Latest news with #Bangladeshi-origin
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16 hours ago
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The Awami League Comments on UK Prime Minister's Potential Meeting With Unelected Bangladeshi Leader
Visit by Muhammad Yunus to be met with protests in London by displaced Bangladeshis and other Bangladeshi-origin demonstrators concerned by country's slide into authoritarianism "Chief Adviser's" visit to UK comes as Bangladesh's economy is downgraded, with violence reported to be on the rise DHAKA, Bangladesh, June 09, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Awami League has today expressed deep concern over UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's reportedly scheduled meeting this week with Muhammad Yunus, the self-declared Chief Adviser of Bangladesh - warning that any formal meeting lends legitimacy to an unelected and unconstitutional administration. A formal letter from the Awami League's UK branch has been sent to Downing Street, the Speaker of the House of Commons, the King's Foundation, and the Commonwealth Secretariat, urging British officials not to unwittingly launder Yunus's administration just as Bangladesh's crisis deepens. Yunus visits London this week. At a time when Bangladesh is experiencing economic decline, escalating political repression, and growing human rights abuses - particularly against women and girls - the UK Government's decision to engage with Mr Yunus threatens to send a damaging signal about the primacy of democracy and the rule of law. Upon arrival in the UK, Mr Yunus is expected to be greeted by demonstrators including Bangladeshis living in the UK who have been forced to flee since his accession to power ten months ago. Tensions have escalated due to the recent banning of the Awami League by the Yunus government, which represents a deeply alarming departure from democratic norms. The Awami League is one of Bangladesh's founding parties and is still supported by tens of millions of citizens and expatriates. Last week Yunus announced general elections in April 2026. Even if this promise is fulfilled, the Awami League's forced exclusion from political participation will render this election inherently undemocratic. Furthermore, freedom of the press in Bangladesh is under unprecedented attack. Journalists seen to support the Awami League have been arrested, and politically motivated charges have been brought against at least 140 others. Human Rights Watch has highlighted a disturbing practice by authorities of filing vague or mass criminal complaints, enabling the arbitrary arrest of thousands - mostly targeting Awami League supporters. In the wake of the student-led quota movement, the country has descended into violence and instability. In the three months following last summer's protests, over 2,000 attacks against Hindus and other minorities were recorded, and this figure has only risen. Women and girls are also being disproportionately affected: child rape cases rose significantly in early 2025, while a girls' football tournament was cancelled under pressure from Islamist factions. Civil unrest continues to grow. Most recently, public sector workers have taken to the streets to oppose unpopular reforms, adding to widespread discontent. The nation's once high-growth economy, credited with lifting millions out of poverty, has been downgraded by the IMF, which warned GDP growth had fallen from 5.1% to 3.3% "reflecting economic disruptions caused by the popular uprising, a tighter policy mix, and heightened uncertainty that weighed on investment." The IMF also warned Yunus he needed to improve his regime's governance and transparency and that his legal reforms "should align with international standards". MOHAMMAD ARAFAT, SPOKESMAN FOR AWAMI LEAGUE, SAID: "It is ironic and extraordinary that an unelected leader is visiting the home of modern parliamentary democracy and expecting a warm welcome. This visit risks inflaming tensions in both Bangladesh and the UK, home to a large Bangladeshi diaspora. By offering credibility to such a government, Sir Keir Starmer would compromise the UK's reputation as a defender of democratic values. We urge the UK Government and His Majesty the King to press Mr Yunus to commit to elections that are free and fair, rather than rigged against his critics. He must lift the ban on the Awami League, enable multi-party participation, and respect the democratic will of the Bangladeshi people." NOTES TO EDITORS Demonstrations protesting against the Interim Government will be held at various locations in London during Dr Yunus's visit. These include a demonstration outside Chatham House from 1030 to 1230 UK time on Wednesday June 11, and an all-day demonstration outside Parliament on Thursday June 12. The UK Awami League's full letter to Downing Street, the Speaker of the House of Commons, the Commonwealth Secretariat and the King's Fund: I