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Wednesday, 19 February, 2025

Court Orders Seizure of Dubai Flat, Freezing of UK Shares Owned by Bashundhara Group Chief’s

BNP Vows to Implement Teesta Master Plan if Elected: Tarique Rahman

BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman stated that if his party comes to power, it will take the matter of Teesta water distribution to the United Nations to secure a fair share for Bangladesh and implement the Teesta Master Plan. Addressing the closing ceremony of the 48-hour continuous public rally organized by the Teesta River Protection Movement on Tuesday, Rahman criticised the Awami League government for failing to secure a fair share of the Teesta water from India, which, he said, is turning the riverbanks of the northern region into a desert. "The Awami League government has failed to achieve a fair share of Teesta water from India, leaving the northern riverbanks on the verge of becoming barren," he said, addressing participants virtually. Rahman emphasized that the people of northern Bangladesh, who are suffering from water scarcity, wish to remind the world that Bangladesh shares 54 rivers with India, and securing a fair share of water from these rivers is not a matter of charity but a right according to international law. "This is Bangladesh’s rightful claim, as per international law, and this is what the people of Bangladesh deserve. Yet, we find ourselves in a position where we must protest for our share of the water from an international river. The people of Bangladesh, especially in the northern region, are now forced to demand their rightful share," he added. Directing his comments towards former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Rahman remarked, "The leader who fled to India on August 5 repeatedly claimed that India would never forget what we gave them. Today, it is clear that India has not forgotten Sheikh Hasina, but they have certainly neglected Bangladesh." He went on to say that, according to international law, Teesta water belongs to Bangladesh, and the country has been deprived of its rights due to the unfriendly actions of the neighbouring country. "For 50 years, our right to water at Farakka has remained unfulfilled. In addition, many rivers, including the Teesta, have become silted, resulting in frequent floods that devastate agriculture and properties," he explained. Rahman also criticized the River Commission, which he claimed has been ineffective for the past 16 years due to the interests of neighbouring India. "We want good relations with neighbouring countries, but those relations must serve our nation's interests. Suppose India continues to deny us our fair share of water. In that case, we will explore alternative solutions and take the issue to the United Nations with the support of the people," he declared. The Teesta River Protection Movement, which organized the rally, held events at 11 locations along the banks of the Teesta in Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, Rangpur, Kurigram, and Gaibandha districts in the northern region. The rallies, which attracted large crowds, were coordinated by BNP Organizing Secretary Asadul Habib Dulu. "We want good relations with neighbouring countries, but those relations must serve our nation's interests. Suppose India continues to deny us our fair share of water. In that case, we will explore alternative solutions and take the issue to the United Nations with the support of the people," BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir inaugurated the two-day rally on Monday. Several BNP Standing Committee members, including Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, Major (retd) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed Bir Bikram, and Vice-Chairman Shamsuzzaman Dudu, as well as leaders from other political groups, were present at various rally points.

AL Govt Began Military Mobilisation Long Before Protests Turned Violent: UN

The ousted Awami League (AL) government began deploying militarized forces even before the July-August 2024 protests escalated into violence, according to a fact-finding report by the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) on human rights violations and abuses in Bangladesh last year. "Even before the protests intensified and violence broke out, the government had already begun deploying heavily armed paramilitary forces, including RAB, BGB, and Ansar/VDP battalions, signalling a clear intent to militarize its response and use increasingly lethal force," the report stated. It highlighted that serious human rights violations and abuses committed by security forces and armed Awami League supporters from July 15 to August 5 were part of a calculated effort by the government to retain power at all costs, employing unlawful measures to suppress the protests. Released on February 12, the OHCHR report titled "Human Rights Violations and Abuses Related to the Protests of July and August 2024 in Bangladesh" revealed that from the outset of July, the then-government and Awami League leadership perceived the protest movement as being "infiltrated" by political opposition. They recognized the potential threat the protests posed to the unpopular government's grip on power. The report further revealed that, before making her infamous “razakar remarks,” then-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had privately and publicly signalled a hard-line approach, which included appointing the feared DGFI military intelligence agency to engage with the student movement. Senior government officials and Awami League leaders echoed this stance, delegitimizing and intimidating student protesters, setting the stage for the human rights violations that followed. By mid-July, the former government and Awami League had mobilized an expanding circle of armed actors who used increasingly violent methods to suppress the protests, resulting in systematic and grave human rights abuses. The report noted that these actions led to hundreds of extrajudicial killings, thousands of injuries, and widespread arbitrary arrests, detentions, torture, and other forms of ill-treatment. The initial crackdown on protests saw brutal attacks on male and female students peacefully assembling at universities, with these assaults being orchestrated by senior Awami League leaders and government ministers. The report revealed that, before making her infamous “razakar remarks,” then-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had privately and publicly signalled a hard-line approach, which included appointing the feared DGFI military intelligence agency to engage with the student movement. The report recalled that echoing offensive rhetoric from the Prime Minister about the protesters, Chhatra League President publicly vowed on July 15 that no “razakar” would be allowed on the streets and issued a directive to Chhatra League and other party activists to confront student protesters. Obaidul Quader, the Awami League’s second-highest official and a senior government minister, reinforced the call for violence. Other ministers followed suit, labelling the students as traitors and “razakars” unworthy of the right to protest. Armed Awami League supporters continued to target protesters, often in coordination with state security forces. In some instances, Members of Parliament and state officials led these attacks. "While helicopters hovered above to intimidate protesters, police and RAB on the ground used excessive force, including shooting military-grade rifles and shotguns loaded with live ammunition at protesters, who were often blocking roads but did not pose an imminent threat of death or serious harm," the report stated. The OHCHR concluded that many protesters felt compelled to defend themselves, leading to unlawful violence by some elements in the crowds, who targeted government buildings, transport infrastructure, and the police. In response, the government used indiscriminate and disproportionate force, including firearms.

