#Anbarasan Ethirajan

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Under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s 15-year rule, Bangladesh has transformed itself by building new roads, bridges, factories and even a metro rail in the capital Dhaka. Its per-capita income has tripled in the last decade and the World Bank estimates that more than 25 million people have been lifted out of poverty in the last 20 years. But many say that some of that growth is only helping those close to Ms Hasina’s Awami League. Dr Luthfa says: “We are witnessing so much corruption. Especially among those close to the ruling party. Corruption has been continuing for a long time without being punished.” Social media in Bangladesh in recent months has been dominated by discussions about corruption allegations against some of Ms Hasina’s former top officials – including a former army chief, ex-police chief, senior tax officers and state recruitment officials.

Anbarasan Ethirajan, ‘Why is the Bangladeshi government facing so much anger?’, BBC

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Anbarasan EthirajanBBC NewsSuppliedAsha Roy was due to take part in a football tournament that Islamists protested against recentlyAsha Roy, 17, was excited to take part in a women's football tournament, but her hopes were dashed as Islamists forced the organisers to cancel the match in northern Bangladesh.Shortly before the game began earlier this month, the Islami Andolan Bangladesh group announced a protest rally against the event in Rangpur region, saying it was un-Islamic.Fearing trouble, local police stepped in and the women's team members were asked to return to their home for their safety."I was frustrated and frightened. We had never faced such a situation before. It was disappointing that we came back without playing," Ms Roy told the BBC.Bangladesh, a Muslim-majority nation, is currently undergoing a political transition after widespread protests ousted its authoritarian government last year.An interim administration is currently in charge but there are concerns that Islamist groups, which had been pushed to the fringes, have become emboldened again.The women's football match was the third to be cancelled in northern Bangladesh in less than two weeks due to the objections of religious hardliners.In the Dinajpur area, roughly 70km (43 miles) west of Rangpur, Islamists protesting against a game clashed with locals who supported it, leaving four people injured.For girls such as Asha Roy, who come from rural areas, football and other sports are a source of female empowerment and a way out of poverty. Those who shine can be selected to play for sponsored teams and some go on to represent Bangladesh internationally.Many girls have been inspired to take up football thanks to the success of the national women's team, who are considered heroes after winning two consecutive South Asia Football Championships in recent years. Ms Roy's teammate, Musammat Tara Moni, said she would not stop playing despite the threats."It's my dream to represent our national team. My family supports me, so I am not losing hope," the 16-year-old said.For their coach Nurul Islam, the objections came as a surprise. "I have taken the team to many tournaments for the past seven years, but it's the first time we have faced a situation like this," he said.Tomal RahmanFootball is a source of female empowerment for young Bangladeshi women The Islamists insist that the match they stopped was against their religious values and say that they are determined to prevent any future football games."If women want to play football, they should cover their entire body, and they can play only in front of female spectators. Men cannot watch them play," Maulana Ashraf Ali, the leader of the Islami Andolan Bangladesh in the Taraganj area of Rangpur, told the BBC.Mr Ali also insisted that the group "definitely" want hard-line Islamic Sharia law in Bangladesh.The cancellation of the women's football matches caused an uproar on social media, leading the authorities to reorganise one of them. They have also launched an investigation into the incidents but say the fear of radicalism is exaggerated."There is no truth in the allegations that the government is pandering to Islamists," Shafiqul Alam, press secretary to interim leader Muhammad Yunus, told the BBC.Mr Alam pointed out that hundreds of women's sports matches were held as part of a national youth festival in January, and that they were played across the country without any trouble.Some people are not reassured. Samina Luthfa, assistant professor of sociology in the University of Dhaka, told the BBC the cancellation of the women's football matches was "definitely alarming"."The women of Bangladesh will not stop playing football and will not stop from going to work or doing their things," she said, adding that "everyone will fight" efforts to remove women from public spaces.Sohel RanaIn Dinajpur Islamist protests against women's football met with resistance in some areasOther decisions made by the interim government since it assumed power in August in relation to Islamist extremism have also raised concerns.They include revoking a ban on the country's largest Islamist party, Jamaat-e-Islami, which was introduced in the last days of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina's government.Jashimuddin Rahmani, the leader of banned Islamist militant group Ansarullah Bangladesh (ABT) - now known as Ansar al Islam - was released in August after a court granted him bail. He was sentenced to five years in prison in connection with the killing of a secular blogger in 2013, but had been kept behind bars because of other pending cases.According to local media reports, several other people accused of having links with extremist groups have also been given bail in the past few months."Though security forces say they will monitor those released, it will be difficult for them to put everybody under surveillance given the limitations," says Dr Tawohidul Haque, a crime analyst from the University of Dhaka. While most Bangladeshis practise moderate Islam and secular values dominate society, Islamic extremism is not a new phenomenon in the country. A decade ago, religious zealots targeted secular bloggers, atheists, minorities, foreigners and others in a spate of attacks - killing dozens and sending others fleeing abroad. In one such incident, a group of Islamist gunmen stormed the Holey Artisan Bakery in Dhaka in 2016, killing 20 people.SuppliedActor Pori Moni says she was recently stopped from opening a store due to religious objectionsIt is not just women's football games that have been targeted recently either. Last week, dozens of Islamist students vandalised a book stall at Dhaka's famous Ekushey Book Fair.The protesters were angry over the display a book by the exiled feminist author Taslima Nasrin, who has in the past received death threats from Islamist groups for what they say are her blasphemous writings.Muhammad Yunus condemned the incident saying the attack "shows contempt for both the rights of Bangladeshi citizens and for the laws of our country." The police are investigating.Meanwhile, one of the country's best-known actors, Pori Moni said she was stopped from inaugurating a department store in the northern town of Tangail after reported objections from religious groups."Now I'm really feeling helpless, as well as insecure. It's part of my job to take part in opening a showroom or a similar event. No one has stopped me all these years," Ms Moni told the BBC Bengali service.Similar events involving two other actors, Apu Biswas and Mehazabien Chowdhury, have also been cancelled following threats by Islamists.Minority groups like the Sufi Muslims say they are also witnessing increasing attacks on their places of worship. Islamist extremists view Sufism as heretical."About a hundred of our shrines [mazars] and centres have been attacked in the past six months," Anisur Rahman Jafri, Secretary General of the Sufism Universal Foundation, told the BBC."We have not seen this kind of sudden extremist attack on us since the country's independence in 1971," he added, warning that the country was at risk of "Talibanisation" if the situation continued.Police said only 40 shrines were damaged and that they had stepped up security around religious sites.The authorities have also been struggling to maintain law and order in the wake of Sheikh Hasina's departure. Earlier this month, thousands of protesters vandalised homes and buildings connected to Hasina and senior leaders of her Awami League party.People from other groups and parties, including Islamists, joined in other demonstrations in the capital, Dhaka, and across the country.The authorities have defended the security forces for not intervening, saying doing so would have cost lives. Rights groups have expressed concern over the security situation."If the government fails to act, then Islamists are going to feel emboldened. There will be more self-censorship for women and girls, they will be more intimidated participating in public events," Shireen Huq, a prominent women's rights activist, told the BBC."I am still optimistic that this phenomenon will not sustain," she added.Additional reporting from the BBC Bengali service in Dhaka

