Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus held an emergency meeting on Friday and said the attack on Sharif Osman Hadi is a well-planned attack on the democratic journey of Bangladesh. Through this, Prof Yunus said, the defeated power has shown its audacity to challenge the existence of the country. “We will thwart such an attempt at any cost. Such an attack by such an evil force on the nation will not be tolerated,” said the Chief Adviser. He said this another worrying incident during the tenure of the interim government. Prof Yunus held the emergency meeting with some members of the Council of Advisers and important officials of the law and order and security forces at the State Guest House Jamuna. Prof Yunus said this attack is an attack on Bangladesh's existence. The Chief Adviser will soon discuss the emerging situation with key political leaders, said the Chief Adviser’s press wing. Prof Yunus said a conspiracy was being hatched to thwart the national elections and referendum through the attack. “We will not allow such a conspiracy to succeed under any circumstances. No matter what the attack is, no matter how many storms come, no force will be able to obstruct the upcoming elections,” he said. Prof Yunus said they would ensure a peaceful election for the nation with their combined strength, along with the support of the people of the country. Advisers Dr Asif Nazrul, Md Jahangir Alam, Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan, Adilur Rahman Khan, National Security Advisor Dr. Khalilur Rahman, the Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser on Home Affairs, the Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser on Health Affairs, the Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser on Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology, and senior officials of the police, armed forces, and intelligence agencies were present at the meeting. Prof Yunus said the attackers and those who planned the attack on Hadi must be arrested as soon as possible. He urged the people of the country to pray to the Almighty Allah for Hadi’s speedy recovery. Police said that CCTV footage of the attack site and other evidence have already been collected. Ordering immediate action at the border, the Chief Adviser said, “We must ensure that the attackers cannot leave the country under any circumstances.” He said the security of those who may have become potential targets due to their active involvement in the July uprising must be taken into consideration. The meeting decided that a special hotline number would be launched in the coming days to prevent any untoward incidents during the election period and to ensure rapid response. The meeting also resolved to intensify operations to recover illegal weapons and to search possible locations where criminals may be hiding.

Tarique Rahman has been confirmed to return to Bangladesh on Dec 25, according to BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir. The information was shared on Friday after an emergency BNP Standing Committee meeting in Gulshan, with the BNP chief joining virtually from London. Afterwards, Fakhrul said their leader, whom he described as a figure “deeply admired by the nation”, would “set foot on Dhaka’s soil on the 25th”. “We, on behalf of the party and the entire nation, welcome his arrival with joy,” he added. Tarique, the eldest son of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, was previously arrested during the 2007-08 military-backed caretaker government, along with his mother. After his release, he moved to London with his family and had not returned since. He served as Adviser to the Prime Minister during his mother’s terms and has been credited with shaping BNP’s policies and election strategies in recent decades. Tarique Rahman is known for his outspoken criticism of the ruling Awami League and advocacy for BNP’s political agenda. Currently, he lives in exile in London, facing multiple legal cases in Bangladesh related to corruption and abuse of power, which he and his supporters claim are politically motivated. Despite his absence from the country, he continues to exert significant influence over BNP’s activities and the party’s organisational decisions.

The leaders of Russia, Turkiye and Iran meet Friday in Turkmenistan, an isolated Central Asian state which is marking 30 years of official neutrality with a rare international summit. The principle of “permanent neutrality” is at the heart of the former Soviet republic’s foreign policy — a doctrine that has contributed to making Turkmenistan one of the world’s most isolated countries. On the guest list are Russian President Vladimir Putin, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, along with other regional leaders. Here’s five things to know about the desert nation and its position on the world stage: - Presidential dynasty - Turkmenistan, which borders Iran, Afghanistan, and the Caspian Sea, has only had three presidents since gaining independence when the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991. The first was Saparmurat Niyazov, who proclaimed himself both “president for life” and the “father of the Turkmen” (Turkmenbashi), and ruled for 15 years. The Berdymukhamedov family took over in 2006, with father Gurbanguly becoming president before handing the job to his son Serdar in 2022. In reality, the pair rule in tandem. Gurbanguly retains immense power and is the subject of an intense personality cult. Officially proclaimed “leader of the Turkmen nation” and Arkadag, which means hero-protector, he built a vast city named after himself, Arkadag, at a cost of at least $5 billion. He also erected gigantic golden statues of himself, while Serdar is regularly praised in the state-run media. - Neutrality and isolation - Turkmenistan is one of the world’s most secretive countries, often compared to North Korea for its inaccessibility. Since the United Nations supported Turkmenistan’s “permanent neutrality” status in 1995, it has become a foreign policy cornerstone. An almost 100-meter (300-feet) tall Neutrality Monument, resembling a rocket and featuring a golden statue of the first president, stands in the capital Ashgabat. The status prohibits Turkmenistan from fully joining any union or military alliance, and is used by the government to implement its isolationist policies. Ahead of the summit, Serdar Berdymukhamedov published yet another book — presented as a “precious gift for the Turkmen people” — extolling the virtues of neutrality. Turkmenistan’s closest relations are with China, Russia, Iran, and Turkiye thanks to gas contracts. Cooperation with the West remains limited. According to Amnesty International, Turkmenistan is “effectively closed to international human rights NGOs, UN special mechanisms and independent media.” Information on the country is fragmented, tightly controlled and generally unverifiable, “aimed solely at praising the regime,” according to Reporters Without Borders. - Lots of gas, little water - While Turkmenistan is estimated to have the world’s fourth-largest natural gas reserves, water supplies are scarce — and the situation is expected to worsen due to climate change, scientists warn. Three-quarters of the country is covered by the vast Karakum desert. Cotton is another important industry for the Turkmen economy, but the high use of water has contributed to water shortages across the region. - Methane ‘Gateway to Hell’ - A massive five-decade-old fire raging in a natural gas crater is the country’s top tourist attraction. The fire has been burning in the Karakum desert since 1971, when Soviet scientists accidentally ignited it. Turkmen authorities have repeatedly stated their intentions to close the Darvaza crater, dubbed the “Gateway to Hell,” but so far without success. Emissions are a huge problem. Turkmenistan is the world’s top methane leaker, according to the International Energy Agency. - Sacred animals - Local breeds of horse and dog are sacred and have been elevated to the status of national symbols. On the orders of Gurbanguly, numerous statues honoring the Alabai — or Central Asian shepherd-dog — and the Akhal-Teke horse have been erected and the animals are celebrated on public holidays. Gurbanguly has even composed a song in honor of his favorite horse. The father-and-son duo regularly give and receive dogs and horses as gifts, including to other world leaders. They are often filmed cuddling the animals in public. Source: Arab News