Month: August 2022

Bangladesh is gripped by challenges posed by hardline Islamic group Hefazat-e-Islam as the country continues to witness frequent outbursts of massive violence, increase in religiously motivated illiberalism, and a general shrinking of free, liberal, and secular thinking, a thinktank South Asia Democratic Forum (SADF) reported.

The South Asia Democratic Forum (SADF) is a Brussels-based think tank devoted to South Asia and its relationship with the European Union (EU) in the context of a global, changing world.

As per a report written by Dr. Siegfried O. Wolf, Director of Research at SADF, though in recent years, the number of terrorist incidents and related casualties have steadily declined in Bangladesh yet the problem of Islamist extremism remains.

Under the research report titled “The Hefazat-e-Islam and the Islamist challenge in Bangladesh”, the SADF research director noted that HeI is the most recent and largest entity in Bangladesh’s complex web of ultra-conservative, radicalised Islamist groupings.

He defined the group as by a large variety of terms, for instance — a Islamist pressure group, an Islamist advocacy movement, an ultraconservative Islamist group, a socio-political extremist group, or an Islamic social movement.

According to his analysis, there are demands to designate the Islamic radical group as a terrorist group.

While speaking on the challenges posed by the group, the SADF director said the terms used for the group do not really give out the complete picture as to how HeI is challenging the secular and democratic foundations of the state – and how it is contributing to the menace of violent Islamism in Bangladesh.

In retrospect, he noted that for over a decade, Bangladesh witnessed not only violent mass protests and vandalism stirred by HeI supporters but also a firm counter-reaction by the government – so as to protect the state, citizenry, and law and order more generally speaking.

Many senior members of the HeI were arrested for their role in public unrest, and as the organisation also suffered from a leadership crisis, some analysts even concluded that the Islamist organisation became much less of a threat.

However, he pointed out, that such an assessment is short-sighted since it does not consider the facts on the ground. It also fails to understand the Islamist menace in Bangladesh (and beyond) in general – and the the HeI organisation in particular.

The SADF director was educated at the Institute of Political Science (IPW) and South Asia Institute (SAI), both at Heidelberg University.

Additionally, he is a member (affiliated researcher) of the SAI as well as a former research fellow at IPW and Centre de Sciences Humaines (New Delhi, India). Dr Wolf works as a consultant to NATO-sponsored periodic strategic independent research and assessment of Afghanistan-Pakistan issues. (ANI)

The fertilizer deal between Sri Lanka and China has caused the island nation’s exchequer a loss of USD 6.9 million as the stock of fertilizer was rejected in December 2021 over reports that it contained harmful bacteria.

Claiming that it is not possible to regain the amount of USD 6.9 million paid for the stock of organic fertiliser manufactured by the Qingdao Seawin Biotech Group Co Ltd in China when Mahindananda Aluthgamage was Minister of Agriculture, current Minister of Agriculture Mahinda Amaraweera said that it should be acknowledged that the country has suffered a loss in this regard, reported Sri Lankan publication The Morning.
The loss was disclosed during a media briefing held on Wednesday, as journalists queried the Minister regarding the said amount paid for the stock of organic fertiliser imported from China.

In response to the query, Amaraweera said, “A payment of USD 6.9 million has been made for the Chinese fertiliser ship. Now, there is no fertiliser, nor money. There is no apparent way to solve this issue either. My first attempt was to see if we can get this amount of money back, but it does not seem to be working. We have to accept the fact that our country has suffered a loss.”

It was recently reported that although the Agriculture Ministry was considering obtaining another type of fertiliser manufactured by the Qingdao Seawin Biotech Group Co Ltd to replace the controversial stock of organic fertiliser containing harmful bacteria that was sent back, the company had not responded favourably.

Speaking to The Morning at the time, Amaraweera said, “Discussions are currently underway between the company concerned, its local representatives, and Ministry officials with regard to the stock of organic fertiliser that was sent back. However, I have been informed that there are some issues with the court order in this regard.

“The company is producing other types of fertilisers that can be used for cultivation in Sri Lanka. I, as the Agriculture Minister, have requested the company to provide such fertilisers in lieu of the returned stock. However, the company does not seem to be interested in it. No final decision has been reached yet. Therefore, further discussions will be held between the relevant parties. Let us see, once those discussions are over,” he added.

It was reported in September last year that the mandatory tests carried out by several local testing agencies including the National Plant Quarantine Service (NPQS) on the organic fertiliser samples from the Qingdao Seawin Biotech Group Co Ltd have failed.

