De/Cypher Data Dive 📈
Dhaka dropped two places to 168th in the Economist Group’s Global Liveability Index 2024 report. The index ranks the liveability of 173 cities across five key categories, including stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure.
Vienna, Copenhagen, Zurich, Melbourne, and Calgary were ranked at the top while the five least liveable cities in the list were Damascus, Tripoli, Algiers, Lagos, and Karachi.
Af-Pak De/Cypher
1 July, 2024
Economy
President Zardari signs Finance Bill into law
The Express Tribune reported that President Asif Ali Zardari has give assent to the Finance Bill 2024-25 under the Article 75 of The Constitution of Pakistan on the advice of Prime Minister. The president signed the bill into law after the National Assembly passed the budget with recent amendments. The PML-N-led government introduced the budget a fortnight ago, sparking strong criticism from opposition parties, particularly the PTI, and some from coalition partner PPP. Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb presented the finance bill in parliament, which was open to amendments and debate by both the ruling alliance led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the opposition. Opposition parties, largely supported by the incarcerated former premier Imran Khan, rejected the budget, citing concerns over potential inflationary effects. Despite earlier boycotts, PPP ultimately decided to support the finance bill. President Zardari formally endorsed the bill today under Article 75 of the Constitution, which specifies that the president cannot reject or object to a finance bill classified as a money bill.
World Bank greenlights $1b loan for Dasu project
Shahbaz Rana reports for the Express Tribune that the World Bank has approved an additional $1 billion loan for the Dasu hydropower project but at the same time sees a whopping $18 billion energy sector circular debt as a barrier to future investment in Pakistan. According to a statement released by the lender’s local office, the World Bank’s board of executive directors approved $1 billion in additional funding for the Dasu hydropower project on Monday. The additional financing was critical for ensuring uninterrupted work on the scheme, which began a decade ago. With the fresh lending, the WB’s exposure to the project has increased to 45% of the total cost. This marks the third major financing by the World Bank for the project, which has faced delays and endured at least two terrorist attacks targeting the Chinese nationals involved in its construction.
Budget to cripple FDI and exports, warns PBC
Dawn reported that the Pakistan Business Council (PBC) has said that the federal budget 2024-25, approved on Friday, remained almost as regressive as the bill proposed earlier. Exports and investment will not be encouraged. Existing multinational companies will reconsider their viability, putting off new foreign direct investment (FDI). He added that many budgetary measures will have an inflationary impact and delay the reduction in the policy rate. The formal sector, especially the telecom operators, will be obliged to perform unpaid tax collector functions under the threat of steep penalties if they err. At the same time, their sales and profits will suffer from reduced consumer affordability due to the higher advance tax on prepaid bundles. Brain drain will pick up pace as experienced professionals seek jobs abroad or outside the formal sector to escape higher taxes, Mr. Ehsan warned. The government’s choice of a piecemeal approach, levying higher export taxes instead of a comprehensive review of the country’s export competitiveness compared to other countries, is a strategic misstep. According to him, Pakistan lags behind Egypt, Vietnam, Bangladesh, India, and Cambodia in terms of export rebates, concessionary credit, and energy costs.
Internal Politics 🏛️
Karachi endures ‘hottest’ period after 2015 heatwave
Faiza Illyas reports for Dawn that Karachi remained in the grip of sweltering weather conditions for the eighth consecutive day on Sunday on account of continued disruption of the sea breeze caused by a low atmospheric pressure area prevailing northeast of Karachi. The Chief Meteorologist, Dr Sardar Safaraz, told Dawn that the current weather conditions were the hottest since the 2015 heatwave during which the maximum temperature surged to 44.8°C. On Sunday, officials said that three persons died from heatstroke in the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital and Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre.
Fresh polio campaign begins after three cases in a week
Ikram Junaidi reports for Dawn that a new polio vaccination campaign, aiming to inoculate more than 9.5 million children under the age of five, will begin in 41 districts across the country today (Monday). The polio outbreak response campaign comes on the back of three cases reported from Balochistan and Sindh last week, taking the total number of cases since the start of the year to eight. The house-to-house campaign will be held in 16 districts of Balochistan, 11 districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, eight districts of Sindh, five districts of Punjab, and Islamabad.
