World Defense Forum

D-8: Chief Adviser Yunus set to embark on Egypt tour tonight
Published :
Dec 17, 2024 19:28
Updated :
Dec 17, 2024 19:28



Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus is set to leave Dhaka tonight (Tuesday night) on a three-day visit to Egypt to attend the 11th D-8 Summit in Cairo.

“The Chief Adviser will leave here for Egypt tonight to attend the D-8 Summit,” said CA's Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder at a press briefing at the Foreign Service Academy.

He said the flight carrying the chief adviser will depart here around 1:00 am (Wednesday), UNB reports.

Heads of government from several more countries, including Bangladesh, Indonesia, Turkey, Iran and Pakistan, will join the summit (on Dec 19), Azad Majumder said.

Referring to the theme of this year's D-8 Summit, “Investing in Youth and Supporting SMEs: Shaping Tomorrow's Economy,” he said this summit is important for Bangladesh as the chief adviser has been speaking for utilising the strength and potential of youths after taking over the charge.

“He (CA) always wants our youths to flourish with their full potential and he has been working to this end. Now he will get a scope to work on it in a global forum (D-8),” he said.

Besides, the Chief Adviser will deliver a lecture in the Al-Azhar University in Cairo, said Azad Majumder.

CA's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam also spoke at the briefing, while CA’s Senior Assistant Press Secretary Foyez Ahammad was present.

This week marks an "important moment" for the D-8 with the 48th Session of the D-8 Commission meeting held in Cairo.

Over the next few days, key discussions will unfold, culminating in the 21st Session of the D-8 Council of Foreign Ministers on December 18 and the highly anticipated 11th D-8 Summit on December 19.

These meetings will bring together leaders to strengthen economic cooperation and outline a shared vision for sustainable development among member states.

The D-8 Organisation for Economic Cooperation, also known as Developing-8, is an organisation for development cooperation among Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Turkey.​

Russia paves way to remove Taliban from ‘terror’ list
Agence France-Presse . Moscow 17 December, 2024, 22:26


AFP file photo

Russia’s parliament on Tuesday approved a bill that could pave the way for Moscow to lift its designation of the Taliban as a banned ‘terrorist’ organisation.

Moscow has courted relations with the Taliban since they seized power in Afghanistan after the United States’ chaotic withdrawal from in 2021.

Officials have since been pushing to remove the Islamist group from Moscow’s official list of outlawed ‘terrorist’ groups.

The State Duma passed a bill outlining a mechanism for groups to be legally removed from the list — putting the necessary legal framework in place for an expected future decision.

The bill now passes to the upper-house Federation Council and then to president Vladimir Putin to sign into law.

In a visit to Kabul last month, top Russian security officials told their Afghan counterparts that Moscow would soon remove the Taliban from the list of banned organisations.

Under the proposed system, Russia’s Prosecutor General would file a request with a Russian court outlining that a group has ‘ceased’ its activities ‘in support of terrorism’. A judge could then rule to remove the designation.

The expected move would not amount to a formal recognition of the Taliban government and what it calls the ‘Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’ — a step no country has yet taken.

Putin called the Taliban ‘allies in the fight against terrorism’ earlier this year, while Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has called for the West to remove sanctions on Afghanistan and take ‘responsibility’ for reconstruction efforts in the country.

Russia’s allies in Central Asia — Afghanistan’s neighbours — are also pledging better relations with the Taliban. Kazakhstan removed the Taliban from its own list of banned ‘terrorist’ groups at the end of 2023.

The move could boost diplomacy between Moscow and Afghanistan, with both countries facing isolation in the West.

After seizing power in 2021, the Taliban have enforced an extreme form of Islamic law that effectively bans women from public life.​

‘Independent body needed to protect human rights defenders’


VISUAL: STAR

ASM Nasiruddin Elan, director of Odhikar who has suffered prosecution during the ousted Awami League regime, talks about his experience and the overall state of human rights defenders in Bangladesh, in an exclusive interview with Noshin Nawal of The Daily Star.

Could you tell us about your journey with Odhikar and the challenges you have faced during your years of advocacy?

