United News of Bangladesh

India’s parliament was thrown into turmoil after opposition leader Rahul Gandhi attempted to quote from an unpublished memoir by former army chief General MM Naravane, in which top political leaders are accused of failing to give clear instructions during the 2020 border clash with China. The memoir, titled Four Stars of Destiny, has been awaiting government clearance since 2024. Gandhi’s attempt to read excerpts during a parliamentary debate on Monday was repeatedly interrupted, bringing proceedings to a standstill. He said the book claimed that as Chinese tanks advanced, Naravane was told “to do what he deemed appropriate,” highlighting a lack of direction from political leadership during the Galwan valley standoff in Ladakh, which left 20 Indian and at least four Chinese soldiers dead. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accused Gandhi of insulting the Indian army and violating parliamentary rules by citing an unpublished work. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Home Minister Amit Shah demanded that Gandhi present the actual book in the house. Gandhi insisted his source was authentic and held up a copy of the unpublished memoir to reporters on Wednesday, asserting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had effectively left operational decisions to Naravane. Naravane served as India’s army chief from 2019 to 2022. His memoir, which details his personal life and military career, has been delayed amid concerns that it contains sensitive operational information. Under Indian law, retired military officials must obtain clearance from their former organizations before publishing material that could affect national security. Experts say retired officers can receive approval, be asked for revisions, or face rejection if content is deemed sensitive. Naravane is not the first Indian army chief to publish a memoir recounting military conflicts, with past works covering confrontations with Pakistan and operations in Kashmir. The controversy has reignited political debate over India’s handling of the 2020 China standoff and raised questions about transparency, civil-military relations, and parliamentary procedures. Eight Congress MPs were later suspended for disorderly conduct as disruptions continued into Tuesday. Gandhi has previously accused the Modi government of “ceding” Indian territory to China during the 2020 border clash, claims the government strongly denies. The political row comes amid ongoing scrutiny of India-China relations and the strategic management of disputed Himalayan border areas.   With inputs from BBC

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has officially confirmed that their national cricket team will not take the field against India in the upcoming T20 World Cup, stating the decision was made to stand in solidarity with Bangladesh. Addressing cabinet members in Islamabad on Wednesday, Sharif declared that “politics should not exist on the sports field.” This is the first time the government has publicly articulated the specific reason behind the boycott, which was announced via social media last week. “We have taken a very clear position on the T20 World Cup—we will not play the match against India,” Sharif told his cabinet. “We took this decision after much thought. We should fully stand by Bangladesh. I think this is a very appropriate decision.” T20 World Cup: ICC rejects Bangladesh’s safe-venue request, includes Scotland The diplomatic sporting row stems from the International Cricket Council's (ICC) decision to replace Bangladesh with Scotland in the tournament. The Bangladesh government had refused to send their team to India citing security concerns, following threats from communal groups that led to pacer Mustafizur Rahman being dropped from the IPL on January 3. While the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) requested a venue change to Sri Lanka, the ICC rejected the plea, labeling the threat against Mustafizur as “isolated.” Bangladesh’s Sports Adviser Asif Nazrul later said that neither the ICC nor the Indian government provided necessary security assurances. ICC warns PCB of legal and financial fallout over India match boycott Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has supported Bangladesh throughout the process, criticizing the ICC for “double standards” regarding security protocols. The T20 World Cup, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, begins on February 7. The India-Pakistan clash was scheduled for February 15 in Colombo. The ICC has previously warned the PCB to “reconsider” the boycott, citing potential long-term implications for Pakistan cricket.          

