeshi camps say they are now even more fearful to go back to Myanmar. The island surfaced only 20 years ago and was not previously inhabited. It was regularly submerged by monsoon rains but now has flood protection embankments, houses, hospitals and mosques built at a cost of more than $112 million by the Bangladesh navy. The government said the new development schemes in the island have made the island safe for living.

Bangladesh sends fourth batch of Rohingya refugees to new island

Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar is coming to Dhaka on March 4. During his two-day visit, the issues of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Bangladesh will be finalized. &nbsp;

Discussions are also underway with Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen to fix a date for Jaishankar's bilateral meeting. &nbsp;

An official of the Bangladesh Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed to the WION this.&nbsp;

It is learned that PM Narendra Modi will take part in a function on March 26 to mark the birth centenary of Bangladesh's Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the golden jubilee of great independence. &nbsp;

He is scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina the next day. During Narendra Modi's visit, the two foreign ministers will discuss the agenda and possible agreements.&nbsp;

This is Jaishankar's second visit to Dhaka as foreign minister. 
 
There has been increased engagement between the two&nbsp;countries in the last few years. December saw the India-Bangladesh virtual summit at the level of Prime Ministers. &nbsp;

During the summit, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid rich tributes to the Indian Armed forces and thanked India for the liberation of the country from Pakistan in 1971.&nbsp; 
 
In January, Bangladesh's Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen was in India for the foreign office consultations. He had called ties with India "deep and historic".&nbsp;

Amid the covid pandemic, India sent two&nbsp;million doses of the Covishield vaccine produced by the Serum Institute of India (SII) to Bangladesh. Later commercial consignments were also sent. The key focus has also been on reviving the pre-1965 connectivity links. The December virtual summit saw the opening of the Haldibari-Chilahati rail link connecting Bangladesh with the Indian state of West Bengal.&nbsp;

Currently, 5 out of 6 'pre-1965' rail links have been revived, which are Haldibari-Chilahati rail link, Petrapole (India) - Benapole (Bangladesh), Gede (India) – Darshana (Bangladesh), Singhabad (India)-Rohanpur (Bangladesh) and Radhikapur (India)–Birol (Bangladesh).

Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar is coming to Dhaka on March 4. During his two-day visit, the issues of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Bangladesh will be finalized.

Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar is coming to Dhaka on March 4. During his two-day visit, the issues of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Bangladesh will be finalized. Discussions are also underway with Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen to fix a date for Jaishankar's bilateral meeting. An official of the Bangladesh Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed to the WION this. It is learned that PM Narendra Modi will take part in a function on March 26 to mark the birth centenary of Bangladesh's Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the golden jubilee of great independence. He is scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina the next day. During Narendra Modi's visit, the two foreign ministers will discuss the agenda and possible agreements. This is Jaishankar's second visit to Dhaka as foreign minister. There has been increased engagement between the two countries in the last few years. December saw the India-Bangladesh virtual summit at the level of Prime Ministers. During the summit, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid rich tributes to the Indian Armed forces and thanked India for the liberation of the country from Pakistan in 1971. In January, Bangladesh's Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen was in India for the foreign office consultations. He had called ties with India "deep and historic". Amid the covid pandemic, India sent two million doses of the Covishield vaccine produced by the Serum Institute of India (SII) to Bangladesh. Later commercial consignments were also sent. The key focus has also been on reviving the pre-1965 connectivity links. The December virtual summit saw the opening of the Haldibari-Chilahati rail link connecting Bangladesh with the Indian state of West Bengal. Currently, 5 out of 6 'pre-1965' rail links have been revived, which are Haldibari-Chilahati rail link, Petrapole (India) - Benapole (Bangladesh), Gede (India) – Darshana (Bangladesh), Singhabad (India)-Rohanpur (Bangladesh) and Radhikapur (India)–Birol (Bangladesh).

Ahead Of PM Modi's visit, Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar to visit Bangladesh on March 4 

Eight Islamic extremists were sentenced to death in Bangladesh for the murder of a publisher on Wednesday, as the Muslim-majority nation grapples with tensions between religious hardliners and secularists.&nbsp;

Faisal Arefin Dipan, 43, the owner of a Dhaka-based publishing house that released several atheist books, was hacked to death in October 2015 by men suspected to be members of a local jihadist group.&nbsp;

The attack was part of a wave of violence between 2013 and 2016 targeting secular activists, bloggers and atheist writers.&nbsp;

Several top Islamist political party leaders were hanged over the violence under the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.&nbsp;

Prosecutor Golam Sarwar Zakir said, the judge at Dhaka's Special Anti-Terrorism Tribunal convicted all of the eight accused men.&nbsp;

"He (the judge) said their goal was to muzzle people's voices by murdering bloggers, writers and publishers. They wanted to disrupt public security by creating panic among the people," Zakir said.&nbsp;

Two of the men are still on the loose and were sentenced in absentia, including mastermind Syed Ziaul Haque, a sacked army officer, Zakir added.&nbsp;

Haque has been charged with the killings of several secular activists.&nbsp;

A defence lawyer for the eight men said they would appeal against the sentences.&nbsp;

The Bangladesh government has set up two major anti-terrorism police units in recent years to crack down on Islamic extremists.&nbsp;

More than 100 suspected Islamists have been killed in anti-terror raids across the country and hundreds have been detained. Around half-a-dozen Islamist militant outfits have been banned.&nbsp;

Star Bangladeshi cricketer Shakib Al Hasan has become the latest target of radicals and had to be given an armed bodyguard after he was threatened for attending a Hindu ceremony in neighbouring India.

Eight Islamic extremists were sentenced to death in Bangladesh for the murder of a publisher on Wednesday, as the Muslim-majority nation grapples with tensions between religious hardliners and secularists.