According to the testing agencies, the stock of fertiliser contained harmful microorganisms, pathogens, and diseases harmful to the soil, plants, and humans.

Following the initial tests carried out by the Sri Lanka Standards Institute, the NPQS, and the Sri Lanka Atomic Energy Board on samples that failed, another set of samples were tested and once again confirmed the presence of harmful bacteria, reported The Morning.

Meanwhile, the “Hippo Spirit” vessel which was in Sri Lankan seas for more than three months carrying the controversial fertiliser consignment shipped by Qingdao Seawin Biotech Group Co Ltd left Sri Lanka’s maritime space in December 2021.

With the said ship leaving the Sri Lankan waters, it was reported that the company was to initiate an international arbitration process against Sri Lanka over the issue.

Against this backdrop, the Attorney General was instructed to resolve the dispute on trade terms that can be agreed upon by both parties.

Accordingly, a sum of USD 5 million was deposited by the Chinese company for the supply of organic fertiliser as a security, and another USD 1.9 million was paid by the Lankan authorities to the Qingdao Seawin Biotech Group Co Ltd. (ANI)

The Indian Army on Thursday foiled an infiltration attempt by Pakistani terrorists in forward areas of Uri sector and killed three terrorists.

The Indian Army recovered the terrorists’ bodies after a search of the area along with a large quantity of war-like stores including two AK rifles, one Chinese M-16 rifle and other ammunition.
“Army and Baramulla Police neutralised 3 infiltrators (FTs) near Madiyan Nanak post in Kamalkote sector of Uri. More details to follow,” the Kashmir Zone Police tweeted.

This is the fourth infiltration bid foiled by the Army in the last three days at the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir.

According to PRO (Defence) Srinagar, the operation was launched based on specific intelligence from Army Intelligence agencies.

“Consequently, on 24th Aug afternoon, multiple ambushes were laid to trap the infiltrators. Intensive electronic surveillance of the suspected area led to the detection of the attempt at 0700h on 25th Aug. Terrorists were hoping to use the cover of thick undergrowth, foliage and continuous rain and low clouds to infiltrate,” said Defence PRO.

The contact with terrorists was established at about 08.45 am on August 25 in the forward areas of Indian side of the LoC, leading to a heavy exchange of fire in which the terrorists were killed. A detailed search of the area was concluded at 2 pm.

The Indian Army’s successful operation has not only led to the elimination of three Pakistani terrorists but also has resulted in thwarting Pakistan’s nefarious designs and intent to disrupt peace, prosperity and normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir.

Use of electronic surveillance and intelligence-based operations continue to be the mainstay of IA ops against Pakistan-sponsored terror in Jammu and Kashmir, it added.

The Indian Army on Wednesday foiled a third infiltration bid by terrorists on the Line of Control (LoC) in the Pallanwala area of Jammu and Kashmir’s Akhnoor sector on Tuesday night.

“An infiltration bid was foiled by the Indian Army at LOC in Pallanwala in Akhnoor sector on the night of August 23. This is the third such failed infiltration attempt in the last 72 hours at LoC,” Army officials said on Wednesday.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Indian Army recovered the bodies of two Pakistan-based terrorists who were killed in an earlier infiltration attempt after they stepped on a minefield that activated a series of mines.

On the first incident, the Defence Ministry said in a statement, “On 21 August 2022, in the morning hours, alert soldiers deployed in Jhangar sector of Naushera spotted movement of two to three terrorists on own side of Line of Control. One terrorist came close to the Indian post and tried cutting the fence when he was challenged by alert sentries.”

“The terrorist tried to flee, however, was brought down by the effective fire, incapacitating him. Two terrorists who were hiding behind fled the area by taking cover of dense jungle and broken ground. The injured Pakistani terrorist was captured alive and provided with immediate medical aid and lifesaving surgery was carried out,” the statement said.

It added that the captured terrorist revealed his identity as Tabarak Hussain, resident of Sabzkot village, district Kotli of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. (ANI)

Underscoring that India has always stood against violence and extremism, the country on Thursday condemned the stabbing attack on renowned Indian-born British author Salman Rushdie on stage at an event in New York and wished him a speedy recovery.

“India has always stood against violence and extremism. We condemn this horrific act against Salman Rushdie and we wish him a speedy recovery,” Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said in a weekly presser.
Hadi Matar, the man accused of stabbing renowned author Salman Rushdie on stage in New York state on August 12, pleaded not guilty to charges of attempted murder and assault.

Matar, 24, made the plea in a courtroom in Chautauqua County, New York, CNN reported. This comes after prosecutors said a grand jury had indicted him.