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China debt dogs Maldives' 'bridge to prosperity'

China debt dogs Maldives’ ‘bridge to prosperity’

Image copyright Anbarasan Ethirajan/BBC

Image caption Before the bridge people had to travel to the capital by boat

For years Aminat Waheeda drove her taxi along the narrow lanes and congested roads of the Maldives capital looking for passengers. The most lucrative fares – airport arrivals – were out of reach.

The airport serving…

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China debt dogs Maldives' 'bridge to prosperity'

China debt dogs Maldives’ ‘bridge to prosperity’

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Image copyright Anbarasan Ethirajan/BBC

Image caption Before the bridge people had to travel to the capital by boat

For years Aminat Waheeda drove her taxi along the narrow lanes and congested roads of the Maldives capital looking for passengers. The most lucrative fares – airport arrivals –…

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China-India border: Why tensions are rising between the neighbours

By Anbarasan Ethirajan and Vikas PandeyBBC News

29 May 2020

Asia

Calm and India letter Nine

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There are about 35,000 Nepali Gurkhas currently serving in the Indian army, including in the geopolitically sensitive region of Indian-administered Kashmir and the northeastern parts of the country. The Gurkhas have a strong bond with the Indian military, and Gurkha regiments have become part of the culture of the Nepali hill communities. There are about 120,000 Indian Gurkha veterans living in Nepal. Their pension and other benefits have contributed to the economy of the impoverished hill regions.

