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ISLAMABAD: The European Union (EU) will deploy a large election observation mission to Bangladesh for the country&rsquo;s upcoming national election and referendum, the head of the mission Ivars Ijabs told the Chief Adviser, Muhammad Yunus,&nbsp;state-run Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) reported on Sunday. The Chief Adviser&rsquo;s press secretary said EU election observation mission emphasized support for a &ldquo;Yes&rdquo; vote in the referendum, calling it crucial for enabling the implementation of essential reform agendas. Ijabs also informed the Chief Adviser that EU observers will be deployed across the country, monitor all regions and hold meetings with major political parties and other stakeholders as part of their mandate, BSS reported. Chief Adviser Yunus assured the EU that the election and referendum would be conducted smoothly and would be free, fair, credible, peaceful and festive. He said the Election Commission and the interim government are fully prepared to ensure the smooth conduct of both processes, adding that a level playing field will be ensured for all political parties and that he does not anticipate major difficulties. &#39;Extremely important&#39; Yunus thanked the EU for sending the observation mission, describing it as &ldquo;extremely important&rdquo; for holding a credible election and supporting Bangladesh&rsquo;s democratic transition, BSS reported. He said security forces will use body-worn cameras at vulnerable polling centers to monitor potential disturbances or deterioration in law and order. The system will be connected centrally through a mobile application, allowing monitoring at upazila, district, division, and Dhaka levels. In addition, all polling centers will be equipped with closed-circuit television cameras to enable rapid identification of troublemakers, he said. The military will remain deployed as a rapid-response striking force to intervene immediately if required. Awareness-building campaigns On the referendum, Yunus said the interim government is conducting and will continue awareness-building campaigns in favor of a &ldquo;Yes&rdquo; vote.&nbsp; He said legal opinions were sought on the issue and that top legal experts have provided written confirmation that the interim government is legally permitted to seek public support for the referendum, with no legal barriers. Although the formal election campaign is set to begin on January 22, Yunus said an election wave is already visible across the country. He identified misinformation and disinformation on social media as a major challenge, warning that elements linked to the fallen autocratic regime may attempt to disrupt the process. However, he said security forces are fully prepared to address any such threats. Yunus also noted strong enthusiasm among women and young voters and expressed optimism that voter turnout in the upcoming election would be very high.

Bangladesh

The European bloc will deploy a large election observation mission to Bangladesh for the country’s upcoming national election and referendum.

EU to deploy large election observation mission to Bangladesh: State media

ISLAMABAD: Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairman Tarique Rahman said differences of opinion should not escalate into conflict, stressing that dialogue and democratic practice are the only sustainable paths forward for the nation, state-run Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) reported on Saturday.&nbsp;Speaking at an exchange of views with editors and journalists from national-level media outlets in Dhaka, the son of former Bangladeshi prime minister late Khaleda Zia said, &ldquo;Even if there are differences of opinion, they must be reduced through discussion. Differences should not escalate to the level of conflict.&rdquo;&nbsp;Referring to recent history, Rahman said, &ldquo;The nation has seen the consequences of vengeance or retaliation on August 5, 2024,&rdquo; adding that violence, revenge, and division have brought despair but also lessons for the future.&nbsp;&nbsp;&ldquo;We saw on August 5 what the consequences of violence, revenge, and vengeance can be &mdash; whether for an individual, a party, or the nation,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;Emphasizing unity, Rahman urged people of all political affiliations to resolve disagreements through discussion rather than confrontation.&nbsp;&nbsp;&ldquo;If we try, perhaps we can resolve many problems by keeping those differences as differences and solving them through discussions,&rdquo; he said. &#39;Must maintain the democratic process&#39;Highlighting the importance of democracy, the BNP chairman said, &ldquo;At any cost, we must maintain the democratic process,&rdquo; noting that elections must be held at all levels.&nbsp;&nbsp;&ldquo;If the democratic process continues uninterrupted, solving the country&rsquo;s problems is possible,&rdquo; he added, expressing hope that the process would begin on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/bangladesh-prepares-for-february-12-elections-with-postal-voting-security-measures" style="color:#0073e6;">February 12</a>.&nbsp;Rahman said reforms must address constitutional and legal issues as well as people&rsquo;s daily lives.&nbsp;&ldquo;There have been some fundamental issues like people&rsquo;s daily lives, security, healthcare, employment, and children&rsquo;s education,&rdquo; he said, pledging that politics should not remain limited to seminars and symposiums. Women empowermentOutlining BNP&rsquo;s future plans, Rahman discussed initiatives including women&rsquo;s economic empowerment, a universal Family Card, a Krishak Card for farmers, grassroots healthcare workers, expatriate skill development, youth employment, and IT sector expansion.&nbsp;&nbsp;&ldquo;Half of the country&rsquo;s populations are women; development is impossible, leaving them behind,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;The BNP chairman said, &quot;If we can form a government with the people&#39;s mandate in the upcoming elections, initiatives will be taken to make women economically self-reliant.&rdquo;&nbsp;

