Top

Bangladesh, Bhutan agree to activate river routes
 

Human Rights Report
Bangladesh and Bhutan on Wednesday agreed to activate the riverine routes for expanding trade between the two countries.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Bhutanese counterpart Dr. Lotay Tshering reached the consensus in a meeting held at the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) in the capital.
PM's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed the media after the meeting. Sheikh Hasina asked the authorities concerned to take prompt measures to build necessary infrastructure to maximise the benefit of the preferential trade agreement (PTA) signed between the two countries on December 6 last. She also asked to build more port of calls where the ships anchor to facilitate trade and commerce. During the meeting, both the Premier discussed various range of mutual benefits particularly the trade and connectivity.
The leaders also agreed to work in unison at the United Nations (UN) and different international forums.
The Bangladesh Premier asked the authorities concerned to prepare a MoU on setting up a hydropower plant with bilateral and trilateral cooperation involving India.
The Bhutanese Prime Minister requested the Bangladesh Premier to provide full-term visa to his country's students with multiple entry facilities.

.

BHRC Human Rights Report on March- 2021
637 people died of Covid-19 in March 2021
Total 97 person killed in March 2021

Human Rights Report:

The documentation section of Bangladesh Human Rights Commission (BHRC) and International Human Rights Commission-IHRC jointly furnished this human rights survey report on the basis of daily newspapers and information received from its district, sub-district and municipal branches. BHRC survey found a total of 97 deaths in the killings. According to official figures, 637 people died of the Covid-19 in all over the country. It proves that the law and order situation is not satisfactory. Bangladesh Human Rights Commissions extremely anxious about this situation. In March 2021, there were an average of 21 Covid-19 deaths and 3 deaths in killing per day. The Law enforcing agencies and related Govt. departments should be more responsible so that percentage of killing May be brought down to zero level. To institutionalize the democracy and to build human rights based society the rule of law and order must be established everywhere. Through enforcing rule of law only such violation against human rights can be minimized. It appears from documentation division of BHRC:
Total 97 persons killed March in 2021
killing by family violence 13, Killed due to social discrepancy 3, Political Killing 5, Killed by Law enforcing members 6, Killed by BSF 3, Killed due to doctor negligence 2, Abduction 5, Assassination 5
Mysterious death 42, Killed by acid throwing 1
Killed by several accidents: Killed by road accident 258, Suicide 12
Besides victims of torture: Rape 13
637 persons died by corona virus in March 2021 according to official estimates.

 

Biden under growing pressure over border 'crisis'

Human Rights Report:
Dozens of Central American migrants are expelled from the United States by the Paso del Norte-Santa Fe international bridge, from El Paso, Texas, United States to Ciudad Juarez, state of Chihuahua, Mexico.
After two months of relatively smooth sailing, Joe Biden has landed in choppy waters: faced with a migrant rush on the border with Mexico, the Democratic president stands accused of failing to respond effectively-and of lacking transparency with the media.
Questioned by Republican opponents, but also by some in his own party, Biden has launched into a difficult week that features, on Thursday, his first press conference since taking office.
The influx of thousands of migrants has provided an opening to his critics, who struggled to find an angle of attack as Biden successfully ramped up the coronavirus vaccination campaign-and it has united the fractured Republican Party in the process.
They have accused the new president of creating the border chaos with a naive immigration stance.
"Despite your administration's refusal to admit this is a crisis, the American people are beginning to understand the gravity of the situation," said Republican Senator Ted Cruz, announcing he would visit the border this week with 14 of his colleagues.
 

Bangabandhu a charismatic leader and person of determination
 

Human Rights Report:
President Bidya Devi Bhandari address the 6th day of the Bangabandhu birth centenary and 50 years of independence celebrations, at the National Parade Ground in Dhaka on Monday, March 22, 2021 PID
'Bangabandhu pioneered independence movement of Bangladesh ever since his youth'
Nepalese President Bidya Devi Bhandari on Monday said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was a charismatic leader, well organizer, person of determination and courage and a stout freedom fighter.
"It was he [Bangabandhu] who pioneered the independence movement of Bangladesh ever since his youth," she said, mentioning that Bangabandhu is a revered leader of this region.
The Nepali president made the remarks while addressing as the guest of honour at the twin mega celebrations marking the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and 50 years of Bangladesh's Independence.
President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina were also present at the celebrations.
On the occasion of the celebration of the birth centenary of Bangabandhu, she shared her views on the theme of "Nepal-Bangladesh Relations and Bangabandhu's Birth Centenary."
"As the celebrations on Bangabandhu's birth centenary is going on, I consider the continued progress of Bangladeshi people a fitting tribute to his contributions to the nation building process of Bangladesh," said the Nepali president.
She said Bangabandhu's incessant struggle gave birth to Bangladesh and had shown unswerving leadership and unremitting action for it.
 