Anbarasan Ethirajan, ‘Agnipath scheme: The pain of Nepal's Gurkhas over Indian army's new hiring plan’, BBC

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Anbarasan EthirajanSouth Asia EditorProtesters set fire to Sheikh Hasina's house on Wednesday eveningProtesters in Bangladesh have vandalised and set fire to the former family home of deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina, as well as those of other members of her party.The unrest was sparked by news that Hasina would address the country via social media from India, where she has been in exile since student-led protests ousted her last year.The 77-year-old Hasina, who was in charge of Bangladesh for 20 years, was seen as an autocrat whose government ruthlessly clamped down on dissent.On Wednesday evening, an excavator smashed down the house of Hasina's late father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who is also Bangladesh's founding president. The structure had been repurposed into a museum.Hasina's father is widely viewed as an independence hero, but anger at his daughter has tarnished his legacy among Hasina's critics.In a Facebook livestream, Hasina condemned the attack and demanded "justice"."They can demolish a building, but they can't erase history," she said.Hasina, once hailed as a pro-democracy icon, has seen her reputation sour after taking office. She has been accused of rigging elections and jailing her critics, and her administration was widely seen as corrupt.She faces arrest warrants for cracking down on the student-led protests last year, which saw hundreds of people killed. While Hasina fled to India last August, anger has not dissipated against her and her Awami League partymates.Getty ImagesThe late Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Bangladesh's founding president, was widely viewed as a hero, but has become a target for critics of his daughter Sheikh HasinaOn Wednesday, protesters also vandalised and torched the houses and businesses of senior Awami League leaders. There have been calls on social media to rid the country of "pilgrimage sites of fascism".Police told the BBC's Bengali service that around 700 protesters showed up at the residence on Wednesday night, and dozens of police officers were deployed.Since Hasina's ouster, a caretaker government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus has kept the country running.But it has struggled to quell lingering unrest. Thousands of demonstrators have taken to the streets in recent months, demanding Hasina to be prosecuted for her deadly crackdown on student protesters.While Yunus' government tries to get Hasina extradited from India, it is also dealing with a looming economic crisis - Yunus has accused Hasina of faking Bangladesh's economic growth and laundering billions of dollars during her rule.Yunus has pledged to hold elections in late 2025 or early 2026.

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Sri Lanka attacks: Government vows to overhaul state security

Sri Lanka attacks: Government vows to overhaul state security Sri Lanka's president has vowed to overhaul state security after several bomb blasts on Sunday killed 321 people and wounded 500. Late on Tuesday, Maithripala Sirisena announced changes to the heads of defence forces "within 24 hours". He said threat reports had not been shared with him, and promised to take "stern action" against officials. The country's Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said the Islamic State (IS) group may be linked to the blasts. He added that the government believed Sunday's attacks could not have been carried out without help from terror groups abroad. IS claimed the attack on Tuesday, although did not provide evidence. In a televised address late on Tuesday President Sirisena said he would completely restructure the police and security forces in coming weeks. "The security officials who got the intelligence report from a foreign nation did not share it with me. I have decided to take stern action against these officials." The BBC World Service's South Asia Editor Ethirajan Anbarasan said it was an embarrassing admission by President Sirisena that security officials did not share with him the intelligence report warning about the attacks. With IS claiming responsibility for the attacks, Sri Lanka is now entering uncharted territory, our correspondent explains. Authorities say they are looking into possible links between the local Muslim youths who carried out the suicide bombings and the global jihadist group.

'Foreign links'

Sri Lanka's government has blamed the blasts on local Islamist group National Thowheed Jamath (NTJ).

Sri Lanka's president has vowed to overhaul state security after several bomb blasts on Sunday killed 321 people and wounded 500. But Mr Wickremesinghe said the attacks "could not have been done just locally". "There had been training given and a coordination which we are not seeing earlier," he said. Police have now detained 40 suspects in connection with the attack, all of whom were Sri Lankan nationals. A state of emergency remains in effect to prevent further attacks. The nearly simultaneous attacks targeted three churches packed for Easter services and three major hotels in the capital, Colombo. An attack on a fourth hotel on Sunday was foiled, Mr Wickremesinghe said. He also warned that further militants and explosives could still be "out there" following the attack.

Who could be behind the attacks?

IS said it had "targeted nationals of the crusader alliance and Christians in Sri Lanka" via its Amaq news outlet. It provided no evidence for the claim but shared an image on social media of eight men purported to be behind the attack. The group's last territory fell in March but even then experts had warned it does not mean the end of IS or its ideology. Earlier, the country's defence minister Ruwan Wijewardene told parliament that NTJ was linked to another radical Islamist group he named as JMI. He gave no further details. The alleged bombers: National Thowheed Jamath Why cut off social media in Sri Lanka? He also said "preliminary investigations" indicated that the bombings were in retaliation for deadly attacks on mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, in March. NTJ has no history of large-scale attacks but came to prominence last year when it was blamed for damaging Buddhist statues. The group has not said it carried out Sunday's bombings. The Sri Lankan government is facing scrutiny after it emerged the authorities were warned of about a possible attack. Security services had been monitoring the NTJ but the prime minister and the cabinet were not warned, ministers said.

