Tag: Bangladesh

  • Officials reject Mamata’s criticism of Centre not inviting her to be part of Hasina’s visit 

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Centre does not invite chief ministers for attending the events of a visiting head of another country’s government, official sources said on Thursday, rejecting Mamata Banerjee’s criticism of the government for not asking her to be part of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s trip.

    “The government of India does not invite any chief minister for such visits. Sometimes chief ministers are invited for state banquets or some other ceremonial events but there was no such occasion during this visit.”

    “In 2015, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had in fact invited (West Bengal) Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to Bangladesh, where a ceremonial event was held for flagging-off a bus service between the two countries,” an official said.

    The reaction came after Banerjee slammed the Centre for not inviting her to be a part of Hasina’s visit to India.

    She said she was curious about why the BJP-led government was “worried” about her meeting Hasina.

    “I share an excellent relationship with Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, but (the Centre) did not invite me to be a part of her visit,” the Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief said while addressing a special session of her party.

    Hasina arrived in New Delhi on Monday on a four-day visit to expand the overall ties between the two countries.

    NEW DELHI: The Centre does not invite chief ministers for attending the events of a visiting head of another country’s government, official sources said on Thursday, rejecting Mamata Banerjee’s criticism of the government for not asking her to be part of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s trip.

    “The government of India does not invite any chief minister for such visits. Sometimes chief ministers are invited for state banquets or some other ceremonial events but there was no such occasion during this visit.”

    “In 2015, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had in fact invited (West Bengal) Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to Bangladesh, where a ceremonial event was held for flagging-off a bus service between the two countries,” an official said.

    The reaction came after Banerjee slammed the Centre for not inviting her to be a part of Hasina’s visit to India.

    She said she was curious about why the BJP-led government was “worried” about her meeting Hasina.

    “I share an excellent relationship with Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, but (the Centre) did not invite me to be a part of her visit,” the Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief said while addressing a special session of her party.

    Hasina arrived in New Delhi on Monday on a four-day visit to expand the overall ties between the two countries.

  • Islamic terror module linked to international terror outfits busted in Assam, 11 detained

    By ANI

    GUWAHATI: Assam Police along with Central agencies on Thursday detained 11 people in connection with Islamic fundamentalism and linked with Bangladesh-based radical outfit Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT) and Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS).

    “Assam Police has detained 11 persons from Morigaon, Barpeta, Guwahati and Goalpara districts. They are connected to Islamic fundamentalism having linkages with global terror outfits viz. AQIS and ABT. Further action is being taken per law,” GP Singh, Special DGP L&O, Border, Director V&AC & Chief Anti-Rhino Poaching Task Force, Assam, told ANI.

    Jamiul Huda Madrassa, a building at Sahariagaon of Morigaon has been sealed. It is suspected of being a harbour or safe house of the detained persons, added the police.

    “We got info about a man named Mustafa who runs a madrassa in Moriabari associated with anti-national activities. He’s linked with financing of the Ansarullah Bangla Team related to Al-Qaeda in the sub-continent. Case registered under various sections of UAPA,” said Aparna N, SP, Morigaon.

    The police have seized numerous electronic devices and incriminating documents from detained persons.

    Further investigation and operations are being carried out to unearth the linkages and network.

    “It’s an outcome of a long surveillance operation of Assam police and central agencies,” added Special DGP GP Singh. 

    GUWAHATI: Assam Police along with Central agencies on Thursday detained 11 people in connection with Islamic fundamentalism and linked with Bangladesh-based radical outfit Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT) and Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS).

    “Assam Police has detained 11 persons from Morigaon, Barpeta, Guwahati and Goalpara districts. They are connected to Islamic fundamentalism having linkages with global terror outfits viz. AQIS and ABT. Further action is being taken per law,” GP Singh, Special DGP L&O, Border, Director V&AC & Chief Anti-Rhino Poaching Task Force, Assam, told ANI.

    Jamiul Huda Madrassa, a building at Sahariagaon of Morigaon has been sealed. It is suspected of being a harbour or safe house of the detained persons, added the police.

    “We got info about a man named Mustafa who runs a madrassa in Moriabari associated with anti-national activities. He’s linked with financing of the Ansarullah Bangla Team related to Al-Qaeda in the sub-continent. Case registered under various sections of UAPA,” said Aparna N, SP, Morigaon.

