West Bengal poll: who is going to make last smile?



Kanak Joyti Barua, Contributing Correspondent, Barta24.com
ছবি: সংগৃহীত

ছবি: সংগৃহীত

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The counting of the results of the eight-phase assembly elections in the Indian state of West Bengal will be completed on Sunday (May 2). It is unknown at this time who is going make last smile. Both the ruling Trinamool Congress(TMC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are optimistic about winning a majority in the state. However, some polls observer suggest that the next government will be formed with the support of the Left-Congress, rather than a single majority.

Political parties, however, are shouting for their own victory by thwarting various surveys and polls. 'Trinamool victory is assured! We will come to the government. I am returning to power with 200 seats, ”said Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in a confident, convincing language just hours before the vote count.

The Trinamool leader made it clear to the party's candidates, "I am returning with a two-thirds majority. Everyone has fought hard in the election period. Sunday (May 2) is the day of the last battle. As a result, even on that day, the ground will have to be bitten at the counting center, 'said Trinamool leader Mamata Banerjee to the leaders, activists and supporters.

This time the election has been completed for a long time. It ran from March 27 to April 29. Eight rounds of voting have been completed in the 2021 elections and the results will be announced at the same time on Sunday (May 2).

The Booth return survey has already found mixed opinions. According to a survey, Bengal is in the hands of the Trinamool. The BJP will get seats around 70. It can't defeat the TMC. According to a survey, the BJP will get a majority in the 294-seat assembly.

In addition to the tension and bloodshed in the just-concluded election, there was a power exercise. Mamata fought with a broken leg. The BJP has used all its might to win with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah leading the battle. In addition to weapons, black money, muscle power, etc., incitement to communalism and torture of minorities have taken place in the elections. In the relatively peaceful and harmonious politics of West Bengal, there have also been incidents of new polarization on the basis of extreme fanaticism.

Not only that, the leadership was adamant in the seizure of power despite the experts' prohibition on the expansion of Corona and the awfulness of the situation. Leaders have held meetings, rallies and processions in Corona, turning their backs on the dangers of the people. Blinded by the lure of power, they did not flinch at the dangers of man. The Hindu festival of Kumbh Mela, the festival of votes, is being blamed for India's extreme and limitless corona transmission. It is said that due to the short-sightedness and incompetence of the leaders, a terrible humanitarian catastrophe has taken place in Corona in India.

Whatever the situation, the outcome of the election will make it clear which side the general public has voted for; for the developmental program of Mamata or for the communalism of the BJP? Moreover, if the BJP wins, the existence of the Trinamool in West Bengal will be strained. The party will not be able to stand up anymore. On the other hand, if Trinamool wins, Mamata will become the mouthpiece of opposition to Modi and the BJP at the all-India level in the power of Bengal's victory.

However, all this is just an idea. In fact, the situation will be known only after the announcement of the election results. And then it will be clear who will be the last to smile in the West Bengal elections. 

   

76 more killed in Gaza, death toll rises to nearly 32,500



International Desk, Barta24.com, Dhaka
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Even after the UN Security Council passed a cease-fire resolution, the Israeli barbaric attacks on the Palestinian-besieged Gaza have not stopped. Another 76 Palestinians were killed in Gaza in the last 24 hours by Israeli attacks. The death toll has increased to about 32,500 people. The number of injured has reached about 75000 people.

Al-Jazeera reported this information in a live update on Thursday (March 28).

Quoting the Ministry of Health of Gaza, the report said that since last October, the number of dead in Palestine has reached 32490 in the Israeli barbaric attack in the Gaza Strip.

Meanwhile, an emergency ceasefire resolution was passed in the besieged Gaza Strip. The resolution passed by the UN Security Council on Monday (March 25) calls for a cease-fire in Gaza as well as the immediate and unconditional release of hostages held by Hamas.

In this proposal, 14 countries of the Security Council voted in favor of the proposal. Israel's close ally, the United States, abstained from voting.

Welcoming the proposal, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said, after a long wait, the Security Council has passed a resolution regarding the cease-fire in Gaza. This proposal must be implemented. Failure of any party to implement the ceasefire and its terms would constitute an unforgivable offence. 

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Israel wants to wipe out Palestinians: UN



International Desk, Barta24.com, Dhaka
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Gazans are going through one of the worst times in living memory. The lives of Palestinians are in danger due to the long-term killings and severe food shortages. The world is criticizing the surprise attack on the destitute Gazans. However, Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu is unwilling to stop the attack. In this situation, the international organization, which could not find any solution after repeated efforts, said that Israel is going to wipe out the Palestinians.

On Monday (March 25), the special envoy for human rights in Palestine, Francesca Albanez, released her detailed report. She said that since the start of the attack, Israel has targeted Gazans. The Israeli forces assumed that these Gazans could be attacked, killed, or even destroyed. Israel's genocidal action has become clear through this. They are trying to erase Palestinians from Palestine.

The news agency AFP reported this information.

According to the report, Albanez attacked Israel in harsh language at the meeting of the United Nations Human Rights Council. She said Israel destroyed Gaza. She also said, 'What is happening in Gaza shows the intention of genocide. We cannot turn away from it. We have to face it, we have to stop this genocide and action must be taken against those who took this step.''

Francesca Albanez is working as Special Envoy for Palestinian Human Rights. She told the United Nations Human Rights Council last Monday that the organization's member states should end arms embargoes against Israel and arms supplies to Israel.

Support for the UN expert panel, which has been working on allegations of genocide against Israel since the start of Israel's assault on Gaza, has been growing in Palestine. Various countries are now showing interest in investigating the allegations of genocide.

Ambassadors of different countries are supporting this report of Albanez. Ambassadors from Muslim and Arab countries, as well as Latin American countries, are among those supporting Albanez's report to hold Israel accountable.

Pakistan has supported this Albanez report on behalf of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). The OIC has also called for an arms embargo on Israel. When Albanez presented the report to the United Nations Human Rights Council, Pakistan's representative said, "We appreciate your courage in documenting the genocide in Gaza."

Accusations of genocide against Israel are intensifying as it continues to operate in Gaza's Rafah area in defiance of international calls. The Ministry of Health of Palestine said on Wednesday that 76 people were killed in the attack in the last 24 hours. With this, 32490 people have been killed in Israel's attacks since October 7.

The representative of Egypt, on behalf of the Arab countries, said they were deeply concerned about Israel's structural and systematic attack on the Gaza Strip, making it uninhabitable. Qatar represented the Gulf countries in the meeting. They want international action to stop the war that Israel is waging in Palestine. 

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Romania sent back 5 Bangladeshis with ban



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Immigration police in the Arad region bordering Romania forcibly returned 20 migrants to their respective countries on charges of attempting to cross the border illegally. Five Bangladeshis are among the migrants.

Romania's General Inspectorate for Immigration (IGI) announced this information in a press release on Monday (March 25).

According to the notification, on March 23, the Immigration police of Arad region of Romania forcibly sent back to their respective countries a total of 20 immigrants, including 18 people from South Asian countries and 2 people from Egypt. The concerned migrants were taken from the migrant detention center in Arad region to the airport in the presence of law enforcement agencies.

Apart from five Bangladeshis, the migrants include nine Sri Lankans, three Pakistanis, two Egyptians and one Indian national. A legal notice to leave Romania was issued against them earlier. But as they did not return on their own initiative, forced expulsion was implemented with an escort according to the law.

Upon leaving Romania, they are banned from entering all EU member states, the European Economic Area and the Swiss Confederation for five years.

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18 killed in Gaza after relief sack fell on head



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18 people were killed while collecting airdropped aid in the besieged Gaza Strip. The casualties occurred during an airdrop of relief near the Mediterranean coast in northern Gaza. At that time, 12 people were killed when relief sacks fell on their heads and 6 others died after being trampled in haste while collecting relief. AFP reports.

Hamas, the armed political group that controls the valley, said in a statement that the tragedy occurred on Tuesday (March 25).

In the statement, Hamas said, "A request to the international community, please stop dropping the relief bags from the planes." Instead, take steps to remove the obstacles in sending relief by road.'

More than 32,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza in the last six months of Israeli forces' operations, and about 74,000 others have been injured.

On the other hand, 1,200 Israeli soldiers were killed in an attack by Hamas fighters on October 7. Also, 240 people were taken hostage by Hamas fighters, 108 of them have been released so far.

A third of the people of the Gaza Strip are directly dependent on aid from the United Nations and other donor countries and groups. Since the beginning of the operation in the valley, the Israeli forces have been blocking the delivery of relief supplies, resulting in a death march in Gaza since last February due to lack of food.

In this situation, the United States and its allies in the Western world announced air relief supplies to the Gaza Strip from that month.

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