Top
 

Bangladesh proved them all wrong: Narendra Modi

Human Rights Report:

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said Bangladesh has proven all of them wrong who had objected to its creation, looked down upon the people and had apprehensions about the existence of the country. "I am pleased that under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's able leadership, Bangladesh is showing its dynamism to the world," he said. Modi said the world did not talk as much about the cruelty, oppression and atrocities of 'Operation Searchlight' as it should have. He was addressing the special programme marking the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and 50 years of Bangladesh's independence. President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, her sister Sheikh Rehana, Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque, Agriculture Minister Dr Mohammad Abdur Razzaque, among others, were present.
The Indian Prime Minister was pleased that many Indian soldiers who were part of the Liberation War were also there with them at the special event.
"The struggle for the Liberation of Bangladesh was also one of the first movements that I took part in," Modi said, adding: "I must have been 22 or 23 years old, when along with many of my friends, I did satyagraha, (a form of passive resistance), for the liberation of the people of Bangladesh."

UNHCR wishes peace, prosperity for Bangladesh

Human Rights Report:
UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi has wished peace and prosperity for the next 50 years saying he is sure it will become one of the great first centuries of any nation. "It is my great pleasure to congratulate the people and government of Bangladesh on the 50th anniversary of your independence. We at the UNHCR have been honored to stand with Bangladesh since its inception," he said in a message on 50th anniversary of Independence of Bangladesh. He said March 1971 was a turning point for them too. "Our work with the ten million Bangladeshis who sought refuge in India was the first time UNHCR was asked to coordinate international assistance for refugees."
He said they were first-hand witnesses then to the incredible resilience of the Bangladeshi people and remain in awe now of their generosity to the nearly one million Rohingya, who have sought refuge in Bangladesh.
"Even as you overcome challenges, like the current pandemic."
 

Bangabandhu would have been proud of Bangladesh's achievements: Macron

Human Rights Report:
French President Emmanuel Macron appreciated Bangladesh's progress and said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman would undoubtedly have been proud of the achievements of his country.
"Bangladesh indeed deserves our admiration for the progress made in economic and human development, including in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic," he said in a message sent to President Abdul Hamid.
On the occasion of the National Day of Bangladesh, he sent the message on his behalf and the people of France with warm congratulations.

Khasru elected SCBA president, Kajal general
 

Human Rights Report:
Former law minister Abdul Matin Khasru and Barrister Ruhul Kuddus Kajal have been elected as president and general secretary of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) respectively.
Khasru contested from the ruling Awami League-backed white panel and Kajal from the BNP-backed blue panel. Voting was held on Wednesday and Thursday with 5,486 lawyers, among 7,721 voters, exercising their franchise. Vote counting started from Friday afternoon. Fifty-one contestants vied for 14 posts. Justice (retd) AFM Abdur Rahman was the chief election commissioner.
Of the contested posts, the white panel won eight and blue panel six.
Jalal Uddin (blue) and Shafik Ullah (white) were elected vice presidents. On the other hand, Mahmud Hasan (blue) and Safayet Sultana Rumi (white) won the deputy secretary posts.
Treasurer Dr Iqbal Karim is from the white panel.
Four of the members are from the white panel and the rest from blue panel.They are: Shibli Sadekin (white), Mahfuzur Rahman Roman (white), Iftekhar Ahmed (blue), Mintu Kumar Mondal (white), Parvin Kawsar Munni (blue), Redwan Ahmed Ranjib (blue) and Munstasir Ahmed (white).
 

Woman set on fire by husband, mother-in-law over dowry in Gaibandha

Human Rights Report:
A housewife sustained severe burn injuries after her husband and mother-in law allegedly set her on fire over dowry in Kabilbazar area of Gaibnadha's sadar upazila.
The victim is identified as Sharmin Akter, 27, wife of Korban Ali, a resident of the area. Locals said, that Korban, son of Ismail Hossain, and Sharmin got married two years back. After the marriage, Sharmin was tortured by her husband and in-law's family for various reasons including dowry. Sharmin, who is undergoing treatment at the burn unit of Rangpur Medical College and Hospital (RMCH), said Korban and his mother Kulshum Begum locked into an altercation with her in the noon. At one stage of the argument, Korban and her mother suddenly set her on fire with a gas lighter.
Hearing Sharmin's screams, neighbours rushed to the spot and took her to District Sadar Hospital in critical condition. Later, doctors of the hospital transferred her to RMCH as her condition deteriorated at 10:00 pm.
Majibar Rahman, officer-in-charge (OC- investigation) of Gaibandha Sadar police station, confirmed the matter.
The OC also said, "No one complained with the police station yet. Action will be taken if any one lodges case in this connection".
 

Charities urge Johnson to share vaccines with poorer nations

Human Rights Report:
A group of charities is urging Prime Minister Boris Johnson to “swiftly clarify” how many Covid vaccine doses the UK is prepared to donate to poorer countries, reports BBC.
Save the Children and the Wellcome Trust are among those calling on the PM to start donating jabs through Covax. This scheme aims to provide jabs for low and middle-income countries.
Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said the UK does not currently have a surplus of vaccines, but when it does that surplus will be shared.
The UK, which has ordered 400 million vaccine doses and will have many left over, has said it will donate most of its surplus vaccine supply to poorer countries. The lower income countries most likely to receive the first vaccines through Covax include Afghanistan, Haiti, DR Congo, Ethiopia.



 

Top
 

.

.