Who were the victims?

The first mass funeral was held on Tuesday, as Sri Lanka marked an official day of mourning for the victims. Most of those who died were Sri Lankan nationals, including scores of Christians attending Easter Sunday church services. Sri Lankan officials said 38 foreign nationals were among the dead, with another 14 unaccounted for. The death toll includes at least eight British citizens and at least 11 Indian nationals. The mass funeral for about 30 victims took place at St Sebastian's church in Negombo, north of Colombo, which was one of the places targeted in Sunday's blasts. Another funeral service was scheduled for later on Tuesday. A moment of silence was also observed at 08:30 on Tuesday, reflecting the time the first of six bombs detonated. Flags were lowered to half-mast and people, many of them in tears, bowed their heads in respect. Are you in Sri Lanka? Have you been affected by the attacks? You can share your experience by contacting haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: WhatsApp: +44 7555 173285 Tweet: @BBC_HaveYourSay Send pictures/video to yourpics@bbc.co.uk Upload your pictures / video here Text an SMS or MMS to 61124 or +44 7624 800 100 Please read our terms of use and privacy policy Published at Wed, 24 Apr 2019 02:30:03 +0000 Read the full article

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New Post has been published on https://toldnews.com/world/sri-lanka-attacks-government-vows-to-overhaul-state-security/

Sri Lanka attacks: Government vows to overhaul state security

Media playback is unsupported on your device

Media captionVolunteers provide water, food and support to those mourning the bombing in Negombo, Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka’s president has vowed to overhaul state security after several bomb blasts on Sunday killed 321 people and wounded 500.

Late on Tuesday, Maithripala Sirisena announced changes to the heads of defence forces “within 24 hours”.

He said threat reports had not been shared with him, and promised to take “stern action” against officials.

The country’s Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said the Islamic State (IS) group may be linked to the blasts.

He added that the government believed Sunday’s attacks could not have been carried out without help from terror groups abroad.

IS claimed the attack on Tuesday, although did not provide evidence.

In a televised address late on Tuesday President Sirisena said he would completely restructure the police and security forces in coming weeks.

“The security officials who got the intelligence report from a foreign nation did not share it with me. I have decided to take stern action against these officials.”

The BBC World Service’s South Asia Editor Ethirajan Anbarasan said it was an embarrassing admission by President Sirisena that security officials did not share with him the intelligence report warning about the attacks.

With IS claiming responsibility for the attacks, Sri Lanka is now entering uncharted territory, our correspondent explains.

Authorities say they are looking into possible links between the local Muslim youths who carried out the suicide bombings and the global jihadist group.

‘Foreign links’

Sri Lanka’s government has blamed the blasts on local Islamist group National Thowheed Jamath (NTJ).

Media playback is unsupported on your device

Media captionThe footage shows a man wearing a large backpack calmly walking towards St Sebastian’s church

But Mr Wickremesinghe said the attacks “could not have been done just locally”.

“There had been training given and a coordination which we are not seeing earlier,” he said.

Police have now detained 40 suspects in connection with the attack, all of whom were Sri Lankan nationals. A state of emergency remains in effect to prevent further attacks.

The nearly simultaneous attacks targeted three churches packed for Easter services and three major hotels in the capital, Colombo.

An attack on a fourth hotel on Sunday was foiled, Mr Wickremesinghe said. He also warned that further militants and explosives could still be “out there” following the attack.

Who could be behind the attacks?

IS said it had “targeted nationals of the crusader alliance [anti-IS US-led coalition] and Christians in Sri Lanka” via its Amaq news outlet.

It provided no evidence for the claim but shared an image on social media of eight men purported to be behind the attack.

The group’s last territory fell in March but even then experts had warned it does not mean the end of IS or its ideology.

Image copyright Getty Images

Image caption There were emotional scenes outside St Anthony’s Shrine in Colombo

Earlier, the country’s defence minister Ruwan Wijewardene told parliament that NTJ was linked to another radical Islamist group he named as JMI. He gave no further details.

The alleged bombers: National Thowheed Jamath

Why cut off social media in Sri Lanka?

He also said “preliminary investigations” indicated that the bombings were in retaliation for deadly attacks on mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, in March.

