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Gulf Weekly
4 days ago
- General
- Gulf Weekly
Summer spent right
melissa@ Not all children spend their holidays glued to the screen or getting bored. Several young philanthropists based in Bahrain are engaging in social work this summer, shining a bright spotlight on the importance of introducing community-oriented activities at an early age. According to reports online, humanitarian work offers multiple benefits to adolescents, like improved critical thinking, more empathy, higher self-worth and fewer depressive symptoms, among others. New Millennium School grade 12 student Alison Reeves concurred, asserting that her experience with social work has been 'rewarding'. The Indian Community Relief Fund's (ICRF) Thirst Quenchers summer campaign volunteer believes that participating in the initiative has been an educational journey for her. The programme is aligned with the Labour Ministry's summer mid-day outdoor work ban, where ICRF volunteers visit locations across the kingdom every Saturday of July and August to distribute refreshments. 'I started a year ago and can say that it has helped me hone my social skills,' the 17-year-old Indian expatriate told GulfWeekly. 'I learned how to introduce myself to different people and deal with various situations. For instance, many workers do not speak English, so we have to find a way to communicate with them. We also understand how to be polite with them,' added the Juffair resident, who aspires to pursue a degree in event management while continuing with community activities. 'ICRF has shown me there are communities like this wherever I go. So, even when I study abroad, I am hopeful I can find a place where I can volunteer,' she added. Alison is inspired by her parents Althea and Basil Reeves, who are also committed to social causes and have always encouraged her to pursue the same. Tubli resident Aamer Al Zaman also motivated his children, Rayyan, 13, and Jenan, 11, to volunteer at a summer camp for differently abled children, conducted by Shahzaib's Club House – a community organisation dedicated to supporting individuals with diverse abilities. 'The turning point was taking them to watch the Bollywood movie Sitaare Zameen Par ('stars on Earth'), which focuses on the same cause,' Aamer revealed. 'I then spoke to them about how we need to help these 'stars', who are just as talented as us. While they found it tough initially, we motivated them not to give up and the organisers were supportive too.' Club House founder Amena Shahrukh said that sometimes, the young volunteers were assigned tasks to do with the children and at other times, they came up with their own ideas. 'Our young volunteers also assisted our teachers in the classroom,' she added. Spurred on by the enriching experience, the siblings, who attend Naseem International School, have expressed a desire to continue volunteering every summer. Youngsters Ali Ashraf, 12, and Fatima Zaynab Al Isa, 11, also volunteer at Shahzaib's Club House's summer camp, which will continue until the end of this month. The home-schooled children from Saar are equally excited about the experience and hope to continue it every year. 'I led an activity on recycling paper,' Ali said. 'It was difficult when the differently abled children cried or when I didn't understand what they were saying and I'm still learning to get better at that. But I learned how to be patient through this experience and had a really good time with all the children,' the Australian-Pakistani talent added.
Daily Tribune
6 days ago
- General
- Daily Tribune
ICRF marks 8th week of ‘Thirst Quenchers 2025' in Sitra
The Indian Community Relief Fund (ICRF) Bahrain yesterday held the eighth week of its Thirst Quenchers 2025 summer awareness campaign at a work site in Sitra, distributing water, juice, laban, fruit and other refreshments to around 500 workers. The initiative, aligned with the Ministry of Labour's drive to ensure safe working conditions during the peak summer months, is supported by the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Labour, Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM). Around 500 workers took part in the event. Mr Hasan Al Aradi - Head of Occupational Safety & Health Inspection and Eng. Hussain Al Husaini - Head of Workers, Residence Inspection from the Ministry of Labour, and Mr Fahad AlBinali – Director of Partnership & Outreach from LMRA have joined the distribution and spoke about the support extended to the workers by each organisations. Special guest was His Excellency Mr. Tirtha Raj Wagle, Ambassador of Embassy of Nepal. His Excellency appreciated the efforts taken by LMRA and Ministry of Labour for workers' safety. ICRF Advisor Dr Babu Ramachandran, Vice Chairman Pankaj Nallur, Joint Secretaries Suresh Babu and Javad Pasha, Treasurer Uday Shanbhagh, Thirst Quenchers Coordinators Siraj, Faizal and Sivakumar, Rakesh Sharma, Muralikrishnan, Chemban Jalal, Kalpana Patil, Sandra Palanna, Althea D'Souza, Linson Lazar - HSE Manager, Chengwu – Deputy Project Manager, along with enthusiastic volunteers and students have joined the distribution. Manav Dharam Sena and Science of Spirituality supported yesterday's event. As in previous years, the Bohra community and generous volunteers have shown strong support for this project.
Time of India
17-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Bangladesh tense after deadly clashes in Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's home town Gopalganj
Bangladesh remained tense on Thursday as military, paramilitary, and riot police enforced a 22-hour curfew in Gopalganj after violent clashes during a rally left four dead and led to the detention of 14 people. The unrest was triggered by a march organized by the unregistered National Citizens Party (NCP), which reportedly aimed to desecrate the grave of the country's founder, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Bangladesh remained on the edge on Thursday with military troops, paramilitary forces and riot police patrolling the thoroughfares in Gopalganj, the home town of Bangladesh founder Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, to ensure a 22-hour curfew after 14 people were detained following clashes that left four a letter written to the UN Ethical Office , a UK-based independent non-governmental organisation - International Crimes Research Foundation (ICRF) - highlighted the political violence, heritage destruction and other human rights violations that have engulfed objective of the rally, carried out on Wednesday by National Citizens Party (NCP), was to desecrate and demolish the graveyard of Bangladesh's Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman . Visuals of the forces in Bangladesh opening fire with clear instructions have gone viral. Sources alleged that Pakistan sympathisers with the Bangladesh Army may have been behind the firing."On July 16, 2025, a political group known as the Nationalist Citizens Party, which is neither registered with the Election Commission nor holds any legal status as an electoral political party, marched into Gopalganj with thousands of its followers," ICRF said in a letter to the UN.
