logo
Bangladesh to send fresh note to India on border issue, says adviser

Bangladesh to send fresh note to India on border issue, says adviser

Express Tribune4 days ago

Listen to article
Bangladesh is preparing to send a fresh diplomatic note to India, raising concern over the continued push-in of individuals across the border, Foreign Affairs Adviser Mohammad Touhid Hossain said, the Dhaka Tribune reported.
Speaking to reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Hossain said the note would be 'substantive' and is likely to be dispatched on Wednesday or Thursday. 'We will give them a fresh letter… a substantive letter,' he said, in response to a question on the government's next steps.
When asked whether the note would be framed in strong or softer language, the adviser said, 'It depends on how it is viewed.'
He said that Dhaka continues to maintain regular diplomatic communication with New Delhi on the issue through existing mechanisms. India, he added, had provided a list of individuals it claims are Bangladeshi nationals, some of whom Bangladesh has accepted following verification.
Read more: Bangladesh cancels $21m defence contract with India's GRSE
Reiterating Dhaka's position, the adviser stated that each case would be considered individually and that individuals would only be accepted if their Bangladeshi citizenship was confirmed. 'We see it [push-in] is happening. It is not possible to face physically,' he remarked.
Hossain emphasised the importance of utilising the established consular mechanisms to address such matters in a structured and legal manner. 'There is a mechanism on consular issues, and using the mechanism, Dhaka is trying to bring it under the set rules,' he said.
Responding to a separate question, he said there had been no development regarding the deportation of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Bangladesh announces elections in April 2026, says Yunus
Bangladesh announces elections in April 2026, says Yunus

Express Tribune

time3 days ago

  • Express Tribune

Bangladesh announces elections in April 2026, says Yunus

'The government has been doing everything necessary to create an environment conducive to holding the election,' says Yunus Listen to article Bangladesh will hold elections in early April 2026 for the first time since a mass uprising overthrew the government last year, interim leader Muhammad Yunus said Friday. The South Asian nation of around 170 million people has been in political turmoil since former prime minister Sheikh Hasina was ousted by a student-led revolt in August 2024, ending her iron-fisted rule of 15 years. 'I am announcing to the citizens of the country that the election will be held on any day in the first half of April 2026,' said Yunus, the 84-year-old Nobel Peace Prize winner who leads the caretaker government. Political parties jostling for power have been repeatedly demanding Yunus fix an election timetable, while he has said time is needed as the country requires an overhaul of its democratic institutions after Hasina's tenure. 'The government has been doing everything necessary to create an environment conducive to holding the election,' he added in the television broadcast, while repeating his warning that reforms were needed. 'It should be remembered that Bangladesh has plunged into deep crisis every time it has held a flawed election,' he said, in a speech given on the eve of the Eid al-Adha holiday in the Muslim-majority nation. 'A political party usurped power through such elections in the past, and became a barbaric fascist force.' Hasina's rule saw widespread human rights abuses, and her government was accused of politicising courts and the civil service, as well as staging lopsided elections. The interim government had already repeatedly vowed to hold elections before June 2026, but said the more time it had to enact reforms, the better. Reform of 'utmost importance' The key Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), seen as the election frontrunner, has in recent weeks been pushing hard for polls to be held by December. Army chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman, in a speech to officers in May, also said that elections should be held by December, according to both Bangladeshi media and military sources. Days after that speech, the government warned that political power struggles risked jeopardising gains that have been made. 'Those who organise such elections are later viewed as culprits, and those who assume office through them become targets of public hatred,' Yunus said on Friday. 'One of the biggest responsibilities of this government is to ensure a transparent… and widely participatory election so that the country does not fall into a new phase of crisis,' he added. 'That is why institutional reform is of utmost importance.'

Bangladesh's Yunus announces elections in April 2026
Bangladesh's Yunus announces elections in April 2026