My journey with Odhikar has been filled with challenges, but it has also been one of deep purpose. Odhikar has always stood for factual documentation of human rights abuses, focusing on issues like extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances. However, this work came at a significant personal cost.

One of the turning points was the aftermath of the Hefazat-e-Islam rally on May 5-6, 2013. That night, a joint force carried out an operation under the cover of darkness, and widespread reports claimed that many people had died. Given Odhikar's mandate, we felt it was our responsibility to investigate these claims.

We conducted a fact-finding mission and published a report in June that year. The report revealed that 61 percent of the claims were related to extrajudicial killings. At the time, the government categorically denied any casualties. However, later, they contradicted themselves and admitted to an obscure and insignificant number of deaths.

The information minister at the time, Hasanul Haq Inu, via an official letter on his behalf, asked for the names of the deceased. We declined as sharing this information could lead to further victimisation of the victims' families. Instead, we proposed forming a judicial inquiry committee, led by an independent judge. The government ignored this suggestion, and shortly thereafter, charges were filed against us.

What happened after the charges were filed? How did the state respond to your findings?

The charges were filed very quickly. Adilur Rahman Khan, Odhikar's secretary, was the first to be detained on August 10, 2013. He was picked up from his home, and for a time, we had no information about his whereabouts. Later, it became clear that the Detective Branch (DB) of police had taken him.

Not long after, I was named as the second accused in the charge sheet. I surrendered to the court on November 7, 2013, and was sent to jail. We were accused of publishing false information under the ICT Act, 2006. In jail, the environment was hostile, with officials making it a point to mock us. I vividly remember a newly appointed deputy jailer sarcastically asking what the state of human rights in the country is if the human rights defenders are in jail.


ASM Nasiruddin Elan, left, with Adilur Rahman Khan as they are escorted by the police at a Dhaka court. FILE PHOTO: COLLECTED

How did the judicial process unfold, and what were the key challenges you faced?

The judicial process was incredibly biased. Initially, the case was stayed in the High Court, but after the Covid pandemic, the stay was lifted, and the trial moved forward with undue haste.

The case was eventually transferred to the Cyber Tribunal where it became evident that the government was exerting significant pressure to secure a conviction. The judge handling the case indirectly stated that the report should be removed from Odhikar's website, showing a clear intent to suppress documented evidence rather than address the substance of our findings.

Despite insufficient evidence, both Adilur and I were sentenced to two years in prison and fined Tk 10,000 each. The rushed nature of the trial, combined with the pressure on the judiciary, demonstrated how deeply compromised the system had become.

The Hefazat rally report seems to have been a catalyst for these events. Could you elaborate on its broader implications?

The report was a significant moment for Odhikar. It directly contradicted the state's narrative and highlighted the need for accountability. But instead of addressing the findings, the government attacked us.

The charges and subsequent trial were not just about silencing Odhikar, they were about sending a message to anyone who dared challenge the state's version of events. This was not only an attack on our organisation but also on the broader principles of freedom of expression and the right to truth.

The reality was that our report was factual and based on verified data. The state's response was not about the report's accuracy—it was about silencing Odhikar and discouraging others from documenting human rights abuses.

You mentioned suppression of evidence and pressure on the judiciary. What does this say about the state of institutional integrity at the time?

The judiciary and law enforcement agencies were deeply compromised. The judiciary, instead of upholding the principles of justice, acted under government influence. Law enforcement was weaponised to detain and intimidate human rights defenders. The entire system was used to silence dissent and maintain control. It became clear that institutions meant to protect citizens were instead serving the interests of the regime.

Could you share your experience regarding how you were treated in jail and during the hearings, particularly by the police?

It was extremely humiliating. After the sentencing, even before the formal verdict was fully announced, the courtroom was effectively controlled by law enforcement. They immediately restrained both me and Adilur, physically holding us down and not allowing us to interact with our supporters or even say a proper goodbye. Four police officers grabbed each of us, pushing and dragging us out of the courtroom as if we were violent criminals, which we were not.

Once we reached the prison transfer centre, I remember how I was shoved into the vehicle with such force that I stumbled and fell inside. There was no regard for our dignity or basic human decency. This behaviour was not only degrading but also violated our constitutional rights to dignity and personal liberty, as guaranteed under Article 31 of the constitution.

