Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina asked the U.N. Security Council on Monday to press Myanmar to take back hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims who fled a military crackdown to take refuge in her country.

Security Council envoys visited Hasina in the Bangladeshi capital, Dhaka, before travelling to Myanmar for meetings with its government leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, and military Commander-in-Chief Min Aung Hlaing later on Monday.

“They should put more pressure on the Myanmar government so that they take their citizens back to their country. That’s what we want,” Hasina told reporters.

The visit by the Security Council envoys, to see the aftermath of a military operation in Myanmar’s western Rakhine State, puts a global spotlight on the crisis which the United Nations and others have denounced as ethnic cleansing of Rohingya Muslims.

Myanmar denies the accusation, saying the military was engaged in a legitimate counter-insurgency operation.

Rohingya insurgent attacks on security posts in Rakhine State in August last year sparked the crackdown that, according to the UN&nbspand rights groups, sent nearly 700,000 Rohingya fleeing to camps in neighbouring Bangladesh.

Hasina said the refugees should return “under UN&nbspsupervision where security and safety should be ensured”.

“They want to go back to their own country. So the Security Council can play a very pivotal role,” she added.

When asked if UN&nbspsupervision meant the deployment of peacekeepers, Hasina said: “Not exactly, well, that the UN&nbspwill decide”.

Myanmar government spokesman Zaw Htay did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Social Welfare Minister Win Myat Aye, who is leading rehabilitation efforts in Rakhine, declined to comment.

Kuwait’s UN&nbspAmbassador Mansour al-Otaibi, one of the envoys, told Hasina the Security Council wanted to “send a clear strong message ... that we’re determined to end this humanitarian crisis”.&nbsp

The envoys visited camps on Sunday, where distraught refugees pleaded for help ahead of the coming monsoon season. Many live in bamboo-and-plastic structures perched on hills in the southeast Bangladesh district of Cox’s Bazar.

Difficulties

Myanmar and Bangladesh agreed in January to complete the voluntary repatriation of the refugees within two years but differences between the two sides remain and implementation of the plan has been slow.&nbsp

“We know there are difficulties in the talks between Bangladesh and Myanmar on the return of the refugees but it is important ... to create the appropriate conditions for the refugees to go back freely and voluntarily to their home of origin,” said al-Otaibi.&nbsp

The envoys are due to travel to Rakhine State on Tuesday.&nbsp

The Security Council asked Myanmar in November to ensure no “further excessive use of military force” and to allow “freedom of movement, equal access to basic services, and equal access to full citizenship for all”.

They will seek to push the Myanmar government to implement those requests, diplomats said.&nbsp

Hasina also called on Myanmar to implement the recommendations of a commission headed by former UN&nbspSecretary-General Kofi Annan, which was appointed by Suu Kyi in 2016 to investigate how to solve Rakhine’s long-standing tensions.Among the commission’s recommendations was a review of a Myanmar law that links citizenship and ethnicity and leaves most Rohingya stateless. &nbsp

Buddhist-majority Myanmar has for years denied Rohingya citizenship, freedom of movement and access to basic services such as healthcare. Many in Myanmar regard Rohingya as illegal immigrants from mostly Muslim Bangladesh.

Security Council envoys visited Hasina in the Bangladeshi capital, Dhaka, before travelling to Myanmar for meetings with its government leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, and military Commander-in-Chief Min Aung Hlaing later on Monday

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina asked the U.N. Security Council on Monday to press Myanmar to take back hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims who fled a military crackdown to take refuge in her country. Security Council envoys visited Hasina in the Bangladeshi capital, Dhaka, before travelling to Myanmar for meetings with its government leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, and military Commander-in-Chief Min Aung Hlaing later on Monday. “They should put more pressure on the Myanmar government so that they take their citizens back to their country. That’s what we want,” Hasina told reporters. The visit by the Security Council envoys, to see the aftermath of a military operation in Myanmar’s western Rakhine State, puts a global spotlight on the crisis which the United Nations and others have denounced as ethnic cleansing of Rohingya Muslims. Myanmar denies the accusation, saying the military was engaged in a legitimate counter-insurgency operation. Rohingya insurgent attacks on security posts in Rakhine State in August last year sparked the crackdown that, according to the UN&nbspand rights groups, sent nearly 700,000 Rohingya fleeing to camps in neighbouring Bangladesh. Hasina said the refugees should return “under UN&nbspsupervision where security and safety should be ensured”. “They want to go back to their own country. So the Security Council can play a very pivotal role,” she added. When asked if UN&nbspsupervision meant the deployment of peacekeepers, Hasina said: “Not exactly, well, that the UN&nbspwill decide”. Myanmar government spokesman Zaw Htay did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Social Welfare Minister Win Myat Aye, who is leading rehabilitation efforts in Rakhine, declined to comment. Kuwait’s UN&nbspAmbassador Mansour al-Otaibi, one of the envoys, told Hasina the Security Council wanted to “send a clear strong message ... that we’re determined to end this humanitarian crisis”. The envoys visited camps on Sunday, where distraught refugees pleaded for help ahead of the coming monsoon season. Many live in bamboo-and-plastic structures perched on hills in the southeast Bangladesh district of Cox’s Bazar. Difficulties Myanmar and Bangladesh agreed in January to complete the voluntary repatriation of the refugees within two years but differences between the two sides remain and implementation of the plan has been slow. “We know there are difficulties in the talks between Bangladesh and Myanmar on the return of the refugees but it is important ... to create the appropriate conditions for the refugees to go back freely and voluntarily to their home of origin,” said al-Otaibi. The envoys are due to travel to Rakhine State on Tuesday. The Security Council asked Myanmar in November to ensure no “further excessive use of military force” and to allow “freedom of movement, equal access to basic services, and equal access to full citizenship for all”. They will seek to push the Myanmar government to implement those requests, diplomats said. Hasina also called on Myanmar to implement the recommendations of a commission headed by former UN&nbspSecretary-General Kofi Annan, which was appointed by Suu Kyi in 2016 to investigate how to solve Rakhine’s long-standing tensions.Among the commission’s recommendations was a review of a Myanmar law that links citizenship and ethnicity and leaves most Rohingya stateless. Buddhist-majority Myanmar has for years denied Rohingya citizenship, freedom of movement and access to basic services such as healthcare. Many in Myanmar regard Rohingya as illegal immigrants from mostly Muslim Bangladesh.

Bangladesh PM urges UN Security Council to press Myanmar on Rohingya repatriation

Bangladesh new ambitious project aims to build a total of 560 model mosques across the country. The plan is likely to get completed by December 2020.&nbsp;

Touted as Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's flagship project, the plan aims to set up model mosques across the country to check radical ideologies and counter Islamist extremist. The preliminary work for the project has already been started. &nbsp;

The billion-dollar model mosque project is believed to be partly funded by Saudi Arabia and will be open to women unlike most of Bangladesh's nearly three hundred thousand mosques.&nbsp;

There will also be research and cultural centres, library and learning centres.

Majority of mosques in the country are privately owned and have little government control and oversight.&nbsp;

The move is likely to warm PM Hasina's relations with the Muslim community and a diplomatic footing in the Middle East. &nbsp;

Watch: Bangladesh model mosques will be open for women

Bangladesh new ambitious project aims to build a total of 560 model mosques across the country. The plan is likely to get completed by December 2020. Touted as Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's flagship project, the plan aims to set up model mosques across the country to check radical ideologies and counter Islamist extremist. The preliminary work for the project has already been started. The billion-dollar model mosque project is believed to be partly funded by Saudi Arabia and will be open to women unlike most of Bangladesh's nearly three hundred thousand mosques. There will also be research and cultural centres, library and learning centres. Majority of mosques in the country are privately owned and have little government control and oversight. The move is likely to warm PM Hasina's relations with the Muslim community and a diplomatic footing in the Middle East.

Watch: Bangladesh's billion-dollar 'model' mosques will be open for women

The Rohingya crisis has put Bangladesh in the most difficult of positions. The international community has extended solidarity to Bangladesh but beyond that, there has been little financial assistance with when it comes rehabilitating the very large population - 1,000,000 - of Rohingya currently taking refuge in Bangladesh.&nbsp;

Nor has Myanmar been held accountable for its actions.&nbsp;

Until the apartheid in Myanmar is dismantled and the country's government held accountable for the atrocities that have been committed, repatriation of the Rohingya will not be sustainable. WION's Bangladesh bureau chief Saad Hammadi speaks to Dr Gowher Rizvi, international affairs advisor to Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

WION: Dr Rizvi, thank you for speaking to WION. I would first like to ask you how you feel about the response from the international community?

Gowher Rizvi: At one level the response of the international community has been most heartening. In a sense there is hardly a country in the world which has not condemned Myanmar and has not supported and appreciated the gesture of Bangladesh in taking in about a million Myanmar refugees into the country. To that extent we are really pleased. However, just verbal support is not enough. We know that Myanmar is stubborn. It has no intention of moving away from its position. The only way to be moved is when pressure is brought on. Myanmar is playing a very skilful game. Whenever there is some discussion in the United Nations, whenever there is a possibility that this will be raised in some international forum, some movement takes place but the real test is the repatriation of the refugees back to Myanmar. No progress has been made there. Unfortunately, the international community has not taken sterner measures without which nothing seems to happen.

WION: With regard to the geopolitics in this area, Bangladesh's closest allies are India and China. How do you feel about their responses?

Gowher Rizvi: We have been in conversation both with China and India. We are really satisfied and happy with their responses. One thing which is very important to realise is that every country has multiple interests, multiple priorities. For India or China, Rohingya issue or Bangladesh or Myanmar cannot be the only issue. They have to balance many of their other interests. Secondly, we know we have excellent relationship with India and with China. We do not want to put India or China in a position where we say you are with us or against us. That is not how diplomacy is played out. They have offered their help, they are using their influence, they are bringing subtle pressures and we are working hand in hand. I believe both of them are working in the right direction, although as I said, we are now reaching a point where we have to perhaps move beyond closed room diplomacy to some real hard international actions.

WION: You have referred to more pressure being exerted on Myanmar to create the conditions for the repatriation to take place. What do you feel should be the immediate actions?

Gowher Rizvi: For first, Myanmar must accept international observers, must accept international humanitarian organisations, the UN agency, International Committee for Red Cross, International Organisation for Migration, who will be there on the ground to monitor the situation, to make sure that the environment is safe and free for the Rohingyas to return. Unless that happens, no refugee will willingly go back to face the same brutality, massacre, genocide that they escaped from in August and September.

WION: Very recently, you have also mentioned sanctions. Will you tell us more about what you meant?

Gowher Rizvi: It is very obvious. We know that there was a sanction against Myanmar to bring its hardline military rulers to behave and those sanctions were lifted as a response to the state counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in the hope that there would be democracy, there would be opening of the Myanmar society and Myanmar would behave as a responsible member of the international community. Sadly, Myanmar took all the concessions but has not moved. The military still controls, the elected leaders wield very little power. In these circumstances our expectation that the removal of sanctions will enable democracy to flourish has not happened and as a matter of fact it has encouraged the military to launch this campaign of genocide, ethnic cleansing, the worst of its kind that we can remember. It is now time for countries to reconsider posing economic sanctions, military sanctions, travel restrictions, stopping foreign investment, denying access of market to Myanmar products. When these things happen, the military in Myanmar will come to senses. Until then I fear these will be all empty talks. Myanmar knows that after a while the global attention will shift somewhere else. Please remember, this is a very well designed, carefully planned genocide to push an entire ethnic group out of the country and we need to be very careful and remember that. I also believe we need to document all the egregious human rights violations that are taking place, the genocide that has taken place. At some point, I hope these human rights organisations, Human Rights Watch and so forth, will take these to the International Criminal Court of Justice.&nbsp;

WION: Clearly that would be the real test of humanity for the international community. While the Rohingya community have moved here to Bangladesh, in the southern Cox's Bazar, the monsoon is also approaching. A landslide could take place, how challenging will it be to avoid a catastrophe?

Gowher Rizvi: As you can see, Bangladesh is a very small country, extremely congested, by far the most densely populated country in the world. Despite that we have taken in a million people and opened up whatever we have, whatever little land that was available. We have housed them, we are feeding them, we are providing healthcare and we are providing security. Bangladesh is doing and will continue to do everything within its power. There is indeed the danger of mudslide because the terrain is such that there is going to be a mudslide. That is why we are also trying to make an alternative arrangement in a neighbouring island so that those who are most vulnerable can be safely evacuated there and in conditions which are habitable, which are up to the standards, meets the necessities of the refugees. We are doing everything we can. I think the international community, rather than focusing on Bangladesh and what more can Bangladesh do, should be looking into Myanmar. Bangladesh did not create this problem. The problem was created by Myanmar. The solution lies in Myanmar. Therefore, we should be looking there. As far as our prime minister is concerned, she has really done a very humane thing, a courageous thing to take them in. She has promised that she wants them to voluntarily go back. We are not pushing them. We have upheld the highest level of international and humanitarian law. And we will continue to do. I do believe the focus needs to be on Myanmar where the problem is.

I think we have to also be aware of the larger issues. What we are seeing today is a dictatorial, tyrannical regime ousting an entire ethnic community from the soils of Myanmar and if the global community accepts this, then I fear there will be upheaval in many corners. There are minorities in every country. Minorities in every country will come under threat. We need to be very mindful of that and we should not allow any country to get away with it. There is another thing that we need to be thinking about. This camp of a million people is a potential for recruitment of extremists. We are protecting it, we are making sure no such thing happens. But over years, as we have seen in other camps, this becomes a breeding ground for terrorists. If that happens, our entire region, Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Thailand, none of us will be safe. The stakes are really high and we must move as fast as possible to make sure the root cause is eliminated.&nbsp;

Watch the full interview below:&nbsp;

<iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hqhPmIu3gtc" width="560"></iframe>

Gowher Rizvi, international affairs adviser to Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina, spoke to WION's Bangladesh bureau chief Saad Hammadi

The Rohingya crisis has put Bangladesh in the most difficult of positions. The international community has extended solidarity to Bangladesh but beyond that, there has been little financial assistance with when it comes rehabilitating the very large population - 1,000,000 - of Rohingya currently taking refuge in Bangladesh. Nor has Myanmar been held accountable for its actions. Until the apartheid in Myanmar is dismantled and the country's government held accountable for the atrocities that have been committed, repatriation of the Rohingya will not be sustainable. WION's Bangladesh bureau chief Saad Hammadi speaks to Dr Gowher Rizvi, international affairs advisor to Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. WION: Dr Rizvi, thank you for speaking to WION. I would first like to ask you how you feel about the response from the international community? Gowher Rizvi: At one level the response of the international community has been most heartening. In a sense there is hardly a country in the world which has not condemned Myanmar and has not supported and appreciated the gesture of Bangladesh in taking in about a million Myanmar refugees into the country. To that extent we are really pleased. However, just verbal support is not enough. We know that Myanmar is stubborn. It has no intention of moving away from its position. The only way to be moved is when pressure is brought on. Myanmar is playing a very skilful game. Whenever there is some discussion in the United Nations, whenever there is a possibility that this will be raised in some international forum, some movement takes place but the real test is the repatriation of the refugees back to Myanmar. No progress has been made there. Unfortunately, the international community has not taken sterner measures without which nothing seems to happen. WION: With regard to the geopolitics in this area, Bangladesh's closest allies are India and China. How do you feel about their responses? Gowher Rizvi: We have been in conversation both with China and India. We are really satisfied and happy with their responses. One thing which is very important to realise is that every country has multiple interests, multiple priorities. For India or China, Rohingya issue or Bangladesh or Myanmar cannot be the only issue. They have to balance many of their other interests. Secondly, we know we have excellent relationship with India and with China. We do not want to put India or China in a position where we say you are with us or against us. That is not how diplomacy is played out. They have offered their help, they are using their influence, they are bringing subtle pressures and we are working hand in hand. I believe both of them are working in the right direction, although as I said, we are now reaching a point where we have to perhaps move beyond closed room diplomacy to some real hard international actions. WION: You have referred to more pressure being exerted on Myanmar to create the conditions for the repatriation to take place. What do you feel should be the immediate actions? Gowher Rizvi: For first, Myanmar must accept international observers, must accept international humanitarian organisations, the UN agency, International Committee for Red Cross, International Organisation for Migration, who will be there on the ground to monitor the situation, to make sure that the environment is safe and free for the Rohingyas to return. Unless that happens, no refugee will willingly go back to face the same brutality, massacre, genocide that they escaped from in August and September. WION: Very recently, you have also mentioned sanctions. Will you tell us more about what you meant? Gowher Rizvi: It is very obvious. We know that there was a sanction against Myanmar to bring its hardline military rulers to behave and those sanctions were lifted as a response to the state counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in the hope that there would be democracy, there would be opening of the Myanmar society and Myanmar would behave as a responsible member of the international community. Sadly, Myanmar took all the concessions but has not moved. The military still controls, the elected leaders wield very little power. In these circumstances our expectation that the removal of sanctions will enable democracy to flourish has not happened and as a matter of fact it has encouraged the military to launch this campaign of genocide, ethnic cleansing, the worst of its kind that we can remember. It is now time for countries to reconsider posing economic sanctions, military sanctions, travel restrictions, stopping foreign investment, denying access of market to Myanmar products. When these things happen, the military in Myanmar will come to senses. Until then I fear these will be all empty talks. Myanmar knows that after a while the global attention will shift somewhere else. Please remember, this is a very well designed, carefully planned genocide to push an entire ethnic group out of the country and we need to be very careful and remember that. I also believe we need to document all the egregious human rights violations that are taking place, the genocide that has taken place. At some point, I hope these human rights organisations, Human Rights Watch and so forth, will take these to the International Criminal Court of Justice. WION: Clearly that would be the real test of humanity for the international community. While the Rohingya community have moved here to Bangladesh, in the southern Cox's Bazar, the monsoon is also approaching. A landslide could take place, how challenging will it be to avoid a catastrophe? Gowher Rizvi: As you can see, Bangladesh is a very small country, extremely congested, by far the most densely populated country in the world. Despite that we have taken in a million people and opened up whatever we have, whatever little land that was available. We have housed them, we are feeding them, we are providing healthcare and we are providing security. Bangladesh is doing and will continue to do everything within its power. There is indeed the danger of mudslide because the terrain is such that there is going to be a mudslide. That is why we are also trying to make an alternative arrangement in a neighbouring island so that those who are most vulnerable can be safely evacuated there and in conditions which are habitable, which are up to the standards, meets the necessities of the refugees. We are doing everything we can. I think the international community, rather than focusing on Bangladesh and what more can Bangladesh do, should be looking into Myanmar. Bangladesh did not create this problem. The problem was created by Myanmar. The solution lies in Myanmar. Therefore, we should be looking there. As far as our prime minister is concerned, she has really done a very humane thing, a courageous thing to take them in. She has promised that she wants them to voluntarily go back. We are not pushing them. We have upheld the highest level of international and humanitarian law. And we will continue to do. I do believe the focus needs to be on Myanmar where the problem is. I think we have to also be aware of the larger issues. What we are seeing today is a dictatorial, tyrannical regime ousting an entire ethnic community from the soils of Myanmar and if the global community accepts this, then I fear there will be upheaval in many corners. There are minorities in every country. Minorities in every country will come under threat. We need to be very mindful of that and we should not allow any country to get away with it. There is another thing that we need to be thinking about. This camp of a million people is a potential for recruitment of extremists. We are protecting it, we are making sure no such thing happens. But over years, as we have seen in other camps, this becomes a breeding ground for terrorists. If that happens, our entire region, Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Thailand, none of us will be safe. The stakes are really high and we must move as fast as possible to make sure the root cause is eliminated. Watch the full interview below:

Rohingya crisis: Impose sanctions, cut off investment, then Myanmar Army will come to its senses, says adviser to Bangladesh PM 

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has urged the international community to continue pressurising Myanmar to take Rohingya refugees back as soon as possible.

In her meeting with World Health Organisation-South-East Asia Regional Office (WHO-SEARO) Director Poonam Khetrapal Singh at the Gono Bhaban here this week, Hasina said Rohingyas were given shelter in Bangladesh on humanitarian grounds.

She added that it was time that Myanmar should speed up the repatriation process and that the Bangladesh government had completed the biometric registration of the refugees.

"The (Bangladesh) government gave identity cards to Rohingyas so that they could be identified easily and the Myanmar government could take them back," Hasina was quoted by Daily Star Bangladesh as saying.

Hasina further said that Bangladesh was in touch with other countries on the Rohingya issue such as India, China, Thailand and Myanmar.

Praising Bangladesh's efforts on the Rohingya issue, Poonam said that the WHO could collaborate with the country to provide immunisation and medical facilities to the refugees.

Stressing on health and sanitation issues in the Rohingya camps, Poonam added that such issues will be a challenge to tackle them and it had to be done soon before the monsoon season comes in.

Expressing concern over the health condition, sanitation and waterborne diseases of the Rohingyas in the upcoming monsoon, Poonam said it would be a challenging job to tackle the issue.

She urged the government to continue its immunisation activities.Rohingyas are a Muslim minority ethnic group in Myanmar.

They have been regarded by many majority Buddhists as illegal migrants from Bangladesh.

More than 600,000 refugees are languishing in Bangladeshi refugee camps after fleeing a brutal Myanmar army campaign launched in August last year.

There are more than 3,00,000 Rohingyas living in Bangladesh, who fled in earlier waves of violence from Myanmar since the last three decades.The United Nations had said the scorched-earth operation, which had left hundreds of villages burned to ash in Myanmar's Rakhine state, amounted to 'ethnic cleansing'.

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has urged the international community to continue pressurising Myanmar to take Rohingya refugees back as soon as possible

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has urged the international community to continue pressurising Myanmar to take Rohingya refugees back as soon as possible. In her meeting with World Health Organisation-South-East Asia Regional Office (WHO-SEARO) Director Poonam Khetrapal Singh at the Gono Bhaban here this week, Hasina said Rohingyas were given shelter in Bangladesh on humanitarian grounds. She added that it was time that Myanmar should speed up the repatriation process and that the Bangladesh government had completed the biometric registration of the refugees. "The (Bangladesh) government gave identity cards to Rohingyas so that they could be identified easily and the Myanmar government could take them back," Hasina was quoted by Daily Star Bangladesh as saying. Hasina further said that Bangladesh was in touch with other countries on the Rohingya issue such as India, China, Thailand and Myanmar. Praising Bangladesh's efforts on the Rohingya issue, Poonam said that the WHO could collaborate with the country to provide immunisation and medical facilities to the refugees. Stressing on health and sanitation issues in the Rohingya camps, Poonam added that such issues will be a challenge to tackle them and it had to be done soon before the monsoon season comes in. Expressing concern over the health condition, sanitation and waterborne diseases of the Rohingyas in the upcoming monsoon, Poonam said it would be a challenging job to tackle the issue. She urged the government to continue its immunisation activities.Rohingyas are a Muslim minority ethnic group in Myanmar. They have been regarded by many majority Buddhists as illegal migrants from Bangladesh. More than 600,000 refugees are languishing in Bangladeshi refugee camps after fleeing a brutal Myanmar army campaign launched in August last year. There are more than 3,00,000 Rohingyas living in Bangladesh, who fled in earlier waves of violence from Myanmar since the last three decades.The United Nations had said the scorched-earth operation, which had left hundreds of villages burned to ash in Myanmar's Rakhine state, amounted to 'ethnic cleansing'.

Bangladesh calls for global pressure on Myanmar to repatriate Rohingyas

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said that the people of Bangladesh must respond to those who have been lost in their love for Pakistan and should be punished.

Speaking at a Genocide Day event on Sunday, Hasina said that the citizens had to help the Bangladesh government ensure that the "lovers" should forget Pakistan for good.

"If we cannot do it, we will cease to exist," she said at an event organised by the ruling Awami League at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in Dhaka to remember the victims of the genocide carried out by Pakistan on March 25, 1971.

Recalling the assassination of her father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1975, Hasina named certain political leaders as lovers of Pakistan- such as former Bangladesh president and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) founder Ziaur Rahman and his wife and Hasina's arch-rival Begum Khaleda Zia, who is now the current chief of the party, bdnews24 reported.

"The entire history changed after 1975. Even the words 'Pakistani occupation forces' could not be uttered. People had to call them only 'occupation forces' in an effort to make them forget that the forces were Pakistani, such was the love for Pakistan," Hasina asserted.

She claimed that those who came to power after 1975 never wanted "people's fate to change" and did not want Bangladesh to progress, adding that the "agenda of Pakistani occupation forces" were being implemented.

Coming down on former Bangladesh president H.M. Ershad, who came to power in 1983 after Ziaur was assassinated, Hasina scoffed that "all of them had the same agenda."

Ershad, the chief of a key ally of the Awami League, now serves as a special envoy of Hasina.

Getting no respite from suppression by Pakistani forces after the Partition in 1947, then East Pakistan (now Bangladesh), led by Mujibur, launched a movement against injustice.

When the people of East Pakistan were advocating for independence from West Pakistan (now Pakistan), Pakistani forces swooped down on unarmed Bengalis on March 25, 1971.

Bangladesh observes March 25 as Genocide Day for the past two years now after the country's parliament passed a motion recognising the day.

It has been demanding the United Nations (UN) to declare the day as the World Genocide Day as a sign of protest against genocides carried out around the globe.

However, in September 2015, the UN, recognised December 9 as International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and the Prevention of this Crime, on lines of the adoption of the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide or the 'Genocide Convention'.

Bangladesh observed its 47th Independence Day on March 26.

Bangladesh observed its 47th Independence Day on March 26

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said that the people of Bangladesh must respond to those who have been lost in their love for Pakistan and should be punished. Speaking at a Genocide Day event on Sunday, Hasina said that the citizens had to help the Bangladesh government ensure that the "lovers" should forget Pakistan for good. "If we cannot do it, we will cease to exist," she said at an event organised by the ruling Awami League at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in Dhaka to remember the victims of the genocide carried out by Pakistan on March 25, 1971. Recalling the assassination of her father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1975, Hasina named certain political leaders as lovers of Pakistan- such as former Bangladesh president and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) founder Ziaur Rahman and his wife and Hasina's arch-rival Begum Khaleda Zia, who is now the current chief of the party, bdnews24 reported. "The entire history changed after 1975. Even the words 'Pakistani occupation forces' could not be uttered. People had to call them only 'occupation forces' in an effort to make them forget that the forces were Pakistani, such was the love for Pakistan," Hasina asserted. She claimed that those who came to power after 1975 never wanted "people's fate to change" and did not want Bangladesh to progress, adding that the "agenda of Pakistani occupation forces" were being implemented. Coming down on former Bangladesh president H.M. Ershad, who came to power in 1983 after Ziaur was assassinated, Hasina scoffed that "all of them had the same agenda." Ershad, the chief of a key ally of the Awami League, now serves as a special envoy of Hasina. Getting no respite from suppression by Pakistani forces after the Partition in 1947, then East Pakistan (now Bangladesh), led by Mujibur, launched a movement against injustice. When the people of East Pakistan were advocating for independence from West Pakistan (now Pakistan), Pakistani forces swooped down on unarmed Bengalis on March 25, 1971. Bangladesh observes March 25 as Genocide Day for the past two years now after the country's parliament passed a motion recognising the day. It has been demanding the United Nations (UN) to declare the day as the World Genocide Day as a sign of protest against genocides carried out around the globe. However, in September 2015, the UN, recognised December 9 as International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and the Prevention of this Crime, on lines of the adoption of the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide or the 'Genocide Convention'. Bangladesh observed its 47th Independence Day on March 26.

Bangladesh must punish 'lovers of Pakistan': Sheikh Hasina

Bangladesh Nationalist Party Chairperson Khaleda Zia, convicted in a corruption case, was granted bail on Monday.

BNP leader Zia secured a four-month bail in the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case in which she was handed five years of imprisonment by a Bangladesh court.

&quot;Now, there is no legal bar to let Khaleda walk out of prison on bail,&quot; Bangladesh Daily Star quoted BNP Advocate Sagir Hossain Leon as saying.

Earlier today, a bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Shahidul Karim passed the bail order in response to a petition moved by Khaleda before a high court back in February.

Her bail was considered on four grounds, including her health condition.

Further, the high court directed the concerned authority to prepare the paper book of the case within the next four months for hearing the appeal she filed against her conviction in the case.

The high court sentenced Zia&#39;s eldest son and Bangladesh Nationalist Party&#39;s (BNP) Vice-Chairman Tarique Rahman and four others for at least 10 years with a fine of 2.10 crore Bangladeshi takas (Tk).

The Anti-Corruption Commission had earlier filed a case in 2008 with Ramna Police Station, accusing six persons including Khaleda and her son Tarique.

Khaleda is a two-time Bangladesh Prime Minister, having ruled from 1991-96 and again from 2001-06.

In a political career spanning almost four decades, Khaleda went to the jail several times but was never convicted. She was detained several times during the anti-Ershad movement between the 1980s and 1990s.

In March 1983, she was made vice-chairperson of BNP after her husband and former Bangladesh President Ziaur was assassinated. She went on to become the party&#39;s chairperson in 1984, a position which she holds today. May 10, 1984.

Since the last three decades, Bangladeshi politics have been dominated by Zia and current Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.&nbsp;

Her bail was considered on four grounds, including her health condition

Bangladesh Nationalist Party Chairperson Khaleda Zia, convicted in a corruption case, was granted bail on Monday. BNP leader Zia secured a four-month bail in the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case in which she was handed five years of imprisonment by a Bangladesh court. "Now, there is no legal bar to let Khaleda walk out of prison on bail," Bangladesh Daily Star quoted BNP Advocate Sagir Hossain Leon as saying. Earlier today, a bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Shahidul Karim passed the bail order in response to a petition moved by Khaleda before a high court back in February. Her bail was considered on four grounds, including her health condition. Further, the high court directed the concerned authority to prepare the paper book of the case within the next four months for hearing the appeal she filed against her conviction in the case. The high court sentenced Zia's eldest son and Bangladesh Nationalist Party's (BNP) Vice-Chairman Tarique Rahman and four others for at least 10 years with a fine of 2.10 crore Bangladeshi takas (Tk). The Anti-Corruption Commission had earlier filed a case in 2008 with Ramna Police Station, accusing six persons including Khaleda and her son Tarique. Khaleda is a two-time Bangladesh Prime Minister, having ruled from 1991-96 and again from 2001-06. In a political career spanning almost four decades, Khaleda went to the jail several times but was never convicted. She was detained several times during the anti-Ershad movement between the 1980s and 1990s. In March 1983, she was made vice-chairperson of BNP after her husband and former Bangladesh President Ziaur was assassinated. She went on to become the party's chairperson in 1984, a position which she holds today. May 10, 1984. Since the last three decades, Bangladeshi politics have been dominated by Zia and current Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Khaleda Zia granted 4-month bail in 2008 corruption case

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday asked India not to worry about Dhaka&rsquo;s growing ties with China, asserting that the cooperation with Beijing was meant only for the country&rsquo;s development. Hasina said her government was only concerned about the development and is ready to cooperate with any country that helps Bangladesh&rsquo;s growth.

&ldquo;We want investment and cooperation from whoever offers it. We want development of the country&hellip;We have to think about our people as they are the beneficiaries of the development,&rdquo; Hasina told a delegation of visiting Indian journalists at her official residence. She said India, China, Japan and even the Middle Eastern countries were coming to Bangladesh for cooperation.

&ldquo;India has nothing to be worried about it,&rdquo; Hasina said. &ldquo;I will (rather) suggest India should have good relations with its neighbours, including Bangladesh, so this region could be developed further and we can show the world that we all work together,&rdquo; she said. Hasina, 70, said Bangladesh and India shared &ldquo;excellent&rdquo; ties and the two countries have set an example of solving problems like maritime and boundary disputes.

&ldquo;If there is any problem, we could solve it through discussions as we did it in the past. We want to build a peaceful South Asia,&rdquo; Hasina said. She said that during her 1996-2001 tenure, the two countries had signed the Ganges water treaty while in her second term maritime and boundary issues were resolved. China has vowed to boost military-to-military relations with Bangladesh by stepping up defence ties, including broadening of personnel training and cooperation in equipment technology.

Earlier, Beijing said it planned to provide Bangladesh with a whopping USD nine billion low-interest loan to build six rail projects including one close to the Indian border. Hasina also sought India&rsquo;s support in repatriation of over a million Rohingyas to Myanmar, fearing that their prolonged stay in Bangladesh could create security risks. &ldquo;We want India to put pressure on Myanmar so they quickly take back their displaced people,&rdquo; she said.

Hasina directed the foreign office to hold a dialogue with five countries, including India, which have borders with Myanmar, hoping that the initiative will help in solving the Rohingya crisis. &ldquo;The monsoon is nearing and keeping the Rohingyas in this way (in makeshift camps) is very risky for Bangladesh as well as for them,&rdquo; she told the journalists.

The journalists from Kolkata and New Delhi are on a visit to Bangladesh to participate in a three-day Bangladesh-India media dialogue.

