President
President Hamid offers Eid prayers at Bangabhaban
President Abdul Hamid on Sunday offered Eid-ul-Azha prayers along with his family members and officials at the Hallway (Darbar Hall) of Bangabhaban.
Pesh Imam of Bangabhaban Jame Mosque Mufti Maulana Saiful Kabir conducted the Eid prayers in the morning, the press wing of the president’s office said.
He offered his prayers maintaining Covid-19 health guidelines, including keeping social distance amid a rise in the infections.
The president avoided taking part in the traditional Eid prayers in the capital's National Eidgah Maidan due to Covid situation, the press wing said.
Many state programmes were also curtailed for this reason.
A special munajat was offered seeking divine blessings for peace and progress of Bangladesh and welfare of the people as well as the Muslim Ummah.
Doa was offered seeking eternal peace of the departed souls of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and other members of his family on August 15 in 1975, and the war martyrs of 1971.
After the prayers, President Hamid spent his time with his family members at the presidential palace.
Read: President Hamid unveils inaugural envelope of census
Sri Lankans storm president's house, office in biggest rally
Sri Lankan protesters stormed President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s residence and nearby office on Saturday as tens of thousands of people took to the streets of the capital Colombo in the biggest demonstration yet to vent their fury against a leader they hold responsible for the island nation’s worst economic crisis.
It was not clear if Rajapaksa was inside his residence but footage showed hundreds of people inside the well-fortified house and on the grounds outside, some taking a dip in the garden pool and others in a jubilant mood.
A government spokesman, Mohana Samaranayake, said he had no information about Rajapaksa's whereabouts.
Sri Lanka’s economy is in a state of collapse, muddling through with aid from India and other countries as its leaders try to negotiate a bailout with the International Monetary Fund. The economic meltdown has led to severe shortages of essential items, leaving people struggling to buy food, fuel and other necessities.
The turmoil has led to months of protests, which have nearly dismantled the Rajapaksa political dynasty that has ruled Sri Lanka for most of the past two decades.
The president’s older brother resigned as prime minister in May after violent protests saw him seek safety at a naval base, while three other Rajapaksa relatives had quit their Cabinet posts earlier. Much of the public ire has been pointed at the Rajapaksa family, with protesters blaming them for dragging Sri Lanka into chaos with poor management and allegations of corruption.
A new prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, took over in May to help steer the country out of the crisis. Meanwhile, Rajapaksa has held on to power despite growing calls for him to quit.
On Saturday, as droves of people broke through barriers to occupy the president’s residence, hundreds of protesters, some carrying national flags, also stormed his seaside office in another nearby building. Demonstrators have camped outside the entrance to his office for the past three months.
Videos posted on social media showed protesters storming the residence, chanting “Gota go home,” calling the president by his nickname. Dozens were seen jumping into the pool, milling about the house and and watching television. Outside the building, barricades were overturned and a black flag was hoisted on a pole.
At the president’s office, security personnel tried to stop demonstrators who pushed through fences to run across the lawns and inside the colonial-era building.
At least 34 people including two police officers were wounded in scuffles as protesters tried to enter the residence. Two of the injured are in critical condition while others sustained minor injuries, said an official at the Colombo National Hospital who spoke on condition of anonymity as he was not authorized to speak to the media.
Thousands of protesters entered the capital from the suburbs earlier on Saturday after police lifted an overnight curfew. With fuel supplies scarce, many crowded onto buses and trains to come to the city to protest, while others made their way on bicycles and on foot.
Last month, Wickremesinghe said the country’s economy has collapsed. He said that the negotiations with the IMF have been complex because Sri Lanka was now a bankrupt state.
In April, Sri Lanka announced it is suspending repaying foreign loans due to a foreign currency shortage. Its total foreign debt amounts to $51 billion of which it must repay $28 billion by the end of 2027.
Police had imposed a curfew in Colombo and several other main urban areas on Friday night but withdrew it Saturday morning amid objections by lawyers and opposition politicians who called it illegal.
U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung on Friday asked people to protest peacefully and called for the military and police “to grant peaceful protesters the space and security to do so.”
“Chaos & force will not fix the economy or bring the political stability that Sri Lankans need right now,” Chung said in a tweet.
Outgoing Kuwaiti ambassador calls on president
Kuwait's ambassador to Bangladesh Adel Mohammed Hayat paid a farewell call on President Abdul Hamid at Bangabhaban this evening.
During the meeting, President Hamid said that Bangladesh attaches great importance to its relations with Kuwait.
President's press secretary Joynal Abedin Joynal Abedin briefed the reporters after the meeting.
He noted the excellent relations that exist between the two countries and hoped that these relations would be further strengthened in the future.