What rights and methods of protection are currently available to human rights activists in Bangladesh? Do you think they are sufficient?

There is no dedicated institutional mechanism or framework in Bangladesh to protect human rights defenders. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in the past 15 years has only been a pawn, a recommendation-making puppet without any purpose.

Internationally, the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Defenders provides a set of guidelines and protections, but these are not formally implemented in our country. Activists like us are left vulnerable to harassment, legal persecution, and even physical harm. The state does not ensure adequate safety measures for human rights defenders. On the contrary, it often creates an atmosphere of fear. Activists are frequently targeted with surveillance, arbitrary detentions, fabricated charges, and smear campaigns. The lack of accountability within the law enforcement agencies exacerbates this issue.

In short, the protections that currently exist are far from sufficient. Activists need legal, institutional, and social safeguards to carry out their work without fear of reprisal. Until then, the challenges we face will continue to deter many from standing up for what is right.

Recently, there has been much discussion about violence against minorities, particularly Hindus. How do you view these narratives in the context of your experience as a human rights activist?

The issue of violence against minorities is complex, and much of the narrative surrounding it has been shaped by disinformation. While there were genuine incidents that required attention, many claims were exaggerated or manipulated for political purposes.

For instance, certain actors, both domestic and international, have used these narratives to portray Bangladesh as a country of systematic minority persecution. This disinformation often overshadows the real issues, making it harder to address the root causes and creating unnecessary divisions within society. There are more known incidents of attacks on persons for their political liaisons which are later mispresented in media platforms as minority attacks. The most pervasive issue here is politicisation of communities.

Recently, India has shown significant negativity towards Bangladesh's interim government, largely due to its vested interests and historical affiliation with the ousted Awami League government. The Awami League maintained close ties with India, often aligning with its strategic and political goals. Many Bangladeshis view India's actions as interference, given the widespread sentiment against undue external influence in domestic affairs. India's dissatisfaction stems from losing its reliable ally in the Awami League, prompting attempts to delegitimise the interim government. However, most Bangladeshis do not endorse India's approach, seeking a more balanced and independent foreign policy.

As Bangladesh transitions away from fascist rule, what steps are necessary to rebuild trust and protect human rights?

As per Odhikar's reports, 1,581 people including children were killed, over 18,000 were injured and 550 people sustained injuries that damaged their eyesight during the July uprising. These numbers are expected to be much higher as the tally continues. We as a nation cannot allow a repeat of such instances. Rebuilding trust requires systemic reform. The judiciary and law enforcement must be depoliticised and operate independently. Without this, it will be impossible to ensure justice and accountability.

Disinformation must also be addressed. The state and civil society must work together to promote factual narratives and counter exaggerated claims. This includes fostering communal harmony and addressing any genuine grievances through transparent processes.

Human rights defenders need to be protected. Our work is essential for holding power accountable and ensuring that the voices of the marginalised are heard. Creating a safe environment for this work is crucial for Bangladesh's progress.

What are your reflections on this moment in Bangladesh's history?

If Bangladesh is serious about ensuring human rights, it must establish an independent body to monitor and protect human rights defenders. This body must have the authority to investigate threats, offer legal aid, and ensure that law enforcement agencies do not act as instruments of repression. Without such a mechanism, human rights work and workers in Bangladesh will remain in danger, and the principles of justice and accountability will continue to suffer.​

Single-journey ticket crisis: Metro rail urges passengers to arrive early

Star File Photo

The metro rail authority has urged passengers to arrive at stations with extra time in hand, as the issuance of single-journey tickets is taking additional time at some stations.

Dhaka Mass Transit Company Ltd, the operational agency of metro rail, hopes the crisis regarding single-journey tickets will be improved within this month.

The state-run company tonight issued a notice on its verified Facebook in this regard.

The notice came as many passengers complained that they could not avail of metro rail service in the last few days due to a shortage of single-journey tickets.

Earlier, the authority said over two lakh single-journey tickets went missing after they launched the service in December 2022, causing problems in its operation.

However, people having MRT pass or Rapid passes are not facing problems.

