In Sudan, civilians are suffering the consequences of a bloody conflict between the Sudanese army and the country's main paramilitary group, the Rapid Support Forces. There seems to be no end in sight. Fighting in Sudan between the army and paramilitaries has been ongoing for almost one year. Two generals, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, are fighting for control over Africa's third-largest country and its vast resources. Al-Burhan leads the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) — while Dagalo, better known as Hemedti, controls the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group. The conflict has killed thousands and sparked a humanitarian disaster in the northeast African country According to the United Nations, around 25 million people — more than half the population — need aid, and nearly 18 million face acute food insecurity. The two primary warring factions have now launched attacks in and around civilian areas. The US special envoy for Sudan, Tom Perriello, wrote on the social media platform X that "the Sudanese army's bombing raids in El Fasher, where thousands of civilians from across Darfur have sought refuge, have failed to avoid civilian locations, resulting in dozens of casualties." He added that the RSF's attacks on villages in Gezira had also led to civilian deaths and the displacement of thousands. Sudan's grim year of devastation Since fighting erupted on April 15, 2023 more than 8.5 million people have been displaced, many of whom have sought refuge in neighboring Chad and South Sudan. Thousands have fled to the border town of Renk in South Sudan. Conditions there are dire, with refugee camps severely overcrowded due to the high influx of arrivals each day. Sanitation provision is woefully insufficient, with up to 200 people sharing one latrine for example. There has been a rise in cholera, measles and cases of severe malnutrition. Aid agencies are struggling to meet the needs of exhausted and traumatized families, many of whom have walked for days with little food and water. Khalida Ibrahim Salateen, who was displaced from Khartoum, described the situation as dire. "We sleep on the ground, there's no food. There's water, but it's not clean, and children get sick with no nearby hospital. The situation is very difficult," Salateen told DW. Despair amid prayers Fatim Douka, originally from Sudan's El Gezira state, resides in the sprawling camp set up in Renk, where the Islamic holy month of Ramadan is filled with despair, hopelessness and unyielding prayers. "We're struggling in this camp as we cannot find anything to eat," she told DW. "Many people who are fasting don't even find anything to break their fast. They have only been drinking water since Ramadan started. Even the medications provided to us are only for general purposes, like paracetamol. However, medications for hypertension and diabetes are unavailable." Madina Zakaria Hamdallah, displaced from Sudan's capital Khartoum, shared a similar ordeal. "It's Ramadan and we need to receive aid," she said. "Children are hungry, but there's no food, water, or clothes for them. We don't get it. They keep telling us that the NGO is coming to help, but no one has arrived." UN warns of widespread death due to hunger The long and desperate wait for food aid may prolong. Across the country, both the military and the RSF continue to obstruct humanitarian assistance and the free movement of civilians, according to Perriello. This comes after a United Nations-backed global authority on food security warned that immediate action is needed to "prevent widespread death and total collapse of livelihoods and avert a catastrophic hunger crisis in Sudan." The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) had been due to issue an update to its December analysis that found nearly 5 million people on the verge of catastrophic hunger, but it was unable to do so due to the war. As the refugee crisis escalates, the international community faces mounting moral pressure to act urgently. "It is all about saving lives ... asking for resources, for sustainability," said Mamadou Dian Balde from the UN refugee agency (UNHCR).  

