Kabir Humayun: Australia has welcomed UN report on Rohingyas and renewed its call for justice for those Rohingyas who have suffered saying that the perpetrators must be held to account. “Australia is deeply disturbed by the conclusions of the Fact-Finding Mission. Australia consistently has urged Myanmar to take action on human rights violations,” Australian High…
Reuters: Five Kenyan soldiers were killed and 10 wounded on Wednesday when their car ran over a homemade bomb in northern Kenya, the military said. A Kenya Defence Forces statement did not say who it believed was responsible for the attack in coastal Lamu County although it referenced “lurking terror elements” in the region. On…
Dr. Forqan Uddin Ahmed, Former Deputy General and Commandant, Ansar VDP Academy Democracy is not only a form of government but a way of life most suited to the civilized people. Democracy is the government of the people, by the people and for the people. It has been said that the voice of the people…
MEMO: Jailed Palestinian leader Marwan Barghouti has called for healing the rift between rival groups Fatah and Hamas. “It is necessary to call for a national conference for a comprehensive dialogue with the participation of all powers, parties, women, youth, and Palestinians inside [Israel],” Fadwa Barghouti quoted her jailed husband as saying. The remarks came…
MEMO: African migrants rejected by Italy in a standoff with the European Union last week said they had been held by smugglers for up to two years in Libya and many had been beaten, tortured and raped, the UN migration agency said on Tuesday. The 150 migrants, mainly Eritreans and Somalis, were rescued in the…
Dr. Zahid Hussain, Lead Economist, World Bank: The lending rates cannot be reduced by issuing threats. It is not possible to cut lending rates by merely issuing directives to the banks unless we effectively address the fundamental reasons behind high lending rates. Liquidity crunch has a role to play behind the trade deficit. Bangladesh Bank…
BSS: The design of front end mask and colour exterior scheme of the first ever elevated Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Line-6 has been completed. “As per our plan to start metro rail operation from Uttara to Agargaon section by December 2019, the detailed design for rolling stock (rail coach) and depot equipment has been completed,”…
Natalie Nougayrède/The Guardian, UK A force capable of rallying public opinion, NGOs and politicians across borders – how distant that feels in the time of Trump I’d like to talk about heroes – and mine are people who defend human rights. They are the people who keep reminding us about the exquisite uniqueness of each…
Reuters: President Vladimir Putin told Russians on Wednesday he had decided to dilute unpopular draft legislation to reform the pension system which has hurt his popularity, but said serious demographic challenges meant some kind of reform was necessary. Addressing the nation on television, Putin said the retirement age for women should be raised by five…
M Humayun Kabir: Rejecting a report by United Nations investigators that called for top generals to be prosecuted for genocide, a Myanmar government spokesman yesterday said the international community was making “false allegations”. His comments came a day after the UN report, which marked the first time the organisation has explicitly called for Myanmar officials…