The Zulu monarch does not have formal executive power but is hugely influential as a custodian of the ethnic group's traditional customs and land. A South African court on Tuesday declared that President Cyril Ramaphosa's decision last year to recognize Misuzulu kaZwelithini as the king of the country's 15 million-strong Zulu nation was unlawful.   The ruling potentially sets off a new, lengthy succession battle. The court has ordered South Africa's government to launch an investigation into objections raised by some members of the Zulu royal family with regard to the rightful heir to the throne. What's behind the succession battle?   Last October, Misuzulu ascended the throne once held by his late father — Goodwill Zwelithini. His formal appointment comes after a year of bitter feuding over the royal succession. King Goodwill Zwelithini died in March 2021 after more than 50 years on the throne. He left six wives and at least 28 children but designated his third wife as regent in his will. The queen, however, died suddenly a month after Zwelithini, leaving a will naming Misuzulu as the next king. The development did not go down well with other family members. Another faction, which includes some of his late father's other wives and some of his siblings from the other palaces, recognized King Zwelithini's first-born son Prince Simakade as king. Why did the court criticize Ramaphosa? But Ramaphosa last year officially recognized Misuzulu Zulu as king at a colorful ceremony in the coastal city of Durban. The formalities included Ramaphosa handing over a giant framed certificate in front of tens of thousands of people — mostly Zulus dressed in their traditional attire and carrying shields and clubs. The judge has now criticized Ramaphosa for ignoring other family members' complaints. According to South African law, the president was supposed to launch an investigation as soon as he was aware of objections against the recognition of the new king. "It is declared that the recognition by the first respondent of the second respondent as Isilo of the Zulu nation was unlawful and invalid and the recognition decision is hereby set aside," reads the judgment. The judge noted that his ruling was not meant to determine whether the king was the rightful heir, but whether the correct processes had been followed. Ramaphonsa now has to set up a committee to investigate the disputes regarding the matter. What's the role of the Zulu king? The Zulu monarch does not have formal executive power but is hugely influential as a custodian of the ethnic group's traditional customs and land. The king controls vast swaths of land, estimated at about 3 million hectares or about 30% of the land in KwaZulu-Natal province, under an entity called the Ingonyama Trust. The monarch also receives an annual budget of more than $4 million (€3.7 million) from the provincial government for the upkeep of the royal households and cultural activities. Zulu kings are descendants of King Shaka, the 19th-century leader still revered for having united a large swath of the country as the Zulu nation, which fought bloody battles against the British colonizers.

In 1971 the deaths of three million people, the rape of more than 200,000 women, the ten million who fled for their lives and took refuge in India, and the thirty million who were internally displaced, shocked many people around the world.  The attempt by the Pakistan military to destroy the Bengalis as a people during the Bangladesh War of Independence was recognised, at least by some, for what it was. The headline in the London Sunday Times read simply ‘Genocide’. A Pakistani commander was quoted as making the genocidal intention clear, stating that “We are determined to rid East Pakistan of the threat of cessation, once and for all, even if it means killing two million people and ruling it as a colony for 30 years”.  That target for killings was surpassed but East Pakistan nevertheless achieved independence as Bangladesh, yet after more than 50 years those terrible events have still not been internationally recognised as genocide. Global Human Rights Defence, an international human rights organisation based in The Hague, held a conference in the European Parliament aimed at convincing MEPs and wider society that the time has come for Europe and the world to recognise the genocide that was so swiftly forgotten in so many countries after 1971.  Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Fulvio Martusciello took the initiative and hosted the event at the European Parliament though he could not be present there due to flight schedule issues. His speech was delivered by his representative Communication Expert Giuliana Francoisa.  MEP Isabella Adinolfi focused on the brutalities faced by the Bengali women during the Bangladesh Genocide in 1971 and called for its recognition by the European Parliament.  She gave a powerful message from the host MEP Fulvio Martusciello: “It’s time for the EU to recognize what happened in Bangladesh as a crime against humanity, more than 50 years after the nation was plunged in blood and tyranny”. Another MEP Thierry Mariani was also present at the event.  The President of Global Human Rights Defence, Sradhnanand Sital, recalled that after the Second World War Europe had said ‘never again’ but in Bangladesh there had been organised genocide, not only against the Hindu minority (who were especially targeted) but all Bengalis.  Paul Manik, a human rights activist who experienced the brutality as a youth, called on the European Parliament to recognise that this was not just a large-scale massacre, it was genocide. The Director of Human Rights Without Frontiers, Willy Fautré, explained how years of persecution had culminated in genocide. Since its foundation in 1947, Pakistan had been politically and militarily dominated by West Pakistan, where Urdu was the main language.  But the most populous part of the new state was Bengali-speaking East Pakistan. Within a year, Urdu was attempted to be proclaimed the sole national language. Decades of ethnic and linguistic discrimination against Bengalis followed, with their literature and music banned from state media. The oppression was reinforced by military rule but in December 1970 an election was held.  The Awami League, led by Father of the Nation of Bangladesh Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, swept to victory, winning all but two of the parliamentary seats representing East Pakistan and a majority in the entire state’s National Assembly.  Instead of allowing him to form a government, the Pakistan military prepared “Operation Searchlight”, to arrest and kill Bengali political leaders, intellectuals and students. It was a classic attempt to decapitate society and a major step down the road to genocide. The operation was launched on the evening of 25 March 1971, met immediate fierce resistance and led to Bangladesh’s independence being proclaimed in the early hours of the next day, 26 March 197/, by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.  In a film shown at the conference in the European Parliament, an eyewitness recalled her father, a professor, being shot and left for dead within minutes of his arrest. She and her mother were already trying to help four other dying men before a neighbour discovered her father. By the time he received medical help, there was no hope for him.  Willy Faubré observed that using the term genocide to refer to such events and the mass killings and rapes that followed should hardly be controversial. Renowned institutes, Genocide Watch, the Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention and the International Coalition of Sites of Conscience, and the International Association of Genocide Scholars have all come to that conclusion. Bangladesh’s Ambassador to the European Union, Mahbub Hassan Saleh, said that the European Union is a strong advocate for human rights all over the world, so it would be a great step if the European Parliament and other EU institutions recognised the Bangladesh Genocide. He said, “… particularly sitting inside the European Parliament, I would only hope that some members of the European Parliament cutting across all political groups will propose a resolution to recognize the Bangladesh Genocide 1971 as soon as possible …”.  Ambassador Saleh also said It was the primarily the responsibility of Bangladeshis to tell the world what happened over nine months in 1971. “We don’t lose heart, we have waited 52 years, so we can wait a little more, but we will definitely get international recognition of the Genocide in Bangladesh in 1971”, he added.  He thanked the organizers for hosting the event in the European Parliament and urged all to lend their hands to strengthen the global campaign for recognition of the Genocide in Bangladesh in 1971.  The panel of speakers included Andy Vermaut, a human rights activist and President of Postversa who spoke very passionately about the victims and their families of victims of the Bangladesh Genocide 1971. The event was moderated by Manel Msalmi, International Affairs Advisor to MEPs, who spoke very forcefully about the importance of recognition of the Bangladesh Genocide in 1971. The event was attended by a large number of people of different nationalities including students from academic institutions in Belgium. 

University teachers, researchers, cultural activists and community leaders today at an international conference expressed their firm determination to work relentlessly until the global recognition of the Genocide, which occurred in the country by the Pakistani army in 1971, is achieved. They expressed their determination at an international conference titled 'International Conference on Bangladesh Genocide Recognition', Organised by Amra Ekattor, Projonmo 71 and European Bangladesh Forum at Dhaka University's Abdul Matin Chowdhury virtual classroom.   While addressing DU vice chancellor Dr Md Aktaruzzaman said during the Liberation War of Bangladesh, the University of Dhaka was the epicentre of genocide and the students and teachers of the university were the first victims of genocide.   Greeting the organisers and contributors of the conference, he sincerely pledged that the University of Dhaka will always stand with them and cooperate for achieving recognition of the 1971 genocide. European Bangladesh Forum (EBF) President Bikash Chawdury Barua expressed firm determination to continue efforts to draw the attention of the world community about the genocide and to stand with the victims of atrocities conducted by the Pakistani army during the Liberation War of Bangladesh in 1971.   Genocide researcher and founding secretary of Projonmo 71 Tawheed Reza Noor said Projonmo 71 is working to achieve recognition of the genocide and ensure justice.   "According to the 1948 genocide conversation, genocide means destroying, harming and distorting a targeted group of people or community with a systematic plan. And the genocide conducted by Pakistani military forces during the Liberation War of Bangladesh was planned killings of Bengali people, said Pradip Kumar Dutta , a genocide researcher.   Ekattorer Ghatok Dalal Nirmul Committee president Shahriar Kabir, Former Dutch MP and human rights activist Harry Van Bommel, Trustee of Liberation War Museum Mofidul Haq, Communication director of Swiss inter-strategy group Chris Blackburn, and Lieutenant colonel Birpratik Sazzad Zahir also addressed the conference, among others. Source: BSS

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed her satisfaction over achieving the global recognition of her innovation community clinic. Prime Minister said, "Through healthcare, we have reached the people's doorstep across the country. "Even I did not know when the proposal on community clinic was raised in the United Nations. After the resolution was unanimously passed, I was informed by Bangladesh Permanent Representative to United Nations," PM said. Sheikh Hasina expressed her feeling while presiding over the weekly meeting of the Cabinet at the Cabinet Room of the Prime Minister's Office. On behalf of the cabinet, Hasan Mahmud, the Minister of Information and Broadcasting, thanked to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for such humanitarian initiative. The Prime Minister asked the concerned authorities, including the Foreign Minister and the Bangladesh Permanent Representative to the United Nations, to formally express gratitude to 70 countries which co-sponsored the resolution while all UN member states unanimously supported it. Sheikh Hasina also said, "The most important thing is that the healthcare services have reached people's doorstep and mass people are coming there for treatment. "Community clinics have created employment too," Prime Minister added.

Sajeeb Wazed Joy, the ICT adviser to the honourable Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina, has sought recognition of 'Operation Searchlight', conducted by the Pakistani forces on the night of March 25, as a genocide. On Saturday, March 25, he gave a status on his verified facebook page. Here is his full statement: In 1971, the PakArmy massacred the people of then East Pakistan just because they wanted to have a better life. Bengalis wanted to be heard, to be recognised as equal to the West Pakistani rulers. Instead, they were killed mercilessly in their sleep.  On 25th March, Yahya Khan's underling TikkaKhan mobilized death squads to initiate 'Operation Searchlight'. They killed 7000 Bengalis in a single night. From that day till the end of the LiberationWar1971, Pakistani soldiers raped more than 200,000 women and killed more than 3 million people. This massive genocide displaced 30-40 million Bengalis. More than 10 million people took refuge in India.  Bangladesh urges international community to recognise brutal act of Pak Army as Genocide.

India and the UK on Thursday agreed on mutual recognition of educational qualifications of students from both countries, a move which will cover courses at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels as well as maritime education, but will exclude professional degrees in engineering, medicine, architecture and pharmacy. India is seeking easier rules for professional courses in the bilateral trade agreement that is being negotiated, commerce secretary BVR Subrahmanyam said. “These agreements will facilitate closer alignment on education between India and the UK, enhance short-term bilateral mobility and ensure mutual recognition of qualifications,” a statement said. The memorandum of understanding will include online courses and facilitate courses which offer students the option to partly study in India and also in the UK, the commerce secretary said.   Besides, it will come handy for those who complete a postgraduate program from the UK, which is for one year. It will now be possible to transfer the credits earned by students. “On a reciprocal basis, Indian Senior Secondary School/Pre-University Certificates will be considered suitable for entry into UK higher education institutions. Similarly, the bachelor’s degree, master’s degree and doctoral degree of India and the UK will also be considered equivalent to each other,” the statement said. Currently, students who complete a PG course from the UK find it difficult to enrol for a PhD in India, Subrahmanyam said.   Source: The Times of India

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today (Monday)  demanded rich countries immediate recognition to the vulnerable nations’ needs for finance to face climate change onslaughts particularly because 48 poorer territories are exposed to worst despite their only five percent contribution to the global emission.      “We, the 48 members of the CVF (Climate Vulnerable Forum), account for only 5 per cent of the total global emission,” she told a “CVF-Commonwealth High-Level Panel Discussion on Climate Prosperity Partnership” on the COP26 sidelines as the chief guest of the event.      But, the Bangladesh premier said, the adverse impacts of climate change “posed fundamental threats to our lives and livelihoods” which could be negated by adequate and promised financing alongside technology transfer by richer nations.       “Our (CVF nations) vulnerability and necessity for adequate climate finance and technology transfer must be recognized by the international community,” Sheikh Hasina said.    Sheikh Hasina said the major emitting countries need to fulfil “their obligations to support us in our efforts to cope with the effects of climate change”.          The premier said a common position of the climate summit could “help us in securing the annual 100 billion dollar for climate financing” by the developed countries for the developing ones, “as promised in Paris Agreement”.      She said the climate financing must has to be in addition to the existing and future ODA or overseas development assistance and “this amount should be allocated with the ratio of 50:50 between adaptation and mitigation” for the greater benefit of the vulnerable countries.      Sheikh Hasina is the incumbent chair of the CVF which unites developing nations from Africa, Asia and Latin America while the grouping wants countries to ramp up their plans for emission cuts at every annual UN climate summit through to 2025.       The CVF campaigns for striving harder to meet the 2015 Paris Agreement goal to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius this century.      But close to 50 of 190 countries which signed the accord are yet to submit new or updated emissions reduction goals and among those who submitted their plans, a few large emitters show low - or no - fresh ambition.      Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh is often referred to as the “Ground Zero” for adverse impacts of climate change and “despite our vulnerabilities and resource constraints, we have adopted exemplary initiatives to tackle climate change” and submitted an ambitious and updated NDC to the UNFCCC.       The Bangladesh premier asked the COP26 to find pragmatic, inclusive and locally-led solutions alongside a joint move of CVF and the Commonwealth countries to implement the Paris Agreement in tackling the climate change onslaughts.       Sheikh Hasina reminded the global leaders that climate Change is a global and cross-border issue now and no country is immune from its “grave consequences” while the COVID-19 pandemic proved the crucial need for effective cooperation and collaboration for robust, bold and responsive actions of all.       But, she said, the increased number of climate disasters and their impacts brought the most vulnerable countries at a tipping point of unalterable damage, which were “affecting global food, energy, health and economic securities”.      The premier said the recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report gave a clear message that all have to take urgent and decisive actions to save the planet and the future generations.     The United Nations earlier said the world has already heated up by just over 1C from preindustrial times and is set for warming of close to 3C, even if emissions-cutting pledges made so far are delivered.        Sheikh Hasina pointed out that over one-third CVF member states were members of the Commonwealth, which, she said had a history of commitment and contribution in addressing climate change challenges.      “I firmly believe that the joint efforts of the CVF and the Commonwealth members can act as a catalyst for implementation of the Paris Agreement,” Sheikh Hasina said putting forward some proposals for Commonwealth-CVF collaboration towards that end.        Under the proposals she sought increased knowledge sharing, research and capacity building and technology transfer among them for achieving sustainable, green and nature-based solutions for our prosperous future.       She said the climate change intensified climate migration phenomenon forcing people to move away from their ancestral homes and traditional jobs due to sea-level rise, increasing salinity, river erosion, floods and draughts.      “There has to be global responsibility for rehabilitation of these people.”         Sheikh Hasina said the united actions of particularly the CVF nations could act as a force for the major emitting countries to declare their ambitious and aggressive NDCs to keep the global temperature rise at 1.5 degrees.         She said clean and green technology transfer to developing countries at affordable costs, including for meeting energy requirements, was very important as the development needs of the CVF, and the Commonwealth members were needed to be taken into account.           “Finally, together we must try to find out pragmatic, inclusive and locally-led solutions to tackle climate change,” she added.        The Prime Minister also mentioned that Bangladesh has launched the “Mujib Climate Prosperity Plan” to transform its climate vulnerability into climate prosperity by following a low-carbon development path. Source: BSS AH

BNP standing committee member Barrister Moudud Ahmed has said, there is no meaning of developing to the people of Bangladesh. No single government has credit for turning the country into developing stage. The country could have got the recognition 7-8 years earlier had BNP been in power. It got delayed for meeting the eligibility criteria for becoming a developing country due to the government’s widespread corruption and misrule. He said these as the chief guest at a protest gathering held at the National Press Club on Friday. Moudud Ahmed said, public opinion is reflected in the Supreme Court Bar Association election. It is clear what the countrymen are thinking. Because, a fair election was held there. Everybody competed. Election was held in a festive mood. There was no vote rigging. He said, if the next general election would be festive and fair then the difference between BNP and Awami League will be 75 and 25 percent. This is reality. Government won’t get more than 25 percent vote. Moudud Ahmed said, the government is day dreaming about holding another election like January 5, 2013. But their dream will not be fulfilled. Everything has a limit. And the government has crossed the limit. The next month will be challenging for us. We are holding peaceful movement at the moment. But if the government does not reach in understanding then there will be no alternative to wage movement in streets. AH        

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said, a war ravaged country needs years after years to build. Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman attained recognition of Least Developed Country in just three and half years. Then we have achieved the recognition of Developing country in the current moment. She said these at a discussion organized by Awami League on the occasion of 99th birth anniversary of father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The discussion was held at the Bangabandhu International Conference Center in the capital on Sunday. Awami League central leaders spoke in the meeting chaired by Awami League president and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. She said, Bangabandhu provided homes for the homeless people, relief to the poor in the war ravaged country. Then the communication system was not developed. He inquired about people going door to doors. Bangladesh of today is the result of his dream. Sheikh Hasina said, after the independence he arranged election. Because, he believed in democracy. He came to power winning the election. The Awami League president questioned why they (BNP) could not make any progress for the country in twenty one years. Those who went out of the country with Pakistani passport were brought back by Zia and made prime minister. BNP was formed by rajakars. They wanted to destroy the country not tried to construct. AH  

The name of Shital Pati is listed in the World Intangible Cultural Heritage of UNESCO. The organization declared it on Wednesday. The conference of International Association to Preserve Intangible Cultural Heritage is going on in Jeju Island of South Korea. In the last episode of the conference the matter of Shital Pati, the traditional crafts of Sylhet in Bangladesh came in. A delegation team led by Secretary of the National Museum Mohammad Shawkat Nabi is taking part in the conference. Two renowned craftsmen of Sylhet region Gitesh Chandra and Harendra Kumar Das are in the delegation team. They are performing the weaving techniques of Shital Pati there. Moreover, high quality Shital Pati brought from Bangladesh is being displayed there. Earlier, Baul song, Jamdani weaving, Mongol Shovajatra got their places in the list of UNESCO. Besides, on 30th October UNESCO recognized the 7th March speech of father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as the World Documentary Heritage. Once upon a time Shital Pati was very popular in England, France and Russia. It took its place in the British royal palace of Queen Victoria. Foreigners used to take Shital Pati of Balaganj from Sylhet along with Moslin of Dhaka as souvenir. Somebody also calls the traditional Shital Pati of Sylhet region as Nakshi Pati. It was also mentioned in our folk literature. The weaver of this Pati is called ‘Patial’ or ‘Patikor’. AH