Chief of Army Staff General Waker-Uz-Zaman today called on Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus at the latter’s office at the state guest House Jamuna in the capital.
During the meeting, the army chief exchanged pleasantries and briefed the chief adviser on the ongoing activities of the army. For all latest news, follow The Daily Star’s Google News channel.
At the time, the chief adviser provided necessary guidance to the army chief.
BNP Standing Committee Member Gayeshwar Chandra Roy today criticised the lack of meaningful change following the student-led mass uprising, stating that aside from a shift in government, little has improved.
“If all the cases against the Awami League could be withdrawn during the 1/11 (political changeover in 2007), then why are our cases not being lifted now?” he said. For all latest news, follow The Daily Star’s Google News channel.
Addressing a discussion organised by the Jatiyatabadi Prochar Dal at the Jatiya Press Club to mark International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, Gayeshwar said members of the interim government had previously acknowledged that false cases were filed against opposition leaders and activists.
He also referenced the alleged humiliation of current Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus during the Awami League’s tenure, citing it as an example of false accusations.
“Then why are so many instances of torture and false cases against us not coming to your attention?” he asked, pointing at the government.
Gayeshwar said their party has been empathetic towards the false cases against Dr Yunus and has been vocal in condemning them.
“But after you took over, our cases remain the same as before and we still have to go to court just like before. That’s why I said, while the government has changed, you and I are still the same…The government has changed, but you and I are unchanged, just as we were before,” he added.
The BNP leader stressed that despite the sacrifices made over the past 16 years in the struggle for restoring people’s rights—including those who have faced repression, enforced disappearances, and loss of loved ones—nothing has changed significantly.
“Only Sheikh Hasina is no longer in power, but everything else remains the same,” he said.
He also criticised the government’s failure to reconstitute the Election Commission, which he said is vital for conducting fair elections that reflect the will of the people.
“How can we trust you to arrange an election when the Election Commission hasn’t even been formed?” he said
He further said the government has been forming commission after commission for the reforms of the state.
“I think discussions with political parties (over reforms)… Just time killing, nothing more.”
The BNP leader urged the government to arrange the election as soon as possible, emphasising that people are eager to exercise their right to vote and elect their representatives.
He noted that discussions on state reform are gaining momentum, akin to the period following the 1/11 political changeover, as part of an agenda for depoliticisation.
“After 16 years of countless sacrifices, the people now have only one demand: a fair election. They have no other demands. You (the interim govt) simply need to conduct a good election,” the BNP leader said.
“We want to see you succeed. We are providing you with our full support and will continue to do so. But please clearly clarify when you will conduct the elections. You must specify the time frame,” he added.
A documentary highlighting BNP’s role in disaster mitigation efforts was also screened during the event.
Bangladesh and the United States have discussed ways to strengthen collaboration to counter corruption, tackle money laundering and recover stolen assets.
The issues were discussed during a meeting between Foreign Secretary Md Jashim Uddin and acting Coordinator for Global Anti-Corruption Shelby Smith-Wilson in Washington, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said today. For all latest news, follow The Daily Star’s Google News channel.
The talks also covered technical support for reforms, MLA (Mutual Legal Assistance treaty and enhancing experience and expertise sharing in procurement systems, law enforcement, judiciary and media.
Meanwhile, US Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights Uzra Zeya said the US values Bangladesh as a “partner” in the Indo-Pacific region and their “strong collaboration” as their leading partner on Rohingya response and number one source of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).
She shared a brief message on X as she had a meeting with the Foreign Secretary in Washington on October 11.
“Vital discussion with Foreign Secretary Jashim Uddin on US-Bangladesh humanitarian cooperation, accountability and democratic institutions and support for labour rights,” she said.
The foreign secretary and Under-Secretary Uzra Zeya had “fruitful discussions” on the reforms of the democratic institutions and upholding of democratic values, accountability of human rights violations, humanitarian response and sustainable solutions to the Rohingya crisis and labour rights issues, according to the ministry.
He also had a “productive meeting” with US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Verma at the State Department, affirming the renewal of commitment to deepen and expand bilateral ties, and strengthen collaboration on areas of mutual interest.
