The Russian embassy in Bangladesh has issued a statement on 20 December in support of the current fascist regime in Dhaka. Couched in diplomatic terms, the statement is highly critical of the recent US effort to push the government of Bangladesh to accept the popular demand for a free, fair and inclusive election. The statement praises the Sheikh Hasina government, “States like Bangladesh, which shape their foreign and internal policy to serve their own national interests instead of following the lead of external powers, take a similar approach”.

Bangladesh's capital, Dhaka, has become the center of a nationwide protest after some prominent political leaders were arrested. This happened when the opposition party’s declared massive program demanding the step down of current Awami Ligue regime.  Hundreds of Bangladesh Nationalist Party leaders arrested, including party’s secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir. Simultaneously, police arrested countries third largest political party leader Dr. Shafrqur Rahman, who is the President (Ameer) of Bangladesh Jammat-e- Islami.

Every country has a philosopher or leader who has led both nation-building and state-building efforts. For example, Deng Xiaoping is treated as the "architect of modern China," Mahathir Mohammad is treated as a changemaker of modern Malaysia, and simultaneously President Ziaur Rahman is treated as a reformer and shaper of contemporary Bangladesh.

Responding to the news of a devastating fire on Sunday at the Cox’s Bazaar Rohingya camp in Bangladesh which has left around 12000 refugees homeless, Yasasmin Kaviratne, the regional campaigner for South Asia at Amnesty International said:

The detention of journalist Samsuzzaman Shams and his presentation in the court after long 30 hours as well as the filing of a case against him under the Digital Security Act, is a violation of the constitutional right to security of life of any citizen and the constitutional obligation of free media. It sets a dangerous precedent of controlling and intimidating the media, said Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) in a press statement of deep concern that also strongly condemned the incident. The organization demanded the unconditional release of Shams and immediate repeal of the draconian Digital Security Act to uphold democratic principles. 

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and World Bank Group President David Malpass commemorated 50 years of partnership between Bangladesh and the World Bank at the institution’s headquarters today. The partnership has helped lift millions of Bangladeshis out of poverty and supported the country’s economic growth and development. The World Bank has provided Bangladesh with $2.25 billion of financing over the last year to improve regional connectivity, boost disaster preparedness to address inland flooding, transition to green and climate-resilient development, strengthen environmental management and green investment, and help the micro-enterprise sector become less polluting and more climate-resilient. 

“Almost six years have passed since the Rohingya minorities were expelled from their ancestral land in Myanmar. The Security Council took no effective action to remedy the situation. Rather the Council has remained a mute witness to its continued deterioration,”- said Ambassador Muhammad Abdul Muhith, Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the United Nations in New York, while speaking today at the Security Council open debate on “Futureproofing Trust for Sustaining Peace” held at the United Nations Headquarters.

The Appellate Division on Monday cleared the way for the trial of Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus and three employees of his Grameen Telecom Company by a lower court in a labor law case. A three-member bench of the Appellate Division, headed by Justice Md Nuruzzaman, dismissed two appeal petitions filed by Yunus, also the chairman of Grameen Telecom and the company’s director Nurjahan Begum against a High Court’s verdict.

The trail of destruction left by Cyclone Mocha – which tore through parts of Bangladesh and Myanmar on Sunday – is causing severe disruption to the lives of millions of vulnerable children and families, including many already living in dire conditions. Even as the worst of the storm has passed, the risk of landslides remains high, and further dangers, including waterborne diseases, will likely grow in the days ahead.

The United States on Wednesday announced a new visa policy to support Bangladesh’s goal of holding free, fair, and peaceful national elections, restricting visas for any Bangladeshi individuals undermining the democratic election process. US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller revealed the announcement at the Department of State’s daily briefing in Washington.

The unprecedented involvement of the United States in conducting a free, fair, and credible election in Bangladesh has given political and security analysts new ideas. Almost a year after the ban of the United States on the top officials of the RAB, the announcement of the ban on the entry of public and private officials and individuals to the United States who may obstruct the next election has become an essential topic of discussion not only in Bangladesh but also in world politics. In addition, the 12th members of the U.S. House of Representatives letter addressed to President Joe Biden added a new era, which portrays Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as a threat to U.S. national security.

The Naib Amir of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, internationally acclaimed mufassire Qur'an, and former Member of Parliament, Allama Delawar Hossain Saeedi, breathed his last today. He passed away while undergoing treatment at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) in the capital on Monday night. He was 84 years old.