Today, the authority said it is taking more time to issue single-journey tickets at important stations due to an increase in passengers.

Besides, passengers not submitting single-journey tickets at fixed slots and tickets becoming non-functional are causing the problems temporarily, it said.

To mitigate the problem, the authority is working to collect more single-journey tickets soon. Besides, they are considering an alternative system to sell tickets using QR Code to solve the problem, it read.

The metro rail authority regretted the inconvenience caused to passengers.​

Commission finds more than 8 secret detention centres
Staff Correspondent
Dhaka
Published: 16 Dec 2024, 22: 29



The Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearance has found more than eight secret detention facilities where victims of enforced disappearance were kept.

The Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI), Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crimes (CTTC) of police, are among the agencies that would operate these detention centres, finds the commission.

Apart from these detention centers, the victims of enforced disappearance would also be kept with legal detainees.

“Contrary to the perception that the victims were exclusively held in secret cells, interviews with survivors have revealed that many were detained in cells that also housed legal detainees,” said the report.

“This overlap of legal and illegal detainees within the same facilities highlights the complexity of their detention circumstances,” it adds.

This information was revealed in the commission’s interim report.

The commission submitted the report titled 'Unfolding the Truth' to the Chief Adviser at the state guest house Jamuna on Saturday afternoon.

The report said that the commission has so far received 1,676 complaints regarding the disappearances. Out of these, 758 complaints have been verified and sorted out.

The report unveiled a grim picture of how the victims were kept confined in these detention centers without any trace.

“Victims were detained for varying periods, ranging from 48–60 hours to several weeks or months, and in some cases, up to eight years,” the report said.

The commission has been able to map the locations of detention centers through detailed interviews of the living victims.

“In one instance, a victim described a distinctive door in a facility, allowing us to identify a room that had once been subdivided into three cells, even though the partitions were demolished by the time of our visit. Other evidence at the site, which we documented, corroborated the victim's testimony. Furthermore, these interviews also helped us identify the areas within the same facility where legal detainees were kept. This pattern of shifting detainees between unlawful and lawful cells within the same facility is a key focus of our ongoing inquiry.

It underscores the deliberate attempts to disguise illegal detentions and demonstrates the need for further inquiry into these practices,” said the report.

During this reporting period, the commission conducted visits to twelve offices of various security forces in Dhaka and Chittagong. The purpose of these visits was to inspect interrogation rooms, detention facilities, and equipment; gather information and testimony; and meet with senior officials from law enforcement and security forces.

“At the time of our visits, some of these facilities were still intact, while others had been destroyed. To safeguard the integrity of our inquiry, the details of these facilities will be disclosed in a future report,” said the report.

The commission said it visited the following offices: DGFI; CTTC; Detective Branch headquarters, Dhaka Metropolitan Police; Detective Branch, Chittagong Metropolitan Police; RAB units 1, 2, 4, 7, and 11, including RAB 2, CPC 3; RAB forces headquarters; Chittagong Central Jail; and the National Security Intelligence, Chittagong division.​

Non-leather footwear on course to half-billion export club

Bangladesh's synthetic and athletic footwear exports have been growing rapidly, emerging as a bright spot in the country's export basket, which is heavily dominated by readymade garments.

In the decade preceding the end of fiscal year 2023-24, non-leather footwear exports ballooned 120 percent, jumping from $189 million to $416 million.

Such robust growth has continued into the current fiscal year, according to the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB).

In the first five months of FY25, non-leather footwear exports grew 41 percent year-on-year to $217.81 million, EPB data shows.

Exporters anticipate that the sector is poised to enter the half-billion-dollar club by the end of this fiscal year, joining leather footwear, jute and jute goods, home textiles and agricultural products.

"Western buyers are turning away from global footwear giant China to diversify their sourcing basket and avert looming large tariffs on Beijing from the White House," Riad Mahmud, managing director of Shoeniverse Footwear, said as he outlined reasons for the segment's growth.

Mahmud's footwear factory in Mymensingh, which employs around 1,700 people, supplies products to global brands such as Inditex, Aldi, Matalan and RedTape.

Although Bangladesh has long been trying to diversify its export basket, readymade garments still account for over 80 percent of total exports.

