International
Hindus in B'desh cry for justice, say community facing repeated threats to leave country
Dhaka, Aug 13 (IANS) The Bangladesh Jatiya Hindu Mohajot (BJHM), a grand national alliance of 23 religious organisations in the country, said on Tuesday that as many as 278 Hindu families have faced massive violence and vandalism in 48 districts of the nation since Sheikh Hasina resigned as the Prime Minister on August 5.
Releasing detailed data on the horrendous acts of violence committed against the Hindu community in the country between August 5 and August 12, BJHM leaders said they continue to live in fear despite having lived in the country for generations.
Calling itself a “politically neutral” Hindu rights body, the alliance also put forward a list of seven demands, urging the interim government led by Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus to act fast during times of uncertainty.
“The incidents of vandalism, looting, arson, land grabbing, and threats to leave the country have been repeatedly inflicted on the Hindu community due to the shifting political landscape. This is not just an attack on individuals but an assault on the Hindu religion,” Palash Kanti Dey, spokesperson and executive secretary of the alliance, was quoted as saying by Dhaka Tribune during a press conference organised at the National Press Club in Dhaka on Tuesday.
Dey said the community leaders have conveyed their concerns to the interim government’s Home Affairs Advisor Brigadier General (retd.) M. Sakhawat Hossain, who has assured that the issue will be raised in the next Cabinet meeting.
The seven demands submitted by the alliance include the conduct of a thorough judicial inquiry into the “worst communal attacks” on the Hindu community across the country; creation of a Minority Protection Act and Commission; restoration and repair of damaged temples and houses of the Hindu community at public expense; a speedy trial confirming punishment of the guilty with the entire investigation report to be made public; a detailed report on minority persecution in the country from 2000 till date; a three-day holiday during the upcoming Durga Puja festival; and, the establishment of a Minority Ministry.
“Whenever there is a change in government, Hindus are the first to be attacked. Although there were fewer incidents in the past, they have increased recently. We want to live in this country with security. We were born here, and we have rights in this country,” said BJHM President Prabhas Chandra Roy.
Earlier in the day, the interim government’s Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus visited a historic Hindu temple in Dhaka and assured community leaders that establishing human rights and freedom of speech remains one of his prime goals.
“Everyone has equal rights in the country. There is no discrimination between us. Please help, be patient and judge us later on what we did and what we didn’t. If we fail, then criticise,” Yunus was quoted as saying by the local media during his visit to the Dhakeshwari National Temple – one of the most significant places of worship for the Hindu community in the region for over 800 years.
Asif Nazrul and A.F.M. Khalid Hossain, the legal and religious affairs advisors to the interim government, respectively, also accompanied Yunus to the temple.
“In our democratic spirit, we should not be seen as Muslims, Hindus or Buddhists, but as human beings. We must assert our rights. At the root of all problems lies the weakness of institutional arrangements. That is why such problems arise. Institutional systems need to be reformed,” said Yunus in the presence of Bangladesh Puja Celebration Parishad President Vasudev Dhar, and General Secretary Santosh Sharma.
On Monday, Religious Affairs’ Advisor Hossain condemned the attack on minorities and assured that the current establishment believes in communal harmony.
In a media briefing, Hossain asserted that the attacks on minority communities were carried out by “miscreants” against whom the interim government will take action.
He also mentioned that a list of destroyed houses and temples is being prepared and financial assistance will be given to the victims.
The continuing violence comes as a massive challenge for the interim government which was sworn-in on August 8 under the leadership of Muhammad Yunus.
On Saturday, tens of thousands of Hindus had converged in the heart of Chittagong, holding a massive protest rally against the ongoing attacks on the community, demanding safety and equal rights as citizens of the country.
The Bangladesh Hindu-Buddhist-Christian Oikya Parishad had also sent an ‘open letter’ to Yunus, expressing “profound sorrow and concern” over a particular group’s “unprecedented violence” against the minorities.
“We seek protection because our lives are in a disastrous state. We are staying up at night guarding our homes and religious places. I have never seen such incidents in my life. We demand that the government restore communal harmony in the country,” Nirmal Rosario, the President of the unity council, was quoted as saying by ‘The Daily Star’ newspaper.
The letter also mentioned that the communal violence, which began immediately after Hasina left Dhaka, has caused “widespread fear, anxiety, and uncertainty” among the minorities in Bangladesh.
“According to organisational details and media reports, thousands of Hindu families have become destitute while many temples have been attacked and burned. Numerous women have faced assaults, and there have been murders in several places. Other minorities have also suffered during this period,” it said.
Similarly, the Bangladesh Hindu Jagran Mancha has also organised processions and rallies to protest against the recent vandalism, arson, looting, and attacks on the Hindu community across the country.
–IANS
as/arm
International
Lee Hsien Yang seeks refuge in United Kingdom
Lee Hsien Yang, the youngest son of Singapore’s founding father, the late Lee Kuan Yew, announced on Tuesday that he is now a political refugee in the United Kingdom after seeking asylum from the British government “as a last resort.”
“I remain a Singapore citizen and hope that someday it will be safe to return home,” Lee stated in a Facebook post, as reported by Channel News Asia (CNA).
Citing what he described as the Singapore government’s “attacks” against him, Lee, who is the younger brother of former Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, revealed that he sought asylum protection in 2022.