Speaking at an exchange of views with editors and journalists from national-level media outlets in Dhaka, the son of former Bangladeshi prime minister late Khaleda Zia said, 'Even if there are differences of opinion, they must be reduced through discussion. Differences should not escalate to the level of conflict.'

Differences must not escalate into conflict, says Bangladesh's Tarique Rahman

ISLAMABAD:&nbsp;The International Cricket Council (ICC), chaired by Jay Shah, has reportedly rejected a request from the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to shift Bangladesh&rsquo;s matches out of India for the upcoming ICC Men&rsquo;s T20 World Cup. Shah, who assumed charge as ICC chair in August 2024, previously served as secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and is the son of Indian Home Minister Amit Shah.<br style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; font-family: Roboto, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, &quot;Segoe UI&quot;, &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: oklch(0.985 0.002 247.839); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">According to a report by ESPNcricinfo, the decision was conveyed to the BCB during a virtual meeting on Tuesday, where the ICC informed the Bangladesh board that it would not consider relocating the fixtures.&nbsp; The governing body is also understood to have warned that Bangladesh would have to travel to India to play the tournament or risk forfeiting points. However, the BCB has denied receiving any such ultimatum, stating that the ICC has relayed no formal communication to that effect. Neither the ICC nor the BCCI has issued an official statement on the outcome of Tuesday&rsquo;s meeting, which was convened after the BCB wrote to the ICC on Sunday requesting it to &ldquo;consider&rdquo; moving Bangladesh&rsquo;s matches outside India. Last week, the BCB said&nbsp;it had &quot;formally requested&quot; the ICC&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/bangladesh-say-will-not-play-t20-world-cup-matches-if-in-india" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">shift their games to Sri Lanka</a>.<br style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px solid; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; font-family: Roboto, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, &quot;Segoe UI&quot;, &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: oklch(0.985 0.002 247.839); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">&quot;The Board of Directors resolved that the Bangladesh National Team will not travel to India for the tournament under the current conditions,&quot; a BCB statement read. The development comes less than a month before the 20-team T20 World Cup, scheduled to be held across India and Sri Lanka from Feb. 7 to March 8.&nbsp; Bangladesh, placed in Group C, are set to play their first three matches in Kolkata, against the West Indies on Feb. 7, Italy on Feb. 9, and England on Feb. 14, before facing Nepal in Mumbai on Feb. 17. The BCB&rsquo;s concerns reportedly stem from a recent decision by the BCCI to instruct IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/india-drops-bangladeshi-star-from-ipl-amid-political-pressure" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">release Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman,</a>&nbsp;who was bought at the December auction for INR 9.2 crore (about $1.02 million).&nbsp;The decision was confirmed to the media by BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia, though no reason was provided for the release. It remains unclear who was involved in the decision, as the IPL Governing Council is understood not to have convened to discuss the matter. Mustafizur was the only Bangladesh player selected at the 2026 IPL auction.

Cricket

Warns that Bangladesh would have to travel to India to play the tournament or risk forfeiting points.

