Latest news with #South Asia
Al Arabiya
a day ago
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
Bangladesh Struggles to Contain the Fallout of an Uprising That Toppled Its Leader Last Year
DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) – Bangladesh was on the cusp of charting a new beginning last year after its former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was removed from power in a student-led uprising, ending her 15-year rule and forcing her to flee to India. As the head of a new interim government, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus promised to hold a credible election to return to democracy, initiate electoral and constitutional reforms, and restore peace on the streets after hundreds were killed in weeks of violence that began on July 15, 2024. A year later, the Yunus-led administration has struggled to contain the fallout of the uprising. Bangladesh finds itself mired in a growing political uncertainty, religious polarization, and a challenging law-and-order situation. Here's what to know about Bangladesh a year after the protests that toppled Hasina. Uncertainty about the future of democracy looms large in Bangladesh. The student protesters who toppled Hasina formed a new political party promising to break the overwhelming influence of two major dynastic political parties – the Bangladesh Nationalists Party or BNP, and Hasina's Awami League. But the party's opponents have accused it of being close to the Yunus-led administration and creating chaos for political mileage by using state institutions. Meanwhile, Bangladesh's political landscape has further fragmented after the country's largest extremist party, the Jamaat-e-Islami, returned to politics more than a decade after it was suppressed by Hasina's government. Aligned with the student-led party, it's trying to fill the vacuum left by the Awami League, which was banned in May. Its leader, Hasina, is facing trial for crimes against humanity. The strength of Jamaat-e-Islami, which opposed Bangladesh's independence from Pakistan in 1971, is unknown. Both BNP and the Jamaat-e-Islami party are now at loggerheads over establishing supremacy within the administration and judiciary, and even university campuses. They are also differing over the timing of a new parliamentary election. Yunus has announced that the polls would be held in April next year, but poor law and order situation and a lack of clear-cut political consensus over it have created confusion. The chief of Bangladesh's military also wanted an election in December this year – a stance Yunus didn't like. 'Post-revolution honeymoons often don't last long, and Bangladesh is no exception,' says Michael Kugelman, a Washington-based South Asia analyst and senior fellow of Asia Pacific Foundation. The interim government faced massive expectations to restore democracy and prosperity. But this is especially difficult to do as an unelected government without a public mandate. Yunus has delayed an election because he wants reforms – from changes to the constitution and elections to the judiciary and police. Discussions with political parties, except Hasina's Awami League, are ongoing. Some of the reforms include putting a limit on how many times a person can become the prime minister, introduction of a two-tier parliament, and appointment of a chief justice. There appears to be little consensus over some basic reforms. While both the BNP and the Jamaat-e-Islami parties have agreed to some of them with conditions, other proposals for basic constitutional reforms have become a sticking point. The Jamaat-e-Islami also wants to give the interim government more time to complete reforms before heading into polls, while BNP has been calling for an early election. The student-led party mostly follows the pattern of the Jamaat-e-Islami party. Kugelman says the issue of reforms was meant to unite the country but has instead become a flashpoint. 'There's a divide between those that want to see through reforms and give them more time, and those that feel it's time to wrap things up and focus on elections,' he says. Human rights in Bangladesh have remained a serious concern under Yunus. Minority groups, especially Hindus, have blamed his administration for failing to protect them adequately. The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council says minority Hindus and others have been targeted in hundreds of attacks over the last year. Hasina's party has also blamed the interim government for arresting tens of thousands of its supporters. The Yunus-led administration denies these allegations. Meenakshi Ganguly, deputy Asia director for Human Rights Watch, says while the interim government has stopped enforced disappearances and extrajudicial executions that had occurred under the Hasina government, there has been little progress on lasting security sector reforms or to deliver on the pledge to create robust independent institutions. Meanwhile extremist factions – some of whom have proposed changes to women's rights and demanded introduction of Sharia law – are vying for power. Many of them are planning to build alliances with bigger parties like the BNP or the Jamaat-e-Islami. Such factions have historically struggled to gain significant electoral support despite Bangladesh being a Muslim majority, and their rise is expected to further fragment the country's political landscape. During Hasina's 15-year rule, Bangladesh was India's closest partner in South Asia. After her ouster, the Yunus-led administration has moved closer to China, which is India's main rival in the region. Yunus' first state visit was to China in March, a trip that saw him secure investments, loans, and grants. On the other hand, India is angered by the ousting of its old ally Hasina and hasn't responded to Dhaka's requests to extradite her. India stopped issuing visas to Bangladeshis following Hasina's fall. Globally, Yunus seems to have strong backing from the West and the United Nations, and it appears Bangladesh will continue its foreign policy, which has long tried to find a balance between multiple foreign powers. But Kugelman says the country's biggest challenge may be the Trump factor. 'In January, the Trump administration suspended USAID funds to Bangladesh, which had sought significant levels of US support during a critical rebuild period post Hasina's ouster. Dhaka must now reframe its relations with an unconventional US administration that will largely view Bangladesh through a commercial lens,' Kugelman says.