Eight Islamic extremists were sentenced to death in Bangladesh for the murder of a publisher on Wednesday, as the Muslim-majority nation grapples with tensions between religious hardliners and secularists. Faisal Arefin Dipan, 43, the owner of a Dhaka-based publishing house that released several atheist books, was hacked to death in October 2015 by men suspected to be members of a local jihadist group. The attack was part of a wave of violence between 2013 and 2016 targeting secular activists, bloggers and atheist writers. Several top Islamist political party leaders were hanged over the violence under the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Prosecutor Golam Sarwar Zakir said, the judge at Dhaka's Special Anti-Terrorism Tribunal convicted all of the eight accused men. "He (the judge) said their goal was to muzzle people's voices by murdering bloggers, writers and publishers. They wanted to disrupt public security by creating panic among the people," Zakir said. Two of the men are still on the loose and were sentenced in absentia, including mastermind Syed Ziaul Haque, a sacked army officer, Zakir added. Haque has been charged with the killings of several secular activists. A defence lawyer for the eight men said they would appeal against the sentences. The Bangladesh government has set up two major anti-terrorism police units in recent years to crack down on Islamic extremists. More than 100 suspected Islamists have been killed in anti-terror raids across the country and hundreds have been detained. Around half-a-dozen Islamist militant outfits have been banned. Star Bangladeshi cricketer Shakib Al Hasan has become the latest target of radicals and had to be given an armed bodyguard after he was threatened for attending a Hindu ceremony in neighbouring India.

Eight Islamists get death in Bangladesh over publisher’s murder

Bangladesh's aviation sector bit of a dire state due to the coronavirus pandemic. The countries only state-owned and as well as private airlines already incurred a loss of about 3.5 billion dollars.

Bangladesh's aviation sector crumbles, Experts say the industry is likely to suffer more

The suspension of international and domestic flights, fall in air travel demand and economic uncertainty following the outbreak of coronavirus across the world.

Bangladesh's aviation sector crumbles, govt and private airlines incur huge losses

A Bangladesh court jailed 50 opposition activists on Thursday for up to 10 years for an attack on the current prime minister's motorcade nearly two decades ago, a prosecutor said. 
 
Among the defendants was a former member of parliament for the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), which was in power at the time of the attack. 
 
In 2002, a motorcade accompanying Sheikh Hasina, who was then the opposition leader for Awami League, was attacked with rocks, batons and machetes, prosecutors said. 
 
"Three men including the ex-MP were given 10 years in jail and the rest got various jail terms from four-and-a-half years," prosecutor Shaheen Mirdha told AFP, after the sentences were delivered by a district court in the southern city of Satkhira. 
 
Twelve of the convicts are currently on the run. 
 
The prosecutor said the attack was one of many assassination attempts on Hasina, who was unhurt. 
 
Several of her Awami League followers and journalists were injured in the incident.&nbsp; 
 
Thursday's verdict was handed down as another court sentenced the country's acting main opposition leader Tarique Rahman, also of the BNP, to two years in prison for defaming Hasina's father, a court official said. 
 
BNP spokesman Rizvi Ahmed slammed both the cases, saying they were "fabricated, manipulated and politically motivated". 
 
The BNP, which has been out of power since 2006, has accused the government of detaining tens of thousands of its activists using trumped-up charges in the 12 years that Hasina has been in power. 
 
"The verdicts are an attempt to divert the people's attention from the government's illegal and anti-democratic activities and corruption," Ahmed told AFP. 
 
More than 200 BNP activists staged a march in central Dhaka to protest against the verdicts on Thursday. 
 
Rahman is said to have called Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the country's founding leader and Hasina's father, a "friend and collaborator" of Pakistan, court clerk Abul Kalam Azad told AFP. 
 
He is living in exile in London and was sentenced in absentia. 
 
He has already been sentenced to life in prison over his role in a grenade attack on a political rally staged by Hasina in 2004 when she was the leader of the opposition.

A Bangladesh court jailed 50 opposition activists on Thursday for up to 10 years for an attack on the current prime minister's motorcade nearly two decades ago, a prosecutor said.

A Bangladesh court jailed 50 opposition activists on Thursday for up to 10 years for an attack on the current prime minister's motorcade nearly two decades ago, a prosecutor said. Among the defendants was a former member of parliament for the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), which was in power at the time of the attack. In 2002, a motorcade accompanying Sheikh Hasina, who was then the opposition leader for Awami League, was attacked with rocks, batons and machetes, prosecutors said. "Three men including the ex-MP were given 10 years in jail and the rest got various jail terms from four-and-a-half years," prosecutor Shaheen Mirdha told AFP, after the sentences were delivered by a district court in the southern city of Satkhira. Twelve of the convicts are currently on the run. The prosecutor said the attack was one of many assassination attempts on Hasina, who was unhurt. Several of her Awami League followers and journalists were injured in the incident. Thursday's verdict was handed down as another court sentenced the country's acting main opposition leader Tarique Rahman, also of the BNP, to two years in prison for defaming Hasina's father, a court official said. BNP spokesman Rizvi Ahmed slammed both the cases, saying they were "fabricated, manipulated and politically motivated". The BNP, which has been out of power since 2006, has accused the government of detaining tens of thousands of its activists using trumped-up charges in the 12 years that Hasina has been in power. "The verdicts are an attempt to divert the people's attention from the government's illegal and anti-democratic activities and corruption," Ahmed told AFP. More than 200 BNP activists staged a march in central Dhaka to protest against the verdicts on Thursday. Rahman is said to have called Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the country's founding leader and Hasina's father, a "friend and collaborator" of Pakistan, court clerk Abul Kalam Azad told AFP. He is living in exile in London and was sentenced in absentia. He has already been sentenced to life in prison over his role in a grenade attack on a political rally staged by Hasina in 2004 when she was the leader of the opposition.

Bangladesh jails 50 over attack on PM's convoy

The Bangladesh government has signed a $500 million dollar financing agreement with the World Bank to help upgrade a highway and enhance connection of rural roads and markets, benefiting over 20 million people living in the country`s western region, according to an official statement. 
 
The Western Economic Corridor and Regional Enhancement (WeCARE) Program Phase I project will help upgrade the 48 km two-lane Jashore-Jhenaidah road to a modern four-lane highway, Xinhua news agency quoted the statement as saying on Monday. 
 
The project will also help rehabilitate about 600 km of the area connecting rural roads and building new or developing existing rural markets. 
 
It will also install fibre-optic cables along the highway to ensure fast and reliable internet service. 
 
According to the statement, the project is the first of a multi-phased $1.4 billion program of 10 years to upgrade the existing 110 km two-lane highway, Bhomra-Satkhira-Navaron and Jashore-Jhenaidah. 
 
In the current phase, it said the project will be implemented in four districts: Jashore, Jhenaidah, Magura, and Chuadanga. 
 