Jay Shah-led ICC refuses to shift Bangladesh matches out of India: Report

DHAKA: A Bangladesh commission investigating disappearances during the rule of ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina said Monday at least 287 people were assumed to have been killed.&nbsp;The commission said some corpses were believed to have been dumped in rivers, including the Buriganga in the capital, Dhaka, or buried in mass graves.&nbsp;The government-appointed commission, formed after Hasina was toppled by a mass uprising in August 2024, said it had investigated 1,569 cases of abductions, with 287 of the victims presumed dead.&nbsp;&quot;We have identified a number of unmarked graves in several places where the bodies were presumably buried,&quot; Nur Khan Liton, a commission member, told AFP.&nbsp;&quot;The commission has recommended that Bangladesh seek cooperation from forensic experts to identify the bodies and collect and preserve DNA samples from family members.&quot;&nbsp;In its final report, submitted to the government on Sunday, the commission said that security forces had acted under the command of Hasina and her top officials.&nbsp;The report said many of those abducted had belonged to the country&#39;s largest Islamist party, Jamaat-e-Islami, or the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), both in opposition to Hasina.&nbsp;In a separate investigation, police in December began exhuming a mass grave in Dhaka.&nbsp;The grave included at least eight victims of the uprising against Hasina, bodies all found with bullet wounds, according to Criminal Investigation Department (CID) chief Md Sibgat Ullah.&nbsp;The United Nations says up to 1,400 people were killed in crackdowns as Hasina attempted to cling to power.&nbsp;She was sentenced to death in absentia in November for crimes against humanity.&nbsp;&quot;We are grateful for finally being able to know where our brother is buried,&quot; said Mohamed Nabil, whose 28-year-old sibling Sohel Rana was identified as one of the dead in the grave in Dhaka.&nbsp;&quot;But we demand a swift trial for the police officials who shot at the people during the uprising.&quot;&nbsp;

Bangladesh probe finds 287 people presumed killed during Sheikh Hasina’s rule, with bodies allegedly dumped in rivers or mass graves, as authorities seek forensic help and justice for victims.

