Bangladesh

The attack in a settlement in the Bandarban area, south-eastern Bangladesh, while the inhabitants had gone to a Christmas celebration in a church in a nearby village. They had been victims of extortion demands in the past weeks. The incident is part of a long-standing pattern of oppression against the indigenous hill communities in the three hill districts.

The small Catholic community in Bangladesh celebrates Christmas with a mixture of confidence and concern in the new phase opened by the student movement that swept the Awami League in the summer. Dhaka Archbishop Bejoy N. D'Cruze: ‘We imagine a country at peace where marginalised people are treated with dignity and men and women enjoy the same rights’.

The decision was approved by the interim government at the end of a meeting chaired by Yunus. Vapes will be added to the list of items whose importation is prohibited. Fears over the possible development of a clandestine market. 67% of deaths are attributed to non-communicable diseases, with smoking and tobacco use being the main causes.

Rebeca Gomes, 56, vice president of the Bangladesh Christian Lawyers Association, has handled thousands of cases involving abuse against women and children over the past 19 years. She spoke to AsiaNews about her battle against violence in the home, in the workplace, in public places. More than 150 women were killed in the country in 2024 because of, among other things, a deeply rooted patriarchal culture.

The head of the transitional government met 32 representatives of religious communities, declaring that everyone in Bangladesh is part of the same family and pointing the finger at the ‘disinformation’ of some Indian media. The pastor of the Dhaka cathedral told AsiaNews, ‘We recognised that although some incidents have occurred, exaggerated or false news is also being spread. We want to live in harmony’.

Hundreds of students have taken to the streets in recent hours to demonstrate against the attack on the diplomatic representation, with serious damage to the building. Earlier there had been demonstrations in India against the arrest of Hindu leader Chinmoy Krishna Das in the neighbouring country. The two governments tighten control and security measures.

After bloody clashes between students in the capital, with at least 100 injured, St. Gregory's High School & College was forced to interrupt classes due to damage to its facilities. Its principal, Br Ribeiro, calls it a “premeditated assault". The army has restored order. Meanwhile, Chinmoy Krishna Das, a Hindu community leader, was arrested for "sedition" at Dhaka airport. The NGO representing religious minorities laments “unprecedented violence”.

The Himalayan country, which has abandoned fossil fuels thanks to surplus renewable energy in the monsoon season, has started exporting to Dhaka via the Indian power grid. The tripartite agreement provides for supplies from June to November, for five years. This is a turning point for connectivity between South Asian countries.

Having come to power after the ousting of the historic premier Hasina and the student protests, the interim executive does not seem to meet expectations. The issue of the fight against corruption is unresolved and there is a risk of a growing Islamic drift. Economic challenges, in particular the issue of inflation, continue to weigh on the citizens.

The story of 14-year-old Mahinur, who thanks to the Catholic organisation's Sddb programme was able to embark on a path to schooling. Coming from a poor family, she faced marginalisation and indifference for a long time; now she dreams of becoming a teacher. Like her, 6,378 people in eight districts receive support.

The interim prime minister met a delegation from the Bishops' Conference led by Archbishop Bejoy N. D'Cruze. The prelates call for a nation grounded in justice, human rights, and participatory governance. The Church's educational and healthcare institutions offer their services "regardless of caste or creed”. The bishops urge the government to simplify visa procedures for missionaries.

The Indian company close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi already has reduced supply and is now asking for payment of US$ 850 million. Bangladesh is struggling with foreign payments due to a shortage of foreign currency, while the caretaker government wants to revise the terms of the deal with India because its prices are too high.