    The police have seized numerous electronic devices and incriminating documents from detained persons.

    Further investigation and operations are being carried out to unearth the linkages and network.

    “It’s an outcome of a long surveillance operation of Assam police and central agencies,” added Special DGP GP Singh. 

  • ’79 killed, 77 abducted, 95 forcibly converted’: Bangladeshi Hindus highlight religious atrocities from Paris

    Express News Service

    GUWAHATI: The voices of atrocities against the religious minorities in Bangladesh are being heard loud not just in Dhaka but in far off Paris.

    The World Hindu Federation and some other religious minority organisations held a protest demonstration in Paris on July 13 to try and draw the attention of the international community to the incidents.

    They alleged 79 Hindus were killed, 77 Hindus were kidnapped and 95 Hindus were forcibly converted to Islam in the last six months in Bangladesh.

    Dipan Mitra, who is the World Hindu Federation’s Bangladesh chapter secretary general, alleged Hindu teachers had been among the targets.

    “There have been several incidents where Hindu teachers were threatened, tortured, publicly humiliated, arrested and killed by the Islamic fundamentalists,” Mitra told The New Indian Experss over the phone from Paris on Monday.

    ALSO READ | Bangladesh human rights commission condemns attack on Hindus, seeks probe

    “Nine teachers were sent to jail in past one year. One was bludgeoned to death with cricket stumps. Two were garlanded with shoes in public and humiliated. In all these cases, the victims were accused of blasphemy,” he added.

    The World Hindu Federation leader said in the latest incident three days ago, the miscreants had vandalised a temple and shops and houses of the Hindus at Sahapara village in Narail district. He said the attack was perpetrated over an alleged objectionable Facebook post.

    “Not a single perpetrator has been punished yet. There is also no trial despite the numerous incidents of atrocities against Hindus, Buddhists and ethnic minorities in Bangladesh,” Mitra lamented.

    The religious minority organisations demanded action against all the culprits and warned of intensified protests.

    “We have been for long staging protests in different parts of Bangladesh demanding an end to the incidents and action against the culprits. But the government is unmoved. So, we decided to stage the protest in Paris to let the international community know about things happening in Bangladesh,” Mitra said.

    Bangladeshi expatriates – both Hindus and Muslims – were among those who participated in the demonstration. The speakers condemned the alleged attacks. Dr Philippe Benoit, Head of Bangla Department, Inalco University, Paris expressed solidarity with the protestors, Mitra said.

    GUWAHATI: The voices of atrocities against the religious minorities in Bangladesh are being heard loud not just in Dhaka but in far off Paris.

    The World Hindu Federation and some other religious minority organisations held a protest demonstration in Paris on July 13 to try and draw the attention of the international community to the incidents.

    They alleged 79 Hindus were killed, 77 Hindus were kidnapped and 95 Hindus were forcibly converted to Islam in the last six months in Bangladesh.

    Dipan Mitra, who is the World Hindu Federation’s Bangladesh chapter secretary general, alleged Hindu teachers had been among the targets.

    “There have been several incidents where Hindu teachers were threatened, tortured, publicly humiliated, arrested and killed by the Islamic fundamentalists,” Mitra told The New Indian Experss over the phone from Paris on Monday.

    ALSO READ | Bangladesh human rights commission condemns attack on Hindus, seeks probe

    “Nine teachers were sent to jail in past one year. One was bludgeoned to death with cricket stumps. Two were garlanded with shoes in public and humiliated. In all these cases, the victims were accused of blasphemy,” he added.

    The World Hindu Federation leader said in the latest incident three days ago, the miscreants had vandalised a temple and shops and houses of the Hindus at Sahapara village in Narail district. He said the attack was perpetrated over an alleged objectionable Facebook post.

    “Not a single perpetrator has been punished yet. There is also no trial despite the numerous incidents of atrocities against Hindus, Buddhists and ethnic minorities in Bangladesh,” Mitra lamented.

    The religious minority organisations demanded action against all the culprits and warned of intensified protests.

    “We have been for long staging protests in different parts of Bangladesh demanding an end to the incidents and action against the culprits. But the government is unmoved. So, we decided to stage the protest in Paris to let the international community know about things happening in Bangladesh,” Mitra said.