In the first two years, the project will create about 1.3 million day jobs for local people, said the statement.

The Bangladesh government has signed a $500 million dollar financing agreement with the World Bank to help upgrade a highway and enhance connection of rural roads and markets, benefiting over 20 million people living in the country`s western region, according to an official statement.

The Bangladesh government has signed a $500 million dollar financing agreement with the World Bank to help upgrade a highway and enhance connection of rural roads and markets, benefiting over 20 million people living in the country`s western region, according to an official statement. The Western Economic Corridor and Regional Enhancement (WeCARE) Program Phase I project will help upgrade the 48 km two-lane Jashore-Jhenaidah road to a modern four-lane highway, Xinhua news agency quoted the statement as saying on Monday. The project will also help rehabilitate about 600 km of the area connecting rural roads and building new or developing existing rural markets. It will also install fibre-optic cables along the highway to ensure fast and reliable internet service. According to the statement, the project is the first of a multi-phased $1.4 billion program of 10 years to upgrade the existing 110 km two-lane highway, Bhomra-Satkhira-Navaron and Jashore-Jhenaidah. In the current phase, it said the project will be implemented in four districts: Jashore, Jhenaidah, Magura, and Chuadanga. In the first two years, the project will create about 1.3 million day jobs for local people, said the statement.

Bangladesh to receive $500mn from World Bank to improve connectivity

Bangladesh&nbsp;called for "peace and stability" in Myanmar after a military coup on Monday, and said it hoped its neighbour makes genuine efforts to move forward the stalled process of voluntary repatriation of Rohingya Muslim refugees.

Mainly-Muslim&nbsp;Bangladesh&nbsp;has sheltered 1 million Rohingya who had fled violence in Buddhist-majority Myanmar, where most of them are denied citizenship.

A UN-backed repatriation process has failed to take off despite multiple attempts from&nbsp;Bangladesh, which has now started sending some refugees to an isolated island in the Bay of Bengal.

"We have been persistent in developing mutually beneficial relations with Myanmar and have been working with Myanmar for the voluntary, safe and sustained repatriation of the Rohingya sheltered in&nbsp;Bangladesh," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs told Reuters in a statement.

"We expect these processes to continue in right earnest."

Myanmar's military seized power on Monday in a coup against the democratically elected government of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, who was detained along with other leaders of her National League for Democracy party in early morning raids.

"We hope that the democratic process and constitutional arrangements will be upheld in Myanmar,"&nbsp;Bangladesh&nbsp;said.

Suu Kyi's international reputation was damaged after she failed to stop the forced expulsion of hundreds of thousands of Rohingya from western Rakhine State in 2017.

Nevertheless, Rohingya in&nbsp;Bangladesh&nbsp;expressed fears for their people still in Myanmar following the military's ouster of Suu Kyi.

"She was no good for us but there was still hope that through the democratic process we could achieve our rights. Now it seems Myanmar has no democratic future in the near term," a 31-year-old Rohingya told Reuters by telephone from a refugee camp, asking not to be named for fear of reprisal.

"We are very concerned.... Terrified about what’s going to happen to the Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar," he said.

Dil Mohammed, a Rohingya leader in one of the camps, told Reuters: "We urge the global community to come forward and restore democracy at any cost."

Bangladesh called for "peace and stability" in Myanmar after a military coup on Monday, and said it hoped its neighbour makes genuine efforts to move forward the stalled process of voluntary repatriation of Rohingya Muslim refugees.

Bangladesh called for "peace and stability" in Myanmar after a military coup on Monday, and said it hoped its neighbour makes genuine efforts to move forward the stalled process of voluntary repatriation of Rohingya Muslim refugees. Mainly-Muslim Bangladesh has sheltered 1 million Rohingya who had fled violence in Buddhist-majority Myanmar, where most of them are denied citizenship. A UN-backed repatriation process has failed to take off despite multiple attempts from Bangladesh, which has now started sending some refugees to an isolated island in the Bay of Bengal. "We have been persistent in developing mutually beneficial relations with Myanmar and have been working with Myanmar for the voluntary, safe and sustained repatriation of the Rohingya sheltered in Bangladesh," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs told Reuters in a statement. "We expect these processes to continue in right earnest." Myanmar's military seized power on Monday in a coup against the democratically elected government of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, who was detained along with other leaders of her National League for Democracy party in early morning raids. "We hope that the democratic process and constitutional arrangements will be upheld in Myanmar," Bangladesh said. Suu Kyi's international reputation was damaged after she failed to stop the forced expulsion of hundreds of thousands of Rohingya from western Rakhine State in 2017. Nevertheless, Rohingya in Bangladesh expressed fears for their people still in Myanmar following the military's ouster of Suu Kyi. "She was no good for us but there was still hope that through the democratic process we could achieve our rights. Now it seems Myanmar has no democratic future in the near term," a 31-year-old Rohingya told Reuters by telephone from a refugee camp, asking not to be named for fear of reprisal. "We are very concerned.... Terrified about what’s going to happen to the Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar," he said. Dil Mohammed, a Rohingya leader in one of the camps, told Reuters: "We urge the global community to come forward and restore democracy at any cost."

Bangladesh expects Myanmar to keep Rohingya repatriation commitments despite coup

The island surfaced only 20 years ago and was not previously inhabited. It was regularly submerged by monsoon rains but now has flood protection embankments, houses, hospitals and mosques.

Bangladesh sends third group of Rohingya refugees to Bhasan Char island

Bangladesh's Foreign Secretary Ambassador Masud Bin Momen who was in India for the foreign office consultations has called ties with India "deep and historic". Speaking to our Principal Diplomatic Correspondent Sidhant Sibal, Ambassador Masud lauded India's Vaccine diplomacy, saying, "India has made available not only to Bangladesh but also to other Neighbours, as part of the Neighbourhood first policy of India and we are deeply appreciative of this."

Bangladesh Foreign Secretary says ties with India "Deep & Historic" | Masud Bin Momen interview

Authorities in Bangladesh on Friday moved more than 1,750 Rohingya Muslims to a controversial island in the Bay of Bengal despite complaints made by refugees already there.

A Navy ship packed with migrants on its top deck set off from the port city of Chittagong on Friday. Officials said over 3,000 Rohingya would be taken by boat to Bhashan Char island on Friday and Saturday from congested camps on Bangladesh's border with Myanmar.