She said the cooperation with Beijing was meant only for the country’s development

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday asked India not to worry about Dhaka’s growing ties with China, asserting that the cooperation with Beijing was meant only for the country’s development. Hasina said her government was only concerned about the development and is ready to cooperate with any country that helps Bangladesh’s growth. “We want investment and cooperation from whoever offers it. We want development of the country…We have to think about our people as they are the beneficiaries of the development,” Hasina told a delegation of visiting Indian journalists at her official residence. She said India, China, Japan and even the Middle Eastern countries were coming to Bangladesh for cooperation. “India has nothing to be worried about it,” Hasina said. “I will (rather) suggest India should have good relations with its neighbours, including Bangladesh, so this region could be developed further and we can show the world that we all work together,” she said. Hasina, 70, said Bangladesh and India shared “excellent” ties and the two countries have set an example of solving problems like maritime and boundary disputes. “If there is any problem, we could solve it through discussions as we did it in the past. We want to build a peaceful South Asia,” Hasina said. She said that during her 1996-2001 tenure, the two countries had signed the Ganges water treaty while in her second term maritime and boundary issues were resolved. China has vowed to boost military-to-military relations with Bangladesh by stepping up defence ties, including broadening of personnel training and cooperation in equipment technology. Earlier, Beijing said it planned to provide Bangladesh with a whopping USD nine billion low-interest loan to build six rail projects including one close to the Indian border. Hasina also sought India’s support in repatriation of over a million Rohingyas to Myanmar, fearing that their prolonged stay in Bangladesh could create security risks. “We want India to put pressure on Myanmar so they quickly take back their displaced people,” she said. Hasina directed the foreign office to hold a dialogue with five countries, including India, which have borders with Myanmar, hoping that the initiative will help in solving the Rohingya crisis. “The monsoon is nearing and keeping the Rohingyas in this way (in makeshift camps) is very risky for Bangladesh as well as for them,” she told the journalists. The journalists from Kolkata and New Delhi are on a visit to Bangladesh to participate in a three-day Bangladesh-India media dialogue.

India has nothing to worry about China-Bangladesh ties, says Sheikh Hasina

There are three types of Islam, the first is the false Islam laid by the Islamic militants. The second is the Arabism which is followed particularly in the Middle East. And the third is the one followed in the nations like India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Malaysia, etc. where Muslims keep a balance between regional culture and teachings of Prophet.&nbsp;

Barring India, this third type of secular Islam seems to be replaced by the Arabism. Even in Bangladesh, a state formed on regionalism, political observers opinioned about the sudden rise of fanaticism across the nation. The state seems to have forgotten the ethos laid by their founding fathers. There are three pieces of evidence which justify that there is a rise in religious extremism across Bangladesh.

The first evidence is the existence of militant organizations which want to rule the lingual nation under Shira law. The political analysts fear the existence of organisations like ISIS in Bangladesh. ISIS claimed the Dhaka Airport bomb attack which took toll of about 20 people. But the state government blamed Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen, a local terror outfit, for the inhuman massacre. The Awami League also accused the opposition - &nbsp;Bangladesh Nationalist Party - of lending support to Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen for destabilizing peace. Apart from this brutal and inhuman attack, the organization is said to have detonated 500 bombs at 300 different locations causing various casualties across the nation. The Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen is also said to kill seculars, atheists, ideologues, journalists and religious minorities. This inhuman stupidity is happening right under the nose of secular Prime Minister Hasina.

The second instance which justifies that secularism is under axe in Bangladesh is the sudden rise in Arab-Islamic presence in Bangladesh. The rise in Arabic element started when Arab-based funders used to give donations to Madarsas in rural parts. Nowadays there is some fantasy for learning the Arabic language among some youths. The government allowed since it helped to remove stress on the fiscal expenditure. The non&ndash;Muslim allies of the deltaic nation also missed the chance to stop this unwanted shift from modernity. As I said earlier, Bengali first Muslim next state seems to go Muslim first Bengali next state.

Another drama which proves that there is a rise in religious extremism in the nation is the Rohingya issue. This sensitive issue was actually a high potential drama in our neighbouring Bangladesh. The Islamic outfits including Jamaat-e-Islami threatened PM Hasina that they would call hartals if Rohingya refugees are not rehabilitated in Bangladesh. These jobless leaders consider Rohingya as their kind and they want Bangladeshi government to protect them at any cost. It is said that Sheikh Hasina doesn&rsquo;t really want to lend those refugees help since Bangladesh is itself a poverty-hit nation. Fearing those stupid leaders she is wasting the resources meant for infrastructure and poverty alleviation to help those people who are the responsibility of Myanmar. The people are not considering the lingual context of Rohingyas but they want to help them for only one fact that they are Muslims.

After the arrest of strong opposition leader and former PM Khaleda Jia, it is indicative that Hasina will play one person role in Bangladesh politics even after strong anti-incumbency since 2009.It is indicative that ruling party is playing vindictive in the arrest of Jia and her associates, thus decimating the political opposition.&nbsp;

&nbsp;Since there is no presence of strong opposition, Hasina will win this election due at the end of this year, but during next elections, if BNP remains inert in jail, the possibility of religious outfit entering their politics strongly can&rsquo;t be overruled. Another political trend dictates that there is fall in the activism of socialist parties like Jatiyo Samajtantrik party and the activism of Right-wing parties like Jamaat-e-Islami party and the Islami Oikyo Jote is in a good position since Rohingya issue. Thus, not only on the ground but religion is featuring its extremity in politics as well. This is only because of the dictatorial mood of Hasina.

Hasina might be considering politics cakewalk today, but tomorrow she might fight someone more despicable and the despicable faction may win. Sheikh Hasina may fight corruption and poverty by her authoritarian principles but she must learn that she can never control fanaticism by one party principle.

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

One person play of Sheikh Hasina won’t be a solution for religious extremism in Bangladesh. She must learn that she can never control fanaticism by her authoritarian principles.

There are three types of Islam, the first is the false Islam laid by the Islamic militants. The second is the Arabism which is followed particularly in the Middle East. And the third is the one followed in the nations like India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Malaysia, etc. where Muslims keep a balance between regional culture and teachings of Prophet. Barring India, this third type of secular Islam seems to be replaced by the Arabism. Even in Bangladesh, a state formed on regionalism, political observers opinioned about the sudden rise of fanaticism across the nation. The state seems to have forgotten the ethos laid by their founding fathers. There are three pieces of evidence which justify that there is a rise in religious extremism across Bangladesh. The first evidence is the existence of militant organizations which want to rule the lingual nation under Shira law. The political analysts fear the existence of organisations like ISIS in Bangladesh. ISIS claimed the Dhaka Airport bomb attack which took toll of about 20 people. But the state government blamed Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen, a local terror outfit, for the inhuman massacre. The Awami League also accused the opposition - Bangladesh Nationalist Party - of lending support to Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen for destabilizing peace. Apart from this brutal and inhuman attack, the organization is said to have detonated 500 bombs at 300 different locations causing various casualties across the nation. The Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen is also said to kill seculars, atheists, ideologues, journalists and religious minorities. This inhuman stupidity is happening right under the nose of secular Prime Minister Hasina. The second instance which justifies that secularism is under axe in Bangladesh is the sudden rise in Arab-Islamic presence in Bangladesh. The rise in Arabic element started when Arab-based funders used to give donations to Madarsas in rural parts. Nowadays there is some fantasy for learning the Arabic language among some youths. The government allowed since it helped to remove stress on the fiscal expenditure. The non–Muslim allies of the deltaic nation also missed the chance to stop this unwanted shift from modernity. As I said earlier, Bengali first Muslim next state seems to go Muslim first Bengali next state. Another drama which proves that there is a rise in religious extremism in the nation is the Rohingya issue. This sensitive issue was actually a high potential drama in our neighbouring Bangladesh. The Islamic outfits including Jamaat-e-Islami threatened PM Hasina that they would call hartals if Rohingya refugees are not rehabilitated in Bangladesh. These jobless leaders consider Rohingya as their kind and they want Bangladeshi government to protect them at any cost. It is said that Sheikh Hasina doesn’t really want to lend those refugees help since Bangladesh is itself a poverty-hit nation. Fearing those stupid leaders she is wasting the resources meant for infrastructure and poverty alleviation to help those people who are the responsibility of Myanmar. The people are not considering the lingual context of Rohingyas but they want to help them for only one fact that they are Muslims. After the arrest of strong opposition leader and former PM Khaleda Jia, it is indicative that Hasina will play one person role in Bangladesh politics even after strong anti-incumbency since 2009.It is indicative that ruling party is playing vindictive in the arrest of Jia and her associates, thus decimating the political opposition. Since there is no presence of strong opposition, Hasina will win this election due at the end of this year, but during next elections, if BNP remains inert in jail, the possibility of religious outfit entering their politics strongly can’t be overruled. Another political trend dictates that there is fall in the activism of socialist parties like Jatiyo Samajtantrik party and the activism of Right-wing parties like Jamaat-e-Islami party and the Islami Oikyo Jote is in a good position since Rohingya issue. Thus, not only on the ground but religion is featuring its extremity in politics as well. This is only because of the dictatorial mood of Hasina. Hasina might be considering politics cakewalk today, but tomorrow she might fight someone more despicable and the despicable faction may win. Sheikh Hasina may fight corruption and poverty by her authoritarian principles but she must learn that she can never control fanaticism by one party principle. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: Sheikh Hasina's dictatorial attitude leading to religious extremism in Bangladesh

A jailed Khaleda Zia is more popular than a free one. The ruling party may have made a strategic mistake by sending the former prime minister and leader of the country&#39;s largest opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party to jail.

Bangladesh is less than a year away from the 11th parliamentary elections. Analysts in Bangladesh say that between the two Begums, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is more politically sound than her nemesis Khaleda Zia but Zia&#39;s only card to return to power is sympathy.&nbsp;

The ruling party may have just given that to her by implicating her on charges of embezzling charity funds of more than 20 million Bangladeshi takas (USD 252,000).

Subsequently, a special court in Dhaka on February 8 sent Zia to jail for five years. Five others including her son Tarique Rahman have been given 10 years jail terms in the same case.

BNP leaders say the charges are false and politically motivated to restrain her from contesting in the elections. The BNP and its alliances have engaged in movements across the country demanding the release of the former prime minister.&nbsp;

BNP&#39;s boycott of the 2014 elections has put the party in an existential crisis after the government sent activists and senior leaders of the party to jail on charges of political violence. Subsequently, some of the leaders resigned from the party while others have failed to stir a political campaign or movement in fear of arrests.&nbsp;

The rightwing party founded by General Ziaur Rahman, husband of Khaleda Zia, will be led by their son Tarique Rahman, who has been staying in London to avoid arrest in Dhaka.

For BNP the upcoming elections will be crucial for its existence but the ruling party will make sure that it has a clear passage to retain the government.&nbsp;

In 2014 the international community criticised the Awami League for holding a controversial election without the participation of key opposition. There was speculation that an interim election was inevitable. But Prime Minister Shiekh Hasina&#39;s government proved those speculations wrong.

This time it has become much stronger. The government has strengthened its relationship with both China and India - the two influential economies in South Asia - through economic and bilateral cooperation.&nbsp;

The Awami League has secured Chinese financial assistance of $24 billion in October 2016, becoming the largest financial contributor to Bangladesh. Within its two consecutive tenure since 2008, the party has also secured three lines of credits from India worth $8 billion including a defence cooperation deal worth $500 million.

All of these would have a bearing in the coming elections and while the Awami League really has courted the ball all the way, the opposition may just have found a cue.

&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL).

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is more politically sound than her nemesis Khaleda Zia but Zia's only card to return to power is sympathy.

A jailed Khaleda Zia is more popular than a free one. The ruling party may have made a strategic mistake by sending the former prime minister and leader of the country's largest opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party to jail. Bangladesh is less than a year away from the 11th parliamentary elections. Analysts in Bangladesh say that between the two Begums, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is more politically sound than her nemesis Khaleda Zia but Zia's only card to return to power is sympathy. The ruling party may have just given that to her by implicating her on charges of embezzling charity funds of more than 20 million Bangladeshi takas (USD 252,000). Subsequently, a special court in Dhaka on February 8 sent Zia to jail for five years. Five others including her son Tarique Rahman have been given 10 years jail terms in the same case. BNP leaders say the charges are false and politically motivated to restrain her from contesting in the elections. The BNP and its alliances have engaged in movements across the country demanding the release of the former prime minister. BNP's boycott of the 2014 elections has put the party in an existential crisis after the government sent activists and senior leaders of the party to jail on charges of political violence. Subsequently, some of the leaders resigned from the party while others have failed to stir a political campaign or movement in fear of arrests. The rightwing party founded by General Ziaur Rahman, husband of Khaleda Zia, will be led by their son Tarique Rahman, who has been staying in London to avoid arrest in Dhaka. For BNP the upcoming elections will be crucial for its existence but the ruling party will make sure that it has a clear passage to retain the government. In 2014 the international community criticised the Awami League for holding a controversial election without the participation of key opposition. There was speculation that an interim election was inevitable. But Prime Minister Shiekh Hasina's government proved those speculations wrong. This time it has become much stronger. The government has strengthened its relationship with both China and India - the two influential economies in South Asia - through economic and bilateral cooperation. The Awami League has secured Chinese financial assistance of $24 billion in October 2016, becoming the largest financial contributor to Bangladesh. Within its two consecutive tenure since 2008, the party has also secured three lines of credits from India worth $8 billion including a defence cooperation deal worth $500 million. All of these would have a bearing in the coming elections and while the Awami League really has courted the ball all the way, the opposition may just have found a cue. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL).

Opinion: A jailed Khaleda Zia is more popular than a free one

A battle-hardened veteran, who was in the midst of heavy action in Dacca (now, Dhaka) during the 1971 Indo-Pak war, Colonel (retired) Ashok Kumar Tara, is no stranger to limelight.

During the war, Colonel Tara was told to rescue Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman&#39;s wife and family, which included his 24-year-old daughter Sheikh Hasina (current prime minister of Bangladesh) and her child.

The family was held hostage by a dozen trigger-happy, heavily armed Pakistani troops at a fortified house in the Dhanmondi area in East Pakistan (now, Bangladesh).

Tara, then a 29-year-old Major, managed to rescue the Bangabandhu family, in a do-or-die situation as he himself puts.

&quot;During this operation I had to face trigger-happy, heavily-armed Pakistani forces, who just killed a media person who had tried to reach to them. I was alone. And unarmed. I took this bold decision to win over them psychologically because asking an extra force would have taken a lot of time. I knew chances were very bleak, but I went ahead, in what can be known as &#39;The Battle of Guts and Wits&#39;,&quot; says Colonel Tara.

He added, &quot;Reaching the house where Sheikh Mujibur Rehman&#39;s family was under house arrest, they threatened to kill me. Their commander even ordered his men to load the weapon and was ready to shoot, but I stood my ground and repeatedly told them to surrender. However, I gave them an assurance of safe passage, so that they could go to their HQ. And from there to Pakistan to meet their families waiting for them. I finally got them surrendered and rescued the family. This was a do-or-die situation.&quot;

Colonel Tara, who retired in 1994, had already been awarded the Vir Chakra in the Battle of Gangasagar a few days ago.

Elaborating on the above-mentioned battle, he said, &quot;It was a railway station in East Pakistan (now, Bangladesh) opposite Agartala (in Tripura). It was an attack in file formation along the railway lines and was &#39;Hand To Hand&#39;, &#39;Bunker to Bunker&#39;. The battle went for about two hours. During the attack, I had to use maltove cocktail (patrol bomb), threw a hand grenade and pulled enemy medium machine gun from a bunker to destroy the enemy. For this, I was awarded the Vir Chakra.&quot;

Colonel Tara got recognition for his valour in 2012, when Dhaka announced it was conferring the &#39;Friend of Bangladesh&#39; Award to him.

Indira Gandhi, India&#39;s Prime Minister in 1971, was conferred the award in her time.

Earlier this year, Colonel Tara featured with Hasina and Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the &quot;Sommanona Ceremony&quot; in New Delhi to honour the 1971 war martyrs.

The family was held hostage by a dozen trigger-happy, heavily armed Pakistani troops at a fortified house in the Dhanmondi area in East Pakistan (now, Bangladesh)

A battle-hardened veteran, who was in the midst of heavy action in Dacca (now, Dhaka) during the 1971 Indo-Pak war, Colonel (retired) Ashok Kumar Tara, is no stranger to limelight. During the war, Colonel Tara was told to rescue Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's wife and family, which included his 24-year-old daughter Sheikh Hasina (current prime minister of Bangladesh) and her child. The family was held hostage by a dozen trigger-happy, heavily armed Pakistani troops at a fortified house in the Dhanmondi area in East Pakistan (now, Bangladesh). Tara, then a 29-year-old Major, managed to rescue the Bangabandhu family, in a do-or-die situation as he himself puts. "During this operation I had to face trigger-happy, heavily-armed Pakistani forces, who just killed a media person who had tried to reach to them. I was alone. And unarmed. I took this bold decision to win over them psychologically because asking an extra force would have taken a lot of time. I knew chances were very bleak, but I went ahead, in what can be known as 'The Battle of Guts and Wits'," says Colonel Tara. He added, "Reaching the house where Sheikh Mujibur Rehman's family was under house arrest, they threatened to kill me. Their commander even ordered his men to load the weapon and was ready to shoot, but I stood my ground and repeatedly told them to surrender. However, I gave them an assurance of safe passage, so that they could go to their HQ. And from there to Pakistan to meet their families waiting for them. I finally got them surrendered and rescued the family. This was a do-or-die situation." Colonel Tara, who retired in 1994, had already been awarded the Vir Chakra in the Battle of Gangasagar a few days ago. Elaborating on the above-mentioned battle, he said, "It was a railway station in East Pakistan (now, Bangladesh) opposite Agartala (in Tripura). It was an attack in file formation along the railway lines and was 'Hand To Hand', 'Bunker to Bunker'. The battle went for about two hours. During the attack, I had to use maltove cocktail (patrol bomb), threw a hand grenade and pulled enemy medium machine gun from a bunker to destroy the enemy. For this, I was awarded the Vir Chakra." Colonel Tara got recognition for his valour in 2012, when Dhaka announced it was conferring the 'Friend of Bangladesh' Award to him. Indira Gandhi, India's Prime Minister in 1971, was conferred the award in her time. Earlier this year, Colonel Tara featured with Hasina and Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the "Sommanona Ceremony" in New Delhi to honour the 1971 war martyrs.