The foreign secretary had a separate meeting with acting US Under Secretary for Political Affairs John Bass and discussed ways to deepen bilateral collaboration building on the momentum in the Bangladesh-US relationship and advance impactful cooperation in priority areas.
He also had discussions on diverse issues at a meeting with US Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for South Asia Lindsey W Ford at the White House.
They covered the interim government’s reform agenda, democratic transition, economic and security issues, regional stability, Rohingya crisis and labour law.
Foreign Secretary Jashim also met Brendan Lynch, Assistant USTR for South and Central Asia and discussed mutual cooperation to diversify export, DFQF access of RMGs produced from cotton imported from US, simplification of registration and reduction of registration fees for pharmaceutical products, labour law reforms, and access to US International Development Finance Cooperation (DFC).
A lunch meeting between the foreign secretary and key officials focused on a wide range of issues of mutual interest.
The US officials included Assistant Secretary Ambassador Donald Lu, Acting Assistant Secretary Marta C Youth, Deputy Assistant Secretary Nicole Chulick, Deputy Assistant Secretary Monica Ager Jacobsen, as well as Director Alla P Kamins.
The foreign secretary visited New York before his tour to Washington and is scheduled to leave Washington on October 14.
KATHMANDU: President Ram Chandra Paudel has extended best wishes to all Nepalis living in the country and abroad on the occasion of the Bijaya Dashami festival today.
President Paudel wished peace, prosperity and happiness to all Nepalis on this occasion- the day of the victory of truth over demonic attitude.
On the day of the Bijaya Dashami, we receive tika, jamara (holy seeding) and blessing from the respected elders.
“On the auspicious occasion of the Bijaya Dashami, 2081 today, I pray Goddess Durga for the peace, prosperity and happiness of all Nepali sisters and brothers living in the country and abroad,” the Head of the State wished in the message, “May Goddess Durga bring stability, good governance and prosperity in the country.”
KATHMANDU: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has wished cooperation and harmony on the occasion of the Bijaya Dashami today.
Giving a video message on the occasion of the Bijaya Dashami 2081, PM Oli extended best wishes to all Nepalis living in the country and abroad. He requested all Nepalis to extend assistance from their respective places to return the normalcy as it was before the disaster.
“Irrespective of the places we are living now, I urge all to extend support to the government for assuaging the agony of those who underwent huge suffering in the recent disaster,” PM Oli said in the message.
He reminded that the tika ceremony of the Dashain festival could not be that joyful as it used to be. “I’m not feeling joyful as the happiness of Nepali sisters and brothers was seized by the disaster occurred some days back that caused a huge loss of lives including innocent children and senior ones, injured many others and destroyed property,” PM Oli added.
The PM reminded that the government was working actively for the rescue, relief distribution and rehabilitation. “The disaster massively damaged crops. The farmers will be compensated and damaged housed reconstructed and handed over soon,” PM Oli said, urging the disaster survivors to be assured of assistance and others to celebrate the festival.
Moreover, the PM urged the disaster survivors for patience because the government was aware of its responsibility towards them. “As I’m leading the government, I’ve more responsibility to pay heed to those suffering after the recent disaster. The families of the victims would be provided assistance, reconstruction forwarded on time and transportation resumed in the wake of the festival. I call for patience at this moment.”
KATHMANDU: Vice President Ram Sahaya Prasad Yadav has expressed his belief that prayers and pooja performed with faith and sincerity on the occasion of Bijaya Dashami would help make one’s spiritual life worthwhile.
Extending his best wishes on the occasion of Bijaya Dashami in a message today, he has wished that may this festival of joy, happiness and unity put an end to bad behavior in everyone’s life and spread new energy and enthusiasm in the society.
Stating festivals have helped to preserve and promote our cultural traditions, he mentioned that Bijayadashami also known as Dashain, Bada Dashain, Dushera, Durga Puja, Navratri etc. according to geography, region, class and community is celebrated as a symbol of the victory of truth over falsehood. “It conveys a message of the victory of virtue over evil, the victory of truth over falsehood, and the victory of light over darkness”, Vice President Yadav said, “It also teaches that those who commit injustice and oppression in the world will always be defeated and the just and righteous will always be victorious.”