    Bangladeshi expatriates – both Hindus and Muslims – were among those who participated in the demonstration. The speakers condemned the alleged attacks. Dr Philippe Benoit, Head of Bangla Department, Inalco University, Paris expressed solidarity with the protestors, Mitra said.

  • Bangladesh can be a tiger economy, says ex-diplomat 

    By PTI

    KOLKATA: With the spanking new 6.15 km long bridge over the mighty Padma river built with its own resources, Bangladesh has come of age and, with broad-basing of its manufacturing sector, it can well be the tiger economy to watch in Asia, Ambassador Sarvajit Chakravarti (Retd.) said.

    Chakravarti, who served twice in Bangladesh and retired as a secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs, suggested that India should try to make Rupee a legal tender in the country as it is in other such neighbouring nations – Nepal and Bhutan, so that the entire region can be treated, to an extent, as an integrated economic entity.

    The dispute over the Teesta Water Sharing Agreement can be possibly be bypassed by linking the river with Jamuna (lower stream of the Brahmaputra) in Bangladesh by a canal so that Teesta gets more water, the former career diplomat said while interacting exclusively with PTI journalists here.

    “From when (US Secretary of State Henry) Kissinger called it a ‘basket case’ in 1971 to a country that has exceeded India in per capita income (last year), Bangladesh has come a long way. It is justified that the Padma bridge takes pride of place. The international agencies that had refused to fund it are now congratulating Bangladesh on its completion,” he said.

    Linking the southwest of the country to the northern and eastern regions, the road-rail bridge built at a cost of USD 3.6 billion was inaugurated by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on June 25.

    “The bridge will reduce our travel time to Dhaka considerably and will boost tourism traffic and improve delivery services from both sides. It shows the positive effect increasing exports can have on a country’s economy (by generating development resources),” Chakravarti said.

    Bangladesh has given itself a roadmap – Vision for 2041 – aimed at ending absolute poverty and graduating into higher middle-income status by 2031, and becoming a developed nation by 2041, he said adding that the country is making progress in several social and economic sectors.

    From agriculture to pharmaceuticals and from shipbuilding to garments, the country’s industrial base is diversifying and its exports increasing.

    “They have made excellent progress in education, healthcare and basic social services,” said the retired diplomat, who is a member of the Kolkata-based think-tank CENERS-K. “I see Bangladesh as a future tiger economy,” Chakravarti added.

    However, it is dependent on India for some food items such as wheat and lentils, he said and pointed out that shortages in India often result in stalling of these exports to the detriment of people in both countries.

    “If Rupee is made a legal tender in Bangladesh as it is in Bhutan and Nepal, we have a Rupee trade area. We can treat the entire region as an integrated economic entity in terms of supply of essential services like food,” he said.

    As the connectivity between the two neighbours is increasing via rail, road and river routes, container trucks from Bangladesh can be allowed to move to Mumbai, Ahmedabad and other ports in western India to make its shipments to Europe easier, he said.

    Now, Bangladeshi ships go to Europe via Colombo. The use of western Indian ports will cut that distance considerably, he said.

    On the Teesta water-sharing issue, Chakravarti said Bangladesh has been “very kind” in not making it the central part of its relationship dialogue with India.

    Sharing of water from the Teesta river which flows through Sikkim, northern West Bengal and Bangladesh is a key point in the relationship between the two countries.

    An agreement on this was signed but Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee objected to it saying it would affect the state’s interest as there is not enough water to share on a guaranteed basis.

    Ambassador Chakravarti said the issue could be solved by linking Teesta and Jamuna via a canal.

    “Many rivers in Assam fall into the Brahmaputra and then the entire volume of water flows into Bangladesh and thence into the ocean, often causing floods during the Monsoon. So my suggestion is build a canal from there to the Teesta and re-circulate the water,” he said.

    In the process, the water volume is increased, and there is potential for irrigating the inter-riverine area and generating electricity, he said adding that the entire canal will be in Bangladesh.

    To a question, he said Bangladesh has several advantages over India.

    “It is mono-lingual even as a multi-ethnic society. So, there are fewer social conflicts (compared to India). It also traditionally has a culture of mutual support and toleration. The Baul-Fakiri tradition grew up there,” he said.