Indian soldier, who saved a future PM, recounts Bangladesh liberation war

A new passenger train service between Kolkata and Bangladesh&#39;s southwestern industrial city of Khulna was today flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, his Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina and the West Bengal chief minister.The three leaders launched the train through video conference. 
A fully air-conditioned weekly passenger train service &#39;Bandhan Express&#39; will run every Thursday from both Kolkata and Khulna.

 
On the occasion, Modi said the ties of friendship between India and Bangladesh have further strengthened. 
Modi said in Bengali, &#39;Aaj ei shubho uplokkhe dui desh bashider amar abhinandan janai. Aaj amader moitreyee, bandhon aro sudriro holo&#39; (I congratulate the people of the two countries on this auspicious occasion. Our ties of friendship got more strengthened today.)

 
They also inaugurated two bridges over the rivers Meghna and Titas in Bangladesh. Hasina said, &quot;Today is a great day for relations between the two countries with the inauguration of the train services and the two bridges. This train service is a dream come true for people on both sides of the border.&quot;

 
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee described the launch as a remarkable day for India and Bangladesh. 
&quot;The relations between the two countries will strengthen in the future,&quot; she said. 
Immigration and customs facilities were also inaugurated at Kolkata station.

&nbsp;

A new passenger train service between Kolkata and Bangladesh's southwestern industrial city of Khulna was today flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, his Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina and the West Bengal chief minister.

A new passenger train service between Kolkata and Bangladesh's southwestern industrial city of Khulna was today flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, his Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina and the West Bengal chief minister.The three leaders launched the train through video conference. A fully air-conditioned weekly passenger train service 'Bandhan Express' will run every Thursday from both Kolkata and Khulna. On the occasion, Modi said the ties of friendship between India and Bangladesh have further strengthened. Modi said in Bengali, 'Aaj ei shubho uplokkhe dui desh bashider amar abhinandan janai. Aaj amader moitreyee, bandhon aro sudriro holo' (I congratulate the people of the two countries on this auspicious occasion. Our ties of friendship got more strengthened today.) They also inaugurated two bridges over the rivers Meghna and Titas in Bangladesh. Hasina said, "Today is a great day for relations between the two countries with the inauguration of the train services and the two bridges. This train service is a dream come true for people on both sides of the border." Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee described the launch as a remarkable day for India and Bangladesh. "The relations between the two countries will strengthen in the future," she said. Immigration and customs facilities were also inaugurated at Kolkata station.

Kolkata-Khulna train service flagged off

PM Modi and prime minister <a href="http://www.wionews.com/business-economy/bangladesh-set-to-sign-gasoil-deal-with-india-22602">Sheikh Hasina flagged off India-Bangladesh</a> &#39;Bandhan&#39;&nbsp;(Bond) Express train service today.

The <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/after-joint-drill-with-russia-kazakhstan-indian-army-begins-counter-terrorism-exercise-with-bangladesh-23596">Bandhan Express is the second train service between</a> the two countries after the Maitree Express, which connected Kolkata to Dhaka in 2008.

The new train service will run between Kolkata and Bangladesh&#39;s southwestern city Khulna.

Khulna, the third-largest city in the country is a major industrial town. Mongla port situated nearly 50kms from Khulna is the second busiest seaport of Bangladesh after Chittagong. &nbsp;

In fact, due to heavy congestion in Chittagong, several companies now prefer trading through Mongla port.

In a well-crafted move, the Modi government has moved strategically to link Khulna in order to open a crucial trade route with east Asia, in a bid to further India&#39;s&nbsp;&quot;Act East&quot; policy.

The Act East policy unfurled in 2015 after the NDA came to power looks to extend India&#39;s influence in the Asia-Pacific region. It is also a &quot;tool&quot; to gain political and strategic leverage through trade with ASEAN countries.

Bangladesh is the stepping stone to India&#39;s &#39;Act East&#39; policy, a crucial corridor to gain access to new markets in a region where India would like to increase its footprint.

India has been trying to push its ASEAN agenda quite aggressively.&nbsp;In fact, next year PM Modi has invited several heads of state for the 26 January parade, the list includes heads of all ASEAN members.

The &#39;Bandhan Express&#39; is a &nbsp;fully air-conditioned weekly passenger train service which will run every Thursday from both Kolkata and Khulna.

PM Modi, West Bengal chief minister Mamta Banerjee and PM &nbsp;Hasina also inaugurated two bridges over Meghna and Titas river in Bangladesh with India continuing to help its neighbour build &quot;economic bridge&quot; with India.

&nbsp;

Mongla port situated nearly 50kms from Khulna is the second busiest seaport of Bangladesh after Chittagong. ?

PM Modi and prime minister Sheikh Hasina flagged off India-Bangladesh 'Bandhan' (Bond) Express train service today. The Bandhan Express is the second train service between the two countries after the Maitree Express, which connected Kolkata to Dhaka in 2008. The new train service will run between Kolkata and Bangladesh's southwestern city Khulna. Khulna, the third-largest city in the country is a major industrial town. Mongla port situated nearly 50kms from Khulna is the second busiest seaport of Bangladesh after Chittagong. In fact, due to heavy congestion in Chittagong, several companies now prefer trading through Mongla port. In a well-crafted move, the Modi government has moved strategically to link Khulna in order to open a crucial trade route with east Asia, in a bid to further India's "Act East" policy. The Act East policy unfurled in 2015 after the NDA came to power looks to extend India's influence in the Asia-Pacific region. It is also a "tool" to gain political and strategic leverage through trade with ASEAN countries. Bangladesh is the stepping stone to India's 'Act East' policy, a crucial corridor to gain access to new markets in a region where India would like to increase its footprint. India has been trying to push its ASEAN agenda quite aggressively. In fact, next year PM Modi has invited several heads of state for the 26 January parade, the list includes heads of all ASEAN members. The 'Bandhan Express' is a fully air-conditioned weekly passenger train service which will run every Thursday from both Kolkata and Khulna. PM Modi, West Bengal chief minister Mamta Banerjee and PM Hasina also inaugurated two bridges over Meghna and Titas river in Bangladesh with India continuing to help its neighbour build "economic bridge" with India.

'Act East': India-Bangladesh new train service opens trade route to Mongla sea port

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has urged the Commonwealth countries to force Myanmar to stop the persecution and take the Rohingya refugees back.

&quot;I would like to request you all to discuss the Rohingya issue with utmost importance and exert pressure on the Myanmar government to stop persecution of Rohingyas&nbsp;and take them back at the earliest,&quot; The Daily Star quoted Hasina as saying.

Hasina was speaking at the inauguration of the 63rd Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (CPC) on Sunday.

The Bangladesh prime minister emphasised that the forceful expulsion of Rohingyas from their homeland has created instability in the region and beyond.

Hasina mentioned that over 6,22,000 Myanmar nationals fled to Bangladesh to escape persecution.

&quot;We&#39;ve given temporary shelter to this huge number of people on humanitarian grounds,&quot; she said.

Nearly half a million Rohingyas have fled to Bangladesh due to violence in the Rakhine state.

The Myanmar troops launched a crackdown in the state in response to the attacks on three border posts last year that killed nine police officers. Since then, many Rohingya Muslims have tried to move into Bangladesh illegally.&nbsp;

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has urged the Commonwealth countries to force Myanmar to stop the persecution and take the Rohingya refugees back.

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has urged the Commonwealth countries to force Myanmar to stop the persecution and take the Rohingya refugees back. "I would like to request you all to discuss the Rohingya issue with utmost importance and exert pressure on the Myanmar government to stop persecution of Rohingyas and take them back at the earliest," The Daily Star quoted Hasina as saying. Hasina was speaking at the inauguration of the 63rd Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (CPC) on Sunday. The Bangladesh prime minister emphasised that the forceful expulsion of Rohingyas from their homeland has created instability in the region and beyond. Hasina mentioned that over 6,22,000 Myanmar nationals fled to Bangladesh to escape persecution. "We've given temporary shelter to this huge number of people on humanitarian grounds," she said. Nearly half a million Rohingyas have fled to Bangladesh due to violence in the Rakhine state. The Myanmar troops launched a crackdown in the state in response to the attacks on three border posts last year that killed nine police officers. Since then, many Rohingya Muslims have tried to move into Bangladesh illegally.

Bangladesh requests Commonwealth countries to press Myanmar to take back Rohingyas

External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj discussed&nbsp;the issue of Rohingya exodus in her meeting with&nbsp;Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday.

Sushma Swaraj discussed the situation arising&nbsp;out of the&nbsp;influx of&nbsp;displacement of the Muslim minority population and&nbsp;the&nbsp;need for an early&nbsp;solution to it.&nbsp;

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EAM Sushma Swaraj discussed situation arising out of influx of displaced persons from Rakhine State &amp; need for early &amp; lasting solution: MEA
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She also discussed ways to deepen her partnership with the country.&nbsp;

She praised PM Sheikh Hasina&#39;s of productive discussions at the Bangladesh-India Joint Consultative Commission (JCC) meeting&nbsp;and also the progress made by her since her visit to India.&nbsp;

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EAM Sushma Swaraj apprised PM Sheikh Hasina of productive discussions at the JCC and tangible progress made since her visit to India: MEA <a href="https://t.co/LrW55JBOXD">pic.twitter.com/LrW55JBOXD</a>
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Swaraj met with the prime minister&nbsp;after her meeting with the country&#39;s foreign minister AH Mahmood Ali.

In the fourth JCC&nbsp;meeting, she discussed the exodus of Rohingyas in Rakhine, the challenges of terrorism, radicalisation and extremism with her counterpart.

The external affairs minister expressed her concern at the violence against the Rohingyas in Rakhine. 
 
&nbsp;&quot;India is deeply concerned at the spate of violence in the Rakhine State of Myanmar. We have urged that the situation be handled with restraint, keeping in mind the welfare of the population,&quot; she said.

On terrorism, the external affairs minister said, &quot;We will continue to fight this scourge together and along with other like-minded&nbsp;countries.&quot;&nbsp;&nbsp;

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We will continue to fight this scourge together and along with other like minded countries: EAM Sushma Swaraj in Dhaka, Bangladesh
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Sushma Swaraj added that she was determined to adopt a zero-tolerance policy against the ideologies of hate, violence, and terror.

She also focused on a comprehensive approach to fighting&nbsp;violent extremism and terrorism.

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We are determined to protect our societies from threat of ideologies of hate, violence and terror by adopting a zero tolerance policy: EAM
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(cont) and a comprehensive approach in fighting violent extremism and terrorism at all levels: EAM Sushma Swaraj in Dhaka, Bangladesh <a href="https://t.co/W6eROF6f2W">pic.twitter.com/W6eROF6f2W</a>
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She also assured that besides the bilateral relationship she is also working towards resolving&nbsp;outstanding issues.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Sushma Swaraj is on a two-day visit to Bangladesh.

She was earlier welcomed by the Bangladesh foreign minister AH Mahmood Ali and High commissioner of India.&nbsp;

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EAM Sushma Swaraj arrived in Dhaka, greeted by <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bangladesh?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Bangladesh</a> Foreign Min AH Mahmood Ali &amp; High Commissioner Of India (Earlier visuals) <a href="https://t.co/G2EAKknJHe">pic.twitter.com/G2EAKknJHe</a>
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&nbsp;

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Dhaka?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Dhaka</a>: EAM Sushma Swaraj &amp; FM of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bangladesh?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Bangladesh</a> co-chaired 4th JCC Meeting &amp; reviewed various aspects of bilateral relations. <a href="https://t.co/NVckYBjAVZ">pic.twitter.com/NVckYBjAVZ</a>
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The third JCC meeting was held in New Delhi in 2014.

This is Swaraj&#39;s second visit to Bangladesh.Earlier&nbsp;she visited the country in 2014.&nbsp;

External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj discussed?the issue of Rohingya displacement in her meeting with?Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday

External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj discussed the issue of Rohingya exodus in her meeting with Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday. Sushma Swaraj discussed the situation arising out of the influx of displacement of the Muslim minority population and the need for an early solution to it. EAM Sushma Swaraj discussed situation arising out of influx of displaced persons from Rakhine State & need for early & lasting solution: MEA — ANI (@ANI) October 22, 2017 × She also discussed ways to deepen her partnership with the country. She praised PM Sheikh Hasina's of productive discussions at the Bangladesh-India Joint Consultative Commission (JCC) meeting and also the progress made by her since her visit to India. EAM Sushma Swaraj apprised PM Sheikh Hasina of productive discussions at the JCC and tangible progress made since her visit to India: MEA pic.twitter.com/LrW55JBOXD — ANI (@ANI) October 22, 2017 × Swaraj met with the prime minister after her meeting with the country's foreign minister AH Mahmood Ali. In the fourth JCC meeting, she discussed the exodus of Rohingyas in Rakhine, the challenges of terrorism, radicalisation and extremism with her counterpart. The external affairs minister expressed her concern at the violence against the Rohingyas in Rakhine. "India is deeply concerned at the spate of violence in the Rakhine State of Myanmar. We have urged that the situation be handled with restraint, keeping in mind the welfare of the population," she said. On terrorism, the external affairs minister said, "We will continue to fight this scourge together and along with other like-minded countries." We will continue to fight this scourge together and along with other like minded countries: EAM Sushma Swaraj in Dhaka, Bangladesh — ANI (@ANI) October 22, 2017 × Sushma Swaraj added that she was determined to adopt a zero-tolerance policy against the ideologies of hate, violence, and terror. She also focused on a comprehensive approach to fighting violent extremism and terrorism. We are determined to protect our societies from threat of ideologies of hate, violence and terror by adopting a zero tolerance policy: EAM — ANI (@ANI) October 22, 2017 × (cont) and a comprehensive approach in fighting violent extremism and terrorism at all levels: EAM Sushma Swaraj in Dhaka, Bangladesh pic.twitter.com/W6eROF6f2W — ANI (@ANI) October 22, 2017 × She also assured that besides the bilateral relationship she is also working towards resolving outstanding issues. Sushma Swaraj is on a two-day visit to Bangladesh. She was earlier welcomed by the Bangladesh foreign minister AH Mahmood Ali and High commissioner of India. EAM Sushma Swaraj arrived in Dhaka, greeted by #Bangladesh Foreign Min AH Mahmood Ali & High Commissioner Of India (Earlier visuals) pic.twitter.com/G2EAKknJHe — ANI (@ANI) October 22, 2017 × #Dhaka: EAM Sushma Swaraj & FM of #Bangladesh co-chaired 4th JCC Meeting & reviewed various aspects of bilateral relations. pic.twitter.com/NVckYBjAVZ — ANI (@ANI) October 22, 2017 × The third JCC meeting was held in New Delhi in 2014. This is Swaraj's second visit to Bangladesh.Earlier she visited the country in 2014.

'Normalcy will only be restored with return of displaced people to Rakhine': Sushma Swaraj

Bangladesh police have detained several top leaders of the country&#39;s largest Islamist party in a crackdown against the opposition that the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/top-leaders-of-jamaat-e-islami-arrested-in-bangladesh-reports-21200" target="_blank">government blames for inciting militancy</a> but which says it is being unfairly targeted.

Eight leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami, including party chief Maqbul Ahmad and secretary general Shafiqur Rahman, were detained in Dhaka on Monday night, police said.

They were formally arrested on Tuesday and ordered held on remand for 10 days while police investigate.

The detentions followed information that the leaders were meeting &quot;to plot and carry out some destructive activities&quot;, a senior police official said.

Jamaat-e-Islami denied the allegations and called for demonstrations on Tuesday to protest. It said in a statement that its leaders were in an informal meeting.

&quot;The government is continuously arresting our innocent activists just to stay in power,&quot; the party said.

The detentions follow a years-long crackdown on the opposition by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina&#39;s government and come ahead of general elections expected next year.

Opposition leaders deny any link to Islamic militants and say the crackdown can be traced to a bitter rivalry, which has long poisoned politics in the country, between Hasina&#39;s ruling Awami League and its main rival, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), as well as Jamaat-e-Islami.

Police and army commandos have killed more than 60 suspected militants and arrested hundreds since a deadly attack on a Dhaka cafe in July last year. Twenty-two people were killed, most of them foreigners.

