Bangladesh Railway has suspended the operation of six intercity trains to avoid sabotage during the ongoing blockade.  A railway source confirmed the information on Friday (Dce 22). According to sources, the trains that run at night and the routes where the risky spots are high will be temporarily closed.  Meanwhile, the Western Railway authorities have suspended the operation of the Uttara Express from Rajshahi to Parbatipur and the commuter train from Ishwardi to Rahanpur. The Dhaka Railway Divisional Office will hold a press conference at Kamalapur Railway Station at 3pm on Friday to give details in this regard. In the last one and a half months, 12 places on the railway track and five trains have been set on fire.  In addition, railway tracks were cut and fishplate clips were removed at three places. Among the six zones under the railway police, the incidents of sabotage are highest in the Dhaka region.  

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today (Wednesday, Dec 6) said the concession agreement on operation of Patenga Container Terminal (PCT) between Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) and Saudi Arabia's company Red Sea Gateway Terminal (RSGT) will help further enhance Saudi investment in Bangladesh. "This concession agreement is a testament to our two countries' joint vision and steadfast commitment to economic cooperation and prosperity," PM said. The prime minister along with Saudi Investment Minister Khalid Al Falih witnessed the signing ceremony at her office here as CPA Chairman Rear Admiral Mohammad Sohail and CEO of RSGT Jeans O. Foley inked the agreement. The Saudi minister earlier paid a courtesy call on the Bangladesh premier at her office in the morning. "As we witness the signing of this concession agreement, we look forward to a future where Patenga Container Terminal will become a driving force for economic growth and prosperity in Bangladesh," Sheikh Hasina said at the signing ceremony. She said that the RSGT will operate the Patenga Container Terminal for the next 22 years that will strengthen bilateral relations, especially in the field of trade and commerce. The Chittagong Port Authority's Patenga Container Terminal Project is a beacon of hope for Bangladesh's economic uplift, she added. The premier said this self-reliant modern terminal will enhance the capacity of port, facilitate seamless trade, and create job opportunities and entrepreneurship. "It will act as a gateway to global trade, opening up new opportunities for our businesses to connect with the world," she said. The terminal will help boost regional economic growth as India, Bhutan and Nepal can also use the terminal, she also said. Sheikh Hasina said the investment of Saudi Arabia in the Patenga Container Terminal will enhance the image of Bangladesh on the global stage. The prime minister described Saudi Arabia as a friendly country and an important development partner for Bangladesh. "The people of Bangladesh have deep respect and trust for the people of Saudi Arabia. We have always found Saudi Arabia close to our hearts," she said. Sheikh Hasina said the RSGT is a reputed global terminal operator designated by the Saudi government. Source: BSS

South Africa is the latest country to withdraw its ambasssador from Israel over what it and other nations say is "collective punishment" of civilians. The diplomatic pressure on Israel is growing. Since the terror attack by Hamas on October 7 that left over 1,400 in Israel dead, Israel has been bombing the Gaza Strip in an effort to destroy the militant group.  The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) claims to have attacked hundreds of Hamas positions with airstrikes and also launched a ground offensive several days ago. According to authorities in Gaza, which are controlled by Hamas, more than 10,000 Palestinians, mostly civilians, have died in Israeli bombardment so far. Hamas is a militant group that the EU, as well as the US, UK, Germany, and other nations have designated a terrorist organization. It has governed the Gaza Strip since 2007. While Germany and the US have been more muted in criticizing the tactics of Israel's army in Gaza, other governments have been less reserved. Some have announced changes to their diplomatic and economic ties with Israel as analysts have suggested that Israel's siege of Gaza amounts to collective punishment, and that war crimes have been committed there under international humanitarian law. South Africa: Israeli ambassador's position 'untenable' On Monday this week, the South African government withdrew its ambassador and diplomatic staff from Israel "for consultation," after describing its ongoing bombardment of the Gaza Strip as "collective punishment." Recalling an ambassador indicates one country's political dissatisfaction with another, and the recall is often officially called "a consultation." It means that senior government ministers can then personally consult the ambassador about critical topics. It is usually temporary and does not mean that a country has cut off diplomatic relations altogether; often embassy staff remain in the other country and continue to serve their citizens' needs there. The South Africans are also upset with remarks made by Israel's ambassador to their country in which he criticized locals who had expressed concern about the Israeli bombardment of Gaza and the high civilian death toll. A senior official told local media the Israeli ambassador's position in South Africa might be becoming "untenable" as a result.   Jordan: No ambassador until the end of the 'war' Jordan was long seen as a key mediator between Israel and the Palestinian territories. Last week, Jordan recalled its ambassador in protest over "the Israeli war on Gaza." Israel's ambassador to Amman, who is currently not stationed there, was told to not return until Israel had ended the "unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe" in the Gaza enclave. Until 2020, Jordan and Egypt were the only two countries in the region to have diplomatic ties with Israel. Bahrain: Unclear relationship In 2020, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates were the first two Gulf States to agree to diplomatic ties with Israel. Last Thursday, Bahrain's government confirmed it had recalled its ambassador from Israel and that Israel's ambassador had left "a while ago." It added that economic ties with Israel had also been severed. Israel denied these claims, stating that ties with Bahrain remained "stable." Bahrain's Foreign Ministry was unavailable for comment. Turkey: Israel recalls diplomats Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had initially attempted to offer his services as a mediator between Hamas and Israel. However, more recently he has sided with the Palestinian territories, backing Hamas as "freedom fighters" and criticizing Israel for "crimes against humanity." In response, Israel recalled all diplomatic staff from Ankara. Turkey then recalled its envoy to Israel on Saturday. Bolivia: Diplomatic ties severed Beyond the Middle East, countries in Latin America are also reacting to the ongoing Israeli bombardment of Gaza. Argentina and Brazil have recently increased their criticism of the impact Israel’s bombing is having on civilians. Bolivia has gone further. Initially Bolivia's government called for a deescalation in Gaza, without explicitly condemning the Hamas attack on October 7. In the meantime, Bolivia has become the first Latin American country to cut diplomatic ties with Israel over its military actions in Gaza. Former president Evo Morales called upon his government to declare Israel a "terrorist state" and for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government to be tried before the International Criminal Court for "genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity." Chile: 'Collective punishment' criticized Chile condemned the terror attack by Hamas from the beginning but called upon both sides to avoid an escalation that would cause civilians to suffer. Last week, Chile condemned Israel's operations as "collective punishment against the Palestinian civilian population in Gaza" and recalled its ambassador. The Palestinian diaspora in Chile is the largest in South America, comprised of an estimated 500,000 people. Colombia: Economic ties on the line The Foreign Ministry in Columbia issued a statement to "vehemently condemn the terrorism and attacks against civilians" in Israel. Then Colombian President Gustavo Petro repeatedly called for "the full recognition of the two states by all nations in the world" and met with the Palestinian ambassador to Colombia, Raouf Almalki, as well as the Israeli ambassador, Gali Dagan. Colombia recognized the Palestinian territories as a state in 2018. It is one of 139 UN members to have done so.  On the social media platform X, formerly Twitter, Petro triggered a heated debate when he likened Israel's actions to those of Nazi Germany. In response, Israel suspended all sales and supplies of defense and security hardware and related services to Colombia. The Latin American country uses these deliveries to combat domestic armed groups. In turn, Petro threatened to sever economic ties with Israel and recalled its ambassador for consultations. Honduras: Embassy remains open On Friday, Honduras became the latest South American nation to recall its ambassador from Israel. The Honduran government explained that it had taken the step because of "the serious humanitarian situation the civilian Palestinian population is suffering in the Gaza Strip." The country's embassy in Israel will stay open and Honduras is monitoring the situation, its government said.

In one of the biggest demonstrations of its operational prowess in recent years, the Indian Navy on Saturday carried out a mission in the Arabian Sea that involved two aircraft carriers, multiple warships, submarines and over 35 frontline planes amid China's increasing forays into the Indian Ocean. The Navy's aircraft carriers -- INS Vikramaditya and newly inducted INS Vikrant -- were the centrepieces of the exercise and the two platforms served as floating airfields for a wide array of aircraft, including MiG-29K and helicopters such as MH60R, Kamov and Advanced Light helicopters, officials said. "The exercise marks a significant milestone in the Indian Navy's pursuit of enhancing maritime security and power-projection in the Indian Ocean, and beyond, " Indian Navy Spokesperson Commander Vivek Madhwal said. He said the exercise involved a seamless integration of two aircraft carriers along with a diverse fleet of ships, submarines and aircraft, showcasing India's technological expertise in the maritime domain. "This demonstration of naval prowess underscores India's commitment to safeguarding its national interests, maintaining regional stability, and fostering cooperative partnerships in the maritime domain," Commander Madhwal said. It is the first mega exercise involving the two aircraft carriers after induction of the indigenously-built INS Vikrant in September. Officials said almost all air assets of the Navy operated from the two aircraft carriers and they operated as mobile bases. The exercise demonstrated that INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya can be positioned anywhere, allowing for increased mission flexibility, timely response to emerging threats and sustained air operations to safeguard national interests across the globe, they said. "In addition, they provide our friends with an assurance that the Indian Navy is capable and ready to support our 'collective' security needs in the region," said Commander Madhwal. "The successful demonstration of two-carrier battle group operations serves as a powerful testament to the pivotal role of sea-based air power in maintaining maritime superiority," he said. "As India continues to strengthen its security apparatus, the significance of aircraft carriers will remain paramount in shaping the nation's defence strategy and promoting regional stability," Commander Madhwal said.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) arrested 67 people on charges of selling and consuming drugs from different areas in the capital. During the operation, 3179 pieces Yaba, 40 bottles phensedyl, 10 gm 80 Puria heroin, 80 kg 960 gm Cannabis were seized. As part of regular anti-narcotics operation, Dhaka Metropolitan Police conducted operation in various areas of the capital from February 24,2023 to today 6 am in the morning. Under the Narcotics Control Act,  47 cases have been registered against the arrested in the concerned police stations.

Canberra says the target was a dual Iranian-Australian citizen who had joined anti-Iran government protests in Australia. The home affairs minister wants to do more to tackle foreign interference. Australia has discovered an Iranian surveillance operation targeting a dual Iranian-Australian citizen who had joined protests in Australia following the death of Jina Mahsa Amini, Home Affairs Minister Clare O'Neil said on Tuesday. The allegations of spying by Iran comes amid a crackdown on anti-government protests across Iran that have shaken the Islamic Republic in a way comparable to the revolution that brought the regime to power 44 years ago. "It is perfectly legal for anyone in Australia to criticize a foreign regime, as tens of thousands of people across the country have been doing in response to events in Iran," O'Neil said in a speech to the Australian National University's (ANU) national security college. "What we absolutely will not tolerate, under any circumstances, are attempts by foreign regimes to disrupt peaceful protests, encourage violence or suppress views." Canberra says it bust the spying operation The minister did not provide any details about the surveillance operation, but said that it had included "extensive research" on the individual "and their family." O'Neil added that Australia's own agencies "were on it like a shot." "We're not going to stand back and have Australians or indeed visitors to our country, watched and tracked by foreign governments on our soil." She went on to call for a "national conversation" on the issue and said she had tasked Australia's own spy agencies with coming up with programs for those communities most likely to be targeted by foreign actors. "Because we don't just need to disrupt these operations, but deter future ones by imposing costs on their sponsor through outing them, where possible to do so," she said. Universities targeted in particular O'Neil did not refer to China in her speech, but a 2018 law against foreign interference came with allegations of Chinese involvement in Australian politics and universities by then-Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. O'Neil did, however, refer to the particular interest in Australia's universities. "It should be no secret or surprise the university sector is a target of foreign interference," she said. The Australian Security Intelligence Organization (ASIO) "has stated that foreign intelligence services and their proxies 'are all too willing to take advantage of the openness that is integral to our universities and research institutions to steal intellectual property and cutting-edge technologies,'" she added.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) crime and intelligence department arrested 52 people on charges of selling and consuming drugs in different areas of the capital. During the arrest, 3513 pieces of Yaba, 400.1 grams 50 Puria heroin, 9 kg 300 grams of cannabis and 122 bottle phensedyl were seized from them. As part of regular anti-narcotics operation, Dhaka Metropolitan Police conducted operation in various places in the capital from 6 am. in the morning (Thursday, February 9) to 6 am. today. Under the Narcotics Control Act, 42 cases have been registered against the arrested in the concerned police station.

On charges of selling and consuming drugs Dhaka Metropolitan Police arrested 62 people. During the raid, 1002 grams 137 Puria heroin, 95 bottle phensedyle, 42 kg 982 grams cannabis, 22000 ml liquor and 4682 pieces Yaba were recovered. Under the Narcotics Control Act, 45 cases have been registered against the arrested in the concerned police stations.

On charges of selling and consuming drugs, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) have arrested 73 people in different areas in the capital. During the operation, 97.2 grams 53 Puria heroin, 128 bottles Phensedyl, 180 bottles and 20 liters liqueur, 55 kg 635 grams cannabis, 14,347 pieces Yaba were seized. As part of regular anti-drug duties, Dhaka Metropolitan Police conducted operation in various police station areas in the capital and arrested the drug dealers. In the concerned police stations, 55 cases under the Narcotics Control Act have been registered against the arrested.

Pentagon officials say Bilal al-Sudani was killed in a special military operation and was a "key facilitator" for the "Islamic State" group's expansion. US special operations forces have killed a senior figure of the "Islamic State" (IS) group in remote northern Somalia, officials announced Thursday. Bilal al-Sudani, the regional leader of IS in Somalia, was a "key facilitator" for the group's global network, said US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. "This action leaves the United States and its partners safer and more secure, and it reflects our steadfast commitment to protecting Americans from the threat of terrorism at home and abroad," Austin said in a statement. What do we know about the operation? US President Joe Biden ordered the operation, which was carried out on Wednesday, Austin said. According to US officials, al-Sudani and 10 other IS fighters were killed in a gunfight after US forces descended on a mountainous cave complex to capture him. Austin said no civilians were injured or killed in the operation. A US official was quoted by the Associated Press news agency as saying one American involved in the raid was injured after he was bitten by a military dog.  Who was Bilal al-Sudani? Media reports, citing US officials, said al-Sudani was involved in recruiting and training fighters for the al-Qaida-linked group al-Shabab before he joined IS.  He reportedly coordinated funding for IS operations in Africa and the group's branch in Afghanistan, the Islamic-State Khorasan (IS-K).  "Al-Sudani was responsible for fostering the growing presence of [IS] in Africa and for funding the group's operations worldwide, including in Afghanistan," Austin said.