The nation today celebrated the 104th birth anniversary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the National Children's Day in a befitting manner. On this day in 1920, Bangabandhu, the vivacious leader of the Bangalee nation, the architect of independent Bangladesh and the greatest Bangalee of all times, was born in a respected Muslim family at Tungipara village of Gopalganj sub-division, now district. He was the third among four daughters and two sons of his parents - Sheikh Lutfur Rahman and Saira Khatun. Different political, social and cultural organisations and government bodies arranged different programmes, marking the birth anniversary and the Nation Children's Day. The programme included placing wreaths at Bangabandhu's portrait at Dhanmondi-32 in Dhaka and his mazar in Tungipara, Gopalganj, doa and milad mahfil, munajat, prayers, discussions, cultural functions, voluntary blood donations, exhibition of documentaries, drawing competitions and distribution of foods among destitute and so on.  The ruling Awami League's programme began with hoisting of national and party flags atop all party offices, including central office at Bangabandhu Avenue here, this morning. President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid rich tributes to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on his birth anniversary and the National Children's Day. The president and the premier paid homage by placing wreaths at the mazar (mausoleum) of Bangabandhu at Tungipara in Gopalganj at about 10.38 am. President Shahabuddin first laid a wreath at Bangabandhu's mazar followed by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. After placing the wreaths, they stood in solemn silence for some time as a mark of profound respect to the memory of the Father of the Nation. A smartly turned out contingent drawn from Bangladesh Army, Navy and Air Forces gave an honour guard on the occasion. Flanked by senior leaders of the ruling Awami League (AL), Sheikh Hasina, also the president of AL, placed another wreath at the grave of Bangabandhu on behalf of her party. Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's younger daughter and PM's younger sister Sheikh Rehana and other family members were present. Mohammed Shahabuddin and Sheikh Hasina also offered Fateha and joined a munajat seeking eternal peace of the departed souls of Bangabandhu as well as other martyrs of the August 15 carnage. Cabinet members, PM's advisers, parliament members and AL senior leaders were present. The president and the prime minister signed the visitor's book kept on the mausoleum premises as well. Earlier in the morning, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid rich tributes to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman by placing a wreath at the portrait of Bangabandhu in front of Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi Road-32 in Dhaka. After placing the wreath, she stood in solemn silence for some time as a mark of profound respect to the memory of the country's founding father. Prime Minister's younger sister Sheikh Rehana was present at that time.  A smartly turned out contingent drawn from Bangladesh Army, Navy and Air Force gave an honour guard.  A munajat was also offered there seeking eternal peace of the departed souls of the martyrs of the August 15 carnage. Later, flanked by senior AL leaders, Sheikh Hasina placed a wreath at the portrait of Bangabandhu on behalf of her party. AL general secretary Obaidul Quader, its presidium members Dr Abdur Razzaque, Shajahan Khan, Jahangir Kabir Nanak, Advocate Quamrul Islam, Dr Mustafa Jalal Mohiuddin and AHM Khairuzzaman Liton, joint general secretaries Dr Hasan Mahmud, Mahbubul Alam Hanif and AFM Bahauddin Nasim, and organising secretaries Ahmed Hossain, BM Mozammel Haque, Mirza Azam, SM Kamal Hossain and Sujit Roy Nandi were, among others, present. Later, Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan paid tributes to Bangabandhu by placing a wreath at his portrait. Afterwards, AL's Dhaka city north and south units, Awami Jubo League, Awami Swechchhasebak League, Bangladesh Krishak League, Mahila Awami League, Jubo Mahila League, Chhatra League, Sramik League, Bangabandhu Sangskritik Jote, Bangabandhu Parishad, different political, social and cultural organisations and professional bodies placed wreaths at Bangabandhu's portrait. President Mohammed Shahabuddin today hosted a special doa and milad mahfil at Durbar Hall of Bangabhaban after Zohr prayers, marking the 104th birth anniversary of Bangabandhu. Marking the birth anniversary, the Islamic Foundation organised programmes at Baitul Mukarram National Mosque in the capital. The programmes included discussion and recitation from the Holy Quran and special prayers. Munajat were offered seeking eternal peace of the departed souls of Bangabandhu and other martyred family members. Special doa and munajat were also arranged at different