Mahmud said global brands are well aware of Bangladesh's advantages, such as competitive labour pricing, and its strong track record in apparel products, which encourages them to place footwear orders.

"Bangladeshi manufacturers can offer competitive prices for synthetic shoes compared to Vietnam due to lower labour costs. This has attracted globally renowned brands and new buyers," he added.

He said big brands had booked Shoeniverse's factory until March next year and buyers are now approaching him for future slots due to the possibility of the US imposing higher tariffs on Chinese products.

According to a market assessment by the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (Bida), the rise in non-leather shipments is a result of increased work orders from well-known global brands like H&M, Puma, Decathlon, FILA and Kappa.

The main export destinations for these products are Spain, France, the Netherlands, South Korea, India, Italy and Germany.

BETTER THAN LEATHER

EPB data shows that Bangladesh's non-leather footwear exports have grown at an average annual rate of 23 percent in the past 10 years while the leather footwear industry has seen average growth of only 6 percent.

Leather footwear exports grew to just over $544 million in FY24 from $483.81 million in FY15.

However, despite the segment's enormous potential, synthetic shoe exporters receive a cash incentive of only 4 percent, Mahmud said, adding that the leather footwear sector was afforded 15 percent.

Though dominated by small-scale factories, the synthetic footwear segment is rapidly growing due to the relatively low investment required to set up an export-oriented production unit.

"It doesn't matter who enters the Oval Office after Trump since Bangladeshi manufacturers of synthetic footwear are well-positioned to capitalise on any tariffs on China in the meanwhile," Mahmud said.

SYNTHETIC FOOTWEAR THE FUTURE OF EXPORT

Jakaria Shahid, managing director of Edison Footwear Limited, believes the synthetic footwear industry will hold the key to export diversification in the future due to its rapid growth.

However, he added that top global brands like Nike and Adidas have not ventured into Bangladesh because manufacturers fail to maintain lead times.

Mohammad Shahadat Ullah, executive director of Maf Shoes, which exports to France and Germany, said, "Our exports have increased compared to last year as buyers are placing more orders."

Maf Shoes, a sister concern of TK Group, has a daily production capacity of over 50,000 pairs of shoes.

Kamruzzaman Kamal, marketing director of industrial conglomerate PRAN-RFL Group, said RFL began exporting non-leather footwear products in 2021. Currently, RFL footwear products are shipped to 37 countries.

"Given the huge global demand and potential for rapid growth, this sector can quickly emerge as a major export earner," he added.

BOTTLENECKS NEED TO BE REMOVED

Nasir Khan, chairman and managing director of Jennys Shoes, said Chinese companies are now lining up to invest in Bangladesh to avoid high tariffs in the US market.

"However, we are confused about our ability to seize this business opportunity due to the non-cooperation of customs officials," Khan alleged.

He said local manufacturers must now spend at least three and a half months to negotiate and secure an export order.

Khan claimed that despite the bright future of both leather and non-leather footwear, exports have been limited to $1 billion over the past two decades due to the non-cooperation of customs officials.

"The customs authorities receive, at best, Tk 50 crore in import duty from leather product manufacturers annually. Manufacturers must bring raw materials into bonded warehouses," he said.

But, if the National Board of Revenue (NBR) reduces the duty to a minimum and allows the import of raw materials without the bonded warehouse condition, government revenue could increase manifold, he added.

MA Razzaque, chairman of Research and Policy Integration for Development (RAPID), said local leather footwear exports are struggling to grow due to the non-compliance of the tannery estate in Savar.

In contrast, he said, the synthetic footwear industry does not have such compliance requirements, leading to increased exports.

According to Maximize Market Research, a global market research and consultancy firm, the global athletic footwear market was valued at $68.26 billion in 2023.

The market is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 7.11 percent from 2024 to 2030.​

Khaleda Zia to attend public rally after 7 yrs
Special Correspondent
Dhaka
Updated: 15 Dec 2024, 16: 19


BNP chairperson Khaleda ZiaFile photo

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chairperson Khaleda Zia will attend a rally of the Jatiotabadi Muktijoddha Dal as the chief guest on 21 December. With this, she’s going to join a political programme for the first time in seven years.

