In Gaza, Palestinians are suffering from a lack of food and water. Problems around water supply in Palestinian territories are hardly new in this conflict, but the current Israel-Hamas war is making the issues worse. Experts are sounding the alarm: The threat of famine in the Gaza Strip is real. If nothing changes, famine would likely start in the northern end of the enclave by May. Half of the people still living in the area are already in dire straits, say experts from the multinational expert group that works on the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) initiative. The IPC is made up of representatives from 19 international organizations, including the European Commission's Joint Research Centre, Oxfam, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, the World Bank, the World Food Programme, and Save the Children. The IPC defines famine, the most serious level of its "food insecurity scale," as a situation where "at least 20% of the population is affected, with about one out of three children being acutely malnourished and two people dying per day for every 10,000 inhabitants due to outright starvation or to the interaction of malnutrition and disease." The report says the current situation in Gaza will likely result in that scenario in the near future. Access to medical care, water and sanitation will also be limited. "Access to sufficient clean water is a matter of life and death, and children in Gaza have barely a drop to drink," the director of UNICEF, Catherine Russell, wrote on X (formerly Twitter) in December. "Without safe water, many more children will die." The conflict in Gaza is worsening a water problem that was already of serious and ongoing concern. The problem is partially due to Gaza's geographical location on the coast. Most of the water locals require comes from a natural groundwater reservoir, which tends to have a higher salinity level because it's so close to the sea. The groundwater reservoir is also polluted by untreated wastewater. Damage to water infrastructure from previous conflicts in Gaza also contributes to further contamination. Back in 2011, the UN had already determined that over 90% of the groundwater in the enclave was unsafe to drink without it being treated. Water and fuel blocked All this makes locals living in the Gaza Strip even more dependent on Israel for their drinking water. After the October 7 Hamas terror attacks, which resulted in the deaths of around 1,200 people in Israel, the Israeli state cut off the water supply and stopped allowing deliveries of fuel into Gaza. The Israeli military campaign has since killed over 30,000 people.  Two out of three pipes bringing water into Gaza were reopened by Israel by the end of October. Israeli media outlet Times of Israel said that this meant that 28.5 million liters were being piped into the enclave daily. Before October 7, around 49 million liters had flowed into the enclave daily. However, the lack of fuel also impacts water supplies. Diesel is used to power electricity generators and Gaza's only powerplant. That electricity is used to run the desalination and water treatment plants. This means that lack of fuel also equals lack of clean water. Water problems in the Gaza Strip have not been addressed for years, said Tobias von Lossow, a researcher and expert on water security at the Clingendael Institute, based in the Netherlands. Among other things, larger water desalination plants were necessary. "But these have not yet been built, even though, apart from water treatment and deliveries from Israel, there are virtually no other options for supplying the population with clean drinking water," von Lossow told DW. Where water is political The water situation in the occupied West Bank is slightly less problematic. But there are water shortages here too. According to information on the platform GlobalWaters.org, which is run by the American development agency USAID, water is often lost in the West Bank due to outdated infrastructure and damaged pipes. Only 31% of Palestinians living in the West Bank have connections to a sewage network, and only between 5% and 10% of wastewater there is ever cleaned. Experts say this only further pollutes and depletes available groundwater. Palestinians carry and fill up the water bottles amid clean water and food crisis from mobile storages of charities as they have limited access to water . The interim agreement signed by Israeli and Palestinian officials in 1995 — often referred to as Oslo II — was supposed to help regulate water supplies. The agreement, which was only supposed to last for five years until there was movement towards a two-state solution, gave Israel control of 80% of the West Bank's water reserves. 'Artificial shortage' Palestinians say that Israel restricts water to their areas but sends plenty of water to Israeli settlers in the area — the settlements here are considered illegal by most of the world. Israel, which operates a world-beating desalination and water recycling system, insists that it's supplying plenty of water to the Palestinians in these areas. A May 2023 report by the Israeli rights organization B'Tselem said that Israelis in the West Bank use three times as much water as Palestinians living there do. The West Bank's water shortage "cannot be attributed to fate, a natural disaster or a regional water crisis," the group wrote. "It is the outcome of Israel's discriminatory policy to intentionally create a constant, artificial shortage among this population."  Water is very clearly a political issue in this area, and supplies in the West Bank have been reduced over the past few years. "The drop in the water levels in the Dead Sea by an average of 1 meter per year shows how much pressure on water resources has increased," von Lossow said. "The political circumstances here also make it difficult to provide better water supplies." The dispute over water is part of long-running Palestinian-Israeli disputes, he continued. "But it is only one of several major components that shape this conflict, alongside questions about territory, identity, religion and military issues."  