Vice President Yadav has also expressed his belief that Bijaya Dashami will help in increasing unity, love and goodwill in families and society by providing an opportunity to forget mutual enmity and bitterness and exchange good wishes.
Meanwhile, the Vice President’s Secretariat has announced the timing for offering tika and prasad to high-ranking personalities and ordinary citizens on the occasion of Bijayadashami.
According to a press note issued on Wednesday, the time for receiving tika and prasad from the Vice-President for high-ranking people and ordinary citizens will be from 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm on Oct 12.
KATHMANDU: Minister for Health and Population Pradip Paudel has said that maximum initiatives would be made to extend the medical supplies required in the disaster-affected areas.
He urged the bodies concerned to inform the Ministry if there is any shortage of medical supplies.
Addressing the disaster survivors in the affected areas today, the Health and Population Minister said that the Ministry has dispatched the required health supplies for water purification, personal hygiene and medical treatment to the affected areas.
“People should not suffer from diarrhea, cholera caused by contamination of water sources and from dengue and Japanese encephalitis transmitted due to the bite of mosquitoes. We have sent the required water purification and sanitary materials as well as information and educational materials for public awareness to the disaster-affected areas,” he said.
Minister Paudel has also urged one and all to contact the local health post or dial up the Ministry’s emergency support number 1115 whether or not the medical supplies have reached the related places.
“We provided free treatment to the people injured due to the disaster. However, we are not complacent with this level of support. We are with you in any efforts at protecting the health of the citizens,” he said, adding that the federal government is making efforts to provide pure drinking water in collaboration of all the three tiers of the government.
The Health Minister thanked the health workers and volunteers for dedicating themselves in providing services to the affected and needy people at the time of disaster despite of several difficulties.
KATHMANDU: The Kathmandu Metropolitan City has installed its own board at the Gaushala Dharmshala in the Pashupati area.
On Wednesday, the city police removed the board of the Marwadi Service Committee and replaced it with their own, despite protests from the committee.
The city’s team used force to put up the new board.
Outside the Dharmshala, members of the Marwadi community held protests against the city’s actions.
A team led by Ward Chairperson Ashman Sangat and the Chief of City Police Rajunath Pandey visited the Dharmshala to enforce the eviction.
The police attempted to vacate the premises by making announcements until 10 a.m., but when the committee did not comply, they forcibly removed them.
During a prior press conference, Ramesh Tadiya, the president of the Marwadi Service Committee Nepal, warned that the metropolitan authority should not engage in any activities at the Dharmshala.
He emphasized that the full text of the court ruling had not yet been received, and since the court is currently on vacation, the committee should be granted the right to present their case once the full ruling is available.
Following the police’s attempts to clear the Dharmshala, there was a brief confrontation with the Marwadi community.
KATHMANDU: Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Prithvi Subba Gurung, has reiterated the government’s commitment to strengthening the Nepal Postal Service so as to developing it into a centre of e-commerce at the national and international level.
In a message of best wishes given on the occasion of the World Post Day today, he said diversification and modernization of postal service is the need of the day rendering the global communication through postal services more effective and timely.
“The government is committed to promoting the Nepal Post Service to make it the centre of e-transactions at the national and international level with the use of information technology,” Minister Gurung stated in the message.
He has stressed on the need of diversifying the domestic postal services, suggesting the Nepal Postal Service to maintain its glory and credibility by providing prompt, timely and efficient services while competing with similar services like courier and parcel service and transport service operated by the private sector.
The Communications and Information Technology Minister said the restructuring of the Post Office has been carried out in line with the concept of ‘one local body – one post office’ for the structural transformation of Nepal Post from the current fiscal year.
“The Nepal Post is always committed for partnering with the Universal Postal Union on the topic of providing quality postal services to the postal service users throughout the world,” Minister Gurung said.
KATHMANDU: The Ministry of Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation has asked for clarification from Kulman Ghising, the Executive Director of the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA).
The ministry has requested Ghising to provide details on all the work, agreements, staffing, and financial records from the past four years under his leadership at the NEA.
Energy Minister Deepak Khadka issued the letter to Ghising, demanding the clarification within 15 days.
Recently, tensions have been rising between the government and the NEA, with rumors circulating that the government is seeking to remove Ghising from his position.