Also read: Padma Bridge a symbol of self-reliance, self-respect: President
He also emphasized joint efforts at government and private levels to increase trade and investment between the two countries.
The President thanked the Government of Kuwait for providing free corona vaccination and medical treatment to Bangladeshis living in Kuwait.
Referring to the recent recruitment of nurses from Bangladesh in Kuwait, the President called upon the Government of Kuwait to take more skilled and semi-skilled manpower from Bangladesh in various sectors.
Thanking the Kuwaiti government for providing humanitarian assistance to the Rohingya, the President hoped that Kuwait would play a stronger role in resolving the issue.
He thanked the outgoing Ambassador of Kuwait for his successful discharge.
Also read: President Hamid unveils inaugural envelope of census
The outgoing Ambassador of Kuwait expressed his gratitude to the President for his overall cooperation during his tenure in Bangladesh.
Secretaries to the President's Office and other officials were also present at the time.
Woman tribal politician to become India's next President?
A tribal politician in India is all set to script history next month, with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) naming her as its candidate for the country's presidential polls slated for July.
The 64-year-old former teacher-turned-tribal politician, Droupadi Murmu, hailing from the eastern state of Odisha, is projected to win as President, with the BJP and its coalition partners commanding 48% of the electoral vote.
In India, the President is elected by the members of both the Houses of Parliament -- the Rajya Sabha (Upper House) and the Lok Sabha (Lower House) -- and of the state assemblies and federal government-ruled Union Territories.
Like in Bangladesh, the Indian President is the ceremonial head of state who does not exercise executive powers.
On Thursday, Murmu sought the cooperation of all lawmakers in India before taking a flight to Delhi this morning. "I thank all and seek cooperation from everyone for the presidential election. I'll meet all voters and seek their support before July 18."
"Smt. Droupadi Murmu Ji has devoted her life to serving society and empowering the poor, downtrodden as well as the marginalised," Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted on Wednesday.
"She has rich administrative experience and had an outstanding gubernatorial tenure. I am confident she will be a great President of our nation," Modi wrote.
Read: Yashwant Sinha is Indian opposition's presidential pick
But who's this humble politician?
Born on June 20 in 1958, Murmu completed her graduation in 1979 and began her career as a government employee before becoming a school teacher.
She subsequently made a foray into Odisha politics, first as a local civic body councillor and then as a state legislator.
The two-term BJP legislator went on to become a minister in the state government in 2000. And some 15 years later, Murmu was sworn in as the first woman Governor of the eastern Indian state of Jharkhand.
In her personal life, Murmu lost her husband and their two sons. While her husband died of a cardiac arrest, one of her two sons was found dead under mysterious circumstances in 2009. She has a daughter.
If elected, Murmu would replace incumbent President Ram Nath Kovind whose five-year term ends on July 24.
Enayet Karim new president of Global Development Bank
Renowned economist and president of Global Economist Forum Dr Enayet Karim has been appointed as President of Global Development Bank (GDB) for five years.
The GDB is a development financial agency for emergency currency support, green tech projects financing in both the private and public sector organizations with the main target of elevating poverty.
Also read: Prof Areef, Dr Asaduzzaman new president, general secretary of BSCCM
The targeted core development areas of GDB are the skill development, job creation, poverty alleviation, setting up green industries and hybrid education system among the developing and under-developed member countries of the United Nations, ensuring basic needs for the poor and ultra-poor to change their fate.
The topper of 9th CSS Dr Enayet karim started his career as a government officer but switch to World Bank after a few months.
He has been working in WB and ECOSOC as chief economist since 2015.
Dr Karim has taken over the charges of President of GDB on June 1, 2022 of the New York-based development bank.
Also read: Sheikh Fahim new President of D-8 Chamber
A Dhaka university graduate, Enayet Karim obtained Ph.D in Applied Economics from Oxford University, UK. He hails from Uzirpur upazila under Barishal district.
Dr Karim has good creation of several renowned books including the CAMELS rating, a text book in the banking department of different universities in many countries, accredited by the World Bank.
He is a guest teacher in 14 different universities including Sardar Patel Police University, India, 4 UN Universities, Bangladesh Police Staff College, British Economic School, etc.
OECD delegation calls on BGMEA president
The visiting delegation of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) paid a courtesy call on BGMEA President Faruque Hassan and discussed different trade-related issues and future challenges of Bangladesh, in anticipation of the country's graduation from the LDC category.
The OECD team led by Dr. Annalisa Primi, Head of Division of Economic Transformation and Development, Development Centre of the organisation visited the BGMEA president’s office in Gulshan on Tuesday, said a press release.
Talk on Bangladesh’s possible implications on the economy and preparedness to continue the growth momentum by defying all the hurdles of the post-LDC era were also discussed.