Around 2.15 am early Wednesday, three sisters jumped from their ninth-floor apartment in Uttar Pradesh's Ghaziabad, after leaving a handwritten note that said, "Sorry, Papa". Pakhi,12, Prachi ,14, and Vishika,16 were allegedly upset that their father had taken away their mobile phone, reports NDTV. In the dead of night, the sisters went to their balcony, bolted the door and jumped out of a window, one after the other. Their screams and the sound of the bodies hitting the ground were loud enough to wake their parents, neighbours and security guards at the apartment complex at Bharat City in Ghaziabad. By the time the parents broke open the door to the balcony, it was too late. "When we reached the scene, we confirmed that three girls, daughters of Chetan Kumar, had died after jumping from the building," said Atul Kumar Singh, Assistant Commissioner of Police. Visuals this morning showed the bodies of the girls on the ground, their mother wailing in grief, and a crowd of neighbours in shock. The sisters were addicted to everything Korean, so much in fact, that they had even taken on Korean names. They had reportedly stopped going to school two years ago. Eight-Page Suicide Note Investigations are focusing on their suicide note and a diary they cited in it. "Is diary me jo kuch bhi likha hai woh sab padh lo kyuki ye sab sach hai (Read everything written in this diary because all of it is true.) Read now. I'm really sorry. Sorry, Papa," the note read. It was accompanied by a hand-drawn crying emoji. The eight-page note was written on the pages of a pocket diary, detailing their mobile activities. Their father, Chetan Kumar, described what appears to be an extreme addiction to the Korean culture. "They said Papa sorry, Korea is our life, Korea is our biggest love, whatever you say, we cannot give it up. So we are killing ourselves," Chetan Kumar wept. "This should not happen to any parent or child." The note also said: "You tried to distance us from Koreans, but now you know how much we love Koreans." The girls were deep into K-pop culture and Korean movies, music, short films, shows, and series, their diary notes revealed. "For the past few days, they had been denied access to a mobile phone, a restriction that appeared to have affected them," said Deputy Commissioner of Police Nimish Patel. Visuals from their home revealed more jottings on a wall in the girls' bedroom, like "I am very very alone" and "make me a hert of broken (sic)". "It is clear that the girls were influenced by Korean culture and have mentioned it in the suicide note," said senior police officer Nimish Patel. The sisters did everything together, including bathing and eating. Their phone addiction reportedly began during the COVID-19 pandemic. Afterwards, they became irregular in school and finally stopped going altogether. According to the police, Chetan Kumar married two sisters and lives with both wives and their children, all daughters. Two of the girls who died were daughters of one wife and the third was their half-sister.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has cautioned the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) that it could face legal action from the T20 World Cup’s official broadcasters, JioStar, over Pakistan’s decision to boycott its February 15 match against India, a PCB source said on Tuesday. Pakistan decided not to play the high-profile match in Colombo following instructions from its government, but the PCB has yet to formally convey the reasons for the boycott to the ICC. According to a PTI report, the ICC is considering withholding Pakistan’s entire annual revenue share, estimated at around USD 35 million, and using that amount to compensate the broadcasters. A PCB source said chairman Mohsin Naqvi had consulted the board’s legal team before briefing Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on the matter last week, but the board is now preparing for serious repercussions. “If Pakistan does not back down and play against India, they could face heavy financial penalties, a possible lawsuit from broadcasters, and even an appeal to the ICC Dispute Resolution Committee is unlikely to succeed,” the source told PTI. Prove you are fair: Pakistan legend Afridi tells ICC supporting Pakistan’s boycott The ICC’s Dispute Resolution Committee is an internal body that does not entertain appeals against decisions taken by the ICC Board itself. Another PCB source pointed out that Pakistan’s position could be further weakened because the team is already playing all its matches at a neutral venue in Sri Lanka, a condition it had sought instead of playing in India. The source also noted that while the Indian government has not allowed its team to tour Pakistan, it has not prevented India from playing Pakistan at neutral venues in Asia Cup or ICC tournaments, even after the conflict in May. The PCB has not yet sent a written communication to the ICC, though the boycott is reportedly being viewed as an act of solidarity with Bangladesh following their ouster. India to show up at stadium as Pakistan confirms boycott of Feb 15 clash “When the ICC signed a four-year broadcasting deal for its events, India-Pakistan matches were a key component of that contract, and payments were made accordingly,” the source said. “As a result, the broadcaster would be well within its rights to take both the PCB and the ICC to court over what it sees as a major breach of contract.” #With inputs from NDTV

US President Donald Trump announced on Monday that he has agreed to a trade deal with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Under the agreement, the US will reduce tariffs on Indian goods from 25% to 18%. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said India has agreed to eliminate trade barriers entirely and will stop buying Russian oil. The 25% tariff penalty previously imposed over India’s purchase of Russian oil will also be removed. The announcement comes less than a week after India and the European Union finalized a landmark trade agreement following nearly two decades of negotiations. Modi expressed his delight over the deal in a post on X, saying he was pleased that an agreement had been reached. Trump added that the morning phone call with Modi covered both trade and the Russia-Ukraine conflict. He said Modi agreed to increase oil purchases from the US and possibly Venezuela, and at Modi’s request, he immediately consented to the trade deal. This agreement will see India reduce tariffs and non-tariff barriers to zero. Trump threatens 10% tariff on 8 European countries over Greenland stance Trump further stated that Modi committed to purchasing more than $500 billion worth of American goods, including energy, technology, agriculture, and coal products. The trade relationship between the US and India had been strained since August, when the US imposed a 50% tariff on Indian goods, the highest on any Asian country, including a 25% penalty tied to Indian oil imports from Russia. A White House official confirmed that the Russian oil-linked tariffs will be removed and other tariffs reduced to 18% under the new deal. Modi thanked Trump for the announcement, saying the cooperation between the two largest democracies will benefit their people and open up significant opportunities for mutually beneficial trade. Indian exports to the US had fallen sharply after the previous tariffs were applied. The recent India-EU trade deal will also reduce tariffs on a wide range of goods and services and includes a joint security partnership. #With inputs from BBC