Time of India
17-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Bangladesh remains on edge a day after Islamists & pro-Pak section of Army attack Awami League
Bangladesh remains on the edge and clashes that erupted in former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's and her father and founder of Bangladesh Sheikh Mujib, Gopalganj, on Wednesday, have reached the United Nations in what is allegedly being described as 'Genocide'. In a letter written to the UN Ethical Office, an UK-based independent non-governmental organisation called the International Crimes Research Foundation (ICRF) highlighted the political violence, heritage destruction and other Human Rights violations that have engulfed Bangladesh. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Select a Course Category Healthcare Project Management Management healthcare Product Management others Technology Digital Marketing Data Science Data Science Cybersecurity PGDM Finance Design Thinking CXO Leadership Public Policy Data Analytics Operations Management MBA Others Artificial Intelligence MCA Degree Skills you'll gain: Financial Analysis in Healthcare Financial Management & Investing Strategic Management in Healthcare Process Design & Analysis Duration: 12 Weeks Indian School of Business Certificate Program in Healthcare Management Starts on Jun 13, 2024 Get Details The objective of the rally was to desecrate and demolish the graveyard of Bangladesh's Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Visuals of the forces in Bangladesh opening fire, with clear instructions, have gone viral. Sources alleged that Pakistan sympathisers with the Bangladesh Army may have been behind firing. 'On 16 July 2025, a political group known as the Nationalist Citizens Party (NCP), which is neither registered with the Election Commission nor holds any legal status as an Electoral Political Party, marched into Gopalganj with thousands of its followers,' ICRF said in a letter to the UN. 'Their reported objective was to desecrate and demolish the graveyard of the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman- a sacred and symbolic national site that holds profound emotional, historical, and political significance for our people,' the letter furthered. The ICRF noted that while the residents resisted the party workers, the Bangladesh Army deployed forces in support of the NCP (pro Islamists student party). The group accused the country's army of using lethal weapons to open fire on 'unarmed civilians'. Contrary to the figure that is being reported by multiple Bangladeshi news outlets, the report suggested that at least 21 people lost their lives in the clashes and a civilian was arrested and tortured by the authorities. ICRF went on to demand an independent international investigation into the Gopalganj crisis. The group also urged the UN to hold the Bangladesh Army accountable under international law for any violations of human rights, including extrajudicial killings and torture The Yunus regime has blamed the banned Awami League for the violence.
News18
17-07-2025
- Politics
- News18
Gopalganj Violence: UK-Based Body Seeks UN Probe, Wants Fact-Finding Mission In Bangladesh
Last Updated: ICRF claimed that Nationalist Citizen Party rioters launched a premeditated assault with the intent to 'desecrate and demolish' the graveyard of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman The latest streak of deadly violence in Bangladesh's Gopalganj, allegedly orchestrated by members of the hardline Nationalist Citizen Party (NCP), may soon draw international attention. The UK-based International Crime Research Foundation (ICRF) has formally written to United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, urging a thorough international inquiry into the incident, including asking for a UN-led fact-finding mission. In its letter to the UN, the ICRF claims that NCP rioters launched a premeditated assault with the intent to 'desecrate and demolish" the graveyard of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding father of Bangladesh, located in Gopalganj. The attack, according to the foundation, became complex when the Bangladesh Army 'was deployed in support of NCP and used lethal weapons to open fire on unarmed civilians" who resisted the attempt by NCP. Visuals of the forces in Bangladesh opening fire, with superiors giving clear instructions to 'fire on them directly", have gone viral on social media. A grab of an unarmed civilian later identified as Dipto Saha lying dead on the streets of Gopalganj, with a member of Bangladesh Army about to put his boot on his face, has become the face of Gopalganj horror. A purported visual shared by former I&B minister in the Sheikh Hasina government, Md Arafat, shows Bangladesh Army hiding NCP protestors in their military vehicle, exposing how the two are allegedly hand-in-glove. The violence resulted in the deaths of at least four people and injuries to dozens of others. ICRF has demanded an independent international investigation into the incident, particularly highlighting the need to examine the role of the Bangladesh Army and other state apparatuses during and after the violence. 'The events of July 16 are not just an attack on a community; they are an attack on the soul of a nation, its history, and its identity. The silence of the international community in this moment would only embolden further violations," the body said in its appeal. The letter comes amid rising tensions in Bangladesh, where political polarisation and allegations of religious and ethnic persecution have increasingly drawn criticism from rights groups and civil society. The government is yet to release an official statement regarding ICRF's submission or the demand for a UN inquiry. If the UN were to respond positively, it could mark a rare instance of international involvement in a domestic political and communal flashpoint in Bangladesh—particularly one involving the legacy of its founding leader. view comments First Published: July 17, 2025, 15:11 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