Bangladesh says at least 287 killed during Hasina-era abductions

ISLAMABAD: As Bangladesh moves toward its next general election, voters are set to face more than just a choice of political parties. Alongside parliamentary polls scheduled for Feb. 12, the country plans to fundamentally reshape its governing structure through a referendum on the July Charter, a proposed reform framework that emerged from last year&rsquo;s student uprising that ended Sheikh Hasina&#39;s rule. The caretaker government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus as chief adviser, has pledged to oversee a credible election while advancing political reforms demanded during the uprising. <div class="fr-embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">In the presence of the Chief Adviser of the Interim Government and Head of the National Consensus Commission, Professor Muhammad Yunus, representatives of political parties signed the July National Charter today, Friday, at the South Plaza of the National Parliament. Photos: CA&hellip; <a href="https://t.co/XDH322cRVE" style="color: rgb(0, 115, 230);">pic.twitter.com/XDH322cRVE</a>&mdash; Chief Adviser of the Government of Bangladesh (@ChiefAdviserGoB) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChiefAdviserGoB/status/1979247454882271664?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" style="color: rgb(0, 115, 230);">October 17, 2025</a></blockquote></div>It is within this transitional context that the July Charter &mdash; and the proposal to seek public approval for it through a referendum &mdash; has taken shape. The dual vote represents an unprecedented moment in Bangladesh&rsquo;s political history, with the Election Commission announcing in December that it would hold the referendum and the country&rsquo;s 13th parliamentary election simultaneously. What is in the July Charter Referendum?According to the National Consensus Commission (NCC), which drafted the document under the authority of the Interim Government of Bangladesh, the July Charter is a political reform blueprint reflecting demands raised by protest leaders, civil society actors, and political groups calling for systemic changes to prevent the concentration of power and strengthen democratic safeguards. Signed on October 17, 2025, by 24 political parties and the National Consensus Commission, the Charter contains over 80 proposals for reform, including almost 50 of constitutional nature, state news agency Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) reported. Central to the Charter is a plan to shift key appointment powers from the prime minister to the president, covering institutions like the National Human Rights Commission, Bangladesh Bank, and various regulatory bodies. The reforms also propose limiting any prime minister to ten years in office and barring them from simultaneously leading their political party. The Charter advocates for reinstating a caretaker government system to oversee elections, a mechanism previously used but later abolished. It calls for establishing a bicameral parliament with a 300-member lower house and a 100-member upper house elected through proportional representation, whose approval would be required for constitutional amendments. Other proposals include amending Article 70 to allow lawmakers to vote independently on most issues, adopting an inclusive definition of Bangladeshi nationalism that recognizes the country&#39;s ethnic and linguistic diversity, and creating stronger checks on executive authority.Voters will face a single yes-or-no question encompassing the major reform areas rather than voting on individual provisions. Political oppositionDespite having signed the document, major political parties have raised objections. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party, though a signatory, objected to at least nine provisions, including the proportional representation system for the upper house and presidential appointment powers. BNP has questioned both the timing and legality of the referendum, arguing that major constitutional reforms should be debated and enacted by an elected parliament rather than decided through a vote organized by an interim administration. &quot;The signed Charter does not include opinions and dissenting notes from political parties,&quot; BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said at an Oct. 30, 2025, press conference, as reported by BSS. He called the process &quot;meaningless, a waste of money and time, a mockery, and a deception of the nation.&quot; <div class="fr-embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The consensus commission deceived the people and the political parties by excluding &quot;the notes of dissent&quot;. -Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir Secretary General, BNP 29 October 2025 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ConsensusCommission?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" style="color: rgb(0, 115, 230);">#ConsensusCommission</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MirzaFakhrul?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" style="color: rgb(0, 115, 230);">#MirzaFakhrul</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BNP?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" style="color: rgb(0, 115, 230);">#BNP</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JulyCharter?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" style="color: rgb(0, 115, 230);">#JulyCharter</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BangladeshPolitics?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" style="color: rgb(0, 115, 230);">#BangladeshPolitics</a> <a href="https://t.co/a0lw7X68pJ" style="color: rgb(0, 115, 230);">pic.twitter.com/a0lw7X68pJ</a>&mdash; Bangladesh Nationalist Party-BNP (@bdbnp78) <a href="https://twitter.com/bdbnp78/status/1983518132645106098?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" style="color: rgb(0, 115, 230);">October 29, 2025</a></blockquote></div>Other opposition and left-leaning parties have raised similar objections, describing the move as constitutionally ambiguous and warning that Bangladesh&#39;s existing legal framework does not clearly provide for such a referendum. Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami pushed unsuccessfully to hold the referendum before the election. &quot;Our number one demand is that the July revolution must be recognized. The July Charter must be given a legal basis. Without that legal foundation, there is no possibility of holding elections in 2026,&quot; Jamaat Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman said at a rally at Paltan intersection, according to BSS. <div class="fr-embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Jamaat-e-Islami organizes mass rally held in the capital to meet its 5-point agenda A referendum must be held to include the PR System in the July National Charter, asserts Secretary General Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami&rsquo;s Secretary General and former Member of Parliament&hellip; <a href="https://t.co/htJBIuuNAa" style="color: rgb(0, 115, 230);">pic.twitter.com/htJBIuuNAa</a>&mdash; Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami (@BJI_Official) <a href="https://twitter.com/BJI_Official/status/1976974776741872109?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" style="color: rgb(0, 115, 230);">October 11, 2025</a></blockquote></div> The National Citizen Party refused to sign the Charter altogether, demanding clearer implementation plans. Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus has sought to distance himself from claims that the referendum is being imposed, stressing that the interim government does not intend to unilaterally rewrite the constitution and that any reforms would ultimately require parliamentary approval.&nbsp; During his speech at the 80th UN General Assembly, Yunus stated that his administration had chosen the &quot;hard path&quot; of &quot;reforms built through inclusion and sustained through consensus&quot; rather than simply using executive orders to bypass political processes.&nbsp; In his November 13, 2025, address to the nation, broadcast by BSS, Yunus&nbsp;noted that disagreements were mainly over whether reforms should be enshrined in the constitution or enacted through legislation. &quot;Despite global declines in foreign investment after the uprising, Bangladesh&#39;s foreign direct investment increased by 19.13% in the first year &mdash; a remarkable achievement contrary to global trends.&quot; Why it matters&nbsp;With political trust still fragile after last year&rsquo;s unrest, the July Charter referendum has become a focal point of debate over how Bangladesh should manage its transition back to elected rule.&nbsp; According to the Implementation Order gazette, an official government publication that formalizes legal and administrative directives, if voters approve the referendum, a Constitutional Reform Council will be formed from elected parliamentarians to complete constitutional reforms within 180 working days. &ldquo;The Council shall complete the constitution reform in accordance with the July National Charter and the results of the referendum,&rdquo; the BSS report stated. The interim government has said it will respect the referendum result, although implementation details remain unclear if voters approve the Charter while electing a parliament that opposes specific provisions. Election Commissioner, Md. Anwarul Islam Sarkar told BSS the commission is &quot;cent percent ready to hold the national election and referendum on the same day,&quot; adding that polling will run from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., an hour longer than usual, at 42,761 polling centers with 244,739 booths to accommodate dual voting for around 128 million voters.