Jatiotabadi Muktijoddha Dal president Istiaq Aziz Ulfat told Prothom Alo today, Sunday, that he along with BNP standing committee member Major (retd) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed met with party chairperson Khaleda Zia Saturday night.

He said that they invited the BNP chairperson to attend the rally of the Jatiyatabadi Muktijoddha Dal as the chief guest.

Istiaq Aziz Ulfat mentioned that former prime minister Khaleda Zia has accepted their invitation and promised to attend the rally in person. Acting chairperson of BNP, Tarique Rahman will also join the rally virtually from London.

The rally is being organised at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) in the city at 2:00 pm on 21 December.

BNP along with its associated and affiliated organisations is holding different programmes on the occasion of the victory day. The Jatiotabadi Muktijoddha Dal is organising that rally as part of the programmes.

Ishtiaq Aziz Ulfat further stated that the freedom fighters will be coming to Dhaka from all over the country and join the rally on 21 December.

The last time BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia had addressed a rally of her party was on 12 November 2017 at the Suhrawardy Udyan in Dhaka. Later, she was arrested on 8 February 2018.

Khaleda Zia was sentenced to imprisonment in two cases of corruption under the rule of the then government of Bangladesh Awami League. She was in prison for more than two years.

Then on 25 March 2020, the government suspended her sentence to free her on conditions through an executive order. Since then the government had been extending the suspension on her sentence every six months based on appeals.

After ruling for 15 and a half years at a stretch, the AL government fell in the face of a mass uprising led by students on 5 August. Khaleda Zia was freed with a presidential order the very next day on 6 August.

Regarding her release, a press release sent from the Bangabhaban, the official residence of the president, stated that Khaleda Zia has been freed following a meeting of President Mohammed Shahabuddin with chiefs of three services, leaders of different political parties, representatives of civil society and leaders of Students Against Discrimination movement.

Khaleda Zia then attended a reception at Senakunja on the occasion of the Armed Forces day on 21 November after more than a decade. Now after seven years, she’s going to attend a political programme, a rally organised by the Jatiotabadi Muktijoddha Dal on 21 December.

Speaking about this, BNP chairperson’s media wing official Shamsuddin Didar told Prothom Alo, “With the rally of freedom fighters, Khaleda Zia is joining a public rally or a political programme in a free environment after seven long years.”​

Foreigners showing more interest to invest in shipping sector, says Sakhawat
FE ONLINE DESK
Published :
Dec 15, 2024 22:38
Updated :
Dec 15, 2024 22:38



Shipping, and Labour and Employment Adviser Brig Gen (retd) Dr M Sakhawat Hussain on Sunday said foreigners have been showing more interest to invest in the country’s shipping, maritime and port infrastructure development sectors.

“The government has already taken various steps for maritime sector development, including reducing the port congestion to ease imports-exports,” he said while speaking at a view-exchange with a delegation of the Shipping Reporters’ Forum at his ministry in Dhaka.

Sakhawat Hussain said the ministry has planned to build an international stander dockyard in Matarbari Deep Sea Port with support of the World Bank, reports BSS.

He said the ministry also took steps to increase facilities of carrying passengers and goods via waterway.

Besides, the shipping ministry has taken steps to turn Mongla Sea Port into an environmental friendly green port.

The present interim government is working relentlessly for the country and its people, he added.

The adviser urged the journalists to publish objective news for the development of the country.​

Pakistan wants to import medicine from Bangladesh
United News of Bangladesh . Dhaka 15 December, 2024, 17:24


Pakistan high commissioner to Bangladesh Syed Ahmed Maroof calls on health adviser Nurjahan Begum at her office in Dhaka on Sunday. | UNB Photo

Pakistan has shown its keenness to import medicine from Bangladesh.

Pakistan high commissioner to Bangladesh Syed Ahmed Maroof expressed the interest when he called on health adviser Nurjahan Begum at her office on Sunday.

Bangladesh had made significant progress in the pharmaceutical sector, and Pakistan was interested in importing medicines from Bangladesh, said Maroof.

Healthcare, trade, and overall cooperation between the two countries came for discussion during the meeting.​