Dhaka, 12 Jan – BNP leaders on Friday termed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s address to the nation traditional one and said there is no concrete directive in her speech to hold a free, fair and acceptable election under a neutral…
Category: Human rights
Mass upsurge must for polls under neutral admin: Moudud
BNP senior leader Moudud Ahmed on Friday said there is no alternative to staging a mass upsurge to force the government to hold the next general election under a non-party neutral administration. “This government doesn’t believe in a peaceful negotiation…
Next elections as per constitution: Hasina
Making it clear that the next general election will be held as per the Constitution, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday expressed her high optimism that all the parties registered with the Election Commission will take part in the polls…
Philippines most dangerous country in Southeast Asia for journalists
By Pascal Laureyn Manila, Jan 10 (IPS) – It’s not just suspected drug users and dealers at risk of targeted killing in the Philippines. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) reported last week that the Philippines is the most dangerous…
Rapid and rights-based responses to migrants, refugees urged
UN ESCAP Regional Consultation Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration 6-8 November 2017 – Statement of Asia and the Pacific The result of the process that civil society in Asia has drawn out after a series of consultations…
For democracy in Cambodia
Robert J. Burrowes A long-standing French protectorate briefly occupied by Japan during World War II, Cambodia became independent in 1953 as the French finally withdrew from Indochina. Under the leadership of Prince Norodom Sihanouk, Cambodia remained officially neutral, including during…
Trump named world’s no. 1 oppressor of press freedom
A journalism group named the president among repressive leaders who “have gone out of their way to attack the press” and undermine free speech. By Willa Frej President Donald Trump, who recently said he would announce the “MOST DISHONEST &…
Catherine Deneuve defends men’s ‘right to hit on’ women
French actress Catherine Deneuve has said that men should be “free to hit on” women. She is one of 100 French women who wrote an open letter, warning about a new “puritanism” sparked by recent sexual harassment scandals. It deplores…
The #MeToo movement disrupts commodification of feminism
By Rangita de Silva de Alwis UN, Jan 8 (IPS) – As the 62nd Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) at the United Nations in New York draws near, women from every corner of the world…
’28 children killed, 49 raped monthly in Bangladesh’
As many as 28 children are murdered and 49 raped in Bangladesh every month, according to a report by Bangladesh Shishu Adhikar Forum (BSAF), a network of non-government organisations.
Trump gives 200,000 Salvadoreans deadline to leave US
Donald Trump’s administration has decided to cancel permits that allow nearly 200,000 people from El Salvador to live and work in the US. They were granted Temporary Protected Status (TPS) after earthquakes rocked the Central American country in 2001.
Balkan War Crimes: The promise and limits of int’l justice
The groundbreaking court brought many of the war’s worst criminals to justice, but more is needed to heal the region’s deep divisions. By Benjamin Ward and Param-Preet Singh Hundreds of men buried alive, men and women mutilated and slaughtered, children…
BNP to select Dhaka North Mayor candidate Saturday
Dhaka, 09 Jan – The BNP will finalise its candidate for Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) mayoral by-poll at party standing committee meeting on Saturday.
Opposition BNP wants army deployment in Dhaka North City polls
Hours after the announcement of its schedule, BNP on Tuesday demanded the deployment of army a week before the by-polls to Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) meyoral post. Talking to reporters, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir also said…
Mobile court to operate until appeals’ settlement: SC
Dhaka, Jan 9 – The operation of mobile court by the executive magistrate will continue until settlement of three appeals filed by the government against the HC verdict over the mobile court act.
US revives its harmful drug war
Attorney General Sessions to Crack Down on Marijuana Jasmine L. Tyler US Attorney General Jeff Sessions is reviving the US government’s out-of-date, ineffective, and counterproductive war on drugs. Today it was reported that he will rescind the 2013 Cole Memo,…
Non-representative govt deprives people of basic rights: Khaleda
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chairperson Khaleda Zia said on Monday that she is “gravely disturbed at the lawlessness and heinous attack on women dignity.”
BNP blasts AL for polluting polls atmosphere
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party on Monday criticised the Awami League government for unlawfully detaining and implicating huge number of opposition leaders and activists in recent days. Thus, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said no sign is still visible…
President wants all parties to play roles in Parliament
Dhaka, 07 Jan – President Abdul Hamid on Sunday urged all, including the ruling and opposition parties, to play their proper and effective role together in Parliament in fulfilling the aspirations of people.
BNP contests PM’s claim on Jan 05 election
BNP on Sunday alleged that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina made an ‘untrue’ statement on January 5, 2014 general election to mislead people. Speaking at a protest programme, party senior leader Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, also said BNP will join the next…
BNP plans demonstration across Capital Dhaka Saturday
BNP will stage demonstration at every thana of the city on Saturday in protest against denial by authorities to allow the party to hold its scheduled rally in the capital marking what it calls as ‘Democracy Killing Day’ on Friday.…
Amnesty for full investigation of Mithun Chakma murder
Dhaka, Jan 4: Amnesty International has called for a full investigation into the murder of indigenous human rights defender Mithun Chakma, who was gunned down on Wednesday by unidentified miscreants in Khagracchari.
Dhaka North City polls Feb 26
The by-polls to the mayoral post of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) will be held on February 26 after the announcement of its schedule on January 9 next. The decision came on Thursday at the Election Commission’s meeting held with…
DMP advises BNP to hold indoor programme
Denying it permission to hold its scheduled rally in the city, Dhaka Metropolitan (DMP) police on Thursday urged BNP to arrange an indoor programme instead of going for outdoor one on Friday. Talking to UNB after a meeting with the…
Govt trying to push country towards confrontation
BNP on Thursday alleged that the government is trying to push politics towards confrontation by buying time in giving permission to their party to hold its scheduled rally in the city on Friday. “Awami League leaders’ remarks have given an…
To snap every yoke: World law to end slavery in Libya
By René Wadlow “Is not this what I require of you… to snap every yoke and set free those who have been crushed?” Isaiah, 58 v 6 There are many ways that an individual can be held in chains through…
2017 was full of disasters and crises. 2018 looks like even worse
The UN has appealed for record levels of funding to help those whose lives have been torn apart, but the gap between the funding needs and the funding available continues to grow. And what makes the outlook especially bad for…
BNP plans rally at Naya Paltan
BNP on Wednesday urged the government to allow the party to hold its planned rally at Nayapaltan on Friday as a venue alternative to Suhrawardy Udyan. Speaking at a press briefing at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office, party senior joint secretary…
No election under present government: Khaleda
Dhaka, 02 Jan – BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia yesterday reiterated that there would be no election under the PM Sheikh Hasina led the present government which she termed is no elected government.
EC publishes updated list of 10.4 crore voters
The number of total voters in the country at present is 10,40,51,883, according to the updated draft voter lists published by the Election Commission (EC) today. The total number of voter has gone up by 2,29,64,880 since 2008, EC’s Acting…