Democratic backsliding in Bangladesh
The news of a new round of violent attacks in Bangladesh underscores a deteriorating security risk the world can no longer ignore. Last week in Dhaka, groups of men stabbed two prominent secular publishers, leaving one dead and the other in critical condition. Western intelligence agencies have warned the government that terrorists linked to so-called Islamic State are targeting foreigners and are set upon bringing increasing terror to Bangladesh.
The ruling Awami League and religious extremists are fomenting civil war while the rest of the country—especially the legitimate political opposition—is caught in the middle of violence and oppression.
For those who have been watching Bangladesh closely, it is clear that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has abandoned
Bangladesh on the brink
Over the last few weeks, the body count of intolerance has been unbearably high in Bangladesh. It started when an Italian aid worker named Cesare Tavella was shot to death in the capital, Dhaka, at the end of September. Days later, a Japanese man by the name of Konio Hoshi was gunned down in the northern district of Rangpur. At a procession to mark Ashura, the Shiite festival commemorating the martyrdom of the Prophet Muhammad’s grandson Imam Hussein, a series of bomb blasts caused scores of injuries and the death of a 16-year-old boy named Sajjad Hossain Sanju.
And this past weekend, in two separate incidents, two publishers and two bloggers were viciously attacked. One has died of his wounds, and the other three men are in critical condition.
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China close to join IMF’s Reserve Currency Basket
Special Drawing Rights (SDR) plays an important role in the global financial system. Technically it constitutes an international reserve asset that helps maintain balance between countries with big external liabilities and those flush with cash. In practice, they are more marginal, as countries largely rely on capital markets and hard currencies to cover their obligations, according to the editorial of the current (July-September 2015 issue) News Bulletin of International Chamber of Commerce-Bangladesh (ICCB) released today.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) will consider including China’s currency (known alternately as the Yuan/ Renminbi/ RMB) in the basket of currencies that make up its Special
US-BD strategic partnership
Bangladesh and the United States continue their deep and sustained diplomatic engagement. The mutual respect and close friendship was characterized by President Barack Obama in 2010: “The people of Bangladesh earned their independence, and since then, our two nations have shared a commitment to democratic values and created an enduring friendship.”
Indeed, when the Awami League Government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina assumed office in 2009, Congressman Joe Crowley spearheaded passage of a resolution expressing the U.S. House of Representative’s support for Bangladesh’s democracy. “The Bangladeshi people have shown remarkable resilience, creativity, and principle. This is exactly the kind of country
Time-honored ties between Japan, Bangladesh
Japan is the single largest development partner of Bangladesh. The two countries are also engaged for the promotion of peace and prosperity through various bilateral and multilateral mechanisms. Financial and technical assistance from Japan has proved a force multiplier for Bangladesh in advancing its national development agenda. Now recent leaps forward in business relations have led to a rapid growth of trade and investment.
Development partners
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Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina shakes hands w...
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina shakes hands w...
Is ‘Islamic State’ operating in Bangladesh?
After the recent murders of two foreigners in Bangladesh, the question arises as to whether “Islamic State” is operating in the country. The evidence points in one direction, the government in another.
Japanese businessman Kunio Hoshi was killed in Bangladesh on October 3, 2015.
Italian aid worker Cesare Tavella was walking down a street in one of the diplomatic zones in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, when he was shot from behind. The three unknown assailants 
fled the high security area on a motorcycle. The incident took place o...
fled the high security area on a motorcycle. The incident took place o...
