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Bangladesh assures stringent security for foreign missions, nationals

By Sheuli Akter DHAKA, Dec. 23 (NsNewsWire) — The Bangladeshi government has assured its regional neighbors of stringent security for their diplomatic missions as well as nationals in the country, official sources said Monday. They said the assurance was given in a briefing Monday afternoon to the ambassadors and heads of missions in Bangladesh from […]

United States not to deploy observers for Bangladesh elections

Washington,DC, Dec. 23 (NsNewsWire) — The United States will not deploy observers for Bangladesh elections slated for Jan.5 . “We remain prepared to reengage our observation efforts at a later time in a more conducive environment,” said Jen Psaki, spokesperson of the State Department in a statement published on December 22. FULL STATEMENT HAS BEEN […]

Thai protesters try to block election sign-up

BANGKOK, DEC 23 (NsNewsWire) — Anti-government protesters in Thailand’s capital have surrounded a sports stadium in an unsuccessful attempt to physically block political parties from registering for a February election. Monday’s move is the latest tactic used by the protesters who are trying to force the downfall of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, reports AP. She […]

Indian diplomat treated housekeeper ‘like a slave’

In India, Devyani Khobragade advocated for women’s rights. But in New York, she was a slave driver, says the family of Khobragade’s housekeeper. Consular official Khobragade worked domestic servant Sangeeta Richard from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. every day, “tantamount to keeping a person in slavery-like conditions or keeping a person in bondage,” Richard’s husband, Philip, said […]

Charges pressed against Tazreen owner, 12 others

DHAKA, Dec. 22 (NsNewsWire) — 13 people including owner of a garment factory over a deadly fire that left 112 dead have finally been charged. In one of the worst tragedies in Bangladesh’s history in November 2012, at least 112 workers of the factory at Ashulia on the outskirts of capital Dhaka were killed. Dozens […]

Obama rejects 2013 as worst year of presidency, expects “breakthrough” in 2014

WASHINGTON, Dec. 21 (NsNewsWire) — At the end of his fifth year in the White House, U.S. President Barack Obama has rejected the year of 2013 as the worst of his tenure, and expected 2014 to be “a breakthrough year for America.” Speaking at his year-end news conference in the White House briefing room, Obama […]

Bangladesh’s future hangs in the balance

Bangladesh’s hopes for a free, fair, and peaceful election are dead. The result is already known. But certainty over the ballot means only uncertainty for the future of the country. A boycott of the controversial poll by almost all opposition parties has resulted in 154 seats in the 300-member parliament already decided in walkovers, the […]

Bangladesh Parliament Elections: Army Deployment from Dec. 26

DHAKA, Dec. 20 (NsNewsWire) — The Election Commission has decided to deploy Bangladesh Army troops for over two weeks from December 26. Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad made the announcement Friday night saying, “We’ve decided to deploy military troops for 15 days from Dec. 26 to Jan. 9 to maintain order during the elections.” […]

EU halts preparations for Election Observation Mission deployment in Bangladesh

Brussels, Dec. 20 (NsNewsWire) — The spokesperson of Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the Commission, issued the following statement (today) Friday: “The High Representative regrets that the main political forces in Bangladesh have been unable to create the necessary conditions for transparent, inclusive […]