With the new arrivals, some 7,000 Rohingya would be on the 13,000-acre (53-square kilometre) island.

The government has, however, said about 100,000 people could be settled on Bhashan Char from the camps.

Bangladesh has struggled to cope with more than 700,000 Rohingyas who fled across the frontier in 2017 after a Myanmar military crackdown on the Muslim minority. That added to 300,000 already in the camps.

Rights groups say many of the Rohingya have been moved against&nbsp;their will and have also raised concerns over the safety of the island that is regularly flooded during the cyclone season. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Authorities want to move many of the new inhabitants before the cyclone season starts in April.

Bhashan Char -- a silty strip that did not exist two decades ago -- is situated in a region where about 700,000 people have died in storms in the past 50 years.

The United Nations says the relocation should be voluntary and it has not been involved in the operation.

Authorities in Bangladesh on Friday moved more than 1,750 Rohingya Muslims to a controversial island in the Bay of Bengal despite complaints made by refugees already there.

Authorities in Bangladesh on Friday moved more than 1,750 Rohingya Muslims to a controversial island in the Bay of Bengal despite complaints made by refugees already there. A Navy ship packed with migrants on its top deck set off from the port city of Chittagong on Friday. Officials said over 3,000 Rohingya would be taken by boat to Bhashan Char island on Friday and Saturday from congested camps on Bangladesh's border with Myanmar. With the new arrivals, some 7,000 Rohingya would be on the 13,000-acre (53-square kilometre) island. The government has, however, said about 100,000 people could be settled on Bhashan Char from the camps. Bangladesh has struggled to cope with more than 700,000 Rohingyas who fled across the frontier in 2017 after a Myanmar military crackdown on the Muslim minority. That added to 300,000 already in the camps. Rights groups say many of the Rohingya have been moved against their will and have also raised concerns over the safety of the island that is regularly flooded during the cyclone season. Authorities want to move many of the new inhabitants before the cyclone season starts in April. Bhashan Char -- a silty strip that did not exist two decades ago -- is situated in a region where about 700,000 people have died in storms in the past 50 years. The United Nations says the relocation should be voluntary and it has not been involved in the operation.

Bangladesh continues to move thousands of Rohingya Muslims to remote island

Bangladesh is preparing to move 2000-3000 more Rohingya refugees to the Bhasan Char, a remote Bay of Bengal island that critics say is vulnerable to storms and flooding. Bangladesh has already relocated about 3500 Rohingya refugees on the island since early December.

Bhasan Char island emerged from the sea only two decades ago. One has to travel by boat from Chittagong for several hours in order to reach the island.&nbsp;

"Most probably, they will be taken to Chittagong tomorrow and the next day, they will be sent to Bhasan Char from there," Navy Commodore Abdullah Al Mamun Chowdhury told Reuters.

"Last time, we had preparations for 700 to 1,000 but finally more than 1,800 Rohingya moved there. People who moved earlier are calling their relatives and friends to go there. That's why more people are going there."

The move to send Rohingya refugees to Bangladesh has drawn criticism. Bangladesh justifies the move to the island saying overcrowding in the camps in Cox's Bazar is leading to crimes.

It also dismisses concerns of floods, citing the construction of a 2-metre (6.5 feet) embankment for 12 km (7.5 miles) to protect the island along with housing for 100,000 people, as well as facilities such as cyclone centres and hospitals.

Its actions, nevertheless, have attracted criticism from relief agencies that had not been consulted on the previous transfers. The UNHCR did not immediately respond to a query from Reuters on the latest planned movement.

U.S.-based advocacy group Refugees International has said the plan is "short-sighted and inhumane" while the Fortify Rights Group said the relocations may be "coerced and involuntary" and should cease immediately.

Bangladesh is preparing to move 2000-3000 more Rohingya refugees to the Bhasan Char, a remote Bay of Bengal island that critics say is vulnerable to storms and flooding.

Bangladesh is preparing to move 2000-3000 more Rohingya refugees to the Bhasan Char, a remote Bay of Bengal island that critics say is vulnerable to storms and flooding. Bangladesh has already relocated about 3500 Rohingya refugees on the island since early December. Bhasan Char island emerged from the sea only two decades ago. One has to travel by boat from Chittagong for several hours in order to reach the island. "Most probably, they will be taken to Chittagong tomorrow and the next day, they will be sent to Bhasan Char from there," Navy Commodore Abdullah Al Mamun Chowdhury told Reuters. "Last time, we had preparations for 700 to 1,000 but finally more than 1,800 Rohingya moved there. People who moved earlier are calling their relatives and friends to go there. That's why more people are going there." The move to send Rohingya refugees to Bangladesh has drawn criticism. Bangladesh justifies the move to the island saying overcrowding in the camps in Cox's Bazar is leading to crimes. It also dismisses concerns of floods, citing the construction of a 2-metre (6.5 feet) embankment for 12 km (7.5 miles) to protect the island along with housing for 100,000 people, as well as facilities such as cyclone centres and hospitals. Its actions, nevertheless, have attracted criticism from relief agencies that had not been consulted on the previous transfers. The UNHCR did not immediately respond to a query from Reuters on the latest planned movement. U.S.-based advocacy group Refugees International has said the plan is "short-sighted and inhumane" while the Fortify Rights Group said the relocations may be "coerced and involuntary" and should cease immediately.

Bangladesh to send more Rohingya refugees to remote island despite criticism

Updating its travel advisory for three South Asian countries, the US has urged its citizens to reconsider their travel to Pakistan and Bangladesh and not to visit Afghanistan.

The state department issued separate travel advisories for the three countries on Monday.

"Reconsider travel to Pakistan due to COVID-19, terrorism and sectarian violence," it said.

It also asked its citizens not to travel to Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces due to terrorism and kidnapping.

The advisory also warned Americans against travelling to "the immediate vicinity of the Line of Control due to terrorism and the potential for armed conflict".

"Do not travel to the India-Pakistan border. Militant groups are known to operate in the area. India and Pakistan maintain a strong military presence on both sides of the border. Indian and Pakistani military forces periodically exchange gunfire and artillery fire across the Line of Control (LoC)," it said.

