New Delhi, Feb 11 (IANS) The recently announced reciprocal trade deal with the United States does ensure Dhaka a “marginal” duty cut to 19 per cent, but comes “at a steep cost”, including a commitment “to billions of dollars in purchases”, according to an analysis in Bangladesh media.“Bangladesh’s interim government has signed a sweeping trade agreement with the United States at the twilight of its tenure to secure a partial tariff relief, but the deal comes with significant geop…
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Dhaka, Feb 11 (IANS) As Bangladesh prepares to vote in its 13th Parliamentary elections on Thursday, incidents of political violence and attacks on journalists have surged across the country, local media reported on Wednesday, citing a Dhaka-based human rights organisation.In its latest findings, the rights group Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) revealed that at least 47 journalists were subjected to violence in the first 10 days of February, following 16 in January, and 11 in December 2025, raising se…
Washington, Feb 10 (IANS) The United States on Tuesday said that it does not take sides in Bangladesh’s elections and underscored that the choice of the country’s next government rests solely with the Bangladeshi people.“The United States does not take sides in Bangladesh’s elections. The choice of Bangladesh’s next government is a sovereign decision for the Bangladeshi people alone,” a State Department spokesperson told IANS ahead of the elections in Bangladesh.“The choice of Bang…
United Nations, Feb 10 (IANS) UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is concerned about reports of attacks on journalists by the military and police ahead of Thursday’s Bangladesh parliamentary elections, according to his Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric. “For us, it’s clear and important that the elections in Bangladesh take place in atmosphere that is peaceful, in a way that is inclusive, in line with Bangladesh’s own constitution and international obligations”, Dujarric said on Monday. He wa…
Dhaka, Feb 9 (IANS) Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has voiced serious concerns after 21 employees of an online news portal ‘Bangladesh Times’ were allegedly picked up by army personnel and taken to an army camp. TIB has termed the action as unacceptable and an attempt to create fear among journalists, local media reported. During a speech at an event, TIB Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman condemned the army’s action and stressed that the incident at the office of media outlet set a…
Dhaka, Feb 8 (IANS) As Bangladesh heads into a high-stakes national election, women candidates are confronting an intensifying wave of cyber harassment, coordinated online abuse and targeted misinformation, according to local media reports.Women account for just around four per cent of candidates in the upcoming national polls, exposing entrenched gender barriers in a political landscape where women form half the population but barely figure on the ballot.Several women candidates across constitu…
Dhaka, Feb 7 (IANS) At least 50 people, including several journalists, were injured after repeated clashes broke out between law enforcement personnel and Inqilab Mancha activists in Dhaka’s Shahbagh area, where police resorted to baton charges, tear gas shells and sound grenades to disperse protesters, local media reported on Saturday.This comes as the journalists have been under constant threat after the interim government took over in Bangladesh. The attacks on media professionals have been…
Washington, Feb 6 (IANS) With Bangladesh heading for elections next week, the Muhammad Yunus led interim government which came to power in 2024 following the overthrow of Sheikh Hasina led Awami League government, failed to maintain law and order and deliver on promised human rights reforms, a leading US-based rights group Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in its 2026 World Report.The HRW stated that the interim government arbitrarily detained thousands of perceived political opponents and, in May, …
New Delhi, Feb 5 (IANS) Climate change and industrial pollution are worsening the healthcare crisis in Bangladesh, according to a media report.The Irish Times reported that despite emitting only about 0.3 per cent of global CO2 emissions from combustible fuels, the air quality in Bangladesh’s capital city, Dhaka, regularly ranks among the worst in the world. This is surging diseases such as asthma, lung cancer, bronchitis, pneumonia, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in the capital cit…
New Delhi, Feb 4 (IANS) Two days after an anti-graft body raised concerns over political violence and attacks on minorities, a human rights organisation has flagged the rising political and mob violence ahead of Bangladesh’s February 12 general election, according to media reports. It pointed at the increase in mob violence and lynching, terming these as “extremely alarming”, reported Bangladesh’s The Daily Star on Wednesday, quoting Human Rights Support Society (HRSS).Data collected fro…