mosques across the country after Zohr prayers. Besides, special prayers were offered at all religious institutions, including temples, churches and pagodas on the occasion. Christian community members arranged special prayers at Tejgaon Church and Mirpur Baptist Church (3/7-A Senpara Parbata, Mirpur-10), while Buddhist community members held prayers at International Buddhist Monastery at Merul Badda and Hindu community members at Dhakeshwari National Temple. The day was a public holiday. Bangladesh Betar, Bangladesh Television and other private TV channels and radio stations aired special programmes highlighting the significance of the day in the life of Bangalees while national dailies published special supplements. Bangladesh missions abroad also celebrated Bangabandhu's birth anniversary and the National Children's Day by holding different programmes. Source: BSS

Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India], March 12 (ANI): Tibetan women-in-exile held a candle march in the north Indian hill town of Shimla, marking the 65th anniversary of Tibetan Women’s National Uprising Day and protesting against the atrocities being committed by the Chinese authorities in Tibet. Tibetan women including Buddhist students, monks and others gathered in the north Indian hill town of Shimla to mark the anniversary and also to remember the women who died during the 1959 women’s uprising inside Tibet. The Tibetan women-in-exile participated under the banner of the Regional Chapter of TWA (Tibetan Women Association) and appealed to the international community to support the cause of Tibet. Dawa Cheodon, the organiser of the protest and Tibetan freedom activist said that through the protest, they aim to globally highlight the situation in Tibet amid Chinese atrocities. “Today we are here to mark the 65th Women National Uprising Day. On this day in 1959, 15,000 Tibetan women gathered near Potala Palace to protest against Chinese illegal occupation. We have gathered to pay tribute to those who died for us. Through this peace march, we are trying to highlight to the world about the situation in Tibet,” Cheodon said. “There is no internet or news access inside Tibet. China is planning a hydroelectric dam inside Tibet which is a big threat to the people and the monasteries. The degradation of our land and our people only benefits China,” she added. Tsering Dorjee, the spokesperson of the Tibetan community in exile, highlighted the human rights violations in Tibet and said that the dam being built on the Indo-China border presents a grave threat to the local culture as well as to the region. “Tibetan communities across the globe are protesting today to mark the 65th anniversary of the Tibetan Women’s National Uprising. On this day in 1959, women protested inside Tibet and today we are marking the anniversary. Today, human rights violations continue inside Tibet. Education rights are being snatched, the environment is being destroyed, and big dams are being built on the mountains on the Indo-China border,” he said. “These dams would be a threat to India and to the entire Asia. In the Kham region, a dam is being built that would destroy the important monasteries in the region. People are being displaced forcefully and are being imprisoned. Child labour is also being committed. Today through this peace march we are appealing to the world to get united against China and give a befitting reply,” Dorjee added. On March 12, 1959, Tibetans women in Lhasa on national uprising were protesting against the PRC (People’s Republic of China). Thousands of Tibetan women were killed in Chinese rebuttal and over 80,000 Tibetans including spiritual leader Dalai Lama were forced to flee India. Since then, thousands of Tibetans are living in-exile in India and other parts of the globe. A large number of Tibetan women in exile across the globe protested and remembered those Tibetan women who were killed over 6 decades ago inside Tibet.  Source: ANI

The Russian House in Dhaka in cooperation with the Bangladesh Astronomical Association organized the 90th birth anniversary of Yuri Gagarin, the first cosmonaut. Under the initiative of the Russian House in Dhaka various arrangements were made for this event, including a rocket and aircraft model making workshop for kids; a magic show and a film show "Russia's History in Space".  The Director of the Russian House in Dhaka spoke about the life of Yuri Gagarin and his historic space mission. He congratulated and thanked the Bangladesh Astronomical Association and all the participants in the event. The President Mr. Zikrul Hasan and Chairman Mr. Moshurl Amin of the Bangladesh Astronomical Association thanked the Director of Russian House in Dhaka for organizing this event and expressed their involvement in future such events. At the end of the event the Director of Russian House in Dhaka, Mr. Pavel Dvoychenkov, handover the certificates among the participants.