The detentions follow a years-long crackdown on the opposition by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government and come ahead of general elections expected next year

Bangladesh police have detained several top leaders of the country's largest Islamist party in a crackdown against the opposition that the government blames for inciting militancy but which says it is being unfairly targeted. Eight leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami, including party chief Maqbul Ahmad and secretary general Shafiqur Rahman, were detained in Dhaka on Monday night, police said. They were formally arrested on Tuesday and ordered held on remand for 10 days while police investigate. The detentions followed information that the leaders were meeting "to plot and carry out some destructive activities", a senior police official said. Jamaat-e-Islami denied the allegations and called for demonstrations on Tuesday to protest. It said in a statement that its leaders were in an informal meeting. "The government is continuously arresting our innocent activists just to stay in power," the party said. The detentions follow a years-long crackdown on the opposition by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government and come ahead of general elections expected next year. Opposition leaders deny any link to Islamic militants and say the crackdown can be traced to a bitter rivalry, which has long poisoned politics in the country, between Hasina's ruling Awami League and its main rival, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), as well as Jamaat-e-Islami. Police and army commandos have killed more than 60 suspected militants and arrested hundreds since a deadly attack on a Dhaka cafe in July last year. Twenty-two people were killed, most of them foreigners.

Bangladesh govt blames opposition for inciting militancy, detains Jamaat leaders

Bangladesh&#39;s prime minister on Thursday proposed creating UN-supervised safe zones inside Myanmar to protect Rohingya Muslims who are fleeing a military crackdown to seek refuge in her country.

&quot;These people must be able to return to their homeland in safety, security and dignity,&quot; Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina told the UN General Assembly.

The United Nations says more than 420,000 Rohingya have fled for safety to Bangladesh in the face of an army campaign in northern Rakhine state that includes rape and the burning of villages.

The military operation was sparked by attacks carried out by Rohingya militants on police posts on August 25.

Hasina accused Myanmar authorities of laying landmines on the border to prevent the Rohingyas from returning and said the United Nations must take immediate measures to find a solution to the crisis.

The prime minister laid out a five-point plan that called for the protection of the Rohingyas in &quot;safe zones that could be created inside Myanmar under UN supervision.&quot;

The United Nations has described the military operation as &quot;ethnic cleansing&quot; and French President Emmanuel Macron went further, describing it as a &quot;genocide.&quot;

Myanmar must stop the violence and &quot;the practice of ethnic cleansing&quot;, agree to allow a UN fact-finding mission, ensure the return of refugees and abide by a report that recommends citizenship for the Rohingya, said Hasina. They currently lack it.

There has been mounting international outrage over the plight of the Rohingya, prompting the UN Security Council this month to call for an end to the violence.

The creation of such &quot;safe areas&quot; would require the approval of the Security Council where China, a strong supporter of Myanmar&#39;s former junta, has veto power.

The 1.1-million strong Rohingya people have suffered years of discrimination in Myanmar, where they are denied citizenship even though many have longstanding roots in the country.&nbsp;

The recent exodus of Rohingya has brought the number of refugees from Rakhine living in Bangladesh to over 800,000, said the prime minister.

Sheikh Hasina accused Myanmar authorities of laying landmines on the border to prevent the Rohingyas from returning

Bangladesh's prime minister on Thursday proposed creating UN-supervised safe zones inside Myanmar to protect Rohingya Muslims who are fleeing a military crackdown to seek refuge in her country. "These people must be able to return to their homeland in safety, security and dignity," Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina told the UN General Assembly. The United Nations says more than 420,000 Rohingya have fled for safety to Bangladesh in the face of an army campaign in northern Rakhine state that includes rape and the burning of villages. The military operation was sparked by attacks carried out by Rohingya militants on police posts on August 25. Hasina accused Myanmar authorities of laying landmines on the border to prevent the Rohingyas from returning and said the United Nations must take immediate measures to find a solution to the crisis. The prime minister laid out a five-point plan that called for the protection of the Rohingyas in "safe zones that could be created inside Myanmar under UN supervision." The United Nations has described the military operation as "ethnic cleansing" and French President Emmanuel Macron went further, describing it as a "genocide." Myanmar must stop the violence and "the practice of ethnic cleansing", agree to allow a UN fact-finding mission, ensure the return of refugees and abide by a report that recommends citizenship for the Rohingya, said Hasina. They currently lack it. There has been mounting international outrage over the plight of the Rohingya, prompting the UN Security Council this month to call for an end to the violence. The creation of such "safe areas" would require the approval of the Security Council where China, a strong supporter of Myanmar's former junta, has veto power. The 1.1-million strong Rohingya people have suffered years of discrimination in Myanmar, where they are denied citizenship even though many have longstanding roots in the country. The recent exodus of Rohingya has brought the number of refugees from Rakhine living in Bangladesh to over 800,000, said the prime minister.

Bangladesh PM proposes UN-supervised 'safe zones' for Rohingyas in Myanmar

Apparently, it&rsquo;s quite unnatural for Bangladesh and India not to be close allies, especially with India&#39;s involvement in Bangladesh&#39;s War of Independence of 1971. And then, of course, there are the unique cultural similarities and geographical realities with regards to common Ganges-Bramhaputra plain that runs through both the countries. Despite the overt Hasina-Modi bonhomie, the political reality is, however, very different. Bangladesh&#39;s relations with India can best be described as a loose friendship with hidden mutual mistrust and suspicion.&nbsp;

The lack of trust between the two countries&nbsp;comes forth more in the context of Bangladesh-Myanmar tussle on persecution and expulsion of &nbsp;Rohingyas from Arakan.&nbsp;

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<h5>The tensed Bangladesh &ndash;India relationship stems from a variety of issues, such as &lsquo;equitable sharing of all common river water, terrorist camps and migration.</h5>
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The prime deficiency of India&rsquo;s South Asia policy has been its obsession with Pakistan. Only recently a separate desk has been introduced for Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal in the Ministry of External Affairs at the South Block of Raisina Hills in New Delhi. Pakistan became important for its nuisance value while India failed to see the constructive value of the rest, especially Bangladesh which is already the 31st largest economy in the world with more than 6 per cent average economic growth in the last couple of decades. Courtesy the economic growth, the western world has come to view Bangladesh as one of the &lsquo;Next Eleven&rsquo;. Bangladesh has come to develop relations with the west, Japan, Middle-East and China and derived great economic benefits out of those relations.&nbsp;

The tensed Bangladesh &ndash;India relationship stems from a variety of issues, such as &lsquo;equitable sharing of all common river water, terrorist camps and migration. Since 1996 gradual progress has been achieved by Bangladesh and India to address some of these issues. Bangladesh has destroyed the dens the Indian rebels made along Bangladesh - 
India borders and proactively searched and sealed all channels of logistics and arms supply to these rebels. Bangladeshi intelligence agencies are also blocking ISI or its proxies&rsquo; probable operations against India from Bangladeshi soil. &nbsp;

Geo-politically, in South Asia and beyond, there are several areas where an alliance between the India and Bangladesh could have brought good mutual dividend and uphold some great IR principles. One such area is Pakistan&rsquo;s export of terrorism and Islamic radicalism. Both India and Bangladesh are affected by that. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Myanmar on the other hand hardly has any principled position. It is buying good numbers of multi-role fighter aircraft&nbsp;from Pakistan, the regional hub of Islamic terrorism, giving a boost to Pakistani military industry and technology. These are made through the collaboration between Pakistan and China, Myanmar&rsquo;s closest ally and India&rsquo;s geo-strategic nemesis. In this context, it&rsquo;s difficult to make sense as to why&nbsp;India is siding with Myanmar in its dissension with Bangladesh on an acute humanitarian crisis like Rohingya.&nbsp;

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Apart from the principle and propriety angle, India hardly gains anything from Myanmar. India can&rsquo;t match the kind of investment China made in Myanmar.&nbsp;

A further irony is, lacs of &nbsp;Indians were expelled from Myanmar like the Rohingyas in the fifties and sixties. The remaining ones and later migrant Indian in Myanmar are still abused in that country with racial slur &#39;Kala&rsquo;. The Myanmar Indians falls in the same absurd 1982 citizenship law as Rohingyas. Myanmar is always likely to be on China&#39;s side despite India&rsquo;s disgraceful pampering.&nbsp;

On the other hand, India has much to lose not by standing by Bangladesh&rsquo;s side at the time of its need both in comparative and absolute terms. &nbsp;Bangladesh might again lean more towards the Islamic bondage rather than the subcontinental one. If Islamic solidarity is revived on this issue, India&rsquo;s massive stake in the Middle East might even be harmed for its direct or indirect support in Rohingya genocide and expulsion.&nbsp;

It seems&nbsp;some of PM Modi&rsquo;s strategic advisors have gone bonkers with anti-Muslim preoccupation and very weak Rohingya terrorism stories. Because of them, soon India might find herself on the wrong side of geopolitics and history. Bangladesh did a balancing act between concerns of India and interest of China by postponing China&rsquo;s proposal for a Sri Lanka and Pakistan like the development of a deep sea port in Sonadia of Chittagong. Now, it&rsquo;s a payback time for India and an opportunity for it to befriend Bangladesh for the long term by strongly being by the latter&rsquo;s side in this crisis.&nbsp;

If India is strongly by the side of Bangladesh now, much of the remaining &nbsp;Indo-Bangla mistrust in the relationship will be gone, and Bangladeshi people, as well as the political forces, will appreciate the value of India&rsquo;s friendship immensely. It will bring a defining shift in Bangladesh-India relation for a very long term. &nbsp;The question is whether PM Modi is ready for an in-depth strategic re-assessment and would his policy strategists allow him to do that?

India?s massive stake in the Middle East and South Asia might be harmed for its direct or indirect support in Rohingya genocide and expulsion.

Apparently, it’s quite unnatural for Bangladesh and India not to be close allies, especially with India's involvement in Bangladesh's War of Independence of 1971. And then, of course, there are the unique cultural similarities and geographical realities with regards to common Ganges-Bramhaputra plain that runs through both the countries. Despite the overt Hasina-Modi bonhomie, the political reality is, however, very different. Bangladesh's relations with India can best be described as a loose friendship with hidden mutual mistrust and suspicion. The lack of trust between the two countries comes forth more in the context of Bangladesh-Myanmar tussle on persecution and expulsion of Rohingyas from Arakan. The tensed Bangladesh –India relationship stems from a variety of issues, such as ‘equitable sharing of all common river water, terrorist camps and migration. × The prime deficiency of India’s South Asia policy has been its obsession with Pakistan. Only recently a separate desk has been introduced for Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal in the Ministry of External Affairs at the South Block of Raisina Hills in New Delhi. Pakistan became important for its nuisance value while India failed to see the constructive value of the rest, especially Bangladesh which is already the 31st largest economy in the world with more than 6 per cent average economic growth in the last couple of decades. Courtesy the economic growth, the western world has come to view Bangladesh as one of the ‘Next Eleven’. Bangladesh has come to develop relations with the west, Japan, Middle-East and China and derived great economic benefits out of those relations. The tensed Bangladesh –India relationship stems from a variety of issues, such as ‘equitable sharing of all common river water, terrorist camps and migration. Since 1996 gradual progress has been achieved by Bangladesh and India to address some of these issues. Bangladesh has destroyed the dens the Indian rebels made along Bangladesh - India borders and proactively searched and sealed all channels of logistics and arms supply to these rebels. Bangladeshi intelligence agencies are also blocking ISI or its proxies’ probable operations against India from Bangladeshi soil. Geo-politically, in South Asia and beyond, there are several areas where an alliance between the India and Bangladesh could have brought good mutual dividend and uphold some great IR principles. One such area is Pakistan’s export of terrorism and Islamic radicalism. Both India and Bangladesh are affected by that. Myanmar on the other hand hardly has any principled position. It is buying good numbers of multi-role fighter aircraft from Pakistan, the regional hub of Islamic terrorism, giving a boost to Pakistani military industry and technology. These are made through the collaboration between Pakistan and China, Myanmar’s closest ally and India’s geo-strategic nemesis. In this context, it’s difficult to make sense as to why India is siding with Myanmar in its dissension with Bangladesh on an acute humanitarian crisis like Rohingya. It’s difficult to make sense as to why India is siding with Myanmar in its dissension with Bangladesh on an acute humanitarian crisis like Rohingya. × Apart from the principle and propriety angle, India hardly gains anything from Myanmar. India can’t match the kind of investment China made in Myanmar. A further irony is, lacs of Indians were expelled from Myanmar like the Rohingyas in the fifties and sixties. The remaining ones and later migrant Indian in Myanmar are still abused in that country with racial slur 'Kala’. The Myanmar Indians falls in the same absurd 1982 citizenship law as Rohingyas. Myanmar is always likely to be on China's side despite India’s disgraceful pampering. On the other hand, India has much to lose not by standing by Bangladesh’s side at the time of its need both in comparative and absolute terms. Bangladesh might again lean more towards the Islamic bondage rather than the subcontinental one. If Islamic solidarity is revived on this issue, India’s massive stake in the Middle East might even be harmed for its direct or indirect support in Rohingya genocide and expulsion. It seems some of PM Modi’s strategic advisors have gone bonkers with anti-Muslim preoccupation and very weak Rohingya terrorism stories. Because of them, soon India might find herself on the wrong side of geopolitics and history. Bangladesh did a balancing act between concerns of India and interest of China by postponing China’s proposal for a Sri Lanka and Pakistan like the development of a deep sea port in Sonadia of Chittagong. Now, it’s a payback time for India and an opportunity for it to befriend Bangladesh for the long term by strongly being by the latter’s side in this crisis. If India is strongly by the side of Bangladesh now, much of the remaining Indo-Bangla mistrust in the relationship will be gone, and Bangladeshi people, as well as the political forces, will appreciate the value of India’s friendship immensely. It will bring a defining shift in Bangladesh-India relation for a very long term. The question is whether PM Modi is ready for an in-depth strategic re-assessment and would his policy strategists allow him to do that?

Rohingya: Why India should side with Bangladesh and not Myanmar

Bangladesh Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, who is on a four-day visit to India, will hold bilateral talks with the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The meeting between the two leaders is expected to further strengthen&nbsp;and deepen the ties between the two neighbours.

More than 20 pacts are expected to be signed between the two countries after the delegation-level talks. Agreements in the areas of defence and civil nuclear cooperation are expected to be signed between the two countries, ANI reported.

India will also extend 500 million dollars to Bangladesh for defence purchases.&nbsp;

Train services involving West Bengal and Bangladesh and bus service connecting Kolkata and Dhaka will also be launched during the visit.&nbsp;

Sheikh Hasina will attend &quot;Sommanona Ceremony&quot; in the evening along with her Indian counterpart to honour the Indian martyrs who sacrificed their lives in the liberation of Bangladesh.

Increased cooperation between India and Bangladesh has taken centrestage in the wake of spate of terrorist attacks in Bangladesh allegedly by Islamic State affiliates and fears of its spill over in India.

BIMSTEC has served as an important platform to coordinate anti-terror efforts between India and Bangladesh. Sheikh Hasina had visited India last year to attend the BIMSTEC conference in Goa.

(WION with inputs from ANI)

India will also extend 500 million dollars to Bangladesh for defence purchases

Bangladesh Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, who is on a four-day visit to India, will hold bilateral talks with the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The meeting between the two leaders is expected to further strengthen and deepen the ties between the two neighbours. More than 20 pacts are expected to be signed between the two countries after the delegation-level talks. Agreements in the areas of defence and civil nuclear cooperation are expected to be signed between the two countries, ANI reported. India will also extend 500 million dollars to Bangladesh for defence purchases. Train services involving West Bengal and Bangladesh and bus service connecting Kolkata and Dhaka will also be launched during the visit. Sheikh Hasina will attend "Sommanona Ceremony" in the evening along with her Indian counterpart to honour the Indian martyrs who sacrificed their lives in the liberation of Bangladesh. Increased cooperation between India and Bangladesh has taken centrestage in the wake of spate of terrorist attacks in Bangladesh allegedly by Islamic State affiliates and fears of its spill over in India. BIMSTEC has served as an important platform to coordinate anti-terror efforts between India and Bangladesh. Sheikh Hasina had visited India last year to attend the BIMSTEC conference in Goa. (WION with inputs from ANI)

Modi-Hasina talks: More than 20 pacts to be signed, focus on defence and civil nuclear cooperation

India and Bangladesh today held bilateral talks on a range of issues including civil nuclear cooperation.

Bangladesh&#39;s Prime Minster, Sheikh Hasina, who is on a four-day visit to India, held wide ranging talks with her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi.

The two leaders also discussed the issue of terrorism, with PM Modi expressing admiration for Sheikh Hasina&#39;s &quot;zero-tolerance&quot; policy to deal with terrorism.

&quot;We have the greatest admiration for Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina&#39;s firm resolve in dealing with terrorism. Her government&#39;s &#39;zero-tolerance&#39; policy towards terrorism is an inspiration for all of us,&quot; said PM Modi at a joint media event with the Bangladesh PM.