am writing on behalf of the Awami League to express our concerns about the UK Government meeting with Muhammad Yunus, the self-proclaimed Chief Adviser of Bangladesh. The recent ban on the Awami League, by an unelected and unconstitutional government, marks a deeply troubling shift away from democratic norms and sets an alarming precedent for the future of Bangladeshi politics. The Awami League played a key role in the country's founding and tens of millions of Bangladeshi nationals and expatriates still align with the party's core beliefs. With the ban in place, it is impossible to have free, fair and truly democratic elections in Bangladesh. The ban comes amid rising attacks on Awami League members, targeted political persecution and a growing repression of media freedom. Human Rights Watch has reported a litany of unjustified arrests of Awami League officials and supporters, and of journalists seen as friendly with the previous regime. Within weeks of the fall of the previous government, five journalists were arrested on dubious and politically motivated charges of murder and crimes against humanity, while at least 140 others faced similar charges. Human Rights Watch equally notes a concerning tactic deployed by security forces of filing criminal complaints against a mass amount of "unknown" people to allow the police to arrest and detain "almost anyone". In the Yunus administrations' first 100 days in power, more than 1,000 police cases were filed against tens of thousands of people, mostly Awami League members. In many of these cases, complainants said they were not aware of whom they were accusing. Awami League ministers and cabinet members, including Dipu Moni, Saber Choudhury, Anisul Huq and Arif Khan, are among those who have been arrested and denied due process. These former officials have faced physical violence and have been paraded into courts with no hope of a fair trial. Lawyers defending Awami League members have also been the target of threats and violence. This mockery of jurisprudence has been overseen by an unelected government that seeks to marginalise its political opponents. Like the recent ban on the Awami League, it directly contradicts Dr Yunus's promises to foster democracy, pluralism and the rule of law in Bangladesh. In the months since the student-led quota movement, Bangladesh has also descended into a state of lawlessness. Ordinary Bangladeshis are witnessing daily acts of violence, persecution and destruction. In the first three months of this year alone, the Human Rights Society reported at least 47 deaths and 2,475 injuries in over 300 incidents of political violence. Police in Bangladesh's cities are recording an unprecedented spike in muggings and robberies as demoralised and under resourced law enforcement agencies cede control of the streets to criminal gangs. Much of this violence has been targeted at women and girls. Since August last year, crime against women has risen exponentially, while the response from the authorities has been minimal. Between January and March this year, UNICEF reported an alarming 50 cases of child rape – a trend it considers is only worsening. In February, a girls' football tournament was cancelled following pressure from one Islamist group, and just recently, a professor was transferred out of her post following protests from another Islamist pressure group. These are just some examples of the violence and public harassment Bangladeshi women have been subject to for failing to conform to Islamist perceptions of modesty or for simply existing in the public eye. There is a clear correlation between the culture of impunity around gendered violence and the Yunus administration's decision to allows Islamic extremists to take senior positions in government. To be clear, since its independence in 1971 Bangladesh has maintained a proud tradition of secularism in politics. The abandonment of that tradition threatens our civil society and our hard-won social progress. There has been extensive reporting about a rapprochement between the interim government and organisations with known terrorist links, including Jamaat-e-Islami, Chatra Shibir, Harakat ul-Jihad-iIslami/Bangladesh, ISIS-Bangladesh and Hizb ut-Tahrir – a group recognised by the UK Government as a terrorist organisation. Meanwhile the persecution of religious minorities is widely reported to have increased. In the three months following the summer's protests, more than 2,000 attacks against Hindus and other minorities were recorded, and this figure has only risen. Vandalism of Hindu places of worship and statues continues to this day. Leading Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das was also arrested and denied due process. Discontent with the current regime is disrupting daily life and causing chaos in civic and commercial life. Public sector workers have become the most recent group to protest the interim government's proposed reforms, taking