Urging its citizens to reconsider travel to Bangladesh due to COVID-19, the state department asked them to "exercise increased caution" in the country due to crime, terrorism and kidnapping.

"Travel is dangerous to Khagrachari, Rangamati and Bandarban hill tracts districts (collectively known as the Chittagong Hill Tracts) due to occasional communal violence and other security risks," it said in an advisory.

In another advisory, the state department asked Americans not to travel to Afghanistan due to COVID-19, crime, terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping and armed conflict.

"Travel to all areas of Afghanistan is unsafe because of critical levels of kidnappings, hostage taking, suicide bombings, widespread military combat operations, landmines and terrorist and insurgent attacks, including attacks using vehicle-borne, magnetic, or other improvised explosive devices (IEDs), suicide vests and grenades," it said.

Updating its travel advisory for three South Asian countries, the US has urged its citizens to reconsider their travel to Pakistan and Bangladesh and not to visit Afghanistan.

Updating its travel advisory for three South Asian countries, the US has urged its citizens to reconsider their travel to Pakistan and Bangladesh and not to visit Afghanistan. The state department issued separate travel advisories for the three countries on Monday. "Reconsider travel to Pakistan due to COVID-19, terrorism and sectarian violence," it said. It also asked its citizens not to travel to Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces due to terrorism and kidnapping. The advisory also warned Americans against travelling to "the immediate vicinity of the Line of Control due to terrorism and the potential for armed conflict". "Do not travel to the India-Pakistan border. Militant groups are known to operate in the area. India and Pakistan maintain a strong military presence on both sides of the border. Indian and Pakistani military forces periodically exchange gunfire and artillery fire across the Line of Control (LoC)," it said. Urging its citizens to reconsider travel to Bangladesh due to COVID-19, the state department asked them to "exercise increased caution" in the country due to crime, terrorism and kidnapping. "Travel is dangerous to Khagrachari, Rangamati and Bandarban hill tracts districts (collectively known as the Chittagong Hill Tracts) due to occasional communal violence and other security risks," it said in an advisory. In another advisory, the state department asked Americans not to travel to Afghanistan due to COVID-19, crime, terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping and armed conflict. "Travel to all areas of Afghanistan is unsafe because of critical levels of kidnappings, hostage taking, suicide bombings, widespread military combat operations, landmines and terrorist and insurgent attacks, including attacks using vehicle-borne, magnetic, or other improvised explosive devices (IEDs), suicide vests and grenades," it said.

US updates travel advisory to citizens for Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan

It has been 50 years of the liberation of Bangladesh from Pakistani rule. And India and Bangladesh are celebrating the Golden Jubilee of that war.

A marching contingent and band of Bangladesh tri-services participated in the Indian Republic Day Parade at Rajpath to commemorate 50 years of its historic liberation.

The 122-member contingent of the Bangladesh Armed Forces comprising soldiers of the Bangladesh Army, sailors of the Bangladesh Navy, and air warriors of the Bangladesh Air Force was led by the contingent Commander Lieutenant Colonel Abu Mohammed Shahnoor Shawon and his deputies, Lieutenant Farhan Ishraq and Flight Lieutenant Sibat Rahman.

All the three services of the Bangladesh Armed Forces had played a key role in securing independence for their country in the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971.

The representatives of the battalions that participated in Liberation War, like 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 10 and 11 East Bengal Regiment and 1, 2 and 3 Field Regiment Artillery, marched in the parade.

Bangladesh Navy had successfully conducted Operation Jackpot during the War, destroying 26 enemy ships in sea ports and river ports. The Air Force conducted 50 successful air strikes on the enemy targets during the War as part of "Kilo Flight" from the base in Dimapur, India.

The contingent marched to the song of "Shono Ekti Mujibur-er theke lokkho Mujibur", meaning "Listen, the voice of Mujibur which has been multiplied by hundred thousands of his followers", played by the marching band led by Lieutenant Colonel Banazir Ahmed.

Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, popularly known as Bangabondhu, was the central figure behind the Bangladesh Liberation Movement and the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971.

Rahman, also known as 'Father of the Nation', served as the first President of Bangladesh and later as the Prime Minister from April 17, 1971 until his assassination on August 15, 1975.

India was the first country to recognise Bangladesh as a separate and independent state and established diplomatic relations with the country immediately after its independence in December 1971.

(With inputs from agencies)

It has been 50 years of the liberation of Bangladesh from Pakistani rule. And India and Bangladesh are celebrating the Golden Jubilee of that war. A marching contingent and band of Bangladesh tri-services participated in the Indian Republic Day Parade at Rajpath to commemorate 50 years of its historic liberation.

It has been 50 years of the liberation of Bangladesh from Pakistani rule. And India and Bangladesh are celebrating the Golden Jubilee of that war. A marching contingent and band of Bangladesh tri-services participated in the Indian Republic Day Parade at Rajpath to commemorate 50 years of its historic liberation. The 122-member contingent of the Bangladesh Armed Forces comprising soldiers of the Bangladesh Army, sailors of the Bangladesh Navy, and air warriors of the Bangladesh Air Force was led by the contingent Commander Lieutenant Colonel Abu Mohammed Shahnoor Shawon and his deputies, Lieutenant Farhan Ishraq and Flight Lieutenant Sibat Rahman. All the three services of the Bangladesh Armed Forces had played a key role in securing independence for their country in the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971. The representatives of the battalions that participated in Liberation War, like 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 10 and 11 East Bengal Regiment and 1, 2 and 3 Field Regiment Artillery, marched in the parade. Bangladesh Navy had successfully conducted Operation Jackpot during the War, destroying 26 enemy ships in sea ports and river ports. The Air Force conducted 50 successful air strikes on the enemy targets during the War as part of "Kilo Flight" from the base in Dimapur, India. The contingent marched to the song of "Shono Ekti Mujibur-er theke lokkho Mujibur", meaning "Listen, the voice of Mujibur which has been multiplied by hundred thousands of his followers", played by the marching band led by Lieutenant Colonel Banazir Ahmed. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, popularly known as Bangabondhu, was the central figure behind the Bangladesh Liberation Movement and the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971. Rahman, also known as 'Father of the Nation', served as the first President of Bangladesh and later as the Prime Minister from April 17, 1971 until his assassination on August 15, 1975. India was the first country to recognise Bangladesh as a separate and independent state and established diplomatic relations with the country immediately after its independence in December 1971. (With inputs from agencies)

Bangladesh Army marches with Indian soldiers in Republic Day parade

Bangladesh&nbsp;will buy 100,000 tonnes of rice from Myanmar, putting aside a rift over the Rohingya refugee crisis as the government races to overcome a shortage of the staple food for the country's more than 160 million people.