NTJ has no history of large-scale attacks but came to prominence last year when it was blamed for damaging Buddhist statues. The group has not said it carried out Sunday’s bombings.

The Sri Lankan government is facing scrutiny after it emerged the authorities were warned of about a possible attack.

Security services had been monitoring the NTJ but the prime minister and the cabinet were not warned, ministers said.

Who were the victims?

The first mass funeral was held on Tuesday, as Sri Lanka marked an official day of mourning for the victims.

Most of those who died were Sri Lankan nationals, including scores of Christians attending Easter Sunday church services.

Sri Lankan officials said 38 foreign nationals were among the dead, with another 14 unaccounted for. The death toll includes at least eight British citizens and at least 11 Indian nationals.

The mass funeral for about 30 victims took place at St Sebastian’s church in Negombo, north of Colombo, which was one of the places targeted in Sunday’s blasts. Another funeral service was scheduled for later on Tuesday.

A moment of silence was also observed at 08:30 on Tuesday, reflecting the time the first of six bombs detonated.

Flags were lowered to half-mast and people, many of them in tears, bowed their heads in respect.

Are you in Sri Lanka? Have you been affected by the attacks? You can share your experience by contacting haveyoursay@Toldnews.co.uk

Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways:

WhatsApp: +44 7555 173285

Tweet: @BBC_HaveYourSay

Send pictures/video to yourpics@Toldnews.co.uk

Upload your pictures / video here

Text an SMS or MMS to 61124 or +44 7624 800 100

Please read our terms of use and privacy policy

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Sri Lanka Defense Minister: Blasts Were Revenge For New Zealand Mosque Killings http://bit.ly/2GrdobI

Reuters: Sri Lanka blasts were revenge for New Zealand mosque killings: minister COLOMBO (Reuters) - Devastating Easter bombings in Sri Lanka were retaliation for attacks on mosques in New Zealand, a Sri Lankan official said on Tuesday, as Islamic State claimed responsibility for the coordinated blasts that killed 321 people. Islamic State’s claim, issued on its AMAQ news agency, came shortly after Sri Lanka said two domestic Islamist groups, with suspected links to foreign militants, were believed to have been behind the attacks at three churches and four hotels, which wounded about 500 people. Islamic State gave no evidence for its claim. The government has said at least seven suicide bombers were involved. “The initial investigation has revealed that this was in retaliation for the New Zealand mosque attack,” junior minister for defense Ruwan Wijewardene told parliament. Read more .... WNU Editor: How does this junior defense minister know? And when do extremist Islamic groups need a reason to attack churches since they have been doing it throughout history. This sounds more like the Sri Lankan government trying to divert attention away from the real story which is that this is a massive intelligence failure on their part when they were warned two weeks ago that these attacks were going to take place. There is also this article from the BBC stating that Sinhalese Buddhist - Muslim relations have been tense for the past year after mobs attacked Muslim targets .... Sri Lanka attacks: What led to carnage? (Anbarasan Ethirajan, BBC). Bottom line. Sri Lanka is not the paradise that the country is trying to present.

More News On The Sri Lanka Defense Ministy Saying That The Blasts Were Revenge For New Zealand Mosque Killings

Sri Lanka minister: Easter bombings a response to NZ attacks -- AP Sri Lanka Church Bombings Were Response to Christchurch Mosque Shootings, Defense Minister Suggests -- Newsweek Sri Lanka attacks 'retaliation for Christchurch': Minister -- Al Jazeera Sri Lankan Official Says Bombings Are Retaliation For New Zealand Massacre -- NPR Sri Lanka bombings retaliation for Christchurch mosque shootings, minister says -- DW from War News Updates http://bit.ly/2Pp2VBG via IFTTT

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Kezang Dorji: How Eminem inspired Bhutan's star rapper - BBC News by BBC News Kezang Dorji, 28, rose from a poor background to become one of Bhutan's most loved rappers. He was inspired by Eminem growing up - and raps about the dangers of alcoholism and substance abuse. Producer: Anbarasan Ethirajan Camera: Choling Please subscribe HERE http://bit.ly/1rbfUog

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China debt dogs Maldives' 'bridge to prosperity'

China debt dogs Maldives’ ‘bridge to prosperity’

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Image copyright Anbarasan Ethirajan/BBC

Image caption Before the bridge people had to travel to the capital by boat

For years Aminat Waheeda drove her taxi along the narrow lanes and congested roads of the Maldives capital looking for passengers. The most lucrative fares –…

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Brothers transform expected win into stunning rout of the opposition, writes Anbarasan Ethirajan. from BBC News - World https://ift.tt/3gCPlHL