to the streets this past week. Bangladesh's high-growth economy – the nation's greatest achievement over the past 20 years, lifting millions out of poverty – is now in peril. Since the current administration took power, the country's economy has been downgraded by the IMF twice, as politically-motivated factory closures, skittish decision-making, cronyism and corruption chill the investment climate and destroy jobs. Livelihoods are at risk, as well as the country's civil and religious freedoms – and, of course, its status as a reliable trading and security partner for the UK. With Bangladesh's future genuinely in the balance, I urge you to raise these issues with Muhammad Yunus when you meet him. Please encourage the interim government to protect those suffering from persecution and oppression. Yours sincerely, Sultan Mahmud Shariff Syed Shazidur Rahman Faruk President General Secretary View source version on Contacts Media enquiries: info@ Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
The Awami League Comments on UK Prime Minister's Potential Meeting With Unelected Bangladeshi Leader
Visit by Muhammad Yunus to be met with protests in London by displaced Bangladeshis and other Bangladeshi-origin demonstrators concerned by country's slide into authoritarianism "Chief Adviser's" visit to UK comes as Bangladesh's economy is downgraded, with violence reported to be on the rise DHAKA, Bangladesh, June 09, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Awami League has today expressed deep concern over UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's reportedly scheduled meeting this week with Muhammad Yunus, the self-declared Chief Adviser of Bangladesh - warning that any formal meeting lends legitimacy to an unelected and unconstitutional administration. A formal letter from the Awami League's UK branch has been sent to Downing Street, the Speaker of the House of Commons, the King's Foundation, and the Commonwealth Secretariat, urging British officials not to unwittingly launder Yunus's administration just as Bangladesh's crisis deepens. Yunus visits London this week. At a time when Bangladesh is experiencing economic decline, escalating political repression, and growing human rights abuses - particularly against women and girls - the UK Government's decision to engage with Mr Yunus threatens to send a damaging signal about the primacy of democracy and the rule of law. Upon arrival in the UK, Mr Yunus is expected to be greeted by demonstrators including Bangladeshis living in the UK who have been forced to flee since his accession to power ten months ago. Tensions have escalated due to the recent banning of the Awami League by the Yunus government, which represents a deeply alarming departure from democratic norms. The Awami League is one of Bangladesh's founding parties and is still supported by tens of millions of citizens and expatriates. Last week Yunus announced general elections in April 2026. Even if this promise is fulfilled, the Awami League's forced exclusion from political participation will render this election inherently undemocratic. Furthermore, freedom of the press in Bangladesh is under unprecedented attack. Journalists seen to support the Awami League have been arrested, and politically motivated charges have been brought against at least 140 others. Human Rights Watch has highlighted a disturbing practice by authorities of filing vague or mass criminal complaints, enabling the arbitrary arrest of thousands - mostly targeting Awami League supporters. In the wake of the student-led quota movement, the country has descended into violence and instability. In the three months following last summer's protests, over 2,000 attacks against Hindus and other minorities were recorded, and this figure has only risen. Women and girls are also being disproportionately affected: child rape cases rose significantly in early 2025, while a girls' football tournament was cancelled under pressure from Islamist factions. Civil unrest continues to grow. Most recently, public sector workers have taken to the streets to oppose unpopular reforms, adding to widespread discontent. The nation's once high-growth economy, credited with lifting millions out of poverty, has been downgraded by the IMF, which warned GDP growth had fallen from 5.1% to 3.3% "reflecting economic disruptions caused by the popular uprising, a tighter policy mix, and heightened uncertainty that weighed on investment." The IMF also warned Yunus he needed to improve his regime's governance and transparency and that his legal reforms "should align with international standards". MOHAMMAD ARAFAT, SPOKESMAN FOR AWAMI LEAGUE, SAID: "It is ironic and extraordinary that an unelected leader is visiting the home of modern parliamentary democracy and expecting a warm welcome. This visit risks inflaming tensions in both Bangladesh and the UK, home to a large Bangladeshi diaspora. By offering credibility to