High rice prices pose a problem for the Dhaka government, which is ramping up efforts to replenish its depleted reserves after floods last year ravaged crops and sent prices to a record high.

Muslim-majority&nbsp;Bangladesh&nbsp;and mostly Buddhist Myanmar have been at odds over the more than 1 million Muslim Rohingya refugees in camps in southern&nbsp;Bangladesh. The vast majority of them fled Myanmar in 2017 from a military-led crackdown that U.N investigators said was executed with "genocidal intent" - assertions that Myanmar denies.

Bangladesh&nbsp;will import white rice in a government-to-government deal at $485 a tonne, including cost, insurance and freight (CIF) liner out basis, said Mosammat Nazmanara Khanum, the secretary at the country's food ministry.

"Our main priority is to bring down the prices of rice," Khanum told Reuters on Sunday, adding the government could buy as much as 10 million tonnes while private traders are allowed to buy another 10 million tonnes in the year to June.

The deal will be signed soon and the rice will be delivered by April in phases, she said.

Bangladesh&nbsp;is also buying 150,000 tonnes of rice from India's state-run firm NAFED in a government-to-government deal while it has issued a series of tender to buy the grain.

"We could buy more rice from India in state-to-state deals," Khanum said, adding that the Food Ministry was holding talks with several other Indian state agencies.

Bangladesh, traditionally the world's third-biggest rice producer with around 35 million tonnes annually, uses almost all its production to feed its people. It still often requires imports to cope with shortages caused by floods or droughts.

Bangladesh will buy 100,000 tonnes of rice from Myanmar, putting aside a rift over the Rohingya refugee crisis as the government races to overcome a shortage of the staple food for the country's more than 160 million people.

Bangladesh will buy 100,000 tonnes of rice from Myanmar, putting aside a rift over the Rohingya refugee crisis as the government races to overcome a shortage of the staple food for the country's more than 160 million people. High rice prices pose a problem for the Dhaka government, which is ramping up efforts to replenish its depleted reserves after floods last year ravaged crops and sent prices to a record high. Muslim-majority Bangladesh and mostly Buddhist Myanmar have been at odds over the more than 1 million Muslim Rohingya refugees in camps in southern Bangladesh. The vast majority of them fled Myanmar in 2017 from a military-led crackdown that U.N investigators said was executed with "genocidal intent" - assertions that Myanmar denies. Bangladesh will import white rice in a government-to-government deal at $485 a tonne, including cost, insurance and freight (CIF) liner out basis, said Mosammat Nazmanara Khanum, the secretary at the country's food ministry. "Our main priority is to bring down the prices of rice," Khanum told Reuters on Sunday, adding the government could buy as much as 10 million tonnes while private traders are allowed to buy another 10 million tonnes in the year to June. The deal will be signed soon and the rice will be delivered by April in phases, she said. Bangladesh is also buying 150,000 tonnes of rice from India's state-run firm NAFED in a government-to-government deal while it has issued a series of tender to buy the grain. "We could buy more rice from India in state-to-state deals," Khanum said, adding that the Food Ministry was holding talks with several other Indian state agencies. Bangladesh, traditionally the world's third-biggest rice producer with around 35 million tonnes annually, uses almost all its production to feed its people. It still often requires imports to cope with shortages caused by floods or droughts.

Bangladesh to buy rice from Myanmar, putting aside Rohingya crisis

New Delhi: Bangladesh's Minister of State (MoS) for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam has reaffirmed close ties with India, dismissing concerns of the Chinese trying to influence Dhaka that could impact ties with Delhi.&nbsp;

Speaking at Vivekananda Foundation virtually, Alam said, "(China) they know the Depth &amp; breadth of our relationship with India. The historic bondage. It is the bondage that delivered and the very creation and Independence of Bangladesh when the blood of soldiers of both the countries was shed that is inseparable and is not comparable with any relation, what so ever."

This year Bangladesh is celebrating 50th year of its independence and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be visiting Dhaka in March to take part in celebrations. Both sides have increased closeness, and working in a major way on the connectivity front, reviving pre-1965 rail and road links.

On ties with China and the belt and road initiative, he said, "Our relationship with Beijing is a matter of huge interest to India and everyone else....We see that (BRI) as an economic cooperation initiative and we have not committed to any defense or military initiatives and we haven't found any yet. We see many countries other countries in Europe even and neighborhood have joined.&nbsp;

He explained, engagement with Beijing has paid "some dividends" in recent times in times in "terms of infrastructure, building facilities that is helping our economic progressions" but "We are under no risk of a debt trap. Our economic fundamentals are strong...We know exactly what we doing."

China has been trying to increase its influence in South Asia. Pakistan has been key to China's BRI project in South Asia, with mega CPEC or China Pakistan Economic Corridor being heavily invested on by Beijing.&nbsp;

 
&nbsp;

New Delhi: Bangladesh's Minister of State (MoS) for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam has reaffirmed close ties with India, dismissing concerns of the Chinese trying to influence Dhaka that could impact ties with Delhi.

New Delhi: Bangladesh's Minister of State (MoS) for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam has reaffirmed close ties with India, dismissing concerns of the Chinese trying to influence Dhaka that could impact ties with Delhi. Speaking at Vivekananda Foundation virtually, Alam said, "(China) they know the Depth & breadth of our relationship with India. The historic bondage. It is the bondage that delivered and the very creation and Independence of Bangladesh when the blood of soldiers of both the countries was shed that is inseparable and is not comparable with any relation, what so ever." This year Bangladesh is celebrating 50th year of its independence and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be visiting Dhaka in March to take part in celebrations. Both sides have increased closeness, and working in a major way on the connectivity front, reviving pre-1965 rail and road links. On ties with China and the belt and road initiative, he said, "Our relationship with Beijing is a matter of huge interest to India and everyone else....We see that (BRI) as an economic cooperation initiative and we have not committed to any defense or military initiatives and we haven't found any yet. We see many countries other countries in Europe even and neighborhood have joined. He explained, engagement with Beijing has paid "some dividends" in recent times in times in "terms of infrastructure, building facilities that is helping our economic progressions" but "We are under no risk of a debt trap. Our economic fundamentals are strong...We know exactly what we doing." China has been trying to increase its influence in South Asia. Pakistan has been key to China's BRI project in South Asia, with mega CPEC or China Pakistan Economic Corridor being heavily invested on by Beijing.

