Nazrul Islam Abdul Bashir and Sweety Akter were put to death in Saudi Arabia on 14 October. The controversial case has caused deep shock among activists and the general public, raising questions about the government’s actions. At the heart of the matter lie broader issues concerning the migrant economy and the protection of human rights.
New Delhi has revoked the system that allowed Bangladeshi goods to be exported to third countries via Indian territory. Dhaka responded by suspending imports of cotton yarn from India through five border crossings, including Benapole and Bhomra. In the background are India's concerns after Yunus's overture to China.
The latest to lose their lives were two students from Comilla while flying kites. Lightning is one of the leading causes of death in the country, with 3,845 deaths since 2011. Despite the development of early warning systems, deaths are mainly among farmers. The government is pushing for timely alerts via text message and phone calls, but obstacles remain in rural areas. Tree planting and awareness-raising are crucial preventive measures.
The meeting in 2017 in Bangladesh with a delegation of one million exiles from Myanmar was one of the most touching moments in the pontiff's trip. He often remembered that embrace in the following years. “Pope Francis was a beacon of hope for the marginalised, a voice for the voiceless, and a man whose humility touched hearts across all boundaries,” Peter Saiful told AsiaNews. Fr Josim, a tribal convert to Christianity whom the pontiff ordained a priest in Dhaka, was told: “Your hands are holy. Use these hands for holy work.”
More than 1,100 people, mostly female workers, died trapped in the textile garment factory. Wounds remain open due to slowed-down legal processes. But Caritas Bangladesh with its support programmes manages to be close to those who have lost their parents or have been disabled.
A climate of ‘universal celebration’ characterised the Bengali New Year of the year 1432 yesterday. An anniversary that unites followers of different religions in a country that has been going through serious political and social turmoil in recent months. Christian Association of Bangladesh: ‘It is an integral part of our history and our culture’.
The symbol of World Youth Day, commissioned by Wojtyla in 1984, has travelled through Bangladesh. It was consigned to the Koreans last November in the Vatican, together with a copy of the Salus Populi Romani icon. Welcomed with fervour by thousands of faithful, it made a stop in the dioceses of Dinajpur, Rajshahi and Dhaka. The joy of the local Catholic community: ‘It rekindles the commitment to follow Christ’. From 8 April it will be in Japan.
The Bangladeshi leader starts a four-day visit that is viewed with suspicion in New Delhi at a time when the regional balance of power in South Asia is still shaky after Sheikh Hasina’s ouster. Reducing interest on its loans is Dhaka's most important request to Xi Jinping. Large Chinese investments in solar panel production and other outsourcing opportunities in Bangladesh are other top issues.
The sector drives the Bangladeshi economy with 85% of total exports and a related industry worth 47 billion dollars. However, many workers are demanding payment of numerous months of arrears and bonuses linked to the festival celebrating the end of Ramadan. The empty promises of company management, with the police repressing the demonstrations.
Piyas Majumder, 22, was shot in broad daylight during a robbery in Kotalipara, Gopalganj. Concerns grow following the violent death, sparking protests among minorities who want greater law enforcement. In the first seven months of the country’s provisional government, the death tool from gang violence reached 119. For Abdul Wahab Minar, December elections are impossible without change.
Youth from around the country travelled to Birishiri, Diocese of Mymensingh, for the gathering promoted by the Bishops' Conference in the Jubilee Year. Archbishop Bejoy N. D'Cruze of Dhaka urges youth “to be more actively engaged in the Church, making it more vibrant and beautiful.”
The 42-year-old nun, of the Associates of Mary Queen of Apostles, has been running the St George dispensary in Sherpur since 2009. She visits 40 patients a day, 90 per cent of whom are Muslim. Infertility and infections are the most common ailments. ‘We don't just offer treatment, but also dignity,’ she told AsiaNews. ‘If we all practised unconditional love, the world would be more beautiful and peaceful’.
Taslima Nasrin, a physician and activist, went into exile in 1994 after extremist groups made threats against her. The head of Bangladesh’s interim government Muhammad Yunus denounced the incident asking police to strengthen security measures. Tensions mounted on social media in the days leading up to the opening of the event.
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