such a government, Sir Keir Starmer would compromise the UK's reputation as a defender of democratic values. We urge the UK Government and His Majesty the King to press Mr Yunus to commit to elections that are free and fair, rather than rigged against his critics. He must lift the ban on the Awami League, enable multi-party participation, and respect the democratic will of the Bangladeshi people." NOTES TO EDITORS Demonstrations protesting against the Interim Government will be held at various locations in London during Dr Yunus's visit. These include a demonstration outside Chatham House from 1030 to 1230 UK time on Wednesday June 11, and an all-day demonstration outside Parliament on Thursday June 12. The UK Awami League's full letter to Downing Street, the Speaker of the House of Commons, the Commonwealth Secretariat and the King's Fund: I am writing on behalf of the Awami League to express our concerns about the UK Government meeting with Muhammad Yunus, the self-proclaimed Chief Adviser of Bangladesh. The recent ban on the Awami League, by an unelected and unconstitutional government, marks a deeply troubling shift away from democratic norms and sets an alarming precedent for the future of Bangladeshi politics. The Awami League played a key role in the country's founding and tens of millions of Bangladeshi nationals and expatriates still align with the party's core beliefs. With the ban in place, it is impossible to have free, fair and truly democratic elections in Bangladesh. The ban comes amid rising attacks on Awami League members, targeted political persecution and a growing repression of media freedom. Human Rights Watch has reported a litany of unjustified arrests of Awami League officials and supporters, and of journalists seen as friendly with the previous regime. Within weeks of the fall of the previous government, five journalists were arrested on dubious and politically motivated charges of murder and crimes against humanity, while at least 140 others faced similar charges. Human Rights Watch equally notes a concerning tactic deployed by security forces of filing criminal complaints against a mass amount of "unknown" people to allow the police to arrest and detain "almost anyone". In the Yunus administrations' first 100 days in power, more than 1,000 police cases were filed against tens of thousands of people, mostly Awami League members. In many of these cases, complainants said they were not aware of whom they were accusing. Awami League ministers and cabinet members, including Dipu Moni, Saber Choudhury, Anisul Huq and Arif Khan, are among those who have been arrested and denied due process. These former officials have faced physical violence and have been paraded into courts with no hope of a fair trial. Lawyers defending Awami League members have also been the target of threats and violence. This mockery of jurisprudence has been overseen by an unelected government that seeks to marginalise its political opponents. Like the recent ban on the Awami League, it directly contradicts Dr Yunus's promises to foster democracy, pluralism and the rule of law in Bangladesh. In the months since the student-led quota movement, Bangladesh has also descended into a state of lawlessness. Ordinary Bangladeshis are witnessing daily acts of violence, persecution and destruction. In the first three months of this year alone, the Human Rights Society reported at least 47 deaths and 2,475 injuries in over 300 incidents of political violence. Police in Bangladesh's cities are recording an unprecedented spike in muggings and robberies as demoralised and under resourced law enforcement agencies cede control of the streets to criminal gangs. Much of this violence has been targeted at women and girls. Since August last year, crime against women has risen exponentially, while the response from the authorities has been minimal. Between January and March this year, UNICEF reported an alarming 50 cases of child rape – a trend it considers is only worsening. In February, a girls' football tournament was cancelled following pressure from one Islamist group, and just recently, a professor was transferred out of her post following protests from another Islamist pressure group. These are just some examples of the violence and public harassment Bangladeshi women have been subject to for failing to conform to Islamist perceptions of modesty or for simply existing in the public eye. There is a clear correlation between the culture of impunity around gendered violence and the Yunus administration's decision to allows Islamic extremists to take senior positions in government. To be clear, since its independence in 1971 Bangladesh has maintained a proud tradition of secularism in politics. The abandonment of that tradition threatens our civil society and our hard-won social progress. There has been extensive reporting about a rapprochement between the interim government and organisations with known