Bangladesh minister highlights close ties with Delhi; dismisses 'China concerns'

Several neighbouring countries praised India as the country starts giving millions of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus-vaccine">coronavirus vaccines</a>&nbsp;to South Asian nations, a move that also counters China's dominance in the region.&nbsp;

In Maldives, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Nepal, free shipments of Covid-19 vaccines of Oxford-AstraZeneca, manufactured by the Serum Institute of India, the world's biggest producer of vaccines, have started arriving.&nbsp;

Watch&nbsp;|

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/india-gifts-covid-19-vaccine-doses-to-its-neighbours-358367/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Soon, Myanmar and Seychelles will also receive coronavirus jabs as India pushes ahead with vaccine diplomacy.&nbsp;

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-narendra-modi-to-receive-coronavirus-jab-in-second-phase-reports-358347">PM Narendra Modi to receive coronavirus jab in second phase: Reports</a>

"The government of India has shown goodwill by providing the vaccine in grant. This is at the people's level, it is the public who are suffering the most from COVID-19," Nepal's Minister for Health and Population Hridayesh Tripathi was quoted as saying by news agency Reuters.&nbsp;

India has started providing vaccines to its Himalayan neighbour Nepal despite strained ties that have worsened post-Nepal's inclusion of Indian territories in its map.&nbsp;

New Delhi on Thursday officially handed over 2 million doses of Covid-19 jabs to Bangladesh as a gift.&nbsp;

"India had stood by Bangladesh during the (1971) Liberation War, and today, when the pandemic is rattling the world, India again came with gifts of vaccines," Bangladesh foreign minister Dr AK Abdul Momen was reported as saying by news agency PTI.&nbsp;

Earlier, Bangladesh was supposed to get 110,000 doses of vaccine free from Chinese firm Sinovac Biotech, but the country rejected to bear the development cost causing a deadlock.&nbsp;

A government source told Reuters that India is mulling over providing about 12 million to 20 million shots to its neighbours in the first wave of assistance in the next three to four weeks.&nbsp;

India is also helping some of these countries by providing them training to administer vaccines and setting up facilities to help in the rollout, the source added.&nbsp;

Several neighbouring countries praised India as the country starts giving millions of coronavirus vaccines to South Asian nations, a move that also counters China's dominance in the region.

Several neighbouring countries praised India as the country starts giving millions of coronavirus vaccines to South Asian nations, a move that also counters China's dominance in the region. In Maldives, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Nepal, free shipments of Covid-19 vaccines of Oxford-AstraZeneca, manufactured by the Serum Institute of India, the world's biggest producer of vaccines, have started arriving. Watch | Soon, Myanmar and Seychelles will also receive coronavirus jabs as India pushes ahead with vaccine diplomacy. Also read | PM Narendra Modi to receive coronavirus jab in second phase: Reports "The government of India has shown goodwill by providing the vaccine in grant. This is at the people's level, it is the public who are suffering the most from COVID-19," Nepal's Minister for Health and Population Hridayesh Tripathi was quoted as saying by news agency Reuters. India has started providing vaccines to its Himalayan neighbour Nepal despite strained ties that have worsened post-Nepal's inclusion of Indian territories in its map. New Delhi on Thursday officially handed over 2 million doses of Covid-19 jabs to Bangladesh as a gift. "India had stood by Bangladesh during the (1971) Liberation War, and today, when the pandemic is rattling the world, India again came with gifts of vaccines," Bangladesh foreign minister Dr AK Abdul Momen was reported as saying by news agency PTI. Earlier, Bangladesh was supposed to get 110,000 doses of vaccine free from Chinese firm Sinovac Biotech, but the country rejected to bear the development cost causing a deadlock. A government source told Reuters that India is mulling over providing about 12 million to 20 million shots to its neighbours in the first wave of assistance in the next three to four weeks. India is also helping some of these countries by providing them training to administer vaccines and setting up facilities to help in the rollout, the source added.

India's vaccine diplomacy earns praise from South Asian neighbours as Chinese dominance declines

Bangladesh, China and Myanmar have discussed the repatriation of Rohingya refugees living in Bangladesh. Dhaka expects to begin the repatriation process this year. But do the Rohingyas want to go back? WION's Palki Sharma has more.

Gravitas: Talks on Rohingya repatriation

Bangladesh’s foreign secretary Masud Bin Momen will be visiting India next week from 27th to 29th January for the annual foreign office consultations. The key focus will be many things including connectivity, Covid pandemic.&nbsp; "All aspects of the relations will be discussed during the visit", a person familiar with the development told WION.&nbsp;

Last year Indian foreign secretary Harsh Shringla visited Dhaka. The visit was the first foreign visit of India's Foreign secretary amid the covid pandemic.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Masud's visit comes even as New Delhi has started export of COVID&nbsp;vaccines to countries in the region with Bangladesh being accorded a high priority. The first consignment of India's COVID vaccine will be gifted to Bangladesh on Thursday. The consignment contains 2 million doses of the COVISHIELD vaccine produced by the Serum Institute of India(SII).

This will be followed by the go-ahead to commercial supplies starting next week. Bangladeshi govt and the country's largest Pharma company Beximco pharmaceuticals has signed a contract with SII to procure 30 million COVID vaccines.

In December both Indian PM Modi and Bangladeshi PM Shiekh Hasina held a virtual summit. During the summit, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid rich tributes to the Indian Armed forces and thanked India for the liberation of the country from Pakistan in 1971.

Speaking at the summit, in presence of Indian PM, she said," I pay deep homage to the three million martyrs who laid down their lives. I pay tribute to the members of the Indian armed forces martyred in the war and their families. I pay my gratitude to the government and the people of India who extended their wholehearted support for the cause of our liberation."

In March, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Dhaka for Bangladesh's 50th Independence year celebrations.