Today (Feb 13) remarks the 12th death anniversary of celebrated actor and theatre activist Humayun Faridi. The noted actor was born on 29 May 1952.  Faridi was one of the brightest stars in the sky of the country’s silver screen. He earnd the National Film Award in 2004, was awarded with posthumous Ekushey Padak for the year 2018. Humayun Faridi acted most popular films includes “Hulia”, “Dohon”, “Shontrash”, “Bachelor”, “JoyJatra”, “Shamolchaya”, “Ekattorer Jishu”, “Vondo”, “Mayer Odhikar” and “Bishaw Premik” earned huge response and those will keep him alive in the hearts of art-loving people. He won the hearts of millions by his work.  The celebrated actor breathed his last on 13 February in 2012.  

The 121st birth anniversary of poet and litterateur Jasimuddin, widely revered as the ‘Palli Kobi’, is being observed on Monday (1st January). The poet was born on this day in 1903 at his maternal uncle’s house in Tambulkhana village in Faridpur district. Being a versatile writer, Jasimuddin is also respectfully remembered for his numerous other creative works including poems, ballads, songs, dramas, novels, stories, memoirs, travelogues and more. Two of his legendary works, ‘Nakshi Kanthar Math’ (Field of the Embroidered Quilt) and ‘Sojan Badiar Ghat’ (Gypsy Wharf) are considered two masterpieces in Bengali literature and has been globally translated. As an esteemed lyricist, Jasimuddin penned many popular Bengali songs including ‘Amar sonar moyna pakhi,’ ‘Prano shokhi re,’ ‘Amay eto raate,’ ‘Nishithe jaiyo fulobone,’ ‘Amar haar kala korlam re,’ ‘Amay bhaisaili re,’ and others. For his remarkable literary works, Jasimuddin was awarded the President’s Award for Pride of Performance in 1958, DLitt. by Rabindra Bharati University, India in 1969, Ekushey Padak in 1976 and Independence Day Award (posthumously) in 1978. In January 2018, Bangla Academy announced Jasimuddin Literary Award, a biennial award to be given for lifetime contribution to Bangla literature.

Russian House in Dhaka, Bangladesh National Museum and Muktijudda Academy Trust jointly organized a special discussion, cultural programs and honoring of the brave freedom fighters on the occasion of celebrating the 52nd anniversary of Bangladesh's Great Victory Day. This event was held at the National Museum of the Capital on the morning of December 9, 2023. On this occasion, the organizers honored a total of 84 freedom fighters, including 52 brave freedom fighters on the battlefield and the background artist soldiers of Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra. Russian House in Dhaka director Pavel Dvoichenkov; Director General of Bangladesh National Museum, Md. Kamruzzaman; Muktijudda Academy Trust Chairman, Dr. Abul Kalam Azad; Former Secretary of the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs, Taj Mohammad,  brave freedom fighter; Former Vice-Chancellor, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-Freedom Fighter Professor Dr. Md. Rafiqul Haque; and Former Vice-Chancellor, University of Global Village-Freedom Fighter Professor Dr. Jahangir Alam Khan were present as guests on the occasion. The program started with the performance of the National Anthem by all. The director of the Russian House in Dhaka, Mr. Pavel Dvoychenkov inaugurated the event. Congratulating everyone on the victory, he said in his speech that the Great Victory Day of Bangladesh is a day of glory for both our countries. This day reminds us of our historic victory.  Bangladesh-Russia friendly relations are historical. On the day of the 1971 revolution, the Soviet Union stood by Bangladesh. The relationship between the two countries was developed by supporting Bangladesh in the liberation war. Since then, Russia has been working for the economic development of Bangladesh. Russia helped build large industries and power plants. The journey of this historic relationship started with the official visit of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to the Soviet Union in 1972. Intergovernmental agreements on economic and technical cooperation, trade representation, cultural, educational, and scientific cooperation were signed during Bangabandhu's visit. At the request of Bangabandhu, the Soviet Navy, with the direct cooperation of the then Soviet Government, deactivated the Chittagong port and made the port fully operational. During the visit, at the special request of Bangabandhu, a large number of students from Bangladesh in the then Soviet Union went to study in Russia with full government scholarships. Later they returned to the country and became active in the formation of Bangabandhu's Sonar Bangla. Among them, more than 6,000 Soviet and Russian graduates are currently working and holding high positions in Bangladesh and various countries around the world. He also said that the Russian government has increased the number of scholarships for Bangladeshi students to 124 in the academic year 2024-2025 due to the increasing interest of Bangladeshi students in pursuing higher education in Russia. He also assured that he would continue his efforts to increase the number of these scholarships in the future. The Russian House in Dhaka is working hard to promote higher education opportunities in Russia as well as Russian language courses for Bangladeshi students.   Director General of the Bangladesh National Museum, Md. Kamruzzaman, said the Liberation War is a memorable chapter in the history of our nation. Our brave freedom fighters have shown outstanding bravery in this war. We are eternally grateful to them for their contribution. Chairman of Muktijudda Academy Trust, Abul Azad, said freedom fighters are the best children of our nation. It is our duty to respect them. Through this program we want to show respect and gratitude to our brave freedom fighters. After the discussion, a cultural program was organized. Liberation War songs and poems were performed on the occasion. The freedom fighters present at the event shared their experiences and feelings.

