Dhaka, Aug 16 (UNB) – The government continued to discriminate against religious minority groups in property disputes and did not adequately protect them from attacks, says a US report quoting minority groups here.
Category: Human rights
Indigenous peoples continue to face challenges to their rights
Geneva, 10 Aug (Kanaga Raja) – While progress has been made in the formal recognition of indigenous peoples in several countries, ten years after the adoption of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, they overwhelmingly continue to…
Smugglers throw hundreds of African migrants off boats
By IPS World Desk Rome, Aug 11 (IPS) – A total of 300 migrants have reportedly been forced from boats over the past two days by smugglers off the coast of Yemen – many feared dead or missing, the United…
Family bonds survive India-Pakistan split
I was 9 the first time I traveled on an airplane, in 1986. We were headed to Pakistan, a country that was foreign yet held a part of us. For my younger brothers, the flight from New Delhi to Lahore…
Remembering Partition 70 years after
It’s been 70 years since India and Pakistan were carved from the former British Empire as independent nations, a process that triggered one of the largest human migrations in history. Overnight, Hindu and Muslim neighbours became fearful of one another.…
20 EU countries see rise in modern slavery
Modern slavery risks have risen in nearly three-quarters of the 28 member states of the European Union over the last year, reveals an annual study from global risk consultancy Verisk Maplecroft. According to the 2nd edition of the Modern Slavery…
World still lags on indigenous rights 10 years after historic declaration
By Mariam Wallet Aboubakrine, Albert K. Barume and Victoria Tauli-Corpuz Geneva/New York, Aug 7, (IPS) – The world’s indigenous peoples still face huge challenges a decade after the adoption of a historic declaration on their rights, a group of United…
Why world needs indigenous communities to steward their lands
By Manipadma Jena Bhubaneswar, India, Aug 7 (IPS) – “Showing them a picture-book crow, I intone ‘kaak’ in Bengali, the State language. While others repeat in chorus, the tribal Santhali first-graders respond with a blank look. They know the crow…
French President backpedals on move to create First Lady
French President Emmanuel Macron is preparing to backpedal on the issue of creating an official First Lady position for his wife amid attacks from left-wing opponents and a petition against the move, officials and reports said. The newly elected 39-year-old…
Next elections in BD would be inclusive: UK minister
The United Kingdom on Tuesday expressed the hope that Bangladesh’s next general election will be an inclusive one.Tariq Mahmood Ahmad, the Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon and UK Minister of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, came up with the…
Chief Election Commissioner’s dialogue is mockery: BNP
BNP on Monday alleged that Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) KM Nurul Huda has been staging a mockery with the nation in the name of dialogue with different stakeholders ahead of the 11th parliamentary elections.Speaking at a mild-mahfil-cum commemorating meeting, BNP…
DU VC laments state of journalism
Dhaka, August 6 – Dhaka University’s Vice Chancellor Prof Dr AAMS Arefin Siddique on Sunday said salary and other facilities have increased much in the journalism sector but objective journalism has declined.
EC’s dialogue with pol parties likely from 24 Aug
The Election Commission is planning to initiate dialogue with 40 registered political parties on August 24 to take their opinions over the arrangement of the 11th parliamentary elections. However, the discussions with the two major parties — Awami League and…
AL-BNP-JP one in opposing ‘no vote’ restoration
Dhaka, Aug 5 – Though Awami League and BNP are poles apart over almost all the election issues, they have at least one thing common – opposing the restoration of ‘no vote’ as suggested by civil society members.
US notifies UN of Paris climate deal pullout
The Trump administration has issued its first written notification that the US intends to withdraw from the 2015 Paris climate agreement. But in the notice to the United Nations the US state department said Washington would remain in the talks…
‘Where is my justice?’
The state of Alabama took 30 years of Anthony Ray Hinton’s life when they sent him to death row for two murders he did not commit. Now they won’t give him a dime. Hinton’s application for redress was unanimously approved…
Just going out of home could be deadly in South Asia
Venturing outdoors may become deadly across wide swaths of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh by the end of the century as climate change drives heat and humidity to new extremes, according to a new study. These conditions could affect up to…
Rani ‘disappointed’ by race, class gap in BBC
Anita Rani has said the pay gap at the BBC is as much about race and class as it is about gender. The Countryfile presenter said it was “disappointing” to see the pay disparity when the corporation revealed its highest…
Myanmar trying to block UN fact-finding mission
The United Nations needs to insist on its ability to carry out a mandated fact-finding mission on Myanmar, Human Rights Watch said today, releasing a series of questions and answers on the topic. In March 2017, the UN Human Rights…
3 accused die during escape attempt at Moscow courthouse
Moscow, Aug 1 (AP/UNB)- Five defendants at a Moscow courthouse attacked their guards in a bungled escape attempt, leading to a shootout that killed three people and wounded five others, officials said Tuesday.
Venezuela opposition leaders taken from homes
Venezuela opposition leaders Leopoldo López and Antonio Ledezma have been taken from their homes, where they were under house arrest, family members of the two have tweeted. López’s wife and Ledezma’s daughter said they would hold President Nicolás Maduro responsible…
Jordan: Seize Opportunity to End Impunity for Rape
Jordanian lawmakers will decide on August 1, 2017, whether to remove or amend an infamous provision in the country’s 1960 penal code that allows people who commit sexual assault to avoid punishment if they marry their victims, Human Rights Watch…
Justice Abedin to appeal against HC verdict on graft case
Dhaka – The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on Monday granted Appellate Division’s former Justice Joynul Abedin right to appeal, challenging the decision of the High Court to scrap his petition to reject graft charge against him.
Women and children for sale for sex, slavery, organs…
By Baher Kamal Rome, Jul 28 (IPS) – It is happening now. Millions of humans are forced to flee armed conflicts, climate change, inequalities, and extreme poverty. They fall easy prey to traffickers lurking anyone who can be subjected to…
Civil society suggest polls time govt, army deployment
Dhaka – Civil society members suggested to the Election Commission (EC) deployment of the army, reintroduction of no-vote, non-use of religion in election campaigns and monitoring sources of election fund as essential for ensuring free and fair parliamentary elections.
EC holds electoral dialogue with civil society
Dhaka, Jul 31 – The Election Commission on Monday started its dialogue with civil society members to take their opinions over the arrangements to hold the 11th national election.
US tained Iraqi forces linked to Mosul war crimes
An Iraqi army division trained by the United States government allegedly executed several dozen prisoners in Mosul’s Old City, Human Rights Watch said today. Two international observers detailed the summary killings of four people by the Iraqi army’s 16th Division…
Trump bans transgender people in military
US President Donald Trump says transgender people cannot serve in “any capacity” in the military. He tweeted that he had consulted with military experts and cited “tremendous medical costs and disruption”. The Obama administration decided last year to allow transgender…
EC is an independent body: PM tells French envoy
Describing Bangladesh Election Commission as an independent body, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday said it has been working independently in all fields. “The Election Commission has been working independently in every field, including decision making,” she said when French…
BD Election Commission set to update voter list
Dhaka – The Election Commission (EC) is going to update its existing voter list with two major challenges making of women voters and preventing Rohingyas to be voters.