The two countries also resolved to step up anti-terror cooperation. The Indian prime minister&nbsp;termed the&nbsp;spread of radicalism as a &quot;grave threat&quot;&nbsp;not only to the two countries but to the entire region.

&quot;While our partnership brings prosperity to our people, it also works to protect them from forces of radicalisation and extremism. Their spread poses a grave threat, not just to India and Bangladesh but to the entire region,&quot; PM Modi said.

Addressing a joint press conference, both the leaders expressed confidence in further strengthening ties between the two neighbours.

Both sides also signed 22 pacts in strategic areas of defence and civil nuclear cooperation, PTI reported.

India extended a 500 billion dollar line of credit to Bangladesh to buy military hardware.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced 4.5 billion dollars of concessional line of credit for implementation of projects in Bangladesh, PTI reported. 
&nbsp;&nbsp; 
On the crucial issue of sharing of waters of Teesta river, Prime Minister Modi said that the issue was important for India-Bangladesh ties and assured his Bangladeshi counterpart of India&#39;s commitment to it, PTI said.

He said an &quot;early solution can and will be found&quot; to the Teesta water sharing issue.

The Indian prime minister and his Bangladeshi counterpart also inaugurated two rail and a road connectivity project via video conferencing.&quot;

The trial run of passenger train service between Bangladesh&#39;s Khulna city and Kolkata began today with the arrival of a train at Petrapole along the Indo-Bangla border.

Regular service between the Kolkata station and Khulna will commence in July, Railway officials said. 
 
The two leaders also released the Hindi translation of founding leader of Bangladesh Sheikh Mujibur Rahman&#39;s &quot;The Unfinished Memoirs,&quot;a glimpse into the life of an inspiring leader.&nbsp;The leaders also dedicated a road in Delhi to memory of Bangabandhu.

PM Modi and Sheikh Hasina&nbsp;subsequently honoured Indian soldiers martyred in 1971 war for the liberation of Bangladesh at a ceremony in the capital.

Narendra Modi hit out at Pakistan saying it breeds, inspires and encourages terrorism. 
 
&quot;There is one thought in South Asia which breeds, inspires and encourages terrorism. The thought whose priority is not humanity, but extremism and terrorism,&quot; Modi said, without naming Pakistan. 
 
Sheikh Hasina, whose Awami League is historically seen as more sympathetic to India than the arch-rival Bangladesh Nationalist Party, said the two countries will jointly produce a documentary on the 1971 War of Liberation of Bangladesh, a move that is likely to irk Pakistan.&nbsp;

Hasina is the daughter of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who led Bangladesh to independence from Pakistan in 1971.&nbsp;

The government says that up to three million people died in the independence war, many killed by Bangladeshis who collaborated with Pakistani forces. 
&nbsp;

(WION with inputs from PTI)

The two vowed to step up anti-terror cooperation. Modi said he admired Sheikh Hasina's 'zero-tolerance' policy to deal with terrorism

India and Bangladesh today held bilateral talks on a range of issues including civil nuclear cooperation. Bangladesh's Prime Minster, Sheikh Hasina, who is on a four-day visit to India, held wide ranging talks with her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi. The two leaders also discussed the issue of terrorism, with PM Modi expressing admiration for Sheikh Hasina's "zero-tolerance" policy to deal with terrorism. "We have the greatest admiration for Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's firm resolve in dealing with terrorism. Her government's 'zero-tolerance' policy towards terrorism is an inspiration for all of us," said PM Modi at a joint media event with the Bangladesh PM. The two countries also resolved to step up anti-terror cooperation. The Indian prime minister termed the spread of radicalism as a "grave threat" not only to the two countries but to the entire region. "While our partnership brings prosperity to our people, it also works to protect them from forces of radicalisation and extremism. Their spread poses a grave threat, not just to India and Bangladesh but to the entire region," PM Modi said. Addressing a joint press conference, both the leaders expressed confidence in further strengthening ties between the two neighbours. Both sides also signed 22 pacts in strategic areas of defence and civil nuclear cooperation, PTI reported. India extended a 500 billion dollar line of credit to Bangladesh to buy military hardware. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced 4.5 billion dollars of concessional line of credit for implementation of projects in Bangladesh, PTI reported. On the crucial issue of sharing of waters of Teesta river, Prime Minister Modi said that the issue was important for India-Bangladesh ties and assured his Bangladeshi counterpart of India's commitment to it, PTI said. He said an "early solution can and will be found" to the Teesta water sharing issue. The Indian prime minister and his Bangladeshi counterpart also inaugurated two rail and a road connectivity project via video conferencing." The trial run of passenger train service between Bangladesh's Khulna city and Kolkata began today with the arrival of a train at Petrapole along the Indo-Bangla border. Regular service between the Kolkata station and Khulna will commence in July, Railway officials said. The two leaders also released the Hindi translation of founding leader of Bangladesh Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's "The Unfinished Memoirs,"a glimpse into the life of an inspiring leader. The leaders also dedicated a road in Delhi to memory of Bangabandhu. PM Modi and Sheikh Hasina subsequently honoured Indian soldiers martyred in 1971 war for the liberation of Bangladesh at a ceremony in the capital. Narendra Modi hit out at Pakistan saying it breeds, inspires and encourages terrorism. "There is one thought in South Asia which breeds, inspires and encourages terrorism. The thought whose priority is not humanity, but extremism and terrorism," Modi said, without naming Pakistan. Sheikh Hasina, whose Awami League is historically seen as more sympathetic to India than the arch-rival Bangladesh Nationalist Party, said the two countries will jointly produce a documentary on the 1971 War of Liberation of Bangladesh, a move that is likely to irk Pakistan. Hasina is the daughter of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who led Bangladesh to independence from Pakistan in 1971. The government says that up to three million people died in the independence war, many killed by Bangladeshis who collaborated with Pakistani forces. (WION with inputs from PTI)

Modi-Hasina talks: 22 pacts signed in key areas including defence and civil nuclear cooperation

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is known to politically surprise political adversaries but what happened today (April 7)&nbsp;surprised the Prime Minister Office itself. Highly placed sources confirmed that the prime minister travelled to the Technical terminal of the Indira Gandhi international airport to receive Bangladesh&rsquo;s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina without any traffic restrictions. Sources say that Prime Minister Narendra Modi left Lok Kalyan Marg in a truncated cavalcade to the airport an hour before the arrival of Sheikh Hasina.

Sources told DNA-WION that the truncated cavalcade of the prime minister had to stop at Sardar Patel Marg&rsquo;s red light and his cavalcade slowed down considerably near RR Hospital but people travelling around could not realise that the Prime Minister Modi was travelling inside one of the sedans. Sheikh Hasina&rsquo;s plane touched down around 12.14 pm&nbsp;and PM Modi reached the venue around 12.09 pm. Sources say that it is a message from the prime minister that VVIP movement should not cause public inconvenience. &nbsp;Though the protocol was in place when the prime minister returned to his residence. A highly-placed source said, &quot;Since protocol was in place for Sheikh Hasina, the prime minister in a gap of six minutes took the same route.&quot;

DNA-WION spoke to Yashovardhan Azad former secretary security to government of India, who said, &quot;It can be done. It depends on the confidence of the protectee and the agency protecting him. More so unpredictability is the key. It accords security so it can be done.&rdquo; He also said that nature of route and terrain too makes a difference but if basic security remains then such feats can be achieved.

What was even more unusual was that Prime Minister Modi interacted with the Bangladeshi media&nbsp;after Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina left the venue. Sources in the Prime Minister Office confirmed that Narendra Modi stayed at the tarmac for five&nbsp;to seven&nbsp;minutes and spoke to the delegation who to their heart&rsquo;s content took selfies with him. It is rare that Indian Prime Minister goes to the tarmac to receive dignitaries. Narendra Modi in past has received former United States President Barak Obama twice and Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi once. He went and received Sheikh Hasina, a sign that he accords this visit lot of importance to this visit.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

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<div class="media-description">
In her 3-day visit to India from 7th-10th April, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to give the Indo-Bangladesh (WION)
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(WION)

 
&nbsp;

Sources say that it is a message from the prime minister that VVIP movement should not cause public inconvenience

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is known to politically surprise political adversaries but what happened today (April 7) surprised the Prime Minister Office itself. Highly placed sources confirmed that the prime minister travelled to the Technical terminal of the Indira Gandhi international airport to receive Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina without any traffic restrictions. Sources say that Prime Minister Narendra Modi left Lok Kalyan Marg in a truncated cavalcade to the airport an hour before the arrival of Sheikh Hasina. Sources told DNA-WION that the truncated cavalcade of the prime minister had to stop at Sardar Patel Marg’s red light and his cavalcade slowed down considerably near RR Hospital but people travelling around could not realise that the Prime Minister Modi was travelling inside one of the sedans. Sheikh Hasina’s plane touched down around 12.14 pm and PM Modi reached the venue around 12.09 pm. Sources say that it is a message from the prime minister that VVIP movement should not cause public inconvenience. Though the protocol was in place when the prime minister returned to his residence. A highly-placed source said, "Since protocol was in place for Sheikh Hasina, the prime minister in a gap of six minutes took the same route." DNA-WION spoke to Yashovardhan Azad former secretary security to government of India, who said, "It can be done. It depends on the confidence of the protectee and the agency protecting him. More so unpredictability is the key. It accords security so it can be done.” He also said that nature of route and terrain too makes a difference but if basic security remains then such feats can be achieved. What was even more unusual was that Prime Minister Modi interacted with the Bangladeshi media after Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina left the venue. Sources in the Prime Minister Office confirmed that Narendra Modi stayed at the tarmac for five to seven minutes and spoke to the delegation who to their heart’s content took selfies with him. It is rare that Indian Prime Minister goes to the tarmac to receive dignitaries. Narendra Modi in past has received former United States President Barak Obama twice and Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi once. He went and received Sheikh Hasina, a sign that he accords this visit lot of importance to this visit. In her 3-day visit to India from 7th-10th April, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to give the Indo-Bangladesh (WION) × (WION)

PM Modi breaks protocol, travels without traffic restrictions to receive Bangladesh PM

The sane people in Bangladesh do not think that Bangladesh and India are enemies although since 1975, right wing political forces have tried to paint such a picture. Even today, some fringe elements in the Bangladeshi intelligentsia keep peddling such a narrative to an audience that thrives on this.

However, over the past several years, the sensible quarters of the civil society and media have been able to reassert, by and large, the objective narrative of mutual trust and the benefits of Bangladesh-India cooperation and the need for strengthening it. India didn&rsquo;t do anything in the last 46 years that shows New Delhi&#39;s intent to gobble up Bangladesh. Nor it is possible. False fear mongering and small neighbour mentality are out.

There are big economic and political changes taking place in the region and beyond. It is an ongoing geopolitical game and all the interested parties are trying to get the most out of it through conventional non-violent means i.e. strategic posturing, economic cooperation, diplomacy, etc.

Unlike in the past, today, bigger domestic constituencies of leading developing countries are getting increasingly interested in their nations&#39; regional and global standings. Therefore, alongside international politics and security, other factors such as economic benefits, regional or international stature and even domestic politics have become important determinants of bilateral and multilateral relationship between countries.

Since the Narendra Modi-led Hindu nationalist BJP government came to power in India in 2014, riding on the development plank, India-Bangladesh relationship needed a reboot. The secular Awami League under Sheikh Hasina, with a history of good relations with the secular Indian National Congress, continued to be in power in Dhaka for a second term.

Both the governments realised that inter-state relations come ahead of inter-party relations across the border and thus developed a good working relationship. Moreover, Bangladesh and India have a shared history and commonalities of culture, not to mention the huge volume of bilateral trade and other interactions.

However, Bangladesh is an aspirational country and it is already the world&rsquo;s 31st largest economy in terms of purchasing power parity. It has a big population with a large number of young people who want jobs and a good life. Therefore, when it comes to economy, Bangladesh, like other Least Developed Countries (LDCs), needs more FDI in infrastructure, manufacturing, processing industries and other fields. As the western, Japanese and West Asian finances are drying out, China is fast stepping into that vacuum. It has overtaken India as the largest trading partner of Bangladesh. Bangladesh&#39;s military is also dependent on Chinese supply of military hardware as those are of reasonable standards and are affordable.

Bangladesh&rsquo;s cosiness with China seems to have puzzled India, Beijing&#39;s geopolitical competitor. It is a different matter that India is currently utilising China&rsquo;s economic rise and has replaced Pakistan as China&#39;s largest trade partner in South Asia.

To nullify the Bangladesh-China intimacy, India has proposed a long-term defence cooperation pact with Bangladesh which&nbsp;&nbsp;involves purchasing Indian military armaments, various military-to-military cooperation measures like training, capacity building, joint exercises, etc.

Much has not been disclosed but there is a sense that India would also seek a deeper military strategic alliance. This would serve the Modi government very well as the overall security and geopolitical rise of India are key promises made by Modi. If successful, this defence agreement with Bangladesh would help Modi in his 2019 re-election bid. He can then claim that he has been successful in &lsquo;isolating Pakistan in South Asia&rsquo; and &lsquo;resisting China in this part of South Asia&rsquo;.

What does this mean for Bangladesh and the Awami League government?

Bangladesh doesn&rsquo;t need Indian armaments which are not known for their quality although Dhaka may wish to reduce its dependence on Chinese armaments, owing to China&rsquo;s proximity to Myanmar. But for that, Dhaka would do better to look at Russia or Eastern Europe.

The Awami League government of Bangladesh, unlike the BJP in India, will be significantly embarrassed in the domestic political sphere if this agreement goes through. Its detractors have long accused it as a pro-India party.&nbsp;&nbsp;Moreover, Bangladesh still has important unresolved issues with India like water sharing of the Teesta and other rivers.

India also did not support Bangladesh on the humanitarian Rohingya issue, considering its own geostrategic interest in Myanmar. Most importantly, a comprehensive India-Bangladesh defence pact would inevitably raise the obvious question as to who the pact is against. It will send China, Bangladesh&rsquo;s strategic economic partner, a wrong signal. Beijing has just committed to invest a whopping $27 billion in Bangladesh while indicating that it could invest another $13 billion in the private sector. Bangladesh, therefore, will do well to keep out of the India-China geopolitical competition and engage in economic ties with both.

The Modi government made the lingering Land Boundary Agreement a reality and allowed more Bangladeshi products to reach the Indian markets without tariff. Bangladesh actively and consistently went after hideouts of northeast Indian insurgents along its border. Bangladesh will probably reciprocate by allowing India&rsquo;s landlocked northeast region to use its seaports for a reasonable fee.

Bangladesh doesn&rsquo;t consider India as an enemy but it is surrounded by the country on three sides. The adjacent northeastern region of India is a highly militarised zone and keeps Bangladesh wary at all times. It is also difficult for Bangladesh to gauge the direction of India&#39;s domestic politics in the light of anti-Bangladesh rhetoric, specially on immigrants, used in previous general elections. India&rsquo;s record of politico-military involvement in Sri Lanka also doesn&#39;t help.

Many Bangladeshis are worried about the state of Muslims in India as news of discrimination and persecution by Hindutva activists keep making news. On the other hand, Bangladesh&rsquo;s current relationship with Pakistan is moving from bad to worse. Currently, Bangladesh&rsquo;s relationship with the rest of the Islamic world is less cosy than in the past for obvious reasons. Even though India and Bangladesh share a warm relationship at present, Bangladesh doesn&rsquo;t want to put all its eggs in the same basket by aligning too closely with the saffron dispensation in New Delhi.

Therefore, neither Bangladesh wants acrimony with India nor does it need any defence cooperation. It&rsquo;s better that Bangladesh&rsquo;s defence remains independent of India. Rather, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on friendly coexistence and cooperation in countering terrorism and extremism would be a fair shot for both the countries. Hopefully, the Indian government would understand Bangladesh&rsquo;s conundrum and would settle for something sustainable for both the sides.