Lee Hsien Yang and his late sister, Lee Wei Ling, who passed away earlier this month, have been in conflict with their brother Lee Hsien Loong over the fate of their father’s home following his death in 2015, resulting in a public dispute that has estranged the siblings.
In an interview with the UK-based newspaper The Guardian, Lee alleged that a “campaign of persecution” compelled him to seek asylum in Britain.
In response to his claims, the Singapore government stated that there is “no basis” for his allegations of “a campaign of persecution” or other assertions regarding political repression in the country.
“Singapore’s judiciary is impartial and makes decisions independently. This is why Singaporeans have a high level of trust in the judiciary,” a government spokesperson remarked.
The spokesperson added that there are no legal restrictions preventing Lee and his wife, lawyer Lee Suet Fern, from returning to Singapore. “They are and have always been free to return to Singapore,” the spokesperson said.
Lee and his wife have been outside of Singapore since 2022, having opted not to attend a scheduled police interview regarding potential offenses related to providing false evidence in judicial proceedings concerning their father’s will and the family home.
Lee and his late sister, who had been living at the property, alleged they felt threatened while trying to fulfill their father’s wish to demolish the house. They also accused their elder brother, former Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, of abusing his governmental influence to advance his personal agenda.
International
Indo-Russian ties are stronger than ever before at BRICS
Kazan, Russia: Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the 16th BRICS Summit.
During the meeting, President Putin remarked, “I recall our meeting in July, where we had productive discussions on various issues. We’ve also spoken over the phone several times. I am very grateful you accepted the invitation to come to Kazan. Today, we will attend the BRICS Summit’s opening ceremony, followed by dinner.”
PM Modi responded by expressing his appreciation, saying, “I sincerely thank you for your friendship, warm welcome, and hospitality. It’s a great pleasure to visit such a beautiful city as Kazan for the BRICS Summit. India shares deep historical ties with this city, and the opening of our new embassy here will further strengthen these connections.”
International
Laos seeks to enhance nutrition amid climate change concerns
Vientiane (Laos), Aug 22 (IANS) Representatives from the Lao government and development partners have attended a conference here titled “Climate Change and Nutrition in Laos: Intersections and Interventions” to discuss the impact of climate change on nutrition in the Southeast Asia country and potential solutions.
Speaking at the conference, deputy director general of the Department of Hygiene and Health Promotion under the Lao Ministry of Health Viengkhan Phixay, said, “We gather to address a critical and interwoven issue: the impact of climate change on nutrition and how we can work together to tackle these challenges,” Xinhua news agency reported.
The Lao government is actively engaged in this endeavor, with numerous policies and initiatives aimed at addressing both climate change and nutrition, Lao National Television reported on Thursday.
“By leveraging the Scaling Up Nutrition network in Laos, which is led by the government, and supported by civil society, donors, and the United Nations, we have a robust platform to tackle the negative impacts of climate change while improving nutrition and overall health for everyone in Laos,” Viengkham said at the conference held on Monday.
The conference featured a series of presentations that not only detailed evidence-based research but also introduced innovative tools for measuring and enhancing nutrition under the impact of climate change.
The conference stressed the critical need for integrated approaches to tackle the intertwined challenges of climate change and nutrition, and setting the stage for impactful future collaborations.
–IANS
int/psd
International
One killed, seven injured in shootout in Iraq
Baghdad, Aug 22 (IANS) A civilian was killed while seven others were injured on Thursday in a tribal shootout in Iraq’s holy Shiite province of Najaf, according to a local security source.
The shootout erupted in the early hours between armed men from the local tribe in the al-Zarga area in northern Najaf, some 160 km south of Baghdad, a local police officer told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.
The clash resulted in the killing of an Iraqi civilian and the injury of seven others, including three Iranian Shiite pilgrims, the source added.
A joint force from the Interior Ministry’s emergency response division and Najaf provincial police arrested 53 gunmen from both sides of the shootout and seized weapons and ammunition, the Interior Ministry said in a statement.
It added that search operations are ongoing to locate additional gunmen and weapons, with more details to be released later.
The incident took place as numerous pilgrims traveled to the city of Karbala to observe Arbaeen, which marks the end of a 40-day mourning period for the killing of Imam Hussein, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad, in the Battle of Karbala in 680 A.D.
Typically, these pilgrims also visit Najaf as part of their journey to Karbala.
–IANS
int/jk/arm
International
Bangladesh seeks $1 billion budget support from World Bank
Dhaka, Aug 22 (IANS) Bangladesh’s interim government has sought $1 billion from the World Bank as budgetary support.
The call came from the country’s Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan’s meeting with Abdoulaye Seck, the World Bank’s Country Director for Bangladesh and Bhutan, in Dhaka on Wednesday.
He made the plea as the ministry owes more than 2 billion dollars to suppliers in import costs of power and energy, Xinhua news agency reported.
Khan mentioned that the interim government, which was formed with many pressing mandates, is due to settle a $2 billion debt left by the previous government in the power sector.
He said they have already suspended activities under the much-criticized Quick Enhancement of Electricity and Energy Supply Act 2010 and abolished the government’s power to set energy prices without any public hearing.
On August 5, the former Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, was ousted from her country and power, ending her rule since January 2009.
This event was seen as a massive escalation, with what initially started as student’s protests and resulted in a major crisis in Bangladesh.
Earlier on August 8, Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus took oath as the head of Bangladesh’s interim government.
–IANS
int/jk/as
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