Representatives of political parties signed the July National Charter at the South Plaza of the National Parliament in the presence of Professor Muhammad Yunus, the chief advisor to the interim government and head of the National Consensus Commission. (Ph

Scheduled alongside Bangladesh’s February 2026 election, the referendum will seek citizens' approval for political and constitutional reforms drafted after last year’s uprising, sparking debate over legality, implementation, and opposition objections.

What's behind Bangladesh’s July Charter referendum

ISLAMABAD: A government-appointed commission in Bangladesh has concluded that thousands of enforced disappearances during the immediate past regime were politically motivated and involved senior officials, including former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, state-run Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) reported.&nbsp;The Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances on Sunday submitted its final report to Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus in Dhaka, finding that enforced disappearances were largely driven by political considerations and carried out at the highest levels of government.&nbsp;The report, titled Unfolding the truth: a structural diagnosis of enforced disappearance in Bangladesh, said 1,569 verified complaints of enforced disappearances were recorded, with 287 cases falling into &ldquo;missing and dead&rdquo; categories. The commission noted the actual number could be significantly higher.&nbsp;Commission members said evidence indicated the involvement of then prime minister Sheikh Hasina, her security and defence adviser Tarique Ahmed Siddique, and then home minister Asaduzzaman Khan in multiple high-profile disappearance cases. In many instances, Hasina was identified as the direct order-giver behind the enforced disappearances.&nbsp;The inquiry found that 75% of the survivors were leaders and activists of Jamaat-Shibir, while among those still missing, 68% were linked to the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), with the rest associated with Jamaat-Shibir.&nbsp;Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus described the report as historic and emphasised the need to address the atrocities and prevent such violations in the future.&nbsp;The findings come amid ongoing efforts by the interim government to provide justice for victims and reform institutions implicated in human rights abuses during Hasina&rsquo;s long tenure in office.

Adds 1,569 verified complaints of enforced disappearances were recorded, with 287 cases falling into “missing and dead” categories.

Bangladesh panel says disappearances during Hasina regime were 'politically motivated'

ISLAMABAD: Bangladesh will host Pakistan men&rsquo;s cricket team for a full international tour in 2026, according to state-run news agency Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS).&nbsp;The tour will feature three One-Day Internationals (ODIs), as many Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is), and two Test matches.&nbsp;The T20Is and ODIs series will take place after the ICC T20 World Cup, while the two Tests will form part of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 cycle.&nbsp;The exact schedule and match venues for all series are yet to be announced.&nbsp;The announcement came as part of a broader reveal of Bangladesh&rsquo;s packed home season, which will include four Tests, 12 ODIs and nine T20Is against various international opponents.&nbsp;As per the schedule, New Zealand will tour Bangladesh in April-May for three ODIs and three T20Is. Australia and India are also set to visit later in the year, in June and August-September respectively, with each team playing three ODIs and three T20Is.&nbsp;The home season will conclude with a two-Test series against the West Indies in October-November, preceded by a three-day warm-up match. In addition, Sri Lanka A will tour Bangladesh in May for two four-day matches and three one-day games.

The tour includes three One-Day Internationals (ODIs), as many Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is), and two Test matches.