They also talked about the issue of policy support and other measures needed to retain Bangladesh’s export competitiveness and maintain its standing in the global market in the post-LDC era.
The BGMEA President gave an overview of the garment industry’s contribution to the socioeconomic development of Bangladesh, especially through export earnings and employment generation for millions of people.
READ: BGMEA chief for working harder to safeguard progress, prospects
He apprised the OECD team about how Bangladesh’s RMG industry has undergone massive transformation over the last few years to become one of the safest industries while making impressive strides in the area of environmental sustainability.
He also briefed them about the unprecedented impacts of Covid-19 on the apparel industry of Bangladesh, how the sector faced the challenges and turned around.
Faruque Hassan also shed light on the RMG industry’s future priorities, including changing business model, upgrading business capabilities and embracing innovation to address future challenges of the RMG industry, especially after LDC graduation.
Daniel Robert Gay, Adviser on Trade and Economic Development, Structural Policies and Innovation Unit, OECD Development Centre, Dr. Manuel Toselli, Economist, Structural Policies and Innovation Unit, OECD Development Centre; Ms. Mereseini Bower, Inter-regional Adviser, Economic Analysis and Policy Division, Department of Economic and Social Affairs at the United Nations (UN); and Md. Mazedul Islam, Development Coordination Officer at UN Bangladesh were present at the meeting.
BGMEA Vice President Miran Ali, Director Tanvir Ahmed and Chair of BGMEA Standing Committee on Foreign Mission Cell Shams Mahmud also attended the meeting.
Marcos, Duterte new Philippines president and vice-president
The son of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos and the daughter of outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte are the new leaders of the Philippines, an alliance that ushers in six years of governance that has some human rights activists concerned about the course their country may take with the pair in power.
Here is a look at the new president and vice president of the Philippines, who ran in separate races for their posts.
Also read:Sri Lanka anti-government protests continue despite curfew
FERDINAND MARCOS JR.
A former provincial governor, congressman and senator, the 64-year-old son who goes by his childhood nickname “Bongbong” has managed to return his family to the presidency 36 years after the “People Power” revolt ousted his father and sent him into exile for filching billions and mass human rights abuses.
His mother, Imelda Marcos, twice unsuccessfully attempted to retake the seat of power after returning with her children to the Philippines from exile in the United States, where her husband died in 1989.
Marcos Jr. has defended his father’s legacy and steadfastly refuses to apologize for or acknowledge the atrocities and plunder during the dictatorship. Married to a lawyer, with whom he has three sons, he has stayed away from controversies, including a past tax conviction and the Marcos family’s refusal to pay a huge estate tax. Throughout his campaign, he tenaciously stuck to a battle cry of national unity. He denies accusations that he financed a yearslong social media campaign that harnessed online trolls to smear opponents and whitewash the Marcos family’s checkered history, daring critics to “show me one.”
SARA DUTERTE
Sara Duterte, 43, is the outgoing mayor of Davao City, which was her father's constituency before he was elected president in 2016.
Also read:Sri Lankan prime minister resigns after weeks of protests
A lawyer and reserve officer in the Philippine army, Duterte has carved out her own political career and, although at times supportive of her father, is considered more levelheaded and pragmatic.
Duterte's party originally wanted her to succeed him, but she chose instead to run for vice-president.
A mother of three, she has been the longtime mayor of Davao, an economically vibrant city where the elder Duterte first carved a political name with his populist rhetoric and often bloody approach against criminality, especially the widespread trafficking and use of illegal drugs, before he rose to the presidency in 2016.
Egypt frees 3 as president appears to reach out to critics
Egyptian authorities freed three journalists early Sunday, the head of a journalists’ union said, the latest in a string of releases as President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi appears to be reaching out to critics of his administration.
Ammer Abdel-Moneim, Hany Greisha and Essam Abdeen walked free from jail after they spent around a year and a half in detention in separate cases.
Diaa Rashwan, head of the Journalists’ Union, posted images showing the three journalists wearing white jail uniforms and embracing their families in the street.
Also read: Egypt: Ruins of ancient temple for Zeus unearthed in Sinai
They were released pending investigations into initial charges of misuse of social media and joining a terrorist group, in an apparent reference to the Muslim Brotherhood. Egypt designated the Brotherhood a terrorist organization since 2013. The three have yet to face trial.
Their release came a few days after authorities freed 41 detainees — including several prominent writers and activists — who had been held for months also without trial. Long pre-trial detentions have been a major concern for rights groups in recent years.
El-Sissi also reactivated a presidential pardon committee and appointed new members. The committee, in charge of reviewing cases of prisoners held for political crimes, was created in 2016 and had been mostly ineffective in recent years.
Also read: US, Egypt launch group to prepare for COP27 climate summit
On Thursday, authorities released prominent political activist Hossam Monis following a pardon by el-Sissi. Monis was serving a four-year sentence on terror charges that rights advocates deemed baseless.
