Greek MEP Eva Kaili has been detained along with four others. An unidentified Gulf state allegedly targeted officials "with a significant political and/or strategic position" to influence the EU Parliament. Police in Belgium have arrested Greek socialist MEP Eva Kaili, one of 14 European Parliament vice-presidents, in connection with an investigation into criminal organization, corruption, and money laundering that involves an unidentified Gulf state. Four others were also detained, including a former MEP, authorities said on Friday. The Belgian federal prosecutor's office accused the unidentified Gulf country of trying "to influence the economic and political decisions of the European Parliament.'' Gulf lobbying at EU Parliament Authorities believe the Gulf country tried to sway the European Parliament by "paying large sums of money or offering large gifts to third parties with a significant political and/or strategic position within the European Parliament." Prosecutors did not name the country involved but Belgian publications Le Soir and Knack citing "several well-informed sources" reported Qatari officials were involved in trying to corrupt a former Italian MEP from the Socialists and Democrats group. Investigators raided 16 addresses in Brussels as part of the investigation. They recovered around €600,000 ($633,500) in cash and seized computer equipment and mobile phones. A spokesperson for the European Parliament would not comment while an investigation was underway, but said the assembly was cooperating fully with police. Kaili expelled from party The Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) announced on Friday that it had taken the step to expel Kaili from the party. "Following the latest developments and the Belgian authorities' investigation into corruption of European officials, MEP Eva Kaili is expelled from PASOK by decision of President Nikos Androulakis," the political party said in a statement. Meanwhile, German Green MEP Daniel Freund tweeted a quote from Kaili from November this year in which she said told European Parliament: "I alone said that Qatar is a frontrunner in labor rights." Freund went on to call the situation "appalling."

During his last leg of a three-nation tour, Vice President, M Venkaiah Naidu addressed the members of the Indian diaspora in Doha on Monday. "India-Qatar ties have progressed since PM Modi motivated the 'Look West' policy. He has taken a personal interest in engaging with the Qatar leadership," he said during the interaction with the Indian community. He also addressed members of the business community at India-Qatar Business Forum during his visit and highlighted the strength of the ties as he called for building an enabling environment and forging more collaborations for mutual benefit. As a part of his visit,Vice President Naidu who is on the last leg of his three-country visit launched the "India-Qatar Start-Up bridge" to link the start-up ecosystems of the two countries at the India-Qatar Business Forum on Sunday while he also visited the Qatar National Museum in Doha. The Vice President highlighted the exchanges that paved the way for a special relationship between both the countries which has evolved over centuries through people-to-people and cultural exchanges. "We have now a very robust India-Qatar economic partnership and it is getting enriched with each passing day," he said, adding that bilateral trade between India and Qatar has seen steady progress. The Vice President said Qatar Investment Authority has committed investments of over USD 2 billion in Indian companies in the last two years. During this visit, the Vice President is being accompanied by Dr Bharati Pravin Pawar, Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Sushil Kumar Modi, Member of Parliament, Vijay Pal Singh Tomar, Member of Parliament, P. Raveendranath, Member of Parliament and senior officials from the Vice President's Secretariat and the Ministry of External Affairs. Source:  ANI  

A female student of Dhaka University has filed a rape case against Vice President (VP) of Dhaka University Central Students Union (DUCSU) Nurul Haque Nur. The case was filed with Lalbag police station in the capital. Lalbag division Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Biplab Bijoy Talukder confirmed the information on Monday. He said, VP Nur is one of the main accused in this case. Besides there are names of other five people in the first information report. The case was filed yesterday. Nurul Haque Nur came into the lime light during quota reformation movement in 2018 as the joint convener of Bangladesh general students rights protection council. Then on March 11, 2019 he was elected DUCSU VP after getting 11,062 votes. Nurul Haque Nur hails from Char Biswas union under Galachipa upazila of Patuakhali district. His father Idris Hawlader is a businessman and former Union Parishad member. His mother’s name is Nilufa Begum. Nur is second among three brothers and five sisters. He passed the HSC examination from Uttara High School and College in the capital in 2012. Then he got himself admitted in the English department of Dhaka University in 2013-14 session. AH

The recent outgoing DUCSU Vice President (VP) Nurul Haque Nur is going to vie for the Dhaka-18 parliamentary by election. He claimed that local BNP and Awami League leaders have inspired him to fight the election. In this seat the last Member of Parliament (MP) was Awami League presidium member Sahara Khatun. She died on July 9 and the later the seat was declared vacant. After that the AL and BNP leaders have begun their activities. Nurul Haque Nur said, we can pay a major role in the political arena centering the election. As I lived in Uttara, so many suggested that they will be with me if I run in the Dhaka-18 by election. Nur said, I will not participate in the election for any political party or alliance. But many from AL and BNP promised me to remain for me in the voting field. I am very optimistic about the election. Awami League and BNP are two major parties. They remained in power for more than one time and still remaining. They have lakhs and crores of supporters. But I will not fight in the election in favor of any of the parties, he added. AH   

A case has been filed against Vice President (VP) of Dhaka University Central Students Union (DUCSU) Nurul Haque Nur over the incident of clashes and attack on DUCSU Bhaban. In this case 29 people including VP Nur were made accused. DM Sabbir Hossain, a student of Zahurul Haq Hall filed the case with Shahbag police station on Wednesday night. Case number 38. Allegations of beating with a motive of killing along with theft were made in the case. DMP media and public relations department ADC Obaidur Rahman confirmed the information and said, a student of Zahurul Haq Hall of the university filed the case against VP Nur. 29 people were made accused in the case. Inspector of Shahbag police station Arifur Rahman was assigned to perform the investigation. The accused in the case are-DUCSU VP Nurul Haque Nur, convener of general students rights protection council Hasan Al Mamun, joint convener Mashiur Rahman, joint convener Faruk Hasan, Rashed Khan, APM Suhel (JnU), Abu Hanif, Aminul Islam, Tuhin Farabi (Dhanmondi Chartered University College), Mehedi Hasan, Salehuddin Sifat, Nazmul Hasan, Ayatullah Behesti, Rabiul Hossain, Arifur Rahman, Saimul Islam, Arifur Rahman, Bin Yamin Mollah, Tariqul Islam, Abdullah Hil Baki, Akram Hossain, Asif Khan, Sanaullah Haque, Ataullah, Shakil Mia, Hasanul Banna, Rabirul Islam, Raj, Ariful Islam and other 15 to 20 unnamed.    According to the first information report, a program was going on beneath the Raju Sculpture organized by Muktijuddho Mancha Mamun-Bulbul fraction protesting the legal notice to the President served by Telenor authority. After holding the program they came to Madhur Canteen and there heated words were exchanged with DUCSU VP. At that time when Dhaka University unit Chhatra League president Sanjit Chandra Das and general secretary Saddam Hossain arrived there then Nur and his companions began to chant slogans. When Sanjit and Saddam wanted to know the reason of chanting slogans they repeated the slogans. When Sanjit-Saddam were leaving the spot the accused with attempt to kill hit them. In this incident 8 people of Muktijuddho Mancha including the plaintiff of the case were injured. At that time mobile phones, money bags and wrist watches were snatched away. On the other hand, in the afternoon of December 22, VP Nur filed a case mentioning names of 37 leaders and activists of Chhatra League and DUCSU over the incident of attack on VP Nur and his followers. DUCSU social service secretary Akhtar Hossain filed the case on behalf of him with Shahbag police station on Tuesday. AH   

Nurul Haque Nur has formally announced to take charge as the Vice President (VP) of Dhaka University Central Students' Union (DUCSU). His announcement came in at a press conference held at Modhu's Canteen at around 3:30 pm on Friday organized by Bangladesh General Students Rights Protection Council. In the press conference Nur said, the expectation of the nation was not met centering the DUCSU election which was held after long 28 years of interval. I am going to take the charge keeping respect for the opinions of the students who voted me in the midst of so much vote rigging. I want to work for the students. As well as our demand for reelection will continue. At that time Convener of Bangladesh General Students Rights Protection Council Hasan Al Mamun said, on behalf of our organization decision was taken in principle to take charge as the VP by Nurul Haque Nur and as the Social Service Secretary by Akhtar Hossain. AH

Of the 25 posts in Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) election Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) candidates have won all but the posts of Vice President (VP) and Social Service Secretary posts. Quota reforms movement leader Md. Nurul Haque was elected the VP. He obtained 11 thousand 62 votes. His nearest competitor BCL President Rezwanul Haque Chowdhury Shovon got 9 thousand 129 votes. In the election BCL General Secretary Golam Rabbani was elected General Secretary (GS) of DUCSU. Rabbani obtained 10 thousand 484 votes. His nearest competitor quota reforms movement leader Rashed Khan got 6 thousand 63 votes. Besides, Dhaka University unit BCL General Secretary Saddam Hossain was elected Assistant General Secretary (AGS) of DUCSU. He obtained 15 thousand 301 votes. His nearest competitor quota reforms movement leader Faruque Hossain got 5 thousand 896 votes. At around 3:15 am on Tuesday DU Vice Chancellor Dr. Md. Akhtaruzzaman declared the results at Nabab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Bhaban auditorium at the university. Pro Vice Chancellor (Education) Professor Dr. Nasrin Ahmed, Pro Vice Chancellor (Administration) Professor Dr. Mohammad Samad, Chief Returning Officer Professor SM Mahfuzur Rahman among others were present at that time. In the DUCSU election Saad Bin Kader was elected as Liberation War Affairs Secretary, Arif Ibne Ali as Science and Technology Secretary, BM Lipi Akter as Common Room and Cafeteria Secretary, Shahrima Tanzina Orni as International Affairs Secretary, Kabir Nayan as Literature Secretary, Asif Talukder as Cultural Affairs Secretary, Shakil Ahmed Tanvir as Sports Secretary and Shams-e-Noman was elected as Students Transport Secretary. Besides, quota reforms movement leader Akhtar Hossain was elected as Social Service Secretary. On the other hand the elected members are- Chibal Sangma, Nazrul Islam, Rakibul Hasan, Rakibul Islam Oitijya, Tanvir Hasan Saikat, Raisa Naser, Sabrina Eti, Farida Parvin, Nipu Islam Tonni, Haider Mohammad Zitu, Tilottoma Shikder, Zulfikar Alam Rasel and Mahmudul Hasan. AH