Bangladesh to host Pakistan for full bilateral cricket series in 2026

ISLAMABAD: A recent verification drive in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, has drawn public attention in India after an SHO (Station House Officer) reportedly told residents he could determine their nationality using a mobile phone, said an Indian media report Friday. The incident occurred on December 23, 2025, at Bhowapur slum, a settlement of roughly 50 shanties, in Kaushambi, Ghaziabad, where SHO Ajay Sharma and his team conducted document checks. According to the Indian media report, Sharma asked a slum dweller to show his identity card. When the man identified himself as a resident of Araria district in Bihar, the SHO reportedly asked if he was from Bihar or Bangladesh. Sharma then told the man that he had a machine, a mobile phone, that could &ldquo;immediately&rdquo; detect if someone was an &ldquo;illegal.&rdquo; The phone was placed on the man&rsquo;s back, and Sharma remarked that it showed &ldquo;Bangladesh.&rdquo; The resident insisted he was from Bihar and that no Bangladeshi was present in the slum. A video clip of the incident that surfaced on social media has prompted widespread discussion. Sharma defended his actions, telling an Indian media outlet that he &ldquo;tried to put pressure on them so that they reveal their true identity&rdquo; and that no one was harassed. A senior police officer clarified that the verification was part of a routine foot march during the Christmas and New Year period, but added that no orders for such methods had come from senior officials. Journalist Mohammed Zubair highlighted the incident on X (formerly Twitter) on Jan. 1, questioning whether the police had a new device to detect citizenship.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 601px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2006682102436413601&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=f953ae37638cf094fd17f8066aa73d6c72aa1f0a&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>In response, the Ghaziabad Police Commissioner stated that these verification exercises are part of ongoing efforts to maintain law and order, and document checks are conducted to ensure accuracy.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 730px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2006742625597247777&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=f953ae37638cf094fd17f8066aa73d6c72aa1f0a&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px">&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>According to the media report, Commissioner J. Ravindra Goud said the video was under review and added, &ldquo;If any person is harassed by police, we will take action.&rdquo; The episode has sparked debate over police methods, citizen dignity, and the appropriateness of using technology in identity verification, particularly in vulnerable slum communities.

India

Police officer tells man that he has a mobile phone that can ‘immediately’ detect if someone is an illegal resident.

‘Are you Bangladeshi?’: Indian cop faces backlash over phone ‘citizenship scan’

DHAKA: Bangladesh bid farewell on Wednesday to former prime minister Khaleda Zia with a state funeral drawing vast crowds, mourning a towering leader whose career defined politics for decades.<p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 1em 0px 20px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; line-height: 2; letter-spacing: normal; font-weight: 400; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: source-sans-pro, Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">Zia, the first woman to serve as prime minister in the South Asian nation of 170 million people, died on Tuesday aged 80.<p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 1em 0px 20px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; line-height: 2; letter-spacing: normal; font-weight: 400; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">Flags were flown at half-mast, and thousands of security officers lined roads as her body was carried through the streets of the capital, Dhaka, by a vehicle in the colours of the national flag.<p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 1em 0px 20px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; line-height: 2; letter-spacing: normal; font-weight: 400; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: source-sans-pro, Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">A sea of mourners gathered outside parliament and packed streets leading to it, many waving national flags as well as those of her Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), before prayers held over her coffin.<p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 1em 0px 20px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; line-height: 2; letter-spacing: normal; font-weight: 400; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: source-sans-pro, Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">Retired government official Minhaz Uddin, 70, said he had never voted for Zia, but came to honour the three-time prime minister.<p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 1em 0px 20px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; line-height: 2; letter-spacing: normal; font-weight: 400; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: source-sans-pro, Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">&quot;I came here with my grandson, just to say goodbye to a veteran politician whose contributions will always be remembered,&quot; he said.<p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 1em 0px 20px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; line-height: 2; letter-spacing: normal; font-weight: 400; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: source-sans-pro, Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">&quot;Khaleda Zia has been an inspiration,&quot; mourner Sharmina Siraj told AFP, adding that &quot;it is difficult to imagine women in leadership positions anytime soon&quot;.<p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 1em 0px 20px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; line-height: 2; letter-spacing: normal; font-weight: 400; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: source-sans-pro, Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">The 40-year-old mother of two said stipends introduced by Zia to support girls&#39; education &quot;had a huge impact on the lives of our girls&quot;.Foreign ministers from Sri Lanka, India, Nepal and Bhutan were&nbsp;also in attendance, according to Bangladesh state media. Vowed to participate in February electionsDespite years of ill health and imprisonment, Zia had vowed to campaign in elections set for February 12 &mdash; the first vote since a mass uprising toppled her arch-rival Sheikh Hasina last year. Zia&#39;s Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is widely seen as a frontrunner, and her son Tarique Rahman, 60, who returned only last week after 17 years in exile, is seen as a potential prime minister if they win a majority. The interim government, led by Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus, declared three days of national mourning, with an elaborate state funeral beginning with prayers outside parliament around 2:00 pm (0800 GMT). Flags will be flown at half-mast, and a large deployment of security forces is expected across the capital, Dhaka. Yunus said Bangladesh had &quot;lost a great guardian.&quot; &quot;Through her uncompromising leadership, the nation was repeatedly freed from undemocratic conditions and inspired to regain liberty,&quot; he said in a statement. Zia&#39;s body will be interred alongside her late husband, Ziaur Rahman, who was assassinated in 1981 during his time as president. &#39;Unbreakable&#39;Rahman said in a statement that &quot;the country mourns the loss of a guiding presence that shaped its democratic aspirations.&quot; His mother, he added, &quot;endured repeated arrests, denial of medical care, and relentless persecution,&quot; but &quot;never stopped sheltering her family with courage and compassion.&quot; &quot;Her resilience... was unbreakable.&quot; Suffering from a raft of health issues, Zia was rushed to the hospital in late November, where her condition had gradually deteriorated despite treatment. Nevertheless, hours before her death, party workers had on Monday submitted nomination papers on her behalf for three constituencies for next year&#39;s polls. Zia was &quot;an uncompromising leader for all the people,&quot; said activist ABM Abdul Fattah, who joined mourners on Tuesday outside the Dhaka hospital where the former leader died. &quot;She always wanted to restore democracy by staying in this country and by safeguarding the people,&quot; he told AFP. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he hoped Zia&#39;s &quot;vision and legacy will continue to guide our partnership,&quot; a warm message despite the strained relations between New Delhi and Dhaka since Hasina&#39;s fall. Hasina, 78, sentenced to death in absentia in November for crimes against humanity, remains in hiding in her old ally, India. Three-time prime minister Zia was jailed for corruption in 2018 under Hasina&#39;s government, which also blocked her from travelling abroad for medical treatment. Zia was released last year, shortly after Hasina was forced from power. &quot;I pray for the eternal peace and forgiveness of Begum Khaleda Zia&#39;s soul,&quot; Hasina said, in a statement shared on social media by her now-banned Awami League party.