Bangladesh’s foreign secretary Masud Bin Momen will be visiting India next week from 27th to 29th January for the annual foreign office consultations. The key focus will be many things including connectivity, Covid pandemic.

Bangladesh’s foreign secretary Masud Bin Momen will be visiting India next week from 27th to 29th January for the annual foreign office consultations. The key focus will be many things including connectivity, Covid pandemic. "All aspects of the relations will be discussed during the visit", a person familiar with the development told WION. Last year Indian foreign secretary Harsh Shringla visited Dhaka. The visit was the first foreign visit of India's Foreign secretary amid the covid pandemic. Masud's visit comes even as New Delhi has started export of COVID vaccines to countries in the region with Bangladesh being accorded a high priority. The first consignment of India's COVID vaccine will be gifted to Bangladesh on Thursday. The consignment contains 2 million doses of the COVISHIELD vaccine produced by the Serum Institute of India(SII). This will be followed by the go-ahead to commercial supplies starting next week. Bangladeshi govt and the country's largest Pharma company Beximco pharmaceuticals has signed a contract with SII to procure 30 million COVID vaccines. In December both Indian PM Modi and Bangladeshi PM Shiekh Hasina held a virtual summit. During the summit, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid rich tributes to the Indian Armed forces and thanked India for the liberation of the country from Pakistan in 1971. Speaking at the summit, in presence of Indian PM, she said," I pay deep homage to the three million martyrs who laid down their lives. I pay tribute to the members of the Indian armed forces martyred in the war and their families. I pay my gratitude to the government and the people of India who extended their wholehearted support for the cause of our liberation." In March, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Dhaka for Bangladesh's 50th Independence year celebrations.

Bangladesh's foreign secretary to visit India next week

A secretary-level tripartite meeting between Bangladesh, China and Myanmar will be held on Tuesday (January 19th) at noon.

A Chinese Vice Minister and Permanent Secretary of Myanmar will discuss Rohingya repatriation with Foreign Secretary of Bangladesh Masood bin Momen. However, in preparation for the meeting, the Foreign Secretary met with Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Li Jiming on Monday (January 17th). According to sources of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), the tripartite meeting may discuss other issues including creating a conducive environment in Rakhine, village and family-based repatriation, repatriation from the village from which they came, and providing security.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/bangladesh-coxs-bazar-fire-blaze-razes-at-least-500-houses-in-rohingya-camp-356956/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Bangladesh will be urged to start repatriation before the onset of monsoon.

''Our preparations have been completed," a foreign ministry official said. Everyone involved in Rohingya repatriation will be present at the meeting at the Foreign Ministry, he added.

Asked what the foreign secretary had discussed with the Chinese ambassador, the official said, Preparations for tomorrow's meeting have been discussed. After August 2016, about eight lakh Rohingyas fled from Rakhine to save their lives in Bangladesh. After discussions at various levels, a meeting was held in New York in 2016 at the level of Foreign Ministers of Bangladesh, China and Myanmar.&nbsp;

The last tripartite meeting on Rohingya repatriation was held in January last year. Since then there have been no meetings of the three nations’ representatives because of the COVID-19 pandemic and national elections in Myanmar. However, this is the first tripartite meeting at the foreign secretary-level.

A secretary-level tripartite meeting between Bangladesh, China and Myanmar will be held on Tuesday (January 19th) at noon. A Chinese Vice Minister and Permanent Secretary of Myanmar will discuss Rohingya repatriation with Foreign Secretary of Bangladesh Masood bin Momen.

A secretary-level tripartite meeting between Bangladesh, China and Myanmar will be held on Tuesday (January 19th) at noon. A Chinese Vice Minister and Permanent Secretary of Myanmar will discuss Rohingya repatriation with Foreign Secretary of Bangladesh Masood bin Momen. However, in preparation for the meeting, the Foreign Secretary met with Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Li Jiming on Monday (January 17th). According to sources of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), the tripartite meeting may discuss other issues including creating a conducive environment in Rakhine, village and family-based repatriation, repatriation from the village from which they came, and providing security. Watch | Bangladesh will be urged to start repatriation before the onset of monsoon. ''Our preparations have been completed," a foreign ministry official said. Everyone involved in Rohingya repatriation will be present at the meeting at the Foreign Ministry, he added. Asked what the foreign secretary had discussed with the Chinese ambassador, the official said, Preparations for tomorrow's meeting have been discussed. After August 2016, about eight lakh Rohingyas fled from Rakhine to save their lives in Bangladesh. After discussions at various levels, a meeting was held in New York in 2016 at the level of Foreign Ministers of Bangladesh, China and Myanmar. The last tripartite meeting on Rohingya repatriation was held in January last year. Since then there have been no meetings of the three nations’ representatives because of the COVID-19 pandemic and national elections in Myanmar. However, this is the first tripartite meeting at the foreign secretary-level.

Bangladesh, China, Myanmar to hold tripartite meeting on Rohingyas on Jan 19

Bangladesh reported 578 new COVID-19 cases and 21 more deaths on Saturday, bringing the tally to 527,063 and death toll to 7,883, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) said.

The official data showed that 12,215 samples were tested in the last 24 hours across the country.

The total number of recovered patients in the country stood at 471,756 including 633 new recoveries on Saturday, said the DGHS.

According to the official data, the COVID-19 fatality rate in Bangladesh is now 1.49 per cent and the current recovery rate is 89.51 per cent.

Bangladesh recorded the highest daily new cases of 4,019 on July 2 and the highest number of 64 deaths on June 30 last year.

Bangladesh reported 578 new COVID-19 cases and 21 more deaths on Saturday, bringing the tally to 527,063 and death toll to 7,883, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) said.

Bangladesh reported 578 new COVID-19 cases and 21 more deaths on Saturday, bringing the tally to 527,063 and death toll to 7,883, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) said. The official data showed that 12,215 samples were tested in the last 24 hours across the country. The total number of recovered patients in the country stood at 471,756 including 633 new recoveries on Saturday, said the DGHS. According to the official data, the COVID-19 fatality rate in Bangladesh is now 1.49 per cent and the current recovery rate is 89.51 per cent. Bangladesh recorded the highest daily new cases of 4,019 on July 2 and the highest number of 64 deaths on June 30 last year.

Bangladesh COVID-19 cases rise to 527,063, death toll reaches 7,883

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