Latest news with #Durbar
Indian Express
14-07-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
‘Finally seen, heard': Sex workers at India's largest red-light area Sonagachi say healthcare access has improved
From access to healthcare to a slow but steady reduction in stigma, sex workers in Kolkata's Sonagachi, which is India's largest red-light area, say they are finally being seen and heard. Once faced with discrimination and barriers to medical care, many sex workers now report improved treatment at government hospitals and clinics. 'Now we are not treated differently. I go for check-ups in government hospitals, stand in the queue like every other patient, and get treated without facing discrimination,' said Dolly, 34, a sex worker in Sonagachi. A key factor behind this shift has been the work of the Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee (DMSC) — a collective run by and for sex workers that has completed 30 years of work across West Bengal. Durbar operates 51 free clinics for sex workers in the state, including health centres in Sonagachi that offer HIV and STD testing, low-cost medicines, and regular health check-ups in safe and non-judgmental spaces. To mark its 30th anniversary, DMSC is hosting a community fair from July 12 to 15 at Rabindra Kanan Park in Kolkata, celebrating the lives and livelihood of sex workers. The event featured panel discussions with doctors from across the state, who spoke about the prevention and early detection of HIV, STDs, breast cancer and cervical cancer. Guidelines on menstrual hygiene and care during menstruation were also shared. 'Previously there was a taboo — people believed sex workers were not from our class, not like us,' said Dr Soma Dutta, a Kolkata-based gynaecologist. 'But with more education, awareness programmes, and the consistent work by DMSC, even hospitals are more inclusive now.' 'DMSC has helped us gain confidence. Earlier, doctors and nurses refused to treat us because of our profession. Now, we are treated like any other human being,' said Nila, 45. 'After all, we are human beings too, and we deserve respect.'
News18
20-05-2025
- Politics
- News18
With Awami League Banned, All Eyes On Bangladesh Army Chief's Address Amid Rising Political Tensions
Last Updated: Sources indicate that regional stability, including the growing threat of Islamist militancy, might also be on the agenda as Bangladesh Army Chief speaks on Tuesday. In a dramatic turn of events, the Bangladesh interim government, led by Muhammad Yunus, officially banned the Awami League on May 10, 2025. As the country reels from the shock announcement, sources have told News18 that Bangladesh Army Chief General Waker-uz-Zaman is scheduled to address senior officers during a 'Durbar" at 9:30 am (Bangladesh time) on Tuesday – an address that is expected to be closely watched both nationally and internationally. The significance of the Army Chief's speech is heightened by a high-level diplomatic meeting held on Monday, where three Dhaka-based US diplomats, led by Chargé d'Affaires Tracey Ann Jacobson, met with General Zaman. While the focus of Bangladesh Army Chief's address to officers might be on 'humanitarian corridor" along the Bangladesh-Myanmar border, sources indicate that regional stability, including the growing threat of Islamist militancy, might also be on the agenda. General Zaman's stance on internal security is already a matter of public record. During a meeting on March 23 with a senior official from the Yunus-led interim authority, he reportedly expressed frustration over what he described as the chief advisor's 'non-serious" and 'casual" approach to the rising threat of Islamist militancy in the country. Observers believe this issue may feature prominently in Tuesday's address. Meanwhile, the fallout from the Awami League ban continues to escalate. According to sources, former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has rejected the ban outright. In a virtual meeting with supporters, she reportedly termed the ban 'unconstitutional" and declared that the party would not accept it. The move effectively bars the Awami League from participating in upcoming elections – an outcome the party appears determined to challenge. Political analysts believe the nature and direction of this 'aggression" will be closely monitored in the coming days. However, sources confirm that the Awami League intends to fight back, both politically and legally, and remains committed to contesting future elections. As the situation in Bangladesh grows increasingly volatile, the international community is watching closely. With a banned ruling party, a rising security threat, and a powerful military preparing to speak, the next few days could be decisive in shaping the country's political trajectory. Watch India Pakistan Breaking News on CNN-News18. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from geopolitics to diplomacy and global trends. Stay informed with the latest world news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! First Published: May 20, 2025, 08:29 IST
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Nigerian police ban Kano Eid parade as rival emirs dispute throne
For the second time in a row, police have banned the colourful Durbar festivities that mark Eid celebrations in Kano, northern Nigeria's largest city, as two traditional royals struggle for the throne. Authorities on Friday announced the suspension of the massive horse procession by the traditional emir and his courtiers that celebrates Eid al-Fitr, when Muslims end their Ramadan fasting. The Durbar -- also held each Eid al-Adha, linked to the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca -- attracts visitors from across the region as well as Western tourists, who throng the expanse outside the palace as royals and courtiers display equestrian skills in homage to the emir. But two royals have been locked in a legal battle for the influential traditional seat, polarising support along political lines between the local and federal authorities. This year, rivals Aminu Ado Bayero and Muhammadu Sanusi II had planned competing Durbars, heightening tension in the city over fear of possible violence during the celebrations. "The ban on Durbar activities became necessary after consultations and obtaining the relevant security situation in the state," Ibrahim Bakori, Kano's police chief, told reporters in his office. "The rising tension and uncertainties around the Durbar activities in Kano resulted in the decision," Bakori said. Police previously banned the Durbar in June 2024, citing security concerns amid the feud, but causing outrage among residents in the city. The month prior, Kano state Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf had removed Bayero as the emir and returned Sanusi to the throne, four years after he was deposed. The two remain locked in a legal fight over who is the rightful emir, a position that holds no constitutional power in Nigeria but wields huge religious and social influence. To this day, Sanusi lives in the emir's palace, where he holds daily court, while Bayero lodges in a royal guest house a few kilometres (miles) away, where he receives homage from his supporters. Both palaces are heavily guarded by military and police personnel. Sanusi is backed by Yusuf and his opposition New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) which Bayero enjoys the support of the All Peoples Congress (APC)-led central government. - Previous bans rare - Bayero cancelled his plans a day before the police banned the processions. The police ban marks the fourth cancellation of the Durbar in the city in a decade. In 2015, it was cancelled over fears jihadist violence, following a Boko Haram attack the year prior on the central mosque outside the emir's palace that killed around 200 worshippers. In September 2012, the Durbar was suspended for security concerns. Boko Haram had attacked the city the previous January, killing hundreds. The Durbar originated in Kano but is conducted by emirs in various cities across Muslim-majority northern Nigeria. In December last year UNESCO added the celebrations to its intangible cultural heritage list. abu/tba/nro/rmb