Russia Toughens Stance in First Talks with US, Excludes Ukraine

The United States and Russia announced on Tuesday that they had agreed to continue efforts to end the war in Ukraine, following a round of talks in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, in which Kyiv was not represented. The 4.5-hour meeting in Riyadh marked a significant development as the first direct discussions between US and Russian officials aimed at finding a way to end the deadliest conflict in Europe since World War II. Ukraine, however, has made it clear that it will not accept any peace deal imposed without its consent. Even before the talks began, the Trump administration came under criticism from some European politicians, who accused it of offering free concessions to Moscow. These criticisms followed the administration’s decision to rule out NATO membership for Ukraine and dismiss claims that Kyiv could regain 20 per cent of its territory currently under Russian control, calling it an unrealistic goal. US national security adviser Mike Waltz told reporters in Riyadh that the war must come to a permanent end, and this would involve negotiations over territory. "Just a practical reality is that there is going to be some discussion of territory and there's going to be discussion of security guarantees," he said. Addressing Ukrainian and European concerns, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said no one was being sidelined, the European Union needed to be involved at some point, and any solution must be acceptable to all parties. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he had postponed a visit to Saudi Arabia planned for Wednesday until next month, and that talks on how to end the war with Russia could not be held behind Ukraine's back. Even as the meeting in the Saudi capital was underway, Russia hardened its demands. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told reporters in Moscow it was "not enough" for NATO not to admit Ukraine as a member. She said the alliance must go further by disavowing a promise it made at a summit in Bucharest in 2008 that Kyiv would join at a future, unspecified date. "Otherwise, this issue will continue to poison the atmosphere across the European continent," she said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has consistently argued that NATO membership is the only way to ensure Kyiv's sovereignty and independence from its nuclear-armed neighbour. In 1994, Ukraine agreed to relinquish its Soviet-era nuclear weapons in exchange for assurances of its independence and territorial integrity from Russia, the United States, and the United Kingdom. RUSSIA PRESENTS NEW DEMANDS BEFORE US NEGOTIATIONS BEGIN As European nations discuss the possibility of contributing peacekeepers to support any potential peace deal for Ukraine, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated in Riyadh that Moscow would not accept the deployment of NATO troops, regardless of the flag under which they operated. "Of course, this is unacceptable to us," Lavrov remarked. Lavrov’s comments, alongside those of Russian spokesperson Maria Zakharova, signaled that Moscow would continue to push for further concessions during the negotiations. The initial talks on Tuesday saw Lavrov and Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov—veterans with a combined 34 years of experience in their roles—negotiate with three Trump administration officials who were in their first month on the job. Neither side set a date for a meeting between President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, though both expressed a desire for one. The swift diplomacy, beginning with a phone call between Putin and Trump just six days ago, has raised concerns in Ukraine and European capitals that the two leaders could strike a quick deal that bypasses security interests, rewards Moscow for its invasion, and leaves Putin free to threaten Ukraine or other countries in the future. Jana Puglierin, a senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, noted that Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 made it clear that Europeans could no longer rely on Russia. She also emphasized that developments this month marked a more significant turning point. "February 2025 reveals that the Americans no longer see themselves as responsible for European security, and their interests now fundamentally differ from ours," she said. US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce confirmed that both sides had agreed to form "respective high-level teams to begin working on a path to end the conflict in Ukraine as soon as possible, in a manner that is enduring, sustainable, and acceptable to all parties." Following the talks, Russian negotiator Ushakov told reporters, "It was a very serious conversation covering all the issues we aimed to address." Senator Marco Rubio, who attended the discussions, expressed confidence that the Russian side was "willing to engage in a serious process" to determine how and through what mechanisms the war could end. Rubio also noted that both sides would work to restore their diplomatic missions in Washington and Moscow. Lavrov mentioned "high interest" in removing economic barriers between the two countries, following waves of sanctions imposed by the US and other Western nations in response to the war, aimed at isolating Putin. When asked about the possibility of sanctions being lifted, Rubio remained non-committal, stating, "Other parties, including the European Union, will eventually need to be involved, as they too have imposed sanctions."
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