Dhaka and New Delhi should instead agree on friendly coexistence and cooperation in countering terrorism

The sane people in Bangladesh do not think that Bangladesh and India are enemies although since 1975, right wing political forces have tried to paint such a picture. Even today, some fringe elements in the Bangladeshi intelligentsia keep peddling such a narrative to an audience that thrives on this. However, over the past several years, the sensible quarters of the civil society and media have been able to reassert, by and large, the objective narrative of mutual trust and the benefits of Bangladesh-India cooperation and the need for strengthening it. India didn’t do anything in the last 46 years that shows New Delhi's intent to gobble up Bangladesh. Nor it is possible. False fear mongering and small neighbour mentality are out. There are big economic and political changes taking place in the region and beyond. It is an ongoing geopolitical game and all the interested parties are trying to get the most out of it through conventional non-violent means i.e. strategic posturing, economic cooperation, diplomacy, etc. Unlike in the past, today, bigger domestic constituencies of leading developing countries are getting increasingly interested in their nations' regional and global standings. Therefore, alongside international politics and security, other factors such as economic benefits, regional or international stature and even domestic politics have become important determinants of bilateral and multilateral relationship between countries. Since the Narendra Modi-led Hindu nationalist BJP government came to power in India in 2014, riding on the development plank, India-Bangladesh relationship needed a reboot. The secular Awami League under Sheikh Hasina, with a history of good relations with the secular Indian National Congress, continued to be in power in Dhaka for a second term. Both the governments realised that inter-state relations come ahead of inter-party relations across the border and thus developed a good working relationship. Moreover, Bangladesh and India have a shared history and commonalities of culture, not to mention the huge volume of bilateral trade and other interactions. However, Bangladesh is an aspirational country and it is already the world’s 31st largest economy in terms of purchasing power parity. It has a big population with a large number of young people who want jobs and a good life. Therefore, when it comes to economy, Bangladesh, like other Least Developed Countries (LDCs), needs more FDI in infrastructure, manufacturing, processing industries and other fields. As the western, Japanese and West Asian finances are drying out, China is fast stepping into that vacuum. It has overtaken India as the largest trading partner of Bangladesh. Bangladesh's military is also dependent on Chinese supply of military hardware as those are of reasonable standards and are affordable. Bangladesh’s cosiness with China seems to have puzzled India, Beijing's geopolitical competitor. It is a different matter that India is currently utilising China’s economic rise and has replaced Pakistan as China's largest trade partner in South Asia. To nullify the Bangladesh-China intimacy, India has proposed a long-term defence cooperation pact with Bangladesh which involves purchasing Indian military armaments, various military-to-military cooperation measures like training, capacity building, joint exercises, etc. Much has not been disclosed but there is a sense that India would also seek a deeper military strategic alliance. This would serve the Modi government very well as the overall security and geopolitical rise of India are key promises made by Modi. If successful, this defence agreement with Bangladesh would help Modi in his 2019 re-election bid. He can then claim that he has been successful in ‘isolating Pakistan in South Asia’ and ‘resisting China in this part of South Asia’. What does this mean for Bangladesh and the Awami League government? Bangladesh doesn’t need Indian armaments which are not known for their quality although Dhaka may wish to reduce its dependence on Chinese armaments, owing to China’s proximity to Myanmar. But for that, Dhaka would do better to look at Russia or Eastern Europe. The Awami League government of Bangladesh, unlike the BJP in India, will be significantly embarrassed in the domestic political sphere if this agreement goes through. Its detractors have long accused it as a pro-India party. Moreover, Bangladesh still has important unresolved issues with India like water sharing of the Teesta and other rivers. India also did not support Bangladesh on the humanitarian Rohingya issue, considering its own geostrategic interest in Myanmar. Most importantly, a comprehensive India-Bangladesh defence pact would inevitably raise the obvious question as to who the pact is against. It will send China, Bangladesh’s strategic economic partner, a wrong signal. Beijing has just committed to invest a whopping $27 billion in Bangladesh while indicating that it could invest another $13 billion in the private sector. Bangladesh, therefore, will do well to keep out of the India-China geopolitical competition and engage in economic ties with both. The Modi government made the lingering Land Boundary Agreement a reality and allowed more Bangladeshi products to reach the Indian markets without tariff. Bangladesh actively and consistently went after hideouts of northeast Indian insurgents along its border. Bangladesh will probably reciprocate by allowing India’s landlocked northeast region to use its seaports for a reasonable fee. Bangladesh doesn’t consider India as an enemy but it is surrounded by the country on three sides. The adjacent northeastern region of India is a highly militarised zone and keeps Bangladesh wary at all times. It is also difficult for Bangladesh to gauge the direction of India's domestic politics in the light of anti-Bangladesh rhetoric, specially on immigrants, used in previous general elections. India’s record of politico-military involvement in Sri Lanka also doesn't help. Many Bangladeshis are worried about the state of Muslims in India as news of discrimination and persecution by Hindutva activists keep making news. On the other hand, Bangladesh’s current relationship with Pakistan is moving from bad to worse. Currently, Bangladesh’s relationship with the rest of the Islamic world is less cosy than in the past for obvious reasons. Even though India and Bangladesh share a warm relationship at present, Bangladesh doesn’t want to put all its eggs in the same basket by aligning too closely with the saffron dispensation in New Delhi. Therefore, neither Bangladesh wants acrimony with India nor does it need any defence cooperation. It’s better that Bangladesh’s defence remains independent of India. Rather, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on friendly coexistence and cooperation in countering terrorism and extremism would be a fair shot for both the countries. Hopefully, the Indian government would understand Bangladesh’s conundrum and would settle for something sustainable for both the sides.

Why a long-term defence pact with India is not in Bangladesh?s interest

Bangladesh will sign up to 35 agreements and memoranda of understanding during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina&rsquo;s state visit to India, foreign minister Abul Hasan Mahmood Ali said on Tuesday.

The prime minister is due to leave for a four-day visit on Friday.

A senior energy official said Bangladesh would sign a number of agreements to import electricity. At present Bangladesh produces up to 8,500 MW of electricity and demand rises more than eight percent annually.

&ldquo;The deals include among others expansion of bilateral trade and investments, cooperation in energy sector, availing credit, distribution and management of water of common river, safer guard of border, ensuring security, prevention of illegal trade of drugs and human trafficking,&rdquo; the foreign minister told a news conference.

India is expected to announce a fresh credit worth about $5 billion for infrastructure development, like railways, roads and waterways, one official said.

&ldquo;That will be a concessionary credit, as a symbol of excellent relations between the two countries,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;

(Reuters)

The country's foreign minister said Bangladesh will sign up to 35 agreements during PM Sheikh Hasina's state visit to India

Bangladesh will sign up to 35 agreements and memoranda of understanding during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s state visit to India, foreign minister Abul Hasan Mahmood Ali said on Tuesday. The prime minister is due to leave for a four-day visit on Friday. A senior energy official said Bangladesh would sign a number of agreements to import electricity. At present Bangladesh produces up to 8,500 MW of electricity and demand rises more than eight percent annually. “The deals include among others expansion of bilateral trade and investments, cooperation in energy sector, availing credit, distribution and management of water of common river, safer guard of border, ensuring security, prevention of illegal trade of drugs and human trafficking,” the foreign minister told a news conference. India is expected to announce a fresh credit worth about $5 billion for infrastructure development, like railways, roads and waterways, one official said. “That will be a concessionary credit, as a symbol of excellent relations between the two countries,” he said. (Reuters)

Bangladesh to sign deals with India for $5 billion loan, electricity

International Affairs Adviser to Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina talks to WION on elections, bilateral trade, IS and more

WION Exclusive: Bangladesh not aligned to India or China, says Gowher Rizvi

A lawmaker of Bangladesh&#39;s ruling&nbsp;Awami League (AL),Manjurul Islam Liton, was shot dead by unknown attackers in Gaibandha on Saturday.

Liton was killed by four men in the Sundarganj upazila of the district, reports the Daily Star.

Critically injured Liton was rushed to the Rangpur Medical College Hospital where doctors declared him dead.

Police could not immediately give any specific reason behind the attack. Asked whether the incident had anything to do with internal conflict of the local AL or militancy, Ashraful Islam, superintendent of police in Gaibandha, said they were investigating the matter.

Meanwhile, strongly condemning the killing of MP Liton, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina asked the law enforcement agencies to bring the killers to book.

Hasina said the vested quarter killed Liton following &quot;the path of their politics of killing&quot;.

Leaders and activists of local AL and its associate bodies demonstrated at several places in Gaibandha and Sundarganj upazila last night.

Blocking the railway lines at Bamondanga Railway Station, they demanded the attackers` arrest and punishment.

Liton had drawn widespread flak after he allegedly shot a 10-year-old boy in Gaibandha on October 2, last year.

He was arrested on October 14 at Uttara in the capital but later granted bail.

(ANI)

Manjurul Liton was killed by four men. PM Hasina said the vested quarter killed Liton following 'the path of their politics of killing'

A lawmaker of Bangladesh's ruling Awami League (AL),Manjurul Islam Liton, was shot dead by unknown attackers in Gaibandha on Saturday. Liton was killed by four men in the Sundarganj upazila of the district, reports the Daily Star. Critically injured Liton was rushed to the Rangpur Medical College Hospital where doctors declared him dead. Police could not immediately give any specific reason behind the attack. Asked whether the incident had anything to do with internal conflict of the local AL or militancy, Ashraful Islam, superintendent of police in Gaibandha, said they were investigating the matter. Meanwhile, strongly condemning the killing of MP Liton, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina asked the law enforcement agencies to bring the killers to book. Hasina said the vested quarter killed Liton following "the path of their politics of killing". Leaders and activists of local AL and its associate bodies demonstrated at several places in Gaibandha and Sundarganj upazila last night. Blocking the railway lines at Bamondanga Railway Station, they demanded the attackers` arrest and punishment. Liton had drawn widespread flak after he allegedly shot a 10-year-old boy in Gaibandha on October 2, last year. He was arrested on October 14 at Uttara in the capital but later granted bail. (ANI)

Bangladesh: Awami League lawmaker shot dead at home

Bangladesh&rsquo;s national airline carrier has suspended three officials in connection with the emergency landing of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina&rsquo;s aircraft at Turkmenistan on November 23.&nbsp;

The three engineers of the Biman Bangladesh Airlines &ndash; Debesh Chowdhury, acting chief engineer of production, Belal Hussain, acting chief engineer of quality assurance and ABM Siddique, acting principal engineer of maintenance control centre &ndash; were suspended on Wednesday.

This suspension comes in the wake of the airlines&rsquo; investigation revealing negligence on the part of these three officials in inspecting the aircraft. The aircraft had to make an emergency landing en route Hungary due to low lubricant oil pressure at Ashgabat airport&nbsp;in Turkmenistan when Hasina was on her way to attend the United Nations water summit in Budapest.

The national airline carrier had formed a four-member investigation team, led by Fazal Mahmud Chowdhury, chief of technical captain, to carry out a thorough investigation into the emergency landing. Earlier, the airline carrier had suspended six officials for negligence.&nbsp;

Later, a report compiled by this investigation team was handed over to Bangladesh&rsquo;s Aviation Ministry.

Besides the Prime Minister, the aircraft was carrying as many as 99 passengers including the cockpit and cabin crew, and four aircraft engineers.

(WION)

This suspension comes in the wake of an investigation revealing negligence on the part of the three officials in inspecting the aircraft

Bangladesh’s national airline carrier has suspended three officials in connection with the emergency landing of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s aircraft at Turkmenistan on November 23. The three engineers of the Biman Bangladesh Airlines – Debesh Chowdhury, acting chief engineer of production, Belal Hussain, acting chief engineer of quality assurance and ABM Siddique, acting principal engineer of maintenance control centre – were suspended on Wednesday. This suspension comes in the wake of the airlines’ investigation revealing negligence on the part of these three officials in inspecting the aircraft. The aircraft had to make an emergency landing en route Hungary due to low lubricant oil pressure at Ashgabat airport in Turkmenistan when Hasina was on her way to attend the United Nations water summit in Budapest. The national airline carrier had formed a four-member investigation team, led by Fazal Mahmud Chowdhury, chief of technical captain, to carry out a thorough investigation into the emergency landing. Earlier, the airline carrier had suspended six officials for negligence. Later, a report compiled by this investigation team was handed over to Bangladesh’s Aviation Ministry. Besides the Prime Minister, the aircraft was carrying as many as 99 passengers including the cockpit and cabin crew, and four aircraft engineers. (WION)

Bangladesh: Airline carrier suspends officials over emergency landing of PM Hasina?s aircraft

US secretary of state John Kerry said today there was evidence to link operatives in Bangladesh to the Islamic State group. 
 
Referring to the recent spate of attacks, Kerry promised help with intelligence and law enforcement.&nbsp; 
 
The blunt statement followed the July 1 attack on a cafe in an upscale district of the Bangladeshi capital, Dhaka, in which 22 people were killed - mostly non-Muslims and foreigners, including one American. 
 
The statement, however, contradicted the narrative of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina&#39;s government, which has blamed homegrown militants and denied a foreign hand in the hostage taking at the Holey Artisan Bakery that was claimed by Islamic State. 
 
Bangladesh&#39;s government has staunchly denied that IS or any international jihadist network has gained a foothold in the country. 
 
Kerry however rejected the idea that Hasina`s administration was in denial about the nature of the extremist threat that it faced, the AFP reported. 
 
&quot;I don&#39;t believe that the government of Bangladesh has its head in the sand. I do not believe that,&quot; the report quoted him as saying in a speech in Dhaka where he was paying a one-day visit. 
 
According to AFP, the top US diplomat said that the two governments had agreed on increased cooperation between their respective intelligence agencies. 
 
&quot;The (foreign) minister (Mahmood Ali) was very, and the prime minister was very clear (at) the desire to cooperate with us very very closely,&quot; he said. 
 
The cafe raid was the most shocking of a series of atrocities that has included killings of atheist intellectuals, people from religious and sexual minorities and foreigners, raising fears over the stability of the mainly Muslim nation of 160 million. 
 
(WION with inputs from AFP, Reuters)

The blunt statement, however, contradicted the narrative of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government which has blamed homegrown militants

US secretary of state John Kerry said today there was evidence to link operatives in Bangladesh to the Islamic State group. Referring to the recent spate of attacks, Kerry promised help with intelligence and law enforcement. The blunt statement followed the July 1 attack on a cafe in an upscale district of the Bangladeshi capital, Dhaka, in which 22 people were killed - mostly non-Muslims and foreigners, including one American. The statement, however, contradicted the narrative of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government, which has blamed homegrown militants and denied a foreign hand in the hostage taking at the Holey Artisan Bakery that was claimed by Islamic State. Bangladesh's government has staunchly denied that IS or any international jihadist network has gained a foothold in the country. Kerry however rejected the idea that Hasina`s administration was in denial about the nature of the extremist threat that it faced, the AFP reported. "I don't believe that the government of Bangladesh has its head in the sand. I do not believe that," the report quoted him as saying in a speech in Dhaka where he was paying a one-day visit. According to AFP, the top US diplomat said that the two governments had agreed on increased cooperation between their respective intelligence agencies. "The (foreign) minister (Mahmood Ali) was very, and the prime minister was very clear (at) the desire to cooperate with us very very closely," he said. The cafe raid was the most shocking of a series of atrocities that has included killings of atheist intellectuals, people from religious and sexual minorities and foreigners, raising fears over the stability of the mainly Muslim nation of 160 million. (WION with inputs from AFP, Reuters)

Evidence to link Bangladesh extremists to Islamic State: John Kerry

Bangladesh police said today a suspected Islamist extremist accused of carrying out a deadly attack on a prayer rally last month has been shot dead in a gunfight while in their custody. 
 
Shafiul Islam Don was being driven to a police station late Thursday when the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) vehicle carrying him came under attack by suspected fellow extremists. 
 
The 22-year-old was killed in the gunfight that ensued, local RAB commander Shariful Islam told AFP. 
 
&quot;The attackers opened fire as they tried to snatch Don. We fired back in retaliation,&quot; said Islam. 
 
&quot;After a brief gunfight, they fled the scene. We found Don and another person`s body from the spot.&quot;&nbsp; 
 
Police had arrested Don at the scene of last month&#39;s attack at a prayer ceremony marking the end of Muslim holy month of Ramadan.&nbsp; 
 
Three people were killed in the attack in Sholakia town, which came just a week after suspected extremists killed 22 people including 18 foreigners at an upscale cafe in Dhaka. 
 
Islam said he was a member of Jamayetul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), which authorities accuse of being behind a wave of killings of foreigners and religious minorities in recent years. 
 
Islam said Don had confessed in custody to taking part in several recent killings targeting people from religious minorities in the mainly Muslim country. 
 
Police have said a faction of the JMB led by a 30-year-old Canadian of Bangladeshi origin is behind the latest attacks. 
 
Many of its members are drawn from rich families and have vowed allegiance to the Islamic State (IS) group. 
 
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has launched a major crackdown on Islamist extremism since the cafe attack.&nbsp; 
 
At least 17 suspected Islamist extremists were killed in the last five weeks and a number of militants were arrested. 
 
(AFP)&nbsp;

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has launched a major crackdown on Islamist extremism since the Dhaka cafe attack?

Bangladesh police said today a suspected Islamist extremist accused of carrying out a deadly attack on a prayer rally last month has been shot dead in a gunfight while in their custody. Shafiul Islam Don was being driven to a police station late Thursday when the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) vehicle carrying him came under attack by suspected fellow extremists. The 22-year-old was killed in the gunfight that ensued, local RAB commander Shariful Islam told AFP. "The attackers opened fire as they tried to snatch Don. We fired back in retaliation," said Islam. "After a brief gunfight, they fled the scene. We found Don and another person`s body from the spot." Police had arrested Don at the scene of last month's attack at a prayer ceremony marking the end of Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Three people were killed in the attack in Sholakia town, which came just a week after suspected extremists killed 22 people including 18 foreigners at an upscale cafe in Dhaka. Islam said he was a member of Jamayetul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), which authorities accuse of being behind a wave of killings of foreigners and religious minorities in recent years. Islam said Don had confessed in custody to taking part in several recent killings targeting people from religious minorities in the mainly Muslim country. Police have said a faction of the JMB led by a 30-year-old Canadian of Bangladeshi origin is behind the latest attacks. Many of its members are drawn from rich families and have vowed allegiance to the Islamic State (IS) group. Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has launched a major crackdown on Islamist extremism since the cafe attack. At least 17 suspected Islamist extremists were killed in the last five weeks and a number of militants were arrested. (AFP)

Bangladesh terror attack suspect dies in gun battle: Police

Bangladesh government today banned the broadcast of India-based controversial preacher Zakir Naik&#39;s Peace TV channel after reports that his &quot;provocative&quot; speeches inspired some of the militants who carried out the Dhaka cafe attack in one of the worst terror strikes in the country.&nbsp; 
 
Amid speculations that recent terror attacks were perpetrated by &#39;well-educated&#39; millitants, the government also called upon educational institutions to share a list of &#39;absent students&#39; in a bid to keep a track on youth.&nbsp; 
 
Government appeals imams to deliver lectures to propogate &#39;real Islamic ideology&#39;&nbsp; 
 
The decision to ban the Mumbai-based preacher&#39;s &#39;Peace TV Bangla&#39; was taken during a special meeting of the cabinet committee on law and order, Bangladesh industry minister Amir Hossain Amu, who chaired the meeting, said. 
 
It was also decided to monitor the sermons given during the Friday prayers to check whether any provocative lectures are delivered, Amu told reporters. 
 
Naik&#39;s speeches are believed to have inspired some of the Bangladeshi militants, who killed 22, mostly foreigners, at an upscale restaurant in Dhaka&#39;s Gulshan neighbourhood on July 1. 
 
The government also appealed to the imams in the country to deliver lectures in line with real Islamic ideology of denouncing terorism and extremism, the minister said. 
 
Besides senior ministers, the meeting was attended by chief of police and head of the elite Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), paramilitary border guards and top officials of different security agencies. 
 
Deployment of additional security forces at export processing zone was also ordered. 
 
Interior minister Asaduzzaman Khan had yesterday said that Bangladesh&#39;s intelligence agencies were investigating the Islamic preacher Naik. 
 
&quot;He is on our security scanner. Our intelligence agencies are investigating his activities as his lectures appeared provocative,&quot; Khan said. 
 
Khan said the investigators were also probing Naik&#39;s financial transactions in Bangladesh.&nbsp; 
 
Create a list on absent students: PM tells educational institutions 
 
Three of the alleged jihadists who participated in an attack on a Dhaka cafe last week attended top schools and universities in the Bangladeshi capital, according to reports. 
 
The revelation that the attackers were educated, well-off members of society has sparked fears that Islamism has spread far beyond disenfranchised youngsters being radicalised in madrasas. 
 
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina earlier in the day called on every school, college and university to &quot;create a list of absent students and publish it&quot;. 
 
&quot;We will be rigorous,&quot; the premier said and added, &quot;We must uproot militancy and terrorism from Bangladesh.&quot; 
 
School authorities would now have to provide information on any students who have an unexplained absence of 10 days or more, education minister Nurul Islam Nahid said.&nbsp; 
 
It may also be recalled that another student of a well-regarded university participated in a deadly attack in northern Bangladesh on Thursday that killed at least three people at a huge prayer gathering marking the start of Eid. 
 
Police said both attacks were carried out by a banned local militant group, despite vocal claims from the Islamic State group that they were responsible for the siege at the Dhaka cafe. 
 
Authorities, meanwhile, have launched a publicity blitz, urging parents to closely monitor their children. Television channels have broadcast photos of missing students and advertisements to deter extremism. 
 
US Assistant Secretary of State Nisha Biswal flew to Dhaka Sunday to discuss the security situation with Bangladesh foreign minister Mahmood Ali. 
 
She offered US expertise in building Bangladesh`s counterterrorism capabilities, the American embassy in Dhaka said in a statement. 
 
&quot;We will continue our assistance in combatting the global threat of terrorism that our countries both confront,&quot; she said.&nbsp; 
 
(Agencies)&nbsp;

PM Sheikh Hasina called on educational institutions to create lists of students on 'unexplained leave' of 10 days or more

Bangladesh government today banned the broadcast of India-based controversial preacher Zakir Naik's Peace TV channel after reports that his "provocative" speeches inspired some of the militants who carried out the Dhaka cafe attack in one of the worst terror strikes in the country. Amid speculations that recent terror attacks were perpetrated by 'well-educated' millitants, the government also called upon educational institutions to share a list of 'absent students' in a bid to keep a track on youth. Government appeals imams to deliver lectures to propogate 'real Islamic ideology' The decision to ban the Mumbai-based preacher's 'Peace TV Bangla' was taken during a special meeting of the cabinet committee on law and order, Bangladesh industry minister Amir Hossain Amu, who chaired the meeting, said. It was also decided to monitor the sermons given during the Friday prayers to check whether any provocative lectures are delivered, Amu told reporters. Naik's speeches are believed to have inspired some of the Bangladeshi militants, who killed 22, mostly foreigners, at an upscale restaurant in Dhaka's Gulshan neighbourhood on July 1. The government also appealed to the imams in the country to deliver lectures in line with real Islamic ideology of denouncing terorism and extremism, the minister said. Besides senior ministers, the meeting was attended by chief of police and head of the elite Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), paramilitary border guards and top officials of different security agencies. Deployment of additional security forces at export processing zone was also ordered. Interior minister Asaduzzaman Khan had yesterday said that Bangladesh's intelligence agencies were investigating the Islamic preacher Naik. "He is on our security scanner. Our intelligence agencies are investigating his activities as his lectures appeared provocative," Khan said. Khan said the investigators were also probing Naik's financial transactions in Bangladesh. Create a list on absent students: PM tells educational institutions Three of the alleged jihadists who participated in an attack on a Dhaka cafe last week attended top schools and universities in the Bangladeshi capital, according to reports. The revelation that the attackers were educated, well-off members of society has sparked fears that Islamism has spread far beyond disenfranchised youngsters being radicalised in madrasas. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina earlier in the day called on every school, college and university to "create a list of absent students and publish it". "We will be rigorous," the premier said and added, "We must uproot militancy and terrorism from Bangladesh." School authorities would now have to provide information on any students who have an unexplained absence of 10 days or more, education minister Nurul Islam Nahid said. It may also be recalled that another student of a well-regarded university participated in a deadly attack in northern Bangladesh on Thursday that killed at least three people at a huge prayer gathering marking the start of Eid. Police said both attacks were carried out by a banned local militant group, despite vocal claims from the Islamic State group that they were responsible for the siege at the Dhaka cafe. Authorities, meanwhile, have launched a publicity blitz, urging parents to closely monitor their children. Television channels have broadcast photos of missing students and advertisements to deter extremism. US Assistant Secretary of State Nisha Biswal flew to Dhaka Sunday to discuss the security situation with Bangladesh foreign minister Mahmood Ali. She offered US expertise in building Bangladesh`s counterterrorism capabilities, the American embassy in Dhaka said in a statement. "We will continue our assistance in combatting the global threat of terrorism that our countries both confront," she said. (Agencies)

Bangladesh bans broadcast of Islamic preacher Zakir Naik's Peace TV, wants students tracked

Two people were arrested today in connection with Saturday night&#39;s terror attack at a Dhaka cafe in which 22 people, mostly foreigners, were brutally killed by suspected IS militants, as authorities stepped up the probe into the international links of the hostage-takers. 
 
Inspector general of police (IGP) AKM Shahidul Haque, however, did not disclose the identities of either of the detainees or where they were being kept. 
 
He said they were both physically unwell and will be quizzed after their condition improves. 
 
&quot;One of them is in hospital, the other is in custody,&quot; he said. 
 
Earlier, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the Bangladesh Army said one terrorist was captured alive from the site of the attack. However, the identity of the suspect was not disclosed. 
 
&quot;They (attackers) may have some contact with international terrorist groups,&quot; he said. 
 
Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the killing of the 20 hostages and two police officers during the 12-hour siege that ended after the army stormed the Holey Artisan Bakery, popular with expats in the diplomatic zone here, killing six attackers and capturing one alive. 
 
Hostages who were killed include 19-year-old Indian girl Tarishi Jain. Nine Italians, 7 Japanese, one American of Bangladeshi origin, and two Bangladeshis were also among the people who were killed. 
 
&quot;You have seen the pictures of the slain militants supplied to the media, we have found out the background of four of them,&quot; a senior police officer, familiar with the investigation, told PTI, preferring anonymity. 
 
The official added that all the attackers were in their 20s. Four of them came from wealthy families and studied at elite schools and universities in Dhaka and abroad. 
 
One of the slain assaulters was studying in a Malaysian university while his family said they had no idea that he returned home and took part in the attack. 
 
He said the fifth youth hailed from a village in northwestern Bogra district and studied in a madrassa, led the attackers during the Friday night&#39;s massacre. 
 
&quot;This Khairul (of Bogra) was wanted by police for the past seven months for three deadly militant attacks in northwestern region...We understand it is him who led the Holey Artisan restaurant attack on that night,&quot; the official said. 
 
Prothom Alo Khairul was missing for the past several months. Bogra police had detained his parents for questioning. 
 
One of the slain attackers, private BRAC university student Rohan Imtiaz, was the son of a leader of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina&#39;s ruling Awami League, while his mother was a teacher Dhaka&#39;s posh Scholastica School. 
 
The family reported him missing in December last year. 
 
Of the five pictures of five bodies provided by police, four appeared to be the ones seen in the photos on Facebook in which the youths were seen smiling in front of a black Islamic State flag. 
 
(PTI)

Cops said one militant is in the hospital and the other is in custody. They will be questioned once their physical condition improves

Two people were arrested today in connection with Saturday night's terror attack at a Dhaka cafe in which 22 people, mostly foreigners, were brutally killed by suspected IS militants, as authorities stepped up the probe into the international links of the hostage-takers. Inspector general of police (IGP) AKM Shahidul Haque, however, did not disclose the identities of either of the detainees or where they were being kept. He said they were both physically unwell and will be quizzed after their condition improves. "One of them is in hospital, the other is in custody," he said. Earlier, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the Bangladesh Army said one terrorist was captured alive from the site of the attack. However, the identity of the suspect was not disclosed. "They (attackers) may have some contact with international terrorist groups," he said. Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the killing of the 20 hostages and two police officers during the 12-hour siege that ended after the army stormed the Holey Artisan Bakery, popular with expats in the diplomatic zone here, killing six attackers and capturing one alive. Hostages who were killed include 19-year-old Indian girl Tarishi Jain. Nine Italians, 7 Japanese, one American of Bangladeshi origin, and two Bangladeshis were also among the people who were killed. "You have seen the pictures of the slain militants supplied to the media, we have found out the background of four of them," a senior police officer, familiar with the investigation, told PTI, preferring anonymity. The official added that all the attackers were in their 20s. Four of them came from wealthy families and studied at elite schools and universities in Dhaka and abroad. One of the slain assaulters was studying in a Malaysian university while his family said they had no idea that he returned home and took part in the attack. He said the fifth youth hailed from a village in northwestern Bogra district and studied in a madrassa, led the attackers during the Friday night's massacre. "This Khairul (of Bogra) was wanted by police for the past seven months for three deadly militant attacks in northwestern region...We understand it is him who led the Holey Artisan restaurant attack on that night," the official said. Prothom Alo Khairul was missing for the past several months. Bogra police had detained his parents for questioning. One of the slain attackers, private BRAC university student Rohan Imtiaz, was the son of a leader of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's ruling Awami League, while his mother was a teacher Dhaka's posh Scholastica School. The family reported him missing in December last year. Of the five pictures of five bodies provided by police, four appeared to be the ones seen in the photos on Facebook in which the youths were seen smiling in front of a black Islamic State flag. (PTI)

Bangladesh police arrest two in connection with bakery attack

Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid homage to the victims of the Gulshan attack at the Army Stadium in Banani on Monday morning. 
 
The 12-hour-long hostage crisis had ended on Saturday morning after a two hour assault by commandos, leading to the death of six gunmen and capturing one alive. Nine Italians, seven Japanese, one Indian, one Bangladeshi American and two Bangladeshis were among the 20 killed in the terror attack at Holey Artisan Bakery in Gulshan on Friday night. 
 
Two senior police officers, Banani Police Station officer-in-charge Salauddin Ahmed Khan and Detective Branch Assistant commissioner Robiul Islam also lost their lives while trying to rescue the hostages. 
 
While Salauddin was laid to rest at Banani Graveyard in Dhaka, Robiul was buried at her village home in Manikganj. Meanwhile, security continues to be tight at all sensitive points in the capital, with police checking all vehicles especially in the secured diplomatic area where the gruesome hostage killings took place. 
 
In the wake of the terror attack in Dhaka,&nbsp;US secretary of state John Kerry had also called the Bangladeshi Prime Minister and offered her assistance from American law enforcement agencies, including the FBI. State department spokesperson John Kirby said that the secretary on Sunday encouraged Bangladesh to conduct its investigation in accordance with the highest international standards and offered immediate US assistance in this regard.&nbsp; 
 
(ANI)&nbsp;

Security continues to be tight at all sensitive points in the capital in the wake of the terror attack

Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid homage to the victims of the Gulshan attack at the Army Stadium in Banani on Monday morning. The 12-hour-long hostage crisis had ended on Saturday morning after a two hour assault by commandos, leading to the death of six gunmen and capturing one alive. Nine Italians, seven Japanese, one Indian, one Bangladeshi American and two Bangladeshis were among the 20 killed in the terror attack at Holey Artisan Bakery in Gulshan on Friday night. Two senior police officers, Banani Police Station officer-in-charge Salauddin Ahmed Khan and Detective Branch Assistant commissioner Robiul Islam also lost their lives while trying to rescue the hostages. While Salauddin was laid to rest at Banani Graveyard in Dhaka, Robiul was buried at her village home in Manikganj. Meanwhile, security continues to be tight at all sensitive points in the capital, with police checking all vehicles especially in the secured diplomatic area where the gruesome hostage killings took place. In the wake of the terror attack in Dhaka, US secretary of state John Kerry had also called the Bangladeshi Prime Minister and offered her assistance from American law enforcement agencies, including the FBI. State department spokesperson John Kirby said that the secretary on Sunday encouraged Bangladesh to conduct its investigation in accordance with the highest international standards and offered immediate US assistance in this regard. (ANI)

Bangladesh PM pays tribute to victims of Dhaka cafe siege

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday said she was determined to eradicate terrorism in Bangladesh after security forces stormed into a cafe where Islamist extremists had taken dozens of diners hostage. 
 
&quot;It was an extremely heinous act. What kind of Muslims are these people? They don&#39;t have any religion,&quot; she said in a televised speech. 
 
&quot;People must resist these terrorists. My government is determined to root out terrorism and militancy from Bangladesh,&quot; she added.&nbsp; 
 
The Bangladesh cafe hostage siege finally ended on Saturday after a bloody fight between commandos and militants. 
 
&quot;We have been able to save 13 people, six gunmen have been killed,&quot; the PM said and added, &quot;All security agencies did a great job.&quot; 
 
Eight to nine gunmen had attacked the upscale cafe Holey Artisan in the diplomatic area of Dhaka late on Friday and had been holding about 20 hostages, including foreigners. 
 
The security forces launched an offensive to end the hostage crisis at the restaurant today morning, reports the Daily Star.The assailants, believed to be carrying assault rifles and grenades, exchanged sporadic gun fire with police outside for several hours after the attack, which began around 9 pm on Friday.&nbsp; 
 
(Agencies)&nbsp;

The Bangladeshi Prime Minister says she is determined to eradicate terrorism from her country

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday said she was determined to eradicate terrorism in Bangladesh after security forces stormed into a cafe where Islamist extremists had taken dozens of diners hostage. "It was an extremely heinous act. What kind of Muslims are these people? They don't have any religion," she said in a televised speech. "People must resist these terrorists. My government is determined to root out terrorism and militancy from Bangladesh," she added. The Bangladesh cafe hostage siege finally ended on Saturday after a bloody fight between commandos and militants. "We have been able to save 13 people, six gunmen have been killed," the PM said and added, "All security agencies did a great job." Eight to nine gunmen had attacked the upscale cafe Holey Artisan in the diplomatic area of Dhaka late on Friday and had been holding about 20 hostages, including foreigners. The security forces launched an offensive to end the hostage crisis at the restaurant today morning, reports the Daily Star.The assailants, believed to be carrying assault rifles and grenades, exchanged sporadic gun fire with police outside for several hours after the attack, which began around 9 pm on Friday. (Agencies)

'What kind of Muslims are these people?' asks Hasina

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