Some independent observers believe the government is trying to reach out to critics in the midst of a grinding economic crisis sparked by the Russian war on Ukraine. Thousands of political prisoners, however, are estimated to remain in Egyptian jails.
The Egyptian government has in recent years waged a wide-scale crackdown on dissent, jailing thousands of people, mainly Islamists, but also secular activists involved in the 2011 Arab Spring uprising that toppled longtime autocrat Hosni Mubarak.
It has also imprisoned dozens of reporters and occasionally expelled some foreign journalists. It remains among the world’s worst jailers of journalists, along with Turkey and China, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists, a U.S.-based watchdog.
Biden, Mexican president confer on migration, diplomacy
President Joe Biden and Mexico's Andres Manuel López Obrador agreed in a phone call Friday to do more to promote “just, humane and effective efforts to reduce irregular migration" at the southern border, the White House reported after their nearly hourlong conversation.
López Obrador tweeted that the conversation was “cordial” and that they “spoke of issues of interest to the bilateral relationship.” The agenda also included the upcoming Summit of the Americas in June in Los Angeles, and the end of coronavirus restrictions on asylum seekers trying to come to the U.S.
The two leaders also talked about addressing the root causes of migration through development initiatives in Central America and Mexico, according to a statement from the Mexican president’s office. They discussed the need to guarantee safe and sustainable ways of life for their citizens and migrants, as well as expanding legal pathways for migrants and refugees.
“In view of the unprecedented flows of migrants from throughout the hemisphere to our two countries, the presidents reiterated the need to build stronger tools for managing regional migration surges,” the White House said in a statement.
López Obrador, for his part, called on the U.S. government to invite all nations of the Americas to the summit “without excluding anyone.” The Biden administration has suggested that Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua are unlikely to be invited.
READ: Biden wants $33B more to help Ukraine battle Russia
Both the U.S. and Mexico want to accelerate development and infrastructure projects along their shared border to continue strengthening North American supply chains and the cross-border agricultural and commercial activity, the statement said.
The meeting came at a moment of international and domestic tensions, as the war in Ukraine has contributed to inflation worldwide amid concerns about likely shortages of oil, natural gas and food.
Moreover, the expected end on May 23 of the public health ban on asylum seekers could trigger a rush of migrants to the U.S.-Mexico border. That would exacerbate tensions over immigration ahead of U.S. midterm elections to decide if Democrats retain control of the House and Senate.
The Trump administration imposed the so-called Title 42 restrictions on asylum seekers in March 2020 as the coronavirus pandemic began to accelerate. Officials said at the time that the ban was to protect public health, but immigration control advocates also saw it as a way to seal the border to migrants, a longstanding priority of then-President Donald Trump. Mexico is viewed as a key partner in managing the increase in migrants once the ban is lifted.
López Obrador said in his tweet that Foreign Affairs Secretary Marcelo Ebrard would visit Washington on Monday regarding "issues of cooperation for development and about the Summit of the Americas.”
Ahead of Friday's meeting, López Obrador had said of the planned conversation, “It’s important that there’s this communication, to listen to President Biden who has treated us with respect, as President Trump also treated us with respect, and we have to ensure a good relationship.”
López Obrador is also scheduled to visit four Central American countries and Cuba next week. In Central America, he plans to speak to his counterparts about economic development and social programs that could lessen the pressure for people in those countries to migrate. He has previously urged the U.S. government to support some of his initiatives in Central America.
On Ukraine, Mexico has condemned Russia’s invasion, but refused to follow the U.S. and other countries in implementing sanctions. The Biden administration has imposed sanctions and frozen central bank assets with the goal of eroding Russia's military capabilities.
On another subject, the U.S. government has voiced objections to controversial energy sector reforms pushed by López Obrador that would favor state-run electric power generators over private plants. A law along those lines passed, but a similar constitutional reform failed in Mexico’s Congress last week.
President Hamid congratulates Macron on re-election
President Abdul Hamid on Wednesday congratulated Emmanuel Macron on being re-elected as the President of France.
In a congratulatory message, Hamid said your re-election testifies the trust and confidence the French people have reposted on your leadership and your all inclusive projects and commitments for their better future.
"I hope, under your stewardship, France will continue a leading role in ensuring global peace, prosperity and security," he also said.
READ: Romanian ambassador presents credentials to President Hamid amid hope of growing Dhaka-Bucharest ties
He said that Bangladesh and France enjoy excellent bilateral relations which are rooted in shared values, democracy, equality and fraternity.
"We also recall moral and material support of the French people during our Liberation war in 1971. Since our independence, our relations have grown over the years and expanded in many areas of co-operation through meaningful engagement," he also said.