The second tranche of election-related assistance from India was gifted to Nepal, in presence of Minister for Finance of Nepal Rameshore Prasad Khanal. Charge d’affaires Dr. Rakesh Pandey, ceremonially handed over more than 250 vehicles to the government of Nepal, in a ceremony held in the Ministry of Finance in Kathmandu on January 29. These supplies are a part of the assistance sought by the government of Nepal, in connection with preparations for the upcoming elections in the country. In his remarks, Finance Minister Rameshore Prasad Khanal mentioned the longstanding cooperation and friendly ties between India and Nepal. He also thanked the Government and people of India for the supplies and appreciated their significance in preparations for upcoming elections. Ambassador to Nepal attends Bangladesh Medical Education Fair in Kathmandu The first tranche of such election-related assistance by the Government of India, was handed over to Nepal on January 20. More deliveries are expected to take place in batches in the coming weeks. The ongoing cooperation and support from the Indian side is not only an apt reflection of the multi-faceted and multi-sectoral development partnership that exists between both countries, but also symbolizes the deep mutual trust and friendship between the people of India and Nepal, said a media release.

Bangladesh on Thursday repatriated 128 fishermen who had been detained in India under a mutual repatriation arrangement between the two neighbouring countries. At the same time, 23 Indian fishermen who had been held in Bangladesh were sent back to India under the same arrangement, said a press release. Bangladesh Coast Guard received 128 Bangladeshi fishermen along with five Bangladeshi fishing boats from the Indian Coast Guard at a handover ceremony at the international maritime boundary line in the Bay of Bengal. Bangladesh handed over 23 Indian fishermen and two Indian fishing boats to the Indian Coast Guard. Rohingya crisis not receiving due attention, repatriation only solution: Prof Yunus A number of government agencies including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Bangladesh Coast Guard, the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, the Ministry of Shipping, Border Guard Bangladesh, Bangladesh Police and  local administration worked jointly to facilitate the repatriation process.

India on Saturday reaffirmed the value of its long-standing partnership with Bangladesh and wished the people of Bangladesh peace, prosperity and success on their journey ahead. "We have and will continue to support a democratic, stable, peaceful, progressive and inclusive Bangladesh," said Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma while commemorating India’s Republic Day in the evening.  Moving forward, the High Commissioner said successes achieved across diverse areas inspire them to seek even more forward-looking and future-ready collaborations. Energy Adviser Md Fauzul Kabir Khan spoke at the reception held at a city hotel attended by political leaders, senior government officials, diplomats stationed in Dhaka, civil society members, cultural activists, among others.  Today, the High Commissioner said, as two fast-growing economies and aspiring societies, powered by young, skilled, and innovative populations, Bangladesh and India are capable of becoming catalysts for each other’s sustainable growth, enablers of each other’s future prosperity, and anchors for robust regional integration. "Together, we can build regional value chains, shared digital ecosystems, and energy corridors that serve both our economies," he said. Together, the High Commissioner said, they can ensure that the region’s energy future is clean, affordable and secure. He said the two countries can work to address shared challenges of environmental sustainability and climate change for our shared ecology. "In short, as forward moving societies, there is so much that we can offer to each other, and to our region, when we work together, transforming our geographical proximity into new opportunities," said the High Commissioner. Collaborations that are anchored in their shared aspirations for prosperity, progress, and partnership, he said. "Partnership that is rooted in trust. Partnership that is driven by innovation and technology; and a partnership that is nurtured and sustained by mutual interest, mutual benefit and mutual sensitivity," said the High Commissioner. On 26 January 1950, the people of a newly-independent India gave themselves a new Constitution; declared their country a sovereign republic; and committed themselves to the ideals of justice, liberty, equality, and dignity for all. In the 76 years since then, India has moved from being an impoverished nation to become the largest democracy and one of the largest economies in the world, a modern, confident nation that is today contributing to global progress and offering solutions to global challenges. "Bangladesh has been an important co-traveler in this journey of ours. We share a special relationship, along with an indelible history of shared sacrifices during Bangladesh’s Liberation War of 1971," Pranay Verma said. He said their shared love for literature, music, and art defines the Dhaka-Delhi ties. "From Rabindranath Tagore and Kazi Nazrul Islam, whose works connect our cultures and literatures, to the rich traditions of dance, theater, and cinema – people of our two nations share a deep cultural affinity," said the High Commissioner. Over the years, he said their mutual exchanges and shared interdependence have been reinforced by a rapidly transforming landscape of connectivity and economic engagement, bringing their societies, people and businesses closer together. A cross-border pipeline carrying high-speed diesel from an Indian refinery to Bangladesh; the cross-border power transmission lines, bringing power from both India and Nepal to Bangladesh through the Indian grid –are some examples of how the two countries have, together, laid the foundations of energy connectivity leading to regional economic integration in a true sense, said the Indian envoy. "Our supply chains fuel Bangladesh’s prolific RMG and pharmaceutical sectors, proving the merits of mutual cooperation and interdependence," the High Commissioner said. He said there are numerous such examples of how the partnership has brought benefits to the people and businesses on both sides. 

