Bangladesh Social and Current Affairs

[ghazi52]

Bangladesh ex-PM Khaleda Zia makes first public appearance in 6 years​

AFP
November 21, 2024

Chief adviser of Bangladesh’s interim government Muhammad Yunus (R) with former premier and Bangladesh Nationalist Party chairperson Khaleda Zia (2L) at a reception in Dhaka, Bangladesh on November 21. — AFP
Bangladesh’s illness-stricken opposition leader Khaleda Zia made her first public appearance in six years on Thursday, months after her release from house arrest following the ouster of longtime foe Sheikh Hasina.

The ferocious rivalry between the two former premiers — born in blood and cemented in prison — has defined politics in the nation for decades.

Zia was jailed in 2018 for graft but was released in August, hours after Hasina fled to neighbouring India when a student-led national uprising brought an end to her 15 years of iron-fisted rule.

Her presence on Thursday at a reception to mark the country’s Armed Forces Day marked her first public appearance since her conviction.

She was welcomed by Muhummad Yunus, a Nobel laureate helming an interim government charged with restoring the country’s democracy, with the pair photographed sitting together and chatting amiably.

“We are particularly lucky and honoured today that Begum Khaleda Zia … has graced us with her presence,” Yunus said. “We are all delighted that she joined us today.”

Zia, 79, has been in declining health for years, is confined to a wheelchair with rheumatoid arthritis and also suffers from diabetes and cirrhosis of the liver.

Until Thursday, she had kept out of the spotlight despite her release, apart from briefly addressing a political rally in a video message from a hospital bed.

Zia’s Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) said that more than two dozen of its leaders were also in attendance.

Party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir lost his composure and broke into tears when he saw Zia at the event, newspaper Prothom Alo reported.

Zia spent most of her sentence under house arrest after she was relocated from prison during the coronavirus pandemic, but she was denied repeated requests to travel abroad for medical treatment.

Alamgir told a Wednesday rally in the city of Feni that Zia was “very ill, having been kept in jail on false charges in a small, damp cell”.

Bangladeshi media outlets reported in October that Zia was expected to travel abroad for medical care in the near future, without giving a precise date.

 

[HaiderAfan]

The Arakan Army (AA), a powerful ethnic armed group in Myanmar, has claimed full control over the border region with Bangladesh, particularly in the Teknaf area. This development comes after the AA successfully captured the last military outpost in Maungdaw, a strategic town near the Naf River, which separates Myanmar from Bangladesh.

Key Developments​

1. Control of Territory: The AA announced that it has completely taken over the Maungdaw region, which is home to a significant population, including many members of the persecuted Rohingya minority. This marks a significant shift in power dynamics along the border.
2. Military Engagements: The capture of military positions followed intense fighting that ended a ceasefire that had been in place since the junta's coup in 2021. The AA's recent military campaigns have raised concerns about potential violence against Rohingya communities, reminiscent of past ethnic cleansing campaigns.
3. Impact on Local Communities: The ongoing conflict has exacerbated the humanitarian crisis in the region. Reports indicate that many Rohingya have fled their homes due to violence and threats from both the Myanmar military and ethnic armed groups like the AA.
4. Political Context: The situation reflects broader tensions within Myanmar, where various ethnic armed groups are vying for autonomy and control amidst a backdrop of military rule. The AA is part of a larger coalition of ethnic insurgents seeking greater self-governance.
5. Criticism of Dhaka's Response: In light of these developments, there are criticisms directed at the new regime in Dhaka for its focus on internal issues, such as the persecution of its Hindu minority, rather than addressing security concerns related to territorial integrity and external threats from groups like the AA.
6. Future Implications: The increased control by the Arakan Army raises concerns about stability along the Myanmar-Bangladesh border and could lead to further displacement of populations, as well as complicate international humanitarian efforts in an already volatile region.

Conclusion​

The Arakan Army's assertion of control over territories along the Bangladesh border signifies a critical escalation in Myanmar's ongoing civil conflict. As they consolidate power, the implications for local communities, particularly the Rohingya, remain dire amidst fears of renewed violence and instability in the region.