The suspect, who hails from New Jersey, allegedly stabbed the Indian-born British author in western New York state during a lecture, praised Iran’s Ayatollah Khomeini and admitted that he didn’t think that the author would survive.

“When I heard he survived, I was surprised, I guess,” Hadi Matar said as quoted by the New York Post. The suspect was asked whether he was inspired by the late Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, who issued a fatwa against Rushdie over his book ‘The Satanic Verses’.

Matar replied, “I respect the Ayatollah. I think he’s a great person. That’s as far as I will say about that,” Matar said, noting he only “read like two pages” of Rushdie’s controversial novel. “I read a couple of pages. I didn’t read the whole thing cover to cover,” he said.

Renowned author Rushdie has long faced death threats over his 1988 book ‘The Satanic Verses’. The Booker prize-winning author was attacked as he was about to give a lecture.

Rushdie has suffered years of death threats over the ‘The Satanic Verses’ which was severely criticised by Islamic clerics. (ANI)

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Thursday said that his government will consider a CBI probe into the death of actor Sonali Phogat if her family demands so in writing.

“We will do as the family members ask for, if they give us their demands in writing, we will give it for further process,” CM Khattar on the demand of Sonali Phogat’s family for a CBI enquiry into her death.
He also said that her family’s suspicion can only be cleared only after the post-mortem reports arrive.

“I spoke with CM Goa and police officials. Her family members have written a complaint suspecting murder. Will only know more about the matter only after the post-mortem is done,” Khattar added mentioning that viscera samples will be tested there in Goa as well as in Chandigarh.

Sonali, the BJP leader from Hisar in Haryana, was brought dead to the St Anthony Hospital at Anjuna in North Goa on Tuesday morning. While preliminary reports suggested that she died of a cardiac arrest, her family members suspect foul play.

Meanwhile, the Goa Police said no sharp-edged injuries were found on the body of Sonali Phogat who died in Goa on Tuesday.

The Goa Police also registered a murder case against two persons on Thursday for their alleged involvement in the death of Phogat.

Phogat’s body will reach Delhi this night.

“Murder case has been registered against two persons in Anjuna Police Station. The probe in the case is underway. The deceased’s brother has mentioned the involvement of her PA and one other person. Post-mortem report expected in 1-2 hours. Victim’s body will reach Delhi tonight,” OS Bishnoi, Inspector General of Police, Goa told ANI.

“Women police officers who conducted a physical examination of Sonali Phogat’s body have not found any sharp-edged injuries on the body,” added the IGP Bishnoi.

Sonali Phogat’s brother Rinku said the actor had no plans to visit Goa and she was brought there as per a conspiracy.

“She had no plan to come to Goa. She was brought as per a pre-planned conspiracy. There was no movie shoot. Two rooms in the hotel had been booked only for two days. Film shooting was supposed to happen on August 24 but rooms were only booked for August 21-22,” Rinku said.

Phogat’s brother Rinku Dhaka has filed a complaint with Goa Police, alleging that his sister was raped and murdered by her personal assistant Sudhir Sangwan and his friend Sukhwinder.

In the complaint, Rinku stated that Phogat had spoken to her mother, sister and brother-in-law a few hours before her demise on August 23.

Rinku alleged that Phogat’s PA raped her after adding drugs to her meals.

Phogat contested the last Assembly election from Haryana from the Adampur constituency on a BJP ticket against Kuldeep Bishnoi. She also appeared in the reality show ‘Bigg Boss’ in 2020. (ANI)

Bollywood superstar Salman Khan shared a condolence note on Thursday following the death of filmmaker and lyricist Sawan Kumar Tak who passed away today at the age of 86.

The ‘Tiger Zinda Hai’ actor took to his Twitter handle and wrote, “May u rest in peace my dear Sawaan ji. Have always loved n respected u.” Along with the tweet, Sakmna had also shared a throwback picture of him with the late filmmaker.

Media reports suggest that Sawan Kumar had been admitted to Mumbai’s Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital where he breathed his last today. Reportedly, he suffered heart failure and had lung-related ailments too.

Over the years, Sawan Kumar, who began his career as the producer of the 1967 Sanjeev Kumar starrer film ‘Naunihal’, has directed several Hindi films, including successful ones like ‘Saajan Bina Suhagan’, ‘Souten’ and ‘Souten Ki Beti’ among others.

He is credited with giving breaks to actors such as Sanjeev Kumar and Mehmood Junior. However, his most famous directorial venture was Rajesh Khanna starrer ‘Souten’, which was the first Indian film to be shot in Mauritius and became a platinum jubilee hit.