    The Awami League government of Sheikh Hasina has been far stronger and more proactive in dealing with religious conflicts there, Chakravarti said.

    “Every time we hear of any atrocity on minorities, it is quickly followed by government action to prevent its spread and by civil society protests,” he said.

    Another problem of Bangladesh is it does not have enough dry land as more than 50 rivers flow through it apart from their smaller channels and distributaries.

    Climate change and rise of the sea level are also major issues, the former diplomat said.

    “Bangladesh has provided skill training and is exporting its manpower to the extent possible as they do not have enough land to live on,” he said adding that West Bengal and many Indian states can take a cue from that.

  • Bangladesh envoy taken for a ride in name of Bollywood singer event

    By Express News Service

    KOLKATA:  The Bangladesh deputy high commissioner in Kolkata was cheated of Rs 8 lakh by fraudsters who promised a musical soiree of Bollywood singer Shreya Ghoshal in Dhaka. The incident came to light when artist Chirantan Bandopadhyay, also duped of Rs 20 lakh by the same group of fraudsters, moved the Calcutta High Court. The artist went to  court after the police failed to make any headway.

    The plot to dupe the two parties unfolded in January, a police officer said. ‘’The suspects created a fictitious organisation using the name of a genuine company. They defrauded the deputy high commission’s office of Rs 8 lakh as advance. The money was sent to the  account of one Krishna Sharma, the director of the fictitious company. The deputy high commission received acknowledgement message from a fake e-mail ID and WhatsApp number of Shreya Ghoshal,’’ said the officer.

    The message informed that the singer would reach Bangladesh a day before the scheduled event for which two rooms in a five-star hotel were requested. ‘’The deputy high commissioner’s office tried to contact the fictitious organisation before the event to a get final confirmation but their e-mails and messages went unanswered,” police said.

  • Bangladeshi man killed in BSF firing during border smuggling bid in West Bengal

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: A Bangladeshi national was killed on Wednesday when BSF personnel fired to thwart a narcotics smuggling bid along the International Border in West Bengal, a senior officer said.

    The incident took place about 1.2 km inside the Indian territory at around 1:40 am near border post Nawada in Malda district of the state.

    A Border Security Force (BSF) officer said the “miscreants (comprising both Indian and Bangladeshi smugglers) encircled our jawans and attacked them with dah (large knife), bamboo sticks and stones”.

    “The jawans tried to disperse them and fired stun grenades but the miscreants continued with their aggressive gesture and act,” the officer said.

    Subsequently, he said, the troops fired two bullet rounds “in self defence”.

    A Bangladeshi man, who was shot at, was taken to a hospital where he was declared dead.

    The killed Bangladeshi national is a resident of Dhoolipara, which is about six km from the International Border.

    A mobile phone, two iron ‘dahs’ and 197 bottles of Phensedyl cough syrup were seized from the spot.

  • India committed to Bangladesh’s growth: Foreign Secy Shringla

    By Express News Service

    BENGALURU: Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla on Saturday said that India-Bangladesh relations have matured over the years and the country remains a committed partner in Bangladesh’s economic growth, prosperity and social indicators.

    “Bangladesh is India’s biggest development partner and India’s largest trading partner in South Asia, contributing to economic prosperity and supply chain resilience in the region and beyond,” Shringla said in his recorded address, during the second day of the three-day Indian Air Force conclave to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the 1971 India-Pakistan War, in Bengaluru.

    According to Shringla, comprehensive connectivity is the key to the partnership and both sides worked together to revive the pre-1965 rail connectivity and expand it. Other modes are also being strengthened, especially for linkages with the North-Eastern regions of India, he said, adding that waterways, passenger cruise ships, energy and power lines have been added. “Both countries share strong people-to-people ties, which are further strengthened through capacity-building programmes, partnerships and cultural exchanges,” he said.

    He said the two pillars of Indian diplomacy – Neighbourhood First and Act East – find expression in India’s vibrant ties with its neighbour and the year is of special significance in bilateral relations. Bangladesh liberation freedom fighters — ‘Muktijoddhas’ — and their families are the bridge between the two countries. 