terrorist links, including Jamaat-e-Islami, Chatra Shibir, Harakat ul-Jihad-iIslami/Bangladesh, ISIS-Bangladesh and Hizb ut-Tahrir – a group recognised by the UK Government as a terrorist organisation. Meanwhile the persecution of religious minorities is widely reported to have increased. In the three months following the summer's protests, more than 2,000 attacks against Hindus and other minorities were recorded, and this figure has only risen. Vandalism of Hindu places of worship and statues continues to this day. Leading Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das was also arrested and denied due process. Discontent with the current regime is disrupting daily life and causing chaos in civic and commercial life. Public sector workers have become the most recent group to protest the interim government's proposed reforms, taking to the streets this past week. Bangladesh's high-growth economy – the nation's greatest achievement over the past 20 years, lifting millions out of poverty – is now in peril. Since the current administration took power, the country's economy has been downgraded by the IMF twice, as politically-motivated factory closures, skittish decision-making, cronyism and corruption chill the investment climate and destroy jobs. Livelihoods are at risk, as well as the country's civil and religious freedoms – and, of course, its status as a reliable trading and security partner for the UK. With Bangladesh's future genuinely in the balance, I urge you to raise these issues with Muhammad Yunus when you meet him. Please encourage the interim government to protect those suffering from persecution and oppression. Yours sincerely, Sultan Mahmud Shariff Syed Shazidur Rahman Faruk President General Secretary View source version on Contacts Media enquiries: info@
Scroll.in
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scroll.in
Bangladeshi-origin writer Faria Basher is the Asia winner of the 2025 Commonwealth Short Story Prize
The Commonwealth Foundation has announced the five regional winners of the Commonwealth Short Story Prize on Wednesday. The regional winners are Joshua Lubwama from Uganda (Africa), Faria Basher from Bangladesh (Asia), Chanel Sutherland from Canada/Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (Canada and Europe), Subraj Singh from Guyana (Caribbean), and Kathleen Ridgwell from Australia (Pacific). The overall winner will be announced on June 25. Basher is the first Bangladeshi-origin writer to win the regional Prize. She holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Edinburgh and a master's degree from New York University. Taking the reader from a surf shack in Australia to a village in Guyana on the eve of independence, the stories tackle powerful themes head-on. The stories present the clash between generations as a boy's illiterate mother fears and resents the unconventional newcomer; the lost memories of enslaved Africans for whom storytelling is their final act of defiance; the legacy of colonialism reflected in a demon that threatens to prey on a young baby; the pressures on young women in their twenties to get married and rear children – or face dire consequences; and how two young people form an unlikely friendship in the face of racism and family pressure. Chair of the Judges, Vilsoni Hereniko, said, 'These stories illuminate many aspects of human nature and demonstrate true mastery of the short story form. Each tale shows that geography matters in storytelling. They are works of fiction that are inseparable from the local culture and history from which they have sprung…' The winning stories are: Africa: 'Mothers Not Appearing in Search' by Joshua Lubwama (Uganda). Against his mother's wishes, a young boy befriends a woman who has recently moved into the neighbourhood. Asia: 'An Eye and a Leg' by Faria Basher (Bangladesh). A darkly humorous and surreal take on the trope of the 'expiring' South Asian woman, with touches of the macabre. Canada and Europe: 'Descend' by Chanel Sutherland (Canada/Saint Vincent and the Grenadines). As a slave ship sinks, enslaved Africans share their life stories. Their voices rise in defiance, illuminating memory, resilience and hope. Caribbean: 'Margot's Run' by Subraj Singh (Guyana)/ A new mother ventures into the night to protect her child from a bloodthirsty creature. Pacific: 'Crab Sticks and Lobster Rolls' by Kathleen Ridgwell (Australia). An Aboriginal boy sees himself as a crab stick – cheap, artificial, misrepresented. Through a forbidden relationship with a non-Indigenous girl, he comes to see his true value: a gilgie, authentic and deeply rooted in Country. The Commonwealth Short Story Prize is awarded annually for the best piece of unpublished short fiction from any of the Commonwealth's 56 member countries. In addition to English, submissions are accepted in Bengali, Chinese, Creole, French, Greek, Malay, Maltese, Portuguese, Samoan, Swahili, Tamil, and Turkish.