Salman has worked with him in ‘Bewafa Sanam’ and ‘Saawan: The Love Season’.

Apart from this, he has written the lyrics of songs for movies produced and directed by other filmmakers. Among these are ‘Sabak’, ‘Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai’ and all the songs from the 2004 film ‘Dev’. (ANI)

Pune Police on Wednesday arrested a person and seized arms worth over Rs 2 lakh ahead of Ganeshotsav in Maharashtra’s Pune, informed the police.

The crime branch of the Pune Police carried out a preventive special drive to maintain law and order in the wake of Ganeshotsav. During the operation, police arrested one accused and seized 5 pistols, 3 empty magazines and 10 live bullets worth Rs 2,47,000.
According to the police, a team from the Crime Branch unit of the city grilled various accused who were arrested during the combing operation on Independence Day.

“A team of Crime Branch unit of the city police grilled various arrested accused. one of them was Akash Jadhav who was arrested during the combing operation on Independence Day. He was arrested near Nataraj Hotel in the Swargate area where police recovered a pistol worth Rs 55,000 with a magazine, one empty magazine and one live bullet during his search. While probing him during police custody, he informed me that the main accused in the said crime is Muzammil Bagwan.”

After receiving the above information, the police raided Bagwan’s various locations and seized 4 pistols, 2 empty magazines and 10 live bullets from the residence of Bagwan’s relative in Pune and his home in Srirampur.

The accused is a history-sheeter and have already been booked under the murder and Arms Act. Both the accused are in police custody now. (ANI)

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Thursday dismissed reports of receiving any communication from the Election Commission of India (ECI) or Governor with regards to his disqualification as an MLA on the office of profit matter.

The Chief Minister’s office released a statement after several media reports made the rounds that the ECI has sent a report to the governor about Hemant Soren’s disqualification.
“The Chief Minister is apprised of several media reports about ECI sending a report to Honorable Governor -Jharkhand ‘apparently recommending his disqualification as an MLA’. No communication in this regard has been received by CMO from either ECI or Governor,” read the statement.

Meanwhile, Jharkhand Governor Ramesh Bais cleared the air surrounding Raj Bhawan receiving the opinion of ECI on CM Hemant Soren on the office of profit matter and said, “I do not know anything as of now about any order for me. I had gone to AIIMS for treatment, I can only say anything after I reach Rajbhawan.”

The Jharkhand CM also launched an attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party and accused the BJP leaders of drafting the ECI reports themselves.

“It apparently seems that BJP leaders including a BJP MP and his puppet journalists have themselves drafted the ECI report, which is otherwise a sealed cover report. This blatant misuse of constitutional authorities and public agencies and its complete takeover by BJP HQ in Deendayal Upadhyay Marg in this shameful manner is unseen in Indian Democracy,” added the statement.

Meanwhile, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey had said that Soren losing his membership will be a matter of joy as BJP initiated the complaints against the state chief.

“All the journalists have told me that he (Jharkhand CM) has lost his membership. That had been recommended to the Governor by the EC. As a BJP worker, it’s a matter of joy because it’s the BJP that had complained to the Governor. It is the day to celebrate,” said BJP MP Nishikant Dubey.

Nishikant Dubey asserted that Assembly should be dissolved and fresh elections should be conducted.

“Hemant Soren (Jharkhand CM) should head towards mid-term polls, on moral grounds. Assembly should be dissolved and there should be elections in all 81 Assembly constituencies. BJP has been demanding this,” he added.

The hearing in the Hemant Soren mine leasing case, in which the BJP has accused him of extending himself a mining lease and sought his disqualification as an MLA, was concluded in the ECI on Monday.

The trail of events gained pace after Nishikant Dubey, BJP Member of Parliament from Godda, Jharkhand, tweeted that the letter from the ECI has reached the Raj Bhavan.

Ex-Jharkhand CM Raghubar Das also slammed the Soren government and said, ‘Jharkhand had chosen JMM with a lot of hope and trust but ever since they came to power, they started looting the state’s natural resources…If someone’s responsible for what’s happening today, it’s Soren Govt itself. It’s in trouble due to its own misdeeds.”

“Let’s see what action Governor takes. Not only he (Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren) should be stripped of his membership but he should also be debarred. Action should be taken against him under PC Act as it’s a matter of corruption. He misused his position,” Das added.(ANI)

With CBI raids on Delhi’s Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in the background and the alleged threats and bribes by the Bharatiya Janata Party in the foreground of the Aam Aadmi Party, Delhi Chief Minister and AAP’s national convenor Arvind Kejriwal has called a meeting of all the MLAs of the party at his residence today.