    India and Bangladesh are deeper than any other strategic partnership, Shringla said it is a role-model for the relationship between two neighbouring countries. The Foreign Secretary termed the 1971 war as “Dharma Yudha” for justice over cruel tyranny and genocide. 

  • Thought of separating East and West Pak started in 1965: INS officer Anil Chawla

    By Express News Service

    BENGALURU: Six years before 1971 India-Pakistan War, the thought to separate East and West Pakistan had commenced after Inter-Service Intelligence (ISI) started training and arming rebels in the North-East.According to Vice-Admiral Anil Kumar Chawla, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Southern Naval Command, on Saturday said, “The thinking started actively after the 1965 war and the principal reason was the interference of the ISI with insurgents in the North East, particularly arming and training of Naga rebels.”

    Speaking at the IAF conclave to commemorate 50 years of the 1971 India-Pakistan War, the top Navy officer said the insurgents were in the Chittagong Hill Tracts and India took the leaf out of it when it started training “Mukti Bahini.”

    Explaining the circumstances before the 1971 war, the officer said “The Congress party had split and Indira Gandhi had barely managed to hold on to become the Prime Minister. She was called ‘Goongi Gudia’ by the opposition faction (opposition parties) and she was not expected to last very long.”  

    Realizing that she was not very powerful, Indira Gandhi called for elections in December 1970, ahead of schedule. Around the same time, Yahya Khan had taken over in Pakistan in 1969 and called for elections in 1970.   “So when you see the circumstances in both the countries, Yahya Khan was very firmly entrenched and Indira Gandhi was on a weak wicket at that stage.

    But, it suddenly changed in December 1970 when Sheikh Mujibur Rahman won 160 seats in East Pakistan and Bhutto (Zulfikar Ali Bhutto) won 81 seats in West Pakistan,” he said adding Indira Gandhi won a landslide victory and that strengthened her hands, and that is when she emerged as what she was then called “Durga” of India.

    In the global scenario, the cold war was at its peak and Pakistan and the US were firmly entrenched. He said though preparations had started in 1965 onwards, it was in a very nascent stage and documents show that after January 30, 1971 hijacking of Indian Airlines aircraft to Lahore by Kashmiri separatists, India stopped Pakistan flights in its airspace preventing it from rearming.

  • India trails Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh on hunger index due to government’s lack of efforts: Akhilesh Yadav

    Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav's remark came in the backdrop of India slipping to 101st position in the GHI 2021 of 116 countries.

  • Congress asks why no action was taken against Himanta for ‘Jai Bangladesh’ comment

    By Express News Service

    GUWAHATI: The Congress in Assam on Sunday asked the police why no action was taken against Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for his “Jai Bangladesh” remark in the Assembly two years ago.

    “We won’t give protection to anyone for any act that is against the law. But we cannot accept police inaction against BJP MPs and Ministers found taking the law into their hands,” state Congress chief Bhupen Kumar Borah said.

    “Let the organisations going after us also talk about the person who shouted the ‘Jai Bangladesh’ slogan in the Assembly. Why was no action taken against the Chief Minister?” he asked.

    The issue was raked up in the wake of the arrest of Congress MLA, Sherman Ali Ahmed for his provocative statement on the killing of eight youth at Darrang during the Assam Agitation in 1983. The statement had triggered protests in parts of the state, much to Congress’ embarrassment.

    The party served a show-cause notice on Ahmed and is likely to suspend him by Sunday night.

    Following his arrest, the MLA had demanded, “Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma should be arrested for making communal remarks”.

    In December 2019, Sarma, who was then serving as a minister, had made the statement when some members of the Opposition were protesting the introduction of Citizenship (Amendment) Bill in the Assembly. Later, an FIR was filed against him.

    Stating that the Constitution of India and the law have fixed accountability for the police, Borah asked, “Will the police function as dictated by the Ministers and the MLAs or the Police Act?”

    Miffed over Ahmed’s provocative statement, BJP legislator Diganta Kalita said the Congress MLA should be driven out of the state.

    “He should be driven out of Assam. Let him serve as an MLA in Bangladesh. We feel ashamed that he sits alongside other elected members in the Assembly,” Kalita said.

    He alleged the Congress MLA was working in the interest of the “Miyas” (Bengali Muslims) and not the Assamese.