In a twist in the ongoing tale of Washington and Beijing trading accusations over technology and security issues, China has accused the US of hacking into the servers of its telecommunications giant Huawei in 2009. In the past, numerous countries have alleged that China’s government might be using Huawei products for spying purposes and that the firm steals intellectual property from foreign tech companies. But the situation is especially tense between China and the US. The US Congress had started receiving warnings about Huawei as early as 2012. In 2017-18, it restricted several federal agencies from using the telecom giant’s equipment. In 2019, US firms were prohibited from doing business with Huawei and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) designated Huawei as a national security threat. The company was charged with stealing trade secrets, conspiracy, money laundering, bank and wire fraud, flouting US sanctions on Iran, and obstruction of justice. In 2020, foreign semiconductor makers were stopped from shipping products to Huawei without a license. Then in 2022, an FBI investigation found that Huawei equipment could be used to disrupt US military communications, including those related to the nuclear arsenal. Now, President Joe Biden has introduced new bans. Just this year, he signed a law that precludes any Chinese manufacturer from obtaining chips or chipmaking equipment made with US parts anywhere in the world. Global telecom firms have also accused Huawei of stealing trade secrets for long. In 2003, Cisco filed a lawsuit alleging that its source code appeared in Huawei products. In 2017, a US jury found Huawei guilty of stealing intellectual property from T-Mobile. One of the world’s leading providers of fifth-generation (5G) mobile technology, Huawei was founded in 1987 and is based in Shenzhen, China. The firm claims to be a private company owned by employees, but the precise ownership structure is not known. Many countries are worried that the Chinese government exercises massive control over the country’s private companies, including Huawei. This is generally done through heavy regulation and state-backed investment. In addition, companies are required to establish Chinese Communist Party (CCP) branches within them. Not surprisingly, executives of many big Chinese firms are party members, including Alibaba co-founder Jack Ma and Huawei founder Ren.  In 1996, the Chinese government started treating Huawei as a “national champion”. The label is generally given to firms that further the country’s strategic aims. Also, Huawei reported a whopping $138 billion in revenue in 2020, which many countries suspect isn’t possible without government support. This massive support may have helped Huawei to price its equipment far below competitors’ rates. In fact, a European Commission investigation found that Huawei underbid its competitors by up to 70%. Huawei, on the other hand, says its prices are low because of its technological expertise. The company has also distanced itself from the CCP. In 2019, company founder Ren dismissed the accusations that the telco firm helps Beijing to spy on Western governments, stating that Huawei was willing to sign “no-spy” agreements with governments, and that he “would never harm the interest of my customers”. But according to many Western experts, Huawei is simply a state-directed company with a singular goal: to undermine foreign competition by stealing trade secrets and intellectual property, and through artificially low prices.  Ban on Huawei Five major countries — the US, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the UK — have banned or are rolling out bans on Huawei. Huawei will also be kept out of India’s plans to roll out its 5G networks and Japan’s government has effectively banned Huawei.  Other US partners, such as Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, France, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, and Sweden have restricted the use of Huawei equipment. Finland, home to Nokia, has introduced a law that can be used to exclude Huawei from its networks, if a risk of cyber threats and espionage is detected.  Also, Italy has prevented telecoms group Fastweb from signing a deal for Huawei to supply equipment for its 5G core network. In a nutshell, Europe has decided to restrict, rather than ban, Huawei equipment. But a recent court case, filed by one of Huawei’s former managers at its  European headquarters in Düsseldorf, may make the going difficult for Huawei in Europe. The company had failed to comply with the former manager’s request to view the data it had on him and was found to be in breach of European privacy law. During the proceedings, Huawei stated they had deleted the requested information. The former manager had to quit the company in 2018 against his will.  In June this year, the European Commission categorised Huawei as a high-risk entity. Several member states are also making efforts to exclude Huawei from Horizon Europe, the EU’s key funding programme for research and innovation. Despite involvement in projects like developing “massive machine-to-machine communications for 6G”, all “Huawei participants in Horizon Europe” are European-based, not Chinese. Restrictions on Huawei within Horizon Europe could hinder its R&D efforts across as many as 13 European countries. Still, many countries are proceeding with Huawei for 5G wireless network projects and infrastructure.  Especially those participating in China’s Belt and Road Initiative are already using or have agreed to use Huawei equipment. For instance, just this month, Sri Lanka formally inked an agreement with the firm to support digitisation of its schools. Huawei is also helping Malaysia, Russia and a number of Latin American countries build their 5G networks. Several European countries argue that security risks are inherent in all 5G networks, regardless of the supplier. These countries prefer to tighten security measures to minimize risks. many low-income countries are choosing Huawei as it is frequently the cheapest option when compared to the other two major firms involved in 5G network solutions, namely the Finnish firm Nokia and the Swedish firm Ericsson.   The US, Australia and other countries point to vague Chinese intelligence laws to support their claim that China could be using Huawei to spy on them. For example, the Chinese National Security Law states that citizens and enterprises have the “responsibility and obligation to maintain national security”. Similarly, the National Intelligence Law states that Chinese companies must “support, assist, and cooperate with” China’s intelligence-gathering authorities. Huawei’s 5G infrastructure may also contain backdoors that allow the Chinese government to collect massive amounts of data. China’s surveillance laws were passed just as its tech giants, such as Alibaba, ByteDance and Tencent, started gaining market share worldwide. Like Huawei, these firms also often use contractual clauses to transfer user data outside Europe. While these clauses do impose liability, there are no checks or audits. It is left to the clients and consumers to figure out whether the data flows violate their privacy. Countries that have chosen Huawei as a preferred entity in their cost-benefit analysis are likely to be vulnerable to these gaps in Chinese laws, contracts and the company’s promised but increasingly doubtful security architecture. Huawei, in figures $91.5 billion in revenue in 2022 3 billion users of its products and services Operating in 170 countries $75 billion in Chinese state support since 1987 75 commercial 5G launches and trials Source: Asian Lite International

The UN refugee agency warned that bloodshed in Sudan could cause 800,000 people to leave for neighboring countries. Meanwhile, clashes in Khartoum have undermined an extended truce.  The United Nations has warned of an influx of refugees fleeing to Sudan's neighboring countries, as the fighting continues between the country's top military generals. UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi said late on Monday that the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) was bracing, alongside governments and partners, "for the possibility that over 800,000 people may flee the fighting in Sudan for neighboring countries." "We hope it doesn’t come to that, but if violence doesn’t stop we will see more people forced to flee Sudan seeking safety," Grandi said on Twitter. Witnesses in Khartoum reported air strikes, gunfire and explosions, despite a second extension of a 72-hour cease-fire. The power struggle between Sudan's de facto leader, army chief Abdel Fattah Burhan, and his former deputy Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo (more commonly known as Hemeti) who commands the powerful Rapid Support Forces paramilitary group is well into its third week. The fighting has killed over 500, with thousands more injured. At least 75,000 Sudanese citizens have been internally displaced, with over 50,000 crossing overland into neighboring countries, as per UN figures. Russia evacuates more than 200 people from Sudan Russia's Defense Ministry said on Tuesday it was evacuating more than 200 people from Sudan. "Four Il-76 aircraft ... of the Russian Aerospace Forces are bringing more than 200 people from the Republic of Sudan to the Russian Federation," the ministry said on the Telegram messaging app.  The evacuees were citizens of Russia and neighboring countries, it added. Nearly 500 evacuated to Saudi Arabia by sea Saudi Arabia announced late on Monday it was evacuating a further 212 individuals from Sudan via the Red Sea, including US and British citizens. The Saudi Foreign Ministry said the latest evacuation mission included 41 Saudi nationals and 171 foreign nationals.  The latter included citizens of Afghanistan, the Philippines, the Comoros Islands, Sri Lanka, Ukraine, Madagascar, Syria, the UK and the US. Monday's ship brings the total of those Saudi Arabia has evacuated since the conflict erupted to 5,409, the ministry said. They include 225 Saudi nationals. Earlier on Monday, a US-operated rescue ship carrying 300 civilians fleeing Sudan arrived in Saudi Arabia. The French AFP news agency cited officials as saying the ship carried 105 US citizens, 100 Sudanese, and citizens of 15 other countries. Analyst sees little hope for Sudan peace process The chances of Sudan's warring generals ceasing the fighting and engaging in a meaningful peace process are low, said Jon Temin, vice president of policy and programs at the Truman National Security Project in Washington DC. Temin, who previously served as the Director of the Africa Program at Freedom House, told DW on Monday that both Burhan and Daglo were likely to fight until one party wins. "Both of these generals and the forces they command, they are accustomed to fighting. They are accustomed to getting what they want through fighting. And it's awfully hard to see now how they coexist. It was hard to see how they coexist even before this fighting kicked off." Temin also cast doubt on the possibility of reaching an agreement that would satisfy both parties, but he said the hope lay in "negotiations with strong leadership from the region," alongside the US and other world powers involved. He also dismissed the possibility of a foreign military intervention, saying he could only imagine it happening in "the rarest of circumstances."

India on Wednesday cleared its stand on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, reaffirming Prime Minister Narendra Modi's statement that "this isn't an era of war". Speaking at a special briefing on G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said, "India's position on the Russia-Ukraine conflict is that 'This isn't an era of war'. Dialogue and diplomacy are the way forward. The agenda is for the foreign ministers to discuss in the meet." He said the Russia-Ukraine conflict will be an important point of discussion when the foreign ministers from around the world meet during Thursday's Group of 20 (G20) gathering in New Delhi. "Given the developing situation of Russia-Ukraine, naturally, it'll be an important point of discussion during the Foreign Ministers' meeting. Foreign ministers will be focusing on the Russia-Ukraine situation, it'll be important to what they come out with, what understanding is developed," said Kwatra. He further added, "Issues of the impact of the Russia-Ukraine conflict on the world, including economic impact and impact on development, will also be focused upon in the meeting." Kwatra said that G20 Foreign Ministers Meeting under India's G20 presidency will be held tomorrow. "This would be the second ministerial meeting held under our presidency. The venue will be Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Center. 40 delegations expected to participate," he said. The G20 foreign ministers meeting is taking place days after a gathering of finance ministers and the Central Bank Governors of the G20 member countries in Bengaluru failed to come out with a joint communique over sharp differences between the Western powers and Russia-China combine over the Ukraine conflict. On whether a joint statement will be issued after the G20 Foreign Ministers meet, Foreign Secretary Kwatra said, "Can't prejudge the outcomes." "Ask the Russians, Chinese if they stand by Bali consensus, we stand by the declaration," said the Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson, Arindam Bagchi. He said Russia and China opposed some para of Bali declaration, which was in the India chair statement/outcome after finance ministers' meet. Meanwhile, Kwatra further stated that sessions will "capture" issues of the global south, when asked how India will be the voice of global south at the G20 FMs meet. The foreign ministers are also likely to discuss ways to deal with falling economic growth, increasing inflation, lower demands for goods and services as well as increasing prices of food, fuel and fertilisers. During the Foreign Ministers meeting on Thursday, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will be chairing two sessions of the foreign ministries meeting. "First session will focus on multilateralism, and issues related to food and energy while the second session will focus on four or five key issues including new and emerging threats including counter-terrorism and narcotics, global skill mapping, focus on global talent pools," said the Foreign Secretary. Responding to a meeting between Jaishankar and Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang, Kwatra said, "The External  Affairs minister is expected to be meeting all foreign ministers. Details to be shared once all the meetings are concluded." The G20 Foreign Ministers Meeting (FMM) is scheduled to take place in physical format from 1-2 March, 2023 in New Delhi under India's presidency. Representatives of 40 countries, including non-G20 members invited by India, and multilateral organisations will attend. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to address the foreign ministers of the member countries of G20 and he will talk about India's growing influence globally.

Highlighting the need to address the issues of access and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines across the world, India on Monday (local time) expressed concern regarding the low vaccination levels of the population in countries facing conflict situations. Speaking at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) briefing on 'delivery of COVID vaccines in areas of armed conflict - Implementation of UNSC Resolutions 2532 and 2565', India's Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, R Ravindra said, "Much of the developing world is yet to be vaccinated. The vaccination levels of the population in countries facing conflict situations are even lower." "While we have made significant progress in developing newer vaccines against COVID-19 as well as in their production, the issues of vaccine equity, access, distribution, and administration remain to be addressed," he added. Ravindra stressed the need to find ways to ensure last-mile vaccine delivery in areas affected by conflict and post-conflict situations, which are not served adequately by public health infrastructure. He also highlighted the need to ensure that any slackening of other vaccinations is reversed to ensure a sustainable health recovery from the pandemic. Highlighting India's role in facilitating access to vaccines, he said, "In line with our vision of 'One Earth, One Health', India has been instrumental in saving innumerable lives by providing timely and necessary medicines and vaccines to many countries." "In order to convert "vaccines into vaccination", countries need robust capabilities in critical sectors including Information Technology tools; cold chain expansion; and training and capacity building of healthcare workers for vaccine administration. India would be happy to partner with other countries to assist in these important areas," he added. Ravindra also condemned the terrorists taking advantage of the pandemic saying, "While the Security Council has called for "COVID" pause in hostilities, terrorists and other non-state actors have only taken advantage of the pandemic by increasing their nefarious activities." "For continued supplies of vaccines, we need to ramp up our manufacturing capacities, both qualitatively and quantitatively, and keep the global supply chain for raw materials open and uninterrupted," he added. He further informed the Security Council that India has been strongly advocating for the principle of equity in the World Health Organization and has also proposed, along with South Africa, a Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) waiver at the World Trade Organization (WTO) for COVID vaccines, diagnostics, and medicines. "India stands ready to work with the global community to build adequately funded robust health systems, strengthen preparedness, and ensure equitable access to vaccines," he stated.   Source: ANI  

Afghan journalists have stopped working in Taliban controlled areas. The group Nai-Supporting Open Media in Afghanistan said Monday that Afghan journalists are facing serious threats in conflict areas in Afghanistan. This comes as heavy fighting is underway between Taliban and Afghan National Defense and Security Forces in numerous provinces around the country. According to Nai some journalists have fled areas recently seized by the Taliban. “In the areas where fighting is ongoing, government has looked at a place for journalists, and will transfer them if the situation gets worse,” said Mujib Khalwatgar, head of Nai. “Some of our journalists in Taliban controlled areas escaped,” said Sediqullah Tawhidi, head of Afghan Journalist Safety Committee (AJSC). Afghan journalists urged Taliban to ensure the safety of journalists, and freedom of speech. “Unfortunately Taliban said earlier that they will not harm journalists, but now they use journalists as instruments. Journalists said Media support organizations should raise their voices. This comes a day after Tofan Omeri, who was the head of Paktia Ghag Radio and a state prosecutor at Bagram prison, was assassinated in Kabul. Source: Bakhtar News Agency EK

More than 29 million children were born into conflict-affected areas last year, Unicef said on Friday. Throughout 2018, more than 1 in 5 babies globally spent their earliest moments in communities affected by the chaos of conflict, it said. “Every parent should be able to cherish their baby’s first moments, but for the millions of families living through conflict, the reality is far bleaker,” said Unicef Executive Director Henrietta Fore. She said in countries around the world, violent conflict has severely limited access to essential services for parents and their babies. “Millions of families lack access to nutritious food, safe water, sanitation, or a secure and healthy environment to grow and bond. Along with the immediate, obvious dangers, the long-term impacts of such a start in life are potentially catastrophic,” Fore said. When young children experience prolonged or repeated adverse and traumatic events, the brain’s stress management system is activated without relief causing ‘toxic stress’. Over time, stress chemicals break down existing neural connections and inhibit new ones from forming, leading to lasting consequences for children’s learning, behavior, and physical and mental health. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the landmark Convention on the Rights of the Child, in which governments pledged to protect and care for children affected by conflict. Currently, more countries are embroiled in internal or international conflict than at any other time in the past three decades, threatening the safety and wellbeing of millions of children, Unicef said. “Parents who interact with their babies can help shield them from the negative neurological effects of conflict. Yet, in times of conflict, parents are frequently overwhelmed,” said Fore. Some $200 billion a year is needed to achieve all the primary health goals that are required for quality universal health coverage for all, according to Dr Peter Salama, Executive Director in charge of Universal Healthcare targets at WHO. Welcoming positive changes in tackling child and maternal mortality globally since 2000, Salama insisted that many countries were in a position to achieve much more, without having to find new funding, according to UN News. “The biggest difference in terms of when we discuss financing between the MDG (Millennium Development Goals) era (2000-2015) and the SDG era, is the real acknowledgement that the money is there for many countries, they just have to spend it on the right things,” he said. “So we’re not turning to the donor community and saying, ‘Give us $200 billion.’ We’re turning to middle-income and higher-income and even some lower-income countries that are stable and saying, ‘Actually, if you choose the right things, you could meet these goals within your current budgets.’” ‘Staggering success’ in reducing deaths Since 2000, Dr Salama insisted, the overall story of maternal and child mortality had been “a staggering success that we don’t often see in global and health development”. He pointed to a 50 percent reduction in deaths in children under 15 – from 14.2 million in 2000 to 6.2 million deaths in 2018 - and a 35 percent reduction in maternal deaths over the same period. Source: UNB AH

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina put emphasis on maintaining peace in the hills and urged all to extend cooperation to the Land Commission to solve the land dispute in the Chattogram Hill Tracts (CHT). “We want no more unrest and conflict in CHT … we want the people of the region to stay well, we want peace to be maintained there,” she said while inaugurating ‘Sheikh Hasina Chattogram Hill Tracts Complex’ in Bailey Road in the capital Sunday afternoon. Reports BSS. Sheikh Hasina said the country including the CHT region will achieve prosperity through peace, while progress will come following peace. “And we’ll build a hunger and poverty-free Sonar Bangla as dreamt by Bangabandhu through this progress and prosperity Insha Allah,” she added. Housing and Public Works Minister Engineer Mosharraf Hossain, Convenor of the CHT Peace Accord Implementation Committee Abul Hasanat Abdullah, Chairman of CHT Regional Council Jyotirindra Bodhipriya Larma, popularly known as Santu Larma, and Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of CHT Affairs RAM Ubaidul Muktadir Chowdhury were present as the special guests. State Minister for CHT Affairs Ministry Bir Bahadur Ushwe Sing presided over the function, while Secretary of the ministry Nurul Amin delivered the welcome address. A documentary on long-lasting peace and development initiatives of Bangabandhu and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the CHT was screened at the function. Ministers, PM’s advisers, parliament members, diplomats, representatives of development partners and international organizations were also present. The Prime Minister said her government has done everything necessary for implementing the CHT Peace Accord and formed the Land Commission to solve land dispute in the region. But, she said, there is a problem in giving compensation to the hill people during acquisition of their land. “They don’t get compensation as per the rule that is followed to provide compensation for the people of other parts of the country,” she said, adding the reason is that a problem regarding ownership exists there. In this connection, the Prime Minister preferred to follow the country’s own law instead of the British law. “If the hill people get their land ownership in their own name according to the law of our country, the problems like the hill people’s deprivation of compensation will be over,” she said. Sheikh Hasina urged all to extend cooperation to the Land Commission so it can quickly solve the land dispute in the CHT region by working properly. The commission faces obstacles while going to work, she added. The Prime Minister said the days are changing and the world is moving fast and is being enriched with modern technology and science. “So we want everybody to live with the ownership of their land and their development will be made in this way,” she said. The Prime Minister said her government had signed the peace accord ending two decades of unrest in the CHT region. “We’re started implementing the accord after signing the deal. The execution of the deal was halted when we were not in power from 2001-2006. But after coming to power again in 2009, we restarted implementation of the accord,” she said. She said all will have to keep in mind that development could not be made if peaceful atmosphere does not exist. Sheikh Hasina said the hill people were neglected for 20 years and the people of other parts of the country could not visit the area at that time. “When we visited the area, we were asked to leave the area by 3 pm and this was the situation there,” she said. But that situation was over after the signing of the peace accord, she said, adding, “To end the 20-year deprivation, we are giving special allocations to build roads, bridges, schools, colleges and universities… even we’re constructing residential schools so that the hill children pursue education.” In this connection, the Prime Minister asked the CHT Regional Council and District Councils to prepare projects or make proposals for development of their respective areas. “We will implement the schemes by giving special allocations,” she said. “We want all people of the region lead a beautiful life by becoming self-reliant and nobody lags behind,” she added. About the quota for ethnic minority people in the public service, Sheikh Hasina said she directed the Public Service Commission to give priority to the ethnic minority people. “Though quota system was revoked, I asked the PSC to priority to the ethnic minority candidates wherever they live – in the hills or plain land,” she said. “We’re making an arrangement for them in this regard and will do it … we give you our word,” she said, adding that: “All of them are our citizens and we don’t see them separately as they all have equal rights.” The premier said during Awami League government, remarkable development activities have been implemented in three hill districts for improving the living standard of CHT people. After signing the Peace Accord, she said, 1659-km roads have been constructed in CHT region for the development of communication, while, a Tk 879 crore project has been taken for 873 km electric line extension and electricity distribution. The prime minister said a number of projects in education and health sectors have been undertaken in the region, and mobile phone network has been extended. “Many projects have jointly been taken by the government and development partners for socioeconomic development, preservation of biodiversity, protection of environment and cultural diversity,” she said. Sheikh Hasina said CHT people did not have their own establishment in Dhaka. “I’ve sanctioned two acres of land for the construction of the CHT complex and through it, the address of CHT people has been established,” she said. She said the complex has created a scope for performing different social and cultural activities of CHT people, adding it will contribute as a centre of all activities of 3 hill districts to the capital. “I hope, it will play a vital role in exchange of views between the CHT people and the people of other parts,” she said. Extending his sincere thanks to the Prime Minister for setting up the CHT Complex in Dhaka, Santu Larma said it will develop a link between the hills and plain lands. “This complex has been established due to special role and sincere initiatives of the Prime Minister,” the CHT regional council chairman said urging Sheikh Hasina to contribute more to further improving life and livelihood of the hill people. The Prime Minister later witnessed a colorful cultural program presented by the artistes of the hill region. At the outset of the inaugural function of the CHT Complex, she was adorned with an “Uttariya” by Reeva Chakma, while a traditional saree and a shwal of the CHT were presented to her by Sushmita Chakma. AH

In the continuation of the ongoing quota reform movement since yesterday, the protesters gathered in Doyle Chattar this morning. At seven o'clock, police involved in conflict with general students in the university's Doyle Chattar and Curzon Hall area. Police again hurled tear shells on the protesters. Two students were injured in this incident. Earlier, Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Aashaduzzaman Mia at the time of visiting the venue said to the protesters, "I am giving you word that police will not hurl a single tear shell. You also do not throw brickbat. Police will leave the campus.” In response to students’ demand for justice, he said it will be discussed. The guilty police members will be punished. Meanwhile, the protesting students shouted, "We will leave if the police leave." After commissioner’s leave from Doyle Chattar area, the police members started hurling tear shells on the students. Eyewitnesses said that the students who were trying to negotiate with police were beaten with sticks. A student’s head was bleeding. The other students took him to Dhaka Medical College Hospital. Meanwhile, the environment of the Dhaka University area has become fearful. TSC, Shahbagh, Doyle Chattar, Nilkhet, Curzon Hall, Dhaka Medical College Hospital and inside of the university are completely different. Brickbats, sticks, shells are on the way. Chase-counter-chase and clash with police happened overnight as protesters and job seekers demanded reform of quota. Chhatra League has protested against the protesters demanding reform of the quota at around 6am. About 300 activists including Chhatra League president Saifur Rahman Sohag and general secretary SM Zakir Hossain were in the procession. When the procession started from Shahbagh and reached the front of Shahidullah Hall, the activists of the BCL were chased and counter-chased. FU