BNP on Saturday dismissed an allegation by Jamaat-e-Islami’s Nayeb-e-Ameer Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher regarding an alleged agreements with India, calling it a 'political smear' with no factual basis. “A very influential leader of a political party has made a claim about BNP’s deal with India, referring to the media. But he could not present any evidence in support of his claim, nor will he be able to do so,” said BNP’s Election Steering Committee spokesperson Mahdi Amin. Speaking at a press briefing at the BNP Chairman’s Gulshan office, he also said Taher’s remarks amounted to 'political smear tactics and misinformation' aimed at creating confusion during the election period. “The information, he claims, came from the media, and it has no basis whatsoever. There is not the slightest reality, not the slightest truth. So, this appears to be a political tactic to create controversies, a smear campaign,” Mahdi said. He said if the Jamaat leader was fed incorrect information or used to spread confusion, it would point to ignorance on his part. “We believe it is either a tactic or ignorance. We want to state clearly that the claims about BNP having any agreement with India are entirely false and amount to propaganda.” Taher, while implicitly referring to BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman, had claimed that the BNP entered into 'three agreements' with India. Mahdi said BNP rejects 'negative propaganda, smear tactics and opportunistic politics' ahead of the polls. “BNP’s politics is Bangladesh-first politics. Under the leadership of Tarique Rahman, national interest, sovereignty and the empowerment of citizens come first,” he said. Mahdi also highlighted BNP’s past mobilisation on issues involving water sharing and border tensions. “We demonstrated for fair water rights on the Teesta and Padma rivers and protested the killing of Felani on the border. Under Begum Khaleda Zia’s leadership, BNP rejected subservient foreign policy and defended national sovereignty,” he said. Jamaat commits to implementing Teesta Mega Plan if elected: Dr Shafiqur Rahman Mahdi also highlighted BNP’s recently launched election hotlines aimed at providing election-related guidance and receiving complaints. “BNP has launched hotline 16543 and a WhatsApp hotline 01806977577 to enhance direct communication with the people, provide legal information, and receive complaints and constructive feedback related to the polls,” he said. Mahdi said a large number of people have already contacted the hotlines and received assistance. He drew attention to reports that an unauthorised group has been demanding money from people in the name of distributing ‘Family Cards’ and ‘Farmer Cards’. Mahdi said these cards—part of BNP’s proposed social welfare and empowerment programmes—would only be implemented by the state and 'fully free of cost' if the party comes to power. “If anyone fraudulently demands money in the name of these cards, we urge people to inform us and contact law enforcement,” the BNP spokesperson said. Responding to a query, Mahdi reiterated that any attempt to collect money using these cards is 'unwanted and intended to create controversy'.    

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has formally requested the intervention of the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Independent Dispute Resolution Committee, refusing to back down from its demand to shift their T20 World Cup matches out of India. Despite the ICC's recent ruling that the tournament schedule remains non-negotiable, the Bangladesh government and board remain steadfast in their decision to boycott the Indian leg of the tournament due to unresolved security concerns. Following a meeting with the World Cup squad at a Dhaka hotel on Thursday, Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Nazrul declared that there is “no chance” of the government altering its stance. He confirmed that unless the ICC relocates the fixtures to co-host Sri Lanka, Bangladesh will not participate in the global event scheduled to begin on February 7. In a fresh email sent to the global body, the BCB reiterated its position and called for the dispute to be adjudicated by the ICC’s independent panel of lawyers, hoping for a neutral verdict on the safety risks involved. During the meeting with the Sports Adviser, the players were briefed on the geopolitical realities and security threats that necessitated this hardline approach. The squad reportedly expressed no dissent, stating that while their primary role is to play cricket, they respect the decision of the government and the board as their guardians and will support the boycott if necessary. The crisis was precipitated by the BCCI's decision on January 3 to remove pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the IPL following threats from extremist groups, an incident the Bangladesh government cites as clear evidence that the environment in India is hostile. Farooki questions ICC’s neutrality, cites mob lynching as proof of ‘severe risk’ in India BCB President Aminul Islam maintained that the team is physically and mentally prepared to play but will only do so if the matches are moved to Sri Lanka. While the ICC has not officially responded to the request for independent arbitration and the BCCI remains silent, a BCB official confirmed that the board will continue to press its demand until the very end.