Pakistan Steel Mills faces closure as govt halts gas supply
The Express Tribune reports that the Ministry of Industries and Production has directed the authorities of Pakistan Steel Mills to discontinue the supply of gas to the steel plant, effectively rendering the revival efforts of Pakistan Steel Mills futile. According to a notification issued by the Ministry of Industries and Production, the chief executive officer of Pakistan Steel has been instructed to halt the supply of gas to the Pakistan Steel plant, reported Express News on Sunday. They have been informed that following the decision taken in the Economic Coordination Committee’s meeting on May 23, the responsibility for gas obligations of Pakistan Steel will not be with the federal government after June 30.
EU launches programmes to promote skills, clean energy in G-B
The Express Tribune reports that the European Union (EU) has launched two flagship programs in Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) to enhance skills and promote clean energy, said a statement released on Thursday. Through its youth skill development programme, the EU and the Government of Germany have joined forces to transform the vocational training landscape in G-B, read the statement issued by the Delegation of the European Union to Pakistan. The two new programmes are part of a broader Team Europe Initiative, bringing together the combined strengths of the EU, France, Germany, and Italy to “build back better through green jobs creation.”
Pakistan’s New Counter Terrorism Plan
Written By M. Kugelman Published in FP
Summarized By De/Cypher Team
Pakistan has announced a “reinvigorated” national counterterrorism strategy that will focus on “kinetic efforts,” new legislation to bolster terrorism prosecutions, and steps to counter violent extremism. The strategy will intensify existing intelligence-based operations rather than launching new military offensives. The timing of the announcement suggests that China could play a role in the strategy, as Pakistan’s close ally China faces serious terrorism risks from groups like the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) that have targeted Chinese interests in the country. Pakistan may hope that China can leverage its influence over the Afghan Taliban to curb anti-Pakistan militant activity originating from Afghanistan, where the TTP is based.
China’s leverage over the Taliban could significantly influence Pakistan’s counterterrorism efforts against the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The TTP is based in Afghanistan and closely allied with the Afghan Taliban, who have resisted Pakistani pressure to rein in the group. Pakistan may hope that China can leverage its influence over the Taliban to curb anti-Pakistan militant activity originating from Afghanistan. China has considerable leverage over the Taliban due to its ability to deploy capital for investments in Afghanistan if its terrorism concerns are addressed.
If China presses the Taliban to take steps that reduce the TTP threat in Pakistan, it would serve both countries’ interests. Decreased cross-border terrorism would reduce the risk to Chinese investments in the region and give Pakistan less incentive to stage strikes in Afghanistan, where China is exploring investment possibilities. China’s investments in Afghanistan could be linked to Pakistan’s counterterrorism efforts against the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The TTP is based in Afghanistan and closely allied with the Afghan Taliban, who have resisted Pakistani pressure to rein in the group.
Pakistan may hope that China can leverage its influence over the Taliban to curb anti-Pakistan militant activity originating from Afghanistan. China has considerable leverage over the Taliban due to its ability to deploy capital for investments in Afghanistan if its terrorism concerns are addressed. If China presses the Taliban to take steps that reduce the TTP threat in Pakistan, it would serve both countries’ interests. Decreased cross-border terrorism would reduce the risk to Chinese investments in the region and give Pakistan less incentive to stage strikes in Afghanistan, where China is exploring investment possibilities.
Lost in Translation: Urdu in the Digital Age
Written by Farheen Yousuf, Policy & Trust Analyst
Urdu, a language with a rich literary tradition, is spoken by 230 million people across Asia in countries such as Pakistan, Afghanistan, India, and Bangladesh. However, Urdu has faced significant challenges in the digital age. While the widespread adoption of digital technologies has revolutionized communication and information dissemination, the unique script and complex linguistic features of Urdu have posed barriers to its full integration into the digital landscape.
Technical Challenges of Preserving Urdu:
One of the primary issues surrounding Urdu in the digital age is the lack of clear word boundary markers. Unlike languages that use spaces to delineate word boundaries, Urdu script often lacks this visual cue, making it difficult to segment text into individual words for natural language processing and information retrieval. This complexity has historically hindered the development of accurate and efficient Urdu keyboards and Optical Character Recognition tools, leading to a reliance on Roman Urdu – a transliteration that, while practical, arguably compromises the essence of the language.
In 2014, Mudassir Azeemi, a pakistani software developer in silicon valley, wrote to Apple CEO Tim Cook, emphasizing the importance of the Nastaliq script for Urdu’s beauty and usability. Although Apple introduced an Urdu keyboard, it defaulted to the Naskh font, which many users found inadequate. Azeemi’s persistence led to the adoption of the Noto Nastaliq typeface on Apple devices, though its implementation was flawed, with text often appearing too small or misaligned.