Rock Legend Ayub Bacchu's 5th death anniversary is being observed today. On this day in 2023, He died at his Moghbazar' residence only at the age of 56. The eminent singer, guitarist, composer, and music director Ayub Bachchu started his music career in 1977, with the band ‘Feelings.’ where he played as the lead guitarist alongside his most popular contemporary rockstar James, another rock legend of the country, for the next two years. On August 16, 1962 in Patia of Kharna Union of Chittagong the rock Maestro borned.  In his lifetime, he recorded 28 albums, including 16 solo albums.  Also composed 500 songs including famous numbers like ‘Cholo Bodle Jai’, ‘Hashte Dekho, Gaite Dekho’, ‘Rupali Guitar’, ‘Ekhon Anek Raat’, ‘Ghum Bhanga Shahare’, ‘Darojar Opashe’, ‘Madhabi’, ‘Hawker’, ‘Meye’, ‘Tara Bhora Rate’, ‘Saare Tin Hath Mati’ and so on.

Ziro Festival, Northeast India’s most iconic and anticipated contemporary festival, is proud to announce the electrifying lineup for its 10th-anniversary edition. Set against the breathtaking landscapes of Ziro, Arunachal Pradesh, it promises to be an unforgettable celebration of music and arts, community and sustainability. From September 28th to October 1st, 2023, festival-goers will experience a kaleidoscope of sounds, rhythms, and performances across three captivating stages: Danyi (Sun) Stage, Pwlo (Moon) Stage, and the all-new Takvr (Star) Stage dedicated to electronic music. Apart from these, the Popi Sarmiñ Creative Space will also host a variety of community engagement initiatives. A Decade of Musical Splendour Marking its monumental decade, the Ziro Festival of Music presents a lineup that reflects the festival’s commitment to diversity, creativity, and artistic innovation. An array of renowned and emerging artists from various corners of the globe will take the stage to captivate audiences. Danyi (Sun) Stage will come alive with the sounds of esteemed classical music performers including the Grammy, Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan awardee – Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt,  Indian Hindustani classical Jal Tarang artist Shashikala Dani, noted Carnatic flautist and Sangeet Natak Akademi awardee Sikkil Mala Chandrasekar, composer and multi-instrumentalist Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar awardee Joydeep Mukherjee, among others. The much celebrated Indian playback singer Mohit Chauhan and the popular Arunachali singer Chorun Mugli are also set to take the stage by storm.  Internationally acclaimed artists performing on the Danyi stage include Indonesian troubadour Ary Juliyant, South African guitarist Guy Buttery and the sensational folk duo Puuluup from Estonia. Pwlo (Moon) Stage will reverberate in the Ziro valley to the beats of Farhan Akhtar’s band Farhan Echoes, Arunachali indie pop sensation Taba Chake, popular rapper MC Altaf and returning international artists including the rock legend Lee Ranaldo and multi award winners Antikvariniai Kašpirovskio Dantys from Lithuania.  Others include Australian punk rockers Mannequin Death Squad fresh off their UK tour, the inimitable Swedish act – The Boo Boo Bama Orchestra at the tail end of their summer tour, Indian music producer and commercial success Komorebi, and Chaar Diwaari who has been shaking up the Delhi underground scene, and many more.  Introducing the Takvr Stage: A New Electronic Frontier For its 10th edition, the Ziro Festival of Music introduces the Takvr Stage, an exciting addition that will showcase leading DJs and music producers. Curated by Ziro Festival veteran and India’s leading electronic artist Sapta aka Marti Bharath, Takvr stage will feature an exceptional lineup from across the globe.  