Business Recorder

time3 days ago

  • Business Recorder

Bangladesh's Yunus announces elections in April 2026

DHAKA: Bangladesh will hold elections in early April 2026 for the first time since a mass uprising overthrew the government last year, interim leader Muhammad Yunus said Friday. The South Asian nation of around 170 million people has been in political turmoil since former prime minister Sheikh Hasina was ousted by a student-led revolt in August 2024, ending her iron-fisted rule of 15 years. 'I am announcing to the citizens of the country that the election will be held on any day in the first half of April 2026,' said Yunus, the 84-year-old Nobel Peace Prize winner who leads the caretaker government. Political parties jostling for power have been repeatedly demanding Yunus fix an election timetable, while he has said time is needed as the country requires an overhaul of its democratic institutions after Hasina's tenure. 'The government has been doing everything necessary to create an environment conducive to holding the election,' he added in the television broadcast, while repeating his warning that reforms were needed. 'It should be remembered that Bangladesh has plunged into deep crisis every time it has held a flawed election,' he said, in a speech given on the eve of the Eid al-Adha holiday in the Muslim-majority nation. Bangladesh says India pushes back 1,200 people 'A political party usurped power through such elections in the past, and became a barbaric fascist force.' Hasina's rule saw widespread human rights abuses, and her government was accused of politicising courts and the civil service, as well as staging lopsided elections. The interim government had already repeatedly vowed to hold elections before June 2026, but said the more time it had to enact reforms, the better. Reform of 'utmost importance' The key Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), seen as the election frontrunner, has in recent weeks been pushing hard for polls to be held by December. Army chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman, in a speech to officers in May, also said that elections should be held by December, according to both Bangladeshi media and military sources. Days after that speech, the government warned that political power struggles risked jeopardising gains that have been made. Bangladesh launches fresh reform bid 'Those who organise such elections are later viewed as culprits, and those who assume office through them become targets of public hatred,' Yunus said on Friday. 'One of the biggest responsibilities of this government is to ensure a transparent… and widely participatory election so that the country does not fall into a new phase of crisis,' he added. 'That is why institutional reform is of utmost importance.'

Pakistan condemns Israeli attacks on Beirut and southern Lebanon
Pakistan condemns Israeli attacks on Beirut and southern Lebanon

Express Tribune

time3 days ago

  • Express Tribune

Pakistan condemns Israeli attacks on Beirut and southern Lebanon

Listen to article Pakistan strongly condemned Israeli airstrikes on Beirut's southern suburbs and parts of southern Lebanon on Friday, calling the attacks a violation of international law and a threat to regional peace. Israel's June 5 attacks, carried out just ahead of the Muslim festival of Eidul Azha, breached Lebanese sovereignty and the terms of the November 2024 ceasefire agreement, according to a statement from Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 'These strikes represent a blatant disregard for international norms,' a MOFA spokesperson said, warning that the use of force could endanger civilian lives and spark broader instability. Pakistan expressed solidarity with Lebanon, affirming support for its government and people 'during this difficult time.' Islamabad also urged the United Nations and international ceasefire mediators to take immediate steps to hold Israel accountable and prevent further escalation. 'Pakistan remains firmly committed to peace, justice, and the principles of international law,' the statement added. Read: Netanyahu admits arming criminal groups in Gaza Moreover, Iran has aslo sharply criticised Israel's overnight air strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs and parts of southern Lebanon, calling them 'a blatant act of aggression' and a violation of Lebanese sovereignty. The strikes targeted the densely populated Dahiyeh area, a known Hezbollah stronghold, as well as locations in South Lebanon. Smoke and flames rise following an Israeli attack on Beirut's southern suburbs on June 5, 2025 [Mohamed Azakir/Reuters] (Reuters) Israel claimed the strikes hit underground Hezbollah facilities used for drone manufacturing and storage. The Israeli military stated that at least 100 housing units were destroyed in the operation, allegedly used by Hezbollah operatives. Hezbollah has not commented on the Israeli claims. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei condemned the raids, saying they reflect Israel's disregard for regional peace and Lebanese sovereignty. This marks the fourth Israeli strike on Beirut since a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah took effect in November last year. The WAFA news agency confirmed widespread damage in affected neighbourhoods. No official casualty figures have been released. The air strike comes amid Israel's ongoing onslaught on Gaza that did not spare Palestinians on the first day of Eidull Azha, one of Islam's holiest festivals, killing 11 people and injuring several others, according to eyewitnesses and medical sources. Despite the festive occasion, many Palestinians performed Eid prayers amid the rubble of their destroyed homes, as Israel's genocidal war continues to devastate the besieged enclave. This marks the fourth Eidul Azha observed under the shadow of war in Gaza, which has been reeling from a deliberate and systematic campaign of extermination since October 7, 2023. Israel, rejecting international calls for a ceasefire, has pursued a genocidal offensive in Gaza since October 2023, killing nearly 54,700 Palestinians, most of them women and children. Aid agencies have warned about the risk of famine among the enclave's more than 2 million inhabitants. Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war crimes against civilians in the enclave.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store