An aerial view shows mourners gathered for the funeral ceremony of Bangladesh's former prime minister Khaleda Zia at the Parliament House premises in Dhaka on December 31, 2025 a day after her death. Bangladesh bid farewell on December 31 to Zia, the firs

Zia had vowed to campaign in elections set for February 12; her Bangladesh Nationalist Party is widely seen as a frontrunner.

Bangladesh mourns ex-PM Khaleda Zia with state funeral

DHAKA: Bangladesh&#39;s former prime minister Khaleda Zia, who many believed would sweep elections next year to lead her country once again, died on Tuesday aged 80, her Bangladesh Nationalist Party said. &quot;The BNP Chairperson and former prime minister, the national leader Begum Khaleda Zia, passed away today at 6 a.m. (0000 GMT), just after the Fajr (dawn) prayer,&quot; the party said in a statement. &quot;We pray for the forgiveness of her soul and request everyone to offer prayers for her departed soul,&quot; it added. Despite years of ill health and imprisonment, Zia vowed in November to campaign in elections set for February 2026 &mdash; the first vote since a mass uprising toppled her arch-rival Sheikh Hasina last year. Zia&#39;s BNP is widely seen as a frontrunner. But in late November, she was rushed to the hospital, where, despite the best efforts of medics, her condition declined from a raft of health issues. During her final days, interim leader Muhammad Yunus called for the nation to pray for Zia, calling her a &quot;source of utmost inspiration for the nation.&quot; BNP&#39;s media chief, Moudud Alamgir Pavel, also confirmed Zia&#39;s death to AFP. Zia was jailed for corruption in 2018 under Hasina&#39;s government, which also blocked her from travelling abroad for medical treatment. She was released last year, shortly after Hasina was forced from power. There had been plans earlier this month to fly her on a special air ambulance to London, but her condition was not stable enough. Her son, political heavyweight Tarique Rahman, only returned to Bangladesh after 17 years in self-imposed exile on Thursday, where he was welcomed back by huge crowds of joyous supporters. Rahman will lead the party through the Feb. 12 general election, and is expected to be put forward as prime minister if his party wins a majority.

Americas

BNP chairperson passes away; many believed she would sweep elections next year to lead her country once again.

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