Among the 32 living accused were former deputy premier LK Advani, and a host of senior BJP leaders. Wednesday’s Indian court judgement acquitted them all, saying the destruction of the mosque in 1992 had been the work of unidentified “anti-socials”…
Category: Feature
Indian court acquits top BJP leaders in Babri mosque case
A special Indian court on Wednesday acquitted all the 32 people linked to the country’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in a 28-year-old case on the demolition of a historic mosque in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh.
Air pollution in cities takes a toll on bees
by Mohit M. Rao • A study shows that air pollution causes behavioural, physiological and genetic changes in wild bees. • Pollutant impact on bees is observed even in areas well-within the current national standards for Particulate Matter pollution. •…
Bangabandhu Research Centre established at Sugandha
The government has decided to establish ‘Bangabandhu Research Center for Foreign Policy and Diplomacy’ in the ‘Mujib Borsho’ to keep Bangabandhu’s association with Sugandha alive in the minds of the successive generations.
Saudi Arabia to gradually resume Umrah pilgrimage from Oct 4
Saudi Arabia said on Tuesday that it would start allowing pilgrims to perform Umrah gradually taking necessary precautions.
Hindu, Buddhist women’s property inheritance right sought
Dhaka, Sept 22 – A legal notice has been issued to the government asking it to take necessary steps to ensure equal rights to inherit property for Hindu and Buddhist women.
Bangladeshi husband makes wife’s elephant dream come true
In a rare incident, a farmer from Ratidhar Dewti village of Lalmonirhat has bought an elephant worth Tk 16.5 lakh in order to obey “divine instructions received by his wife in her dreams”.
Meat Is Mayhem
Inka Dewitz and Christine Chemnitz BERLIN – The industrial meat system is out of control. Not only does it contribute to the destruction of the climate, biodiversity, soil, and forests, but it also poses a direct threat to human health.…
UN Claims Gender Parity, But Falls Short of Ultimate Goals
By Thalif Deen UNITED NATIONS, Sep 18 2020 (IPS) – When the United Nations was dominated by men, holding some of the highest positions in the staff hierarchy, women staffers were overwhelmingly administrative secretaries seen pounding on their Remington typewriters…
Factors leading to vulnerability of women during disasters
Factors that Determine the Vulnerability of Women during Natural Disasters in Bangladesh Iffat Ara Jasmin Climate change is a non-traditional security issue that has global implications around the world. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) presented scientific findings in…
SWAMI AGNIVESH – A TRIBUTE
Dr Chandra Muzaffar Swami Agnivesh has left us. And yet he is still with us. He was undoubtedly one of the most courageous fighters against religious fanaticism and religious bigotry of our time. He spoke out without hesitation against fanatical…
Footprints dating back 120,000 years found in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia’s Heritage Commission has announced the discovery of ancient human and animal footprints dating back more than 120,000 years in Tabuk in northern Saudi Arabia, reports Xinhua.
Bangladesh’s Museums, archaeology sites reopen Wednesday
Dhaka, Sept 16 – After six months of closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the government has decided to reopen all museums and heritage sites under the Department of Archaeology on a limited scale from Wednesday.
A new social contract needed for children on the move
By Miriam Gathigah NAIROBI, Sep 10 2020 (IPS) – Forced to flee wars and disasters, sometimes without family, and struggling to survive in the worst of circumstances, children on the move have long led very precarious lives. Be they refugees,…
Beautician gang-rape: UP chairman among 7 sued in Keraniganj
Dhaka, Sept 10 – A case was filed against seven people including a UP chairman for abducting a beautician and violating her in Keraniganj Upazila on Wednesday.
Facebook: Sabhanaz Rashid made Bangladesh country manager
Dhaka, Sept 08 – The authorities of Facebook (FB) have appointed Sabhanaz Rashid Diya, a Bangladeshi writer and computational social scientist as the country manager of Bangladesh.
Air pollution causes 7mln premature deaths: UN Chief
Highlighting the dangers posed by air pollution, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said air pollution causes an estimated seven million premature deaths every year.
Pakistani female journalist shot dead in Balochistan
Pakistani female journalist Shaheena Shaheen was shot dead in Tehsil Turbat of Balochistan’s Kech district on Saturday evening, reports Pakistan Today. However, the motive behind her murder could not be known yet.
Social Protesting Pre and Post Covid-19
By Elma Berisha ‘Global Protest Wave of 2019’, is a term used to describe the unprecedented global phenomenon of prolonged anti-government mass protests occurring throughout 2019. From start to the end of “the year of street protests”, more than 60%…
Bangladeshi girls win seed money for green urban dev project
A group of five Bangladeshi girls beat out competition from around the world with their idea for a project aimed at green urbanisation, bringing home the prize of HK$20,000 as seed money from global charity foundation 24 Hour Race.
Holy Ashura observed
Dhaka, Aug 30 – Muslim devotees observed Holy Ashura on Sunday, commemorating the martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA), with due religious fervour and solemnity.
UNSC resolution to promote women’s role in peacekeeping
The UN Security Council on Friday adopted a resolution to promote women’s participation in peacekeeping operations.
You are cordially not invited
Sudhirendar Sharma Much has changed since the faceless virus vitiated all civic life. Even the ‘made in heaven’ tag couldn’t save marriages from losing its sheen, with most guests falling under ‘you are cordially not invited’ list. A crash of…
Holy Ashura Sunday
Dhaka, Aug 29: The holy Ashura, commemorating the martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Hossain Ibn Ali (RA), a grandson of Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him), will be observed across the country Sunday with due respect and religious solemnity.
Where Gender Equality, Forest Conservation Go Hand in Hand
By Rosamaria Loures and Sarah Sax NEW YORK, Aug 27 2020 (IPS) – On an early December morning last year in the state of Maranhão, Brazil, half a dozen members of the Indigenous Guajajara people packed their bags with food,…
No Tajia procession in Dhaka: Police
Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has prohibited any kind of Tajia procession on Ashura this year to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
Pregnant women should avoid caffeine completely, says study
Women who are pregnant or trying for a baby should consider avoiding caffeine altogether, new research has suggested.
How Women-led Agribusinesses Boosting Nutrition in Africa
By Busani Bafana BULAWAYO, Zimbabwe, Aug 24 2020 (IPS) – Oluwaseun Sangoleye’s son developed rickets after rejecting baby formula. So she started a business to make natural baby cereal from locally-sourced ingredients in Nigeria.
How Women & Girls are Forced to Trade Sex for Water
By Sareen Malik and Benazir Omotto The United Nations has warned that water shortages could affect 5 billion people by 2050. Credit: International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD)
Rohingya children bearing brunt of COVID disruptions: UNICEF
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to disrupt life for more than 460,000 Rohingya children living in Cox’s Bazar district, says UNICEF on Monday.