Bloomberg
2 days ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
India's Eased Pollution Norms Favor Consumers, Power Lobby Says
India's relaxed norms on sulfur dioxide emissions from power plants will favor consumers, avoiding higher electricity prices due to increased equipment costs, according to the Association of Power Producers. The environment ministry eased its decade-old guidelines for the installation of filters that would remove sulfur from coal-fired plants' emissions, exempting nearly 167 gigawatts of coal-fired capacity, or 78% of the total fleet.
Arab News
4 days ago
- Politics
- Arab News
Pakistan calls militant presence in Afghanistan a ‘challenge' amid renewed diplomatic engagement
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan described the presence of militant outfits in Afghanistan as a 'challenge' on Friday, calling it a critical hurdle in improving bilateral ties and advancing regional cooperation, even as both countries have tried to re-engage diplomatically in recent months. Ties between Pakistan and Afghanistan have remained strained since 2023, when Islamabad launched a crackdown on undocumented migrants, mostly Afghans, citing security concerns. Pakistan has long said militant groups staging attacks in its western border provinces operate from Afghan territory, a claim denied by Taliban officials. However, the two sides have sought to reset relations recently, agreeing to appoint ambassadors following a tripartite meeting with China and holding additional secretary-level talks in Islamabad earlier this month. 'About the question of sanctuaries in Afghanistan, as I mentioned it remains a challenge, and we are trying to address it in the context of bilateral relations with Afghanistan,' foreign office spokesperson, Ambassador Shafqat Ali Khan, said during his weekly news briefing. 'This remains a critical impediment in preventing the relations to reach their full potential, and further impeding the full development of regional cooperation, particularly when other regions are moving toward greater regional integration involving businesses, investment, road and rail network,' he added. Khan said the 'issue of sanctuaries' was also discussed by the Afghan authorities in the recent talks. 'We stay engaged with the Afghan authorities and approach the dialogue with good faith,' he continued. 'In terms of the commonalities between the two countries, two cultures, it should be the best of relationships. But the core point which you flagged remains sanctuaries enjoyed by the terrorists inside the Afghan territory.' Islamabad has repeatedly urged Kabul to take action against groups such as the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which it says uses Afghan soil to plan and launch attacks. The Afghan Taliban, however, have always denied allowing any armed outfits to use their territory to target other countries.
Russia Today
5 days ago
- Business
- Russia Today
India to manufacture rare earth magnets locally due to Chinese supply cut
India is looking to manufacture rare earth magnets. A $156 million subsidy scheme has been introduced to domestic producers, the website Moneycontrol said on Friday. The South Asian nation possesses the world's third-largest reserves of rare earths, but less than 20% has been explored so far. 'It is proposed that there will be two manufacturers as of now, but this could change by the time the scheme is ready,' India's Minister of Heavy Industries and Steel has said, according to the website. An official at the ministry said the subsidy will be available to manufacturers that undertake end-to-end processing, from rare earth oxides to magnets. The proposed scheme aims to support both private companies and public sector enterprises by providing incentives to establish domestic capacity across the entire value chain. India Rare Earth Limited, a government-backed company, is set to play a crucial role by providing about 500 tons of rare earth raw materials to original equipment manufacturers involved in magnet production, the Moneycontrol report said. Billionaire Anil Agarwal's Vedanta Group, JSW Group and EV parts maker Sona BLW Precision Forgings Ltd. are among those who have expressed an interest in this initiative, according to a report by Bloomberg. New Delhi has stepped up its efforts to make the magnets that are used in electric vehicles, generators and hard drives, after Beijing announced export restrictions in April. China presently dominates the global market, accounting for around 60% of the world's supply of rare earth magnets. Under China's revised rules, its exporters are required to secure licenses and submit end-use declarations that confirm that materials will not be used in the defense industry or get re-exported to the US. Indian industry experts have called on the government to support the manufacturing of the component, which is also crucial for the renewable energy sector. In the 2024-25 fiscal year, the South Asian nation imported 53,748 tons of rare earth magnets, according to the Economic Times.
CNA
6 days ago
- Business
- CNA
Insight 2025/2026 - Sri Lanka Tourism: Triumph or Trap?
47:01 Min Three years ago, Sri Lanka teetered on the edge of economic collapse. Now, it is one the road to recovery. Is tourism a sustainable pathway out of its economic doldrums? Insight 2025/2026 About the show: INSIGHT is a one hour long hard current affairs programme that aims to open the minds of viewers to the political, social and economic realities facing today's societies. Every week, a team of producers will bring forward compelling arguments, impartial analysis and penetrating insights into topical issues of the day. What's on the menu are topics of concerns that have set the region talking as well as changing trends and events which impact Asia and beyond. INSIGHT will get you closer to the heart of the issues with insightful interviews and engaging conversations, bringing to you the real story from behind extraordinary experiences.
