Bangladesh

The Prefect of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue visited Bangladesh for a week to meet with religious leaders, government officials and members of the community. The President of the Supreme Court called for overcoming religious, gender and racial divisions in order to achieve a peaceful and inclusive society. The cardinal's homily focused on humility and the dangers of pride.

The closure of 72 factories has left 73,000 people unemployed, pushing many young people into drugs and crime. In six months, 1,600 people have been arrested for crimes such as robbery and assault, half of them unemployed. Experts call for action in what was an Awami League stronghold, where some groups are now sowing chaos to destabilise the entire region.

Hundreds of people attended the ordination of Fr Limon Biswas, a PIME missionary like Fr Antonio Marietti, who was the first to speak about Jesus in 1856 in Jessore, a village in the present-day Diocese of Khulna. Now he himself will leave as a missionary for Papua New Guinea. “I hope he will spread the Gospel with dedication and love,” said Bishop Boiragi.

This is done for the first time since 1971, when the country gained independence through war. The agreement, which will last for five years and follows a meeting of senior Pakistani government ministers visiting Bangladesh, reflects a new balance of power following Sheikh Hasina's flight a year ago. In addition to visas, the two countries sign cooperation agreements in education, media, and trade.

A tragedy of poverty and gambling addiction lies in a father's decision to take his own life after killing his wife and two children. In a statement, Minarul Islam mentions “debt and hunger”. This tragedy is like several others that have occurred in recent weeks. Investigators have opened a case to shed light on the organisation that lent the man money.

Malaysia and Bangladesh have decided to resume the recruitment of Bangladeshi workers, which was blocked after the discovery of criminal cartels defrauding migrants. The agreement provides for equal social security benefits for foreign workers and the possibility of filing complaints in Bengali.

During the International Day of Indigenous Peoples, some Christian leaders denounced exclusion and discrimination and renewed a series of demands to the government, including constitutional recognition, implementation of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord and the establishment of a land commission.

5 August 2024 marked the end of 15 years of authoritarian rule by the Awami League. But one year after what is now called “Liberation Day”, promises of justice and inclusion remain largely unfulfilled. Tonight, Prime Minister Muhammad Yunus will read the July Declaration before Parliament.

The arrest of a young man for blasphemy sparked mob violence in a village that saw 14 Hindu homes vandalised, forcing about 50 families to flee. After police arrived, several agents were injured. The incident highlights the rise in anti-minority violence in Bangladesh following last summer's protests that ousted Sheikh Hasina's government.

At over 4,000 metres above sea level on the Yarlung Tsangpo, Tibet’s sacred river that becomes the Brahmaputra in India, the dam includes a system of five cascading plants that will produce enough energy to power the entire United Kingdom. Concerns have been raised about its location in an earthquake-prone area and the forced displacement of populations. The political implications will impact relations with Delhi and Dhaka on the crucial issue of water management.

Dozens of injured are being treated in various hospitals. The story of a boy who pulled a younger girl from the rubble and brought her to safety. The army praises the heroism of the pilot, who died in the tragedy, who reportedly tried to avoid populated areas. However, it was his first solo training flight. The secretary of the Episcopal Conference, Monsignor Kubi, expresses the condolences of the Catholic Church

At least four people were killed during a demonstration by the youth student party that led to the ouster of former Prime Minister Hasina. The incident comes amid growing sectarian violence that has claimed more than 140 lives in the past ten months. Religious minorities and human rights defenders complain about a climate of terror and call for quick elections to overcome the weaknesses of the current caretaker government.