It includes a host of homegrown talents like Kissnuka aka Anushka Manchanda, Nagaland’s premier DJ and producer Ina, Deep Brown, Smokey Sound and Unnayana among others. International acts include the well-known Angata (Israel), Sebastian Fuchs (Germany) and Lithuanian producer Leon Somov who returns to Ziro this year. Prepare to dance the night away in this immersive electronic playground. A Festival Beyond Music Beyond the captivating performances, the Ziro Festival of Music will offer a truly holistic experience. Attendees can relish local cuisines, explore traditional arts and crafts, engage in community learning workshops and immerse themselves in the rich culture of the Apatani tribe.  The There are many fun learning activities for kids and families including storytelling, painting and crafts workshops, yoga and meditation, dance & movement sessions, yoga and meditation. You can learn how to make and play an indigenous Apatani flute (elu) made from paddy straw. Also, don’t miss the unique community performance of Daminda – the traditional Apatani dance performed by over 800 ladies. Sustainability At Ziro Imbibing the wisdom of the hosting Apatani tribe, the festival is designed around sustainable principles that the community has been practising for generations. One of those includes the use of repurposed bamboo, which is locally and abundantly grown, along with reusable oak and pine wood for the handcrafted structures. This is also combined with upcycled and reusable cloth buntings and bamboo light fixtures for decor. Every year, the local community and organisers work hand in hand to make the festival more sustainable.  They work with government and private partners to introduce new eco-friendly initiatives, apart from continuing measures adopted in the previous years. Some best practices include setting up free water filling stations, procuring and connecting food stall owners with betel leaf serveware manufacturers, banning single-use plastic and organising waste collection drives. Join Us for a Landmark Celebration As we celebrate a decade of cultural exchange, artistic expression, and sustainability, the 10th edition of the Ziro Festival promises to be an event of monumental significance. Whether you’re a music enthusiast, a culture aficionado, or someone seeking a unique and unforgettable experience, Ziro welcomes you with open arms. Keep coming back. 

The 47th death anniversary of National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam is being observed in the country in a befitting manner. On August 27 (12 Bhadra of Bangla calendar year) in 1976, the poet breathed his last at the then PG Hospital, now Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Hospital, in the city. The poet was buried with state honour beside the Dhaka University central mosque. Kazi Nazrul was a poet, lyricist, musician and philosopher. Different political parties, socio-cultural and professional bodies have chalked out elaborate programmes to par respect to the national poet. The programmes include placing of wreaths at the grave of the poet, discussions, song and poetry recitation sessions and staging of dramas from the creative literary works of the poet. Besides, Bangladesh Betar and Bangladesh Television, and other private television channels and radio stations will air special programmes. Kazi Nazrul was born on 11 Joishttha, 1306 Bonggabdo in the village Churulia, West Bengal of India's Bardhaman district. His father's name was Kazi Faqeer Ahmed and mother was Zahida Khatun. His nickname was 'Dukhu Mia'. The nation got inspirations from Nazrul's poems and songs during the great Liberation War in 1971 and all other democratic movements and struggles. Nazrul wrote nearly 3,000 songs and composed many of them which are known as Nazrul-Geeti or Nazrul Sangeet. After the independence of Bangladesh, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman brought poet Nazrul Islam to Dhaka from Kolkata along with his family and made arrangements for living with state honour. Bangabandhu also provided a residence for the family of the poet in the city's Dhanmondi.