Author: TheStateLine

New Delhi, Jan 23 (IANS) Bangladesh’s former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina condemned Dhaka’s interim government led by Muhammad Yunus in her harshest words yet, accusing it of plunging the country into “an age of terror”, and termed the Chief Adviser a “murderous fascist”.In a 10-minute audio message played during a media interaction by Awami League (AL) leaders at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of South Asia in central Delhi on Friday, the deposed leader described Bangladesh as “bleeding” and standing “at the edge of an abyss”.Recounting the legacy of her father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who is hailed as the architect of Bangladesh, the 78-year-old AL leader alleged that the homeland won through the Liberation War of 1971 has been reduced to “a vast prison, an execution ground, a valley of ...

Paris, Jan 23 (IANS) A leading human rights organisation on Friday asserted that the gravest threat to the independence of lawyers in Bangladesh stems not from chaos, but from governance failure under the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government.The statement came ahead of the 16th International Day of Endangered Lawyers on Saturday.In its statement, Justice Makers Bangladesh in France (JMBF), a Paris-based human rights organisation, said, “The interim government was entrusted with a moral and political mandate—to stabilise institutions, restore justice, and protect fundamental rights. Instead, under its leadership, the legal profession has been driven into systematic fear, repression, and bloodshed. What our report documents is not mere negligence, but a pattern of tolerance, acquiescence, a...

Dhaka, Jan 23 (IANS) Bangladesh risks being embedded in a Sino-Pakistan security ecosystem – one that serves Beijing’s regional ambitions at the expense of Dhaka’s national interest. Since Muhammad Yunus assumed office as the interim government’s chief advisor in 2024, Bangladesh has renewed and broadened discussions on procuring advanced Chinese military hardware, including fourth-generation fighter jets such as the J-10C, a report highlighted on Friday.According to a report in the leading Bangladeshi weekly 'Blitz', these negotiations are reportedly taking place not only directly with Beijing but also through Sino-Pakistani joint-venture mechanisms –further complicating Bangladesh’s strategic position.“When US Ambassador to Bangladesh Brent Christensen publicly warned about the long-term...

Tel Aviv, Jan 23 (IANS) Bangladesh’s national election on February 12 has raised concerns over the potential resurgence, whether "direct or indirect", of Islamist radical forces, including Jamaat-e-Islami and affiliated networks. Although these groups often present their activities as part of democratic processes, their ideological roots and historical conduct suggest otherwise, a report highlighted on Friday.Writing for ‘Times of Israel’, Sergio Restelli, an Italian political advisor, author and geopolitical expert, stated that Jamaat-e-Islami opposed Bangladesh's independence in 1971 from Pakistan and has long maintained ideological ties with transnational Islamist movements, including the Muslim Brotherhood, which is known for opposing pluralism, secular governance, and regional coopera...