The meeting is slated to be held at 11 am today in the national capital.
A major discussion regarding the current political scenario and the raids of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) on the party leaders are likely to be deliberated in the meeting.

Moreover, the Kejriwal-led Delhi government has called a special session of the Assembly amid a political row over claims that the BJP is trying to lure his party’s MLAs.

Earlier on Wednesday also CM Kejriwal had called for a meeting of the Political Affairs Committee at his residence.

Numerous party leaders of the ruling government of the national capital have made remarks regarding the Bharatiya Janata Party’s alleged attempts to overthrow the Delhi government.

Aam Aadmi Party leader Saurabh Bharadwaj on Wednesday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of allegedly offering Rs 20 crore to the AAP MLAs to “bring down” the Kejriwal-led government in the national capital.

“BJP offered to bring down Kejriwal’s government by luring AAP MLAs with Rs 20-20 crores… slogans of ’50 Khokha-50 Khokha’ were raised in Maharashtra Assembly, hence I would say to the BJP Band karo desh se dhokha, nahi chalega 50 khoka,” Bharadwaj said addressing a press conference in Delhi.

Earlier on Monday, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia alleged that he had received an offer by the Bharatiya Janata Party to split the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in what he claims was a quid pro quo as the CBI initiated a probe into the Delhi’s now withdrawn excise policy.

BJP had declined any such offer being made to him. BJP leaders attacked Kejriwal and Sisodia, saying that it is the frustration of AAP as their corruption is getting exposed.

The trail of events started with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) raiding the residence of Sisodia last Friday, in connection with an alleged liquor scam in Delhi. The Enforcement Directorate has registered a money laundering case over the Delhi excise policy.

Sisodia was among the 15 people named in an FIR filed by the CBI. Excise officials, liquor company executives, dealers with some unknown public servants and private persons have been booked in the case. (ANI)

Delhi’s Aam Aadmi Party MLA Atishi dismissed the rumours of several party MLAs being unreachable and exuded confidence that the meeting at the Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s residence will have a full house today.

Atishi assured that the MLAs will remain attached to the party.
“We are absolutely certain that all AAP MLAs are with the party and will remain with the party. The Meeting (of party MLAs called by Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal) is scheduled to begin at 11 am. I expect all MLAs to arrive by then,” said Delhi AAP MLA Atishi.

Another AAP MLA Dilip Pandey confirmed that all MLAs will be communicated.

“Yesterday’s message was communicated and the MLAs with whom contact could not be established will be done and all MLAs will be present in the meeting,” said AAP MLA Dilip Pandey.

Earlier in the day, reports of AAP MLAs being unreachable made rounds ahead of the crucial upcoming meeting of the Aam Aadmi Party’s MLAs at the Chief Minister’s residence.

While AAP has been levelling allegations that the Bharatiya Janata Party has been threatening and luring AAP MLAs to topple the Kejriwal-led government of Delhi.

This comes in wake of the Aam Aadmi Party leader Saurabh Bharadwaj accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party of allegedly offering Rs 20 crore to the AAP MLAs to “bring down” the Kejriwal-led government in the national capital.

“BJP offered to bring down Kejriwal’s government by luring AAP MLAs with Rs 20-20 crores… slogans of ’50 Khokha-50 Khokha’ were raised in Maharashtra Assembly, hence I would say to the BJP Band karo desh se dhokha, nahi chalega 50 khoka,” Bharadwaj said addressing a press conference in Delhi.

The meeting slated to be held at 11 am today in the national capital holds much importance as major discussions regarding the current political scenario and the raids of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) on the party leaders are likely to be deliberated in the meeting.

With several MLAs being untraceable ahead of the meeting, both AAP and Opposition parties will keenly watch how many MLAs will attend the meeting.

Earlier on Monday, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia alleged that he had received an offer by the Bharatiya Janata Party to split the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in what he claims was a quid pro quo as the CBI initiated a probe into the Delhi’s now withdrawn excise policy.

BJP had declined any such offer being made to him. BJP leaders attacked Kejriwal and Sisodia, saying that it is the frustration of AAP as their corruption is getting exposed.

The trail of events started with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) raiding the residence of Sisodia last Friday, in connection with an alleged liquor scam in Delhi. The Enforcement Directorate has registered a money laundering case over the Delhi excise policy.

Sisodia was among the 15 people named in an FIR filed by the CBI. Excise officials, liquor company executives, dealers with some unknown public servants and private persons have been booked in the case. (ANI)