Beyond Functionality: cultural complexity and Identity
Pakistan’s journey towards digitizing Urdu is a complex endeavor, deeply intertwined with the nation’s cultural identity and socio-political landscape. Urdu, chosen as the national language to unify a diverse linguistic landscape, carries immense cultural weight, representing Pakistani identity and heritage. This deep connection influences the digitization process, demanding sensitivity to potential perceptions of cultural dilution or replacement. The key challenges lies in the intricate Lahori Nastaliq script, deeply ingrained in Pakistani culture. Its complexity poses significant coding challenges, highlighting the need for a nuanced understanding of the cultural and ideological ties between Urdu and Nastaliq. Developers like Kamran emphasizes this point, arguing that effective digitization hinges on recognizing the historical role of Nastaliq in resistance movements and the potential for resistance against changes perceived as Western-influenced. Furthermore, the dominance of Urdu and English in digital spaces, particularly social media, has inadvertently contributed to a concerning trend of language attrition among speakers of minority languages. Constant exposure to these dominant languages has led to the replacement of lexical items from local languages, threatening their long-term survival. This linguistic shift underscores the need for concerted efforts to preserve and revitalize Pakistan’s rich linguistic diversity.
Beyond cultural preservation, digitizing Urdu holds significant economic implications for Pakistan. Increased literacy and accessibility through user-friendly digital tools can enhance economic participation among Urdu-speaking communities. By bridging educational and communicational gaps, digital resources can unlock economic opportunities and promote growth within Pakistan’s diverse society.
Key initiatives like Matnsaz, Makhzan, Naqqash, and Rekhta exemplify efforts to digitize Urdu. Matnsaz improves Urdu keyboard functionality, while Makhzan and Naqqash provide open-source text corpora and string processing libraries. Rekhta, the largest online library of Urdu poetry, digitizes and makes accessible a vast array of literary works. These efforts, though successful, face limitations in achieving global impact due to fragmented approaches. Collaborative and unified strategies are necessary to bridge these gaps.
De/Cypher Rearview
Undoing Partition: Pakistan’s Military Economy and the Reintegration of South Asia
Written by Neil Padukone, Published in Journal of International Affairs, Columbia
Analysis By Priyanka Garodia, Geopolitical Research Analyst – South Asia
Neil Padukone argues that the US dependence on Pakistan for access to Central Asia allows Pakistan to support Islamist militants, fueling instability. Terrorism has flourished in Pakistan due to the symbiotic relationship between the military, the US government’s generous aid, and the Pakistani military’s reluctance to eradicate Islamic terrorism in order to maintain its aid-giving status. To counter this, the US needs to develop a new approach to South Asia.
While Pakistan’s dependence on its military for economic management is deeply entrenched, regional economic integration offers a more sustainable path for growth. Despite the potential of projects like the IPI and TAPI pipelines to boost regional economic integration and ease India-Pakistan tensions, trade remains limited. Barriers include restrictive trade policies, a lack of infrastructure, and security concerns, including a turbulent past. While the South Asia Free Trade Agreement exists, it lacks ambition, neglecting key areas like services and cross-border infrastructure.
Realizing the subcontinent’s economic potential requires overcoming these obstacles and embracing a vision of deeper regional integration. Pakistani businesses, seeking stability and growth, desire access to reliable energy, expanded markets, and regional connectivity. The US needs to prioritize regional economic integration over fickle, aid-based relationships.
While these arguments were relevant in the early 2000s, when US-Pakistan were strong, in contemporary times, with the all-weather partnership between Pakistan and China at its strongest, US salience in South Asia has waned. The Paksitan-China relationship is crucial to their security needs in the region, including balancing and strengthening India. China has engaged with Pakistan in the economic and military domain, including large-scale projects like the BRI, CPEC and the Dasu dam project. Also impacting the dynamic of US presence in Pakistan has been the growing great power rivalry between the US and China. Pakistan-US relations are at an all time low, including Pakistan’s strong reaction to America launching an inquiry into the election results of 2024. Thus, the effectiveness of America as a negotiator or regional balancer seems outdated and not as relevant given the present dynamics.
Don’t vote for Taxploitation
Talat Hussain writes that Pakistan’s 2024 federal budget: the government is waging economic warfare on the middle class. In a fiery critique of Pakistan’s 2024 federal budget, renowned journalist Syed Talat Hussain accuses the government of waging economic warfare on the middle class. Hussain argues that while political theatrics capture headlines, the real story is the ruthless taxation of salaried workers, with some potentially facing a staggering 72% tax rate. He contrasts this burