The Tibetan community in the region has demanded that the Chinese government stop the construction of a hydroelectric dam on the Drichu river in Derge town in Dege County in Sichuan in Southwest China. The Tibetan community in the region has demanded that the Chinese government stop the construction of a hydroelectric dam on the Drichu river in Derge town in Dege County in Sichuan in Southwest China. According to Tibetan leader Jamyang Bhutia, the chairman of the Regional Tibetan Youth Congress in Mirik in Darjeeling, over 1000 Tibetans were arrested in one day in Derge as there were unprecedented protests against the construction of the dam very recently. Bhutia said that the proposed Gangtuo hydropower station would force the displacement of thousands of people living in the area. “The proposed dam would also cause significant environmental harm and destroy six monasteries, including the Wonto monastery founded in the 14th century, which has one of the finest examples of Tibetan, Buddhist murals, and is a great historical and cultural significance,” Mr Bhutia said on the side-lines of a peace rally in Siliguri the community organised a few days ago to mark the 65th anniversary of the Tibetan people’s uprising against China’s occupation in Tibet in 1959. People from the Tibetan community came in from the northeast zone, including nearby places like Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Mirik, Odlabari in the Dooars, Gangtok in Sikkim and Salugara in Siliguri, marched in the peaceful protest rally that started from Salugara and ended at Biswadeep hall on Hill Cart Road in Siliguri. The protestors strongly condemned the “brutal crackdown” and urged the international community to call upon China to free the protesters and halt the construction of the dam. “Tibet remains an occupied territory under tight military surveillance. Since 2008, over 160 Tibetans have self-immolated in protest against China’s repressive policies. United Nations experts have raised alarms about the forced separation of one million Tibetan children from their families for assimilation into Chinese colonial boarding schools,” Mr Bhutia said. “As Tibet has consistently been ranked as one of the least free countries in the world by freedom houses with little to know information making its way out, Tibetans inside Tibet have shown extraordinary courage. Language, culture, history and identity are under threat in Tibet, but resistance is as strong as ever,” he said.

State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Mohammad Ali Arafat said Bangladesh and Turkey will work together to prevent global disinformation and misinformation. The  minister said this in a press release after a bilateral meeting with President of the Directorate of Communications of Turkey Professor Fahrettin Altun on Saturday afternoon (Feb 24) before the special session of the Islamic Conference of Information Ministers of OIC. Ali Arafat said, "The spread of misinformation and disinformation is being noticed all over the world." Professor Fahrettin Altun assured that Bangladesh and Turkey will work jointly against the spread of global misinformation and disinformation.

State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Mohammad Ali Arafat said Bangladesh and Turkey will work together to prevent global disinformation and misinformation. The  minister said this in a press release after a bilateral meeting with President of the Directorate of Communications of Turkey Professor Fahrettin Altun on Saturday afternoon (Feb 24) before the special session of the Islamic Conference of Information Ministers of OIC. Ali Arafat said, "The spread of misinformation and disinformation is being noticed all over the world." Professor Fahrettin Altun assured that Bangladesh and Turkey will work jointly against the spread of global misinformation and disinformation.

US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas on Wednesday (Jan 17) said he looks forward to working closely with Bangladesh in the coming months on issues of mutual importance.   "I look forward in the coming months to working closely (with Bangladesh) to advance our mutual interest," he told reporters after his maiden meeting with newly appointed foreign minister Dr Hasan Mahmud at the foreign ministry.   "We talked about the future of Bangladesh-US relationship and how we will work together on issues of mutual important areas such as expanding business opportunities and Rohingyas" he said. Foreign Minister Mahmud expressed his appreciation for the existing dynamic with the US and the multifaceted relationship between the two countries, a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs read. He also expressed his hope that it would deepen and broaden in the coming days.  

Nasrin Akter Nipun is a famous Dhallywood film actress. She made her debut in her acting career in 2006 with the film 'Pitar Ason' directed by F.I. Manik.    After working in several movies, she won the National Film Award of Bangladesh twice.  Currently, the actress is serving as the general secretary of Bangladesh Film Artists Association. Nipun lived with her husband and daughter Tanisha in Los Angeles until 2006. Later the actress got divorced. After the separation, she had to spend her life fighting a lot. Nipun said in an interview, "After my separation, I started looking for a job from my sisters friend's house. Finally got a job in a gold shop. Then I worked two days a week for 12 hours. Later I got a job in a big coffee shop."

Prime Minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina today said no one could survive in Bangladesh politics if they follow the suggestion of their foreign masters, in an apparent reference to BNP.  "BNP was out to foil the national election (held on January 7). They have some (foreign) masters. They don't know the Bangladesh people. It will not be possible to survive in Bangladesh following masters' advise," PM said. "We have no (foreign) masters. The people of Bangladesh are our masters and our strength. The people's faith and confidence is our strength," she said. Younger daughter of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and younger sister of the Prime Minister, Sheikh Rehana presented a flower bouquet to her elder sister Sheikh Hasina. The premier said that they (AL) have no foreign masters as the people are their strength. Despite conspiracies of the BNP-Jamaat clique to thwart the 12th parliamentary election, Sheikh Hasina said a free, fair, neutral and participatory election was held with spontaneous participation of the people. "The January 7th election will be written in golden letter in the history of Bangladesh," she said extending thanks to the people concerned including election commission, law enforcement forces, and armed forces for holding a wonderful election. She said the 7th January election was totally free, fair, disciplined, participatory and competitive among the polls held after 1975. "We have proved that the election can be held in a free and fair manner under the Awami League government," she said. The prime minister asked the party leaders and workers to work in unison forgetting everything for the welfare of the country and its people. She said they have opened the polls to make the election participatory and competitive. The AL president said many of the party nominated candidates have defeated to independent candidates, even though they thought they will win. Mentioning that conspiracies are being hatched to cash in on the differences between the party men, she said, "So, work shoulder to shoulder for the welfare of the country and its people forgetting everything by showing respect the people's mandate," she said.   The premier commended the spontaneous participation of the women folk in the election, saying it is the outcome of ensuring women empowerment. In this connection, she said a 130-year old woman had casted her vote for Boat in her Tungipara-Kotalipara constituency. Quoting the aged women, she said, "I want to cast my vote for Sheikh Hasina for the last time."  General Secretary of the AL Obaidul Quader, MP, also spoke on the occasion. Earlier, the central executive body of the AL led by its general secretary greeted prime minister and party president Sheikh Hasina with a flower bouquet. The AL has bagged 222 seats out of 298 in the 12th parliamentary polls. The newly elected lawmakers will take oath at the Jatiya Sangsad Secretariat at 10:00am tomorrow.  

Prime Minister and Awami League (AL) President Sheikh Hasina today asked her party men to work for ensuring a free, fair and peaceful national election on January 7 so that none can raise any question about it. She also reiterated her call to vote for "Boat" for continuation of the development. "You will work for holding the next general election in a free, fair and peaceful manner so that none can raise any question about the polls," she said. She made the call while virtually addressing the election rallies in Panchagarh and Lalmonirhat in Rangpur division, Natore and Pabna in Rajshahi division and Khagrachhari in Chattogram division together from the AL office at Tejgaon here this afternoon. The AL chief asked her party men to make sure the participation of the people in the next polls so that they can vote freely for the candidates of their choice. "Participation of the people and the voters in the upcoming election is a must. It matters nothing which party is taking part in the election or not," she said. She mentioned that BNP will not participate in the election as there is no guarantee of rigging votes. "There was no question about the fairness of 2008 election. BNP-led alliance only got 30 seats in that election. They will not take part in this election as they failed to assume power in 2008," she said. The premier reminded all that the BNP was been dislodged from the power twice by the countrymen on charges of vote rigging. But the Awami League believes in election and thus empowers the people as it had established democracy and voting rights of the people after a long struggle.  The AL chief asked her party men to shun the path of violence and give scope for electioneering to every candidate, including the independent candidates of her party, to drum up public supports in favour of them. She said all the candidates will have to go to the people and seek vote for them shunning the path of violence without interrupting others in their election campaign. "We want the people to cast their vote freely. They will vote for the candidates of their choice and thus democracy will be strengthened further," she said. Otherwise, Bangladesh and its development will be ruined, she warned. "Those who get votes from the people will be elected. None will interfere with anyone's rights. I don't want to see any violence and conflict to this end," she said. She sounded a note of warning against his party men in case of any involvement in violence over the election. "If any violence occurs and involvement of any of my partymen is found, they will not be spared. Keep in mind that I will take appropriate measures in this regard," she said. The Awami League president once again sought vote for her party's electoral symbol 'Boat' for the continuation of the ongoing development and transforming the country into a poverty-and hunger-free Smart Bangladesh. "The people of the country had got independence and financial freedom while Bangladesh has earned the status of a developing country... We will build a developed, prosperous, poverty-and hunger-free Smart Bangladesh if people vote us to power to serve them," she said. The Awami League president formally started the party's electioneering on Wednesday through the visits to the shrines of saints Shahjalal and Shah Paran in Sylhet. She then attend a public rally, organised by Sylhet district and city units of the AL, at the Government Alia Madrasa ground in the city's Chowhatta area at 2:00pm. She is expected to be in Barishal on December 29 and address an election rally in the district town at 3:00pm on that day. Sheikh Hasina will then visit Gopalganj on December 30 and address a rally in Gopalganj-3 (Tungipara and Kotalipara) constituency. She will address the AL rally in Madaripur-3 the same day. Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, MP, Presidium Members Kazi Zafarullah and Advocate Jahangir Kabir Nanak, Join General Secretary and Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud, MP, Office Secretary Barrister Biplab Barua and his deputy Sayem Khan were present at Tejgaon party office end. While local AL leaders were present at the five district rallies which turned into human seas with participation of hundreds of thousands of people from all strata of life.  A video documentary on the unprecedented nationwide developments in every sector, including health, education, agriculture, infrastructure, information communication and technology, poverty reduction, socio-economic and food production, carried out by the Awami League government in the last 15 years, was screened on the occasion. Source : BSS

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today called for united efforts of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) states to establish peace in Gaza of Palestine. "The OIC member countries will have to work in unison to establish peace in Gaza," she said when Qatar Ambassador to Bangladesh Seraya Ali Mahdi Saeed Al-Qahtani paid a courtesy call on her at her official residence Ganabhaban here.   PM's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed the newsmen after the meeting. The Bangladesh premier and the Qatar envoy discussed the Gaza issue in the meeting, Karim said During the meeting, the Qatar ambassador handed over a invitation letter to Sheikh Hasina to attend the 8th Doha International Maritime Defence Exhibition and Conference (DIMDEX) to be held on March 4-6, 2024 in Qatar.   Receiving the invitation letter, the prime minister said if she wins the upcoming national election to be held on January 7 next, she would join the exhibition. The exhibition takes place every two years under the patronage of Emir of the State of Qatar Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani. About the Gaza issue, Seraya Ali Mahdi Saeed said this year his country didn't celebrate its national day on December 18 and sent the celebration budget of US$ 50 million for the people of Gaza. To this end, the premier said Bangladesh has also sent relief items including dry foods and clothes for the Palestinians.   She said even the Palestinian physicians, who graduated from Bangladesh, are now working in hospitals in Palestine. The Qatar ambassador said the world can know the situation of Gaza as Qatar-based Al Jazeera media network is broadcasting news on the Gaza issue. The Bangladesh premier expected that the Emir of the State of Qatar Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani would visit Bangladesh in 2024. "We look forward to welcoming His Highness the Emir at the earliest," Karim quoted Sheikh Hasina as saying.   The Emir of Qatar accepted an invitation to visit Bangladesh from the President of Bangladesh in May, 2020. The prime minister thanked the Qatar authority for its initiatives on the Gaza issue. PM's Ambassador-at-Large Mohammad Ziauddin and PM's Principal Secretary M. Tofazzel Hossain Miah were present. Source: BSS

A senior official of the Communist Party of China (CPC) said Friday that China is ready to work with Group of 77 (G77) members to open a new chapter in South-South cooperation in quest for greater development through stronger solidarity. Li Xi, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, made the remarks while attending the Summit of the Group of 77 and China in Havana of Cuba, as the special representative of Chinese President Xi Jinping. He expressed China's willingness to work with G77 members to build a Global South community with a shared future, and usher in a new era of common development. Li said the world is undergoing changes on a scale unseen in a century, and developing countries are becoming stronger. South-South cooperation is playing an increasingly important role in driving the collective rise of developing countries and in sustaining the continued global economic growth, he said. Noting that unilateralism and hegemonism are becoming rampant, Li said that some countries are resorting to unilateral sanctions, decoupling, and disruption of industrial and supply chains, which will seriously undermine the legitimate development rights and interests of developing countries and the space for development. He also stressed that developing countries widely expect to enhance solidarity and cooperation, and make efforts to make global governance more just and equitable. He put forward a three-point proposal in respect of cooperation between the G77 and China, calling on G77 members to stay true to the original aspiration of the G77 for independence and greater collective strength through unity. Besides, he encouraged the advocating of equity, justice and inclusiveness, and appealed for pursuing development, revitalization and win-win cooperation. G77 members and China need to foster new drivers for their own development, focusing on cooperation in areas of food security, poverty alleviation, industrialization, green development, digital technology and artificial intelligence, Li said, adding that efforts should be made to ensure all countries equally benefit from digital dividends, and no developing country will be left behind or left out in the development of new technologies and industries. Noting China is the largest developing country in the world, he said that no matter what stage of development it reaches, China will always be part of the developing world and a member of the Global South. South-South cooperation is always a high priority in China's cooperation with other countries, he added. Li said China will continue to maintain close communication and coordination with G77 members in order to optimize allocation of development resources, deepen South-South cooperation, ensure efficient use of public goods of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the Global Development Initiative and other initiatives, close the development divide, and resolve problems in development. In mid-October, China will host the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing. Li expressed the country's willingness to promote the BRI cooperation with G77 members for greater development. He noted that as long as these countries adapt to the changing times, strengthen solidarity, friendship and cooperation, and lend each other support in pursuing a path to modernization suited to the respective national conditions and characteristics, they will surely be able to better safeguard the common interests of developing countries, have a greater say in global governance, and achieve common development and shared prosperity. Source: CCTV

The G20 also has the unique opportunity of advancing financial inclusion and productivity through Digital Public Infrastructure to encompass farmers, small businesses, and to build a framework for a global ecosystem, the PM said. The G20 nations must have conviction, commitment, coordination and collaboration to face challenges of security threats in the digital economy and responsible use of artificial intelligence, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told the G20 working group of ministers on digital economy on Saturday. “As the digital economy spreads globally, it will face security threats and challenges. In this context, it is important to build consensus on the G20 high-level principles for a secure, trusted, and resilient digital economy,” Modi said in a virtual address. “We can also develop a framework for safe and responsible use of Artificial Intelligence (AI). We can build an entire ecosystem of technology-based solutions to address the challenges faced by humanity. All it needs from us are the four Cs — Conviction, Commitment, Coordination, and Collaboration.” The G20 also has the unique opportunity of advancing financial inclusion and productivity through Digital Public Infrastructure to encompass farmers, small businesses, and to build a framework for a global ecosystem, the PM said. Modi welcomed the efforts of member-nations to create a G20 virtual Global Digital Public Infrastructure Repository and said it will “help create a transparent, accountable, and fair digital ecosystem for all”. He said, “I also welcome your efforts to develop a road map to facilitate cross-country comparison of digital skills and set up a virtual centre of excellence on digital skilling. These are important efforts to meet the needs of a workforce which is future-ready,” he said. Modi said India has a lot to offer the G20 nations in terms of knowledge in creating Digital Public Infrastructure on account of the Digital India initiative of the government to achieve financial inclusion. Source: Indian Express