Author: Samshad Sattar
Every war, every revolution carries with it a significant share of history marked in red. This red is not an ideology but the colour of bloodshed. The recent turn of events in our neighbourhood, Bangladesh, is evidently the most atrocious human rights violation. I am reminded of a Facebook conversation I had some time ago with a junior Bangladeshi scholar, who was criticising certain policies and actions of my head of state, drawing examples from social media blunders. This was occurring while India was repatriating Bangladeshi students along with Indian students from Ukraine. I was shocked to see a scholar…
Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has emphasized that there is no alternative to strengthening and comprehensively reforming institutions to effectively combat corruption and money laundering and to ensure accountability by identifying those involved in such crimes. Despite substantial evidence of undeclared assets belonging to former land minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury Javed and his wife, Rukhmila Zaman Chowdhury, the authorities have failed to take action for an extended period, TIB said. The TIB highlighted this case as a clear example of partisanship and ineffectiveness within key institutions, particularly at the leadership level, including the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU), the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC),…
Newly appointed Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr. Ahsan H. Mansur issued a stern warning to money launderers, declaring that those involved in illicit financial activities will be held accountable and will not be allowed to “sleep peacefully.” Speaking at a press conference at the central bank on his first day in office on Wednesday, Dr. Mansur pledged a relentless pursuit of those who have illegally moved money out of the country. “We will create such a situation that those who have taken the money will suffer. I will make sure that they cannot sleep with a pillow on their bed of…
A complaint against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been filed with the investigation agency of the International Criminal Tribunal on charges of genocide and crimes against humanity. Supreme Court lawyer Gazi MH Tamim made the application today on behalf of Md Bulbul Kabir, father of Arif Ahmed Siam, a student who succumbed to his injuries two days later, after being shot by police during the anti-discrimination student movement in Savar on August 5. The complaint has been filed to the Coordinator of the International Criminal Tribunal’s investigation agency. Also, an application was submitted to register the complaint for taking…
Jail guards opened fire during a clash with a section of prisoners at Chattogram Central Jail Friday afternoon. The guards fired to control the situation when some prisoners and detainees staged demonstrations and tried to break open a room at the jail. The clash broke out around 2:00pm and continued till 2:40pm, he said. Army men reached the spot and brought the situation under control around 3:00pm. Two injured people were seen being taken by army, but their identities could not be known. None of the prisoners could escape. A tense situation was prevailing in the area.
Noble laureate economist Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus has urged the country’s people to join hands with him to advance the country rapidly in his maiden address after reaching the country from Paris to take the charge of the interim government set to be formed this evening. “Today is a glorious day for us . . . they (students) protected and gave rebirth to this country. Now our vow is to let the new Bangladesh march forward rapidly,” he said just after landing at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) here. A select gathering of civil society figures, including academics and student…
The first phase of what is described as one most advanced automated container terminals in China adds a design capacity of 2.6 million teu annual throughput to the world’s largest container port, according to Seatrade Maritime News. Construction started in December 2022, and the terminal at Luojing port currently has one 100,000 tonnes-class container berth and four 10,000 tonnes-class container berths. The automated container terminal at Luojing has been built on the site of old coal and ore terminals, which ceased operation in 2017 and 2019 due to the high pollution they caused, providing low added value to the business.…
Fossil fuel companies are running “a massive mis- and disinformation campaign” so that countries will slow down the adoption of renewable energy and the speed with which they “transition away” from a carbon-intensive economy, the UN has said. Selwin Hart, the assistant secretary general of the UN, said that talk of a global “backlash” against climate action was being stoked by the fossil fuel industry, in an effort to persuade world leaders to delay emissions-cutting policies. The perception among many political observers of a rejection of climate policies was a result of this campaign, rather than reflecting the reality of…
Muhammad Yunus has been sworn in as head of a new caretaker government in Bangladesh in a ceremony that began with a minute’s silence to remember those who were killed in the recent protests. Yunus, 84, was recommended for the role by student protesters and returned to Dhaka earlier on Thursday from Paris, where he was undergoing medical treatment. President Mohammed Shahabuddin administered the oath at the Durbar Hall of the Bangabhaban here. Out of 16 other members of the council of the interim government, 13 took oath as remaining three members will take oath later. Dr. Muhammad Yunus first…
Grameen Telecom chairman Muhammad Yunus, who is set to lead an interim government during a power transition following the fall of the Awami League government in a popular uprising, has been acquitted of labour law violation charges. Dhaka Labour Appellate Tribunal Acting Chairman MA Awal passed the order on Wednesday. Yunus and three other Grameen Telecom officials had appealed against the six-month prison sentence handed down by the labour court. Following the hearing, the Labour Appellate Tribunal acquitted all four individuals. Yunus is currently in Paris. The other three officials acquitted are former Managing Director Ashraful Hasan, and directors Nurjahan…