Dhaka: A Kolkata-based religious organization called ‘Bengiya Hindu Jagran’ organized a violent protest outside the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata.

On Thursday (November 28) afternoon, a large group of protesters organized a rally and demonstration that turned violent, with the protesters breaking through police barricades and reaching the premises of the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission premises. The Bangladesh government has expressed ‘deep concern’ over the incident and called for ensuring the security of diplomatic and non-diplomatic Bangladeshi staff in the country.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed its concern in a statement on Friday (November 29).

The statement details the incident and says that the protesters set fire to the national flag of Bangladesh and burnt an effigy of the Chief Adviser to the Bangladesh government.

The situation appears to be under control at the moment, the statement said, “However, there is a feeling of insecurity among all the members of the Deputy High Commission.”

The Bangladesh government strongly condemns the despicable act of desecrating the national flag of Bangladesh and burning the effigy of the Chief Adviser. The Bangladesh government has called on the Indian government to take necessary measures to avoid such incidents in the future.

Noting that the Bangladesh government condemns any violent act, the Ministry of External Affairs said the government calls on the Indian government to ensure the safety and security of the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata and other diplomatic missions of Bangladesh in India, as well as its diplomatic and non-diplomatic staff. 

Dhaka: The role of the media in elections is important. Badiul Alam Majumder, the head of the Election Reform Commission, has commented that many media outlets did not provide truthful information about the country's last three elections.

He made this comment in the shadow parliament on 'The role of the EC, candidates and citizens for fair elections' at the FDC at around 11:30 am on Friday (November 29).

Badiul Alam said that some people were even forced not to tell the truth.

Regarding the new Election Commission, he said, 'A tree is known by its fruits. However, there is no big challenge for this EC because, unlike last time, there is no pressure from the ruling political party.'

The head of the Reform Commission commented that even a neutral Election Commission (EC) cannot organize fair elections without the help of the government.

He said, 'The government is an important partner in the elections after the EC. Those who committed electoral crimes in the last 3 elections should be brought to justice. The Election Commission has committed the biggest crime.’

The head of the reform commission also commented that ensuring the participation of women voters and expatriate voters could be a challenge for the Election Commission.

‘Election system reform is important. However, time must be given for reform,’ added Badiul Alam

Dhaka: The general student community has demanded an end to the Israeli aggression, including indescribable torture on the oppressed Palestinian citizens. At the same time, a rally with the Palestinian flag has been organized under the 'March for Palestine' on the occasion of the International Palestine Solidarity Day.

The 'March for Palestine' was held on Friday (November 29) at the TSC Raju Sculpture in the capital on the occasion of the International Palestine Day.

Hasibur, a second-year student of Dhaka University, said that the level of oppression that Israel has been perpetrating on the innocent Palestinians since its creation has increased further. In this regard, the influential countries of the world are not taking any visible steps against Israel. Moreover, they are not showing any compassion. We express our solidarity with the oppressed Palestinian citizens to end this oppression. May the indescribable torture on the oppressed Palestinian citizens stop as soon as possible and the Israeli aggression stop.

Fahim said, we have organized the 'March for Palestine' rally on the occasion of the International Palestine Solidarity Day. We have organized the rally to demand an end to the torture on the oppressed Palestinian citizens in memory of the martyrs of July, just as Palestine inspired the July movement.

During this time, slogans such as 'Free Free Palestine'; 'Stop the genocide, we must do it, we must do it'; 'Stop the killing of children, we must do it, we must do it'; 'Stop the killing of women, we must do it, we must do it'; Break the black hands of the Jews, we must destroy them' were raised.

The largest Palestinian flag in Bangladesh was also displayed at the rally.

Dhaka: The United Arab Emirates government has pardoned and released 75 more expatriates detained in the UAE for holding marches and protests against the killing and oppression of student protesters in Bangladesh in July-August.

This was announced in a press release sent by M. Shefayet Hossain, Information Officer of the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment, on Friday (November 29).

It said that the country has released a total of 188 people under general amnesty so far, including the 75 newly released people.

Earlier, in a briefing on September 3, the Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam said that the President of the United Arab Emirates spoke to the Chief Adviser on the telephone on August 28. The issue of commuting the sentences of 57 Bangladeshis was a major part of it. The Chief Adviser requested the President to pardon the expatriate workers. The President kept his word. The Chief Adviser has received this good news.

It is worth noting that a court in the United Arab Emirates sentenced 57 Bangladeshis to various terms of imprisonment for protesting in solidarity with the quota reform movement. Three of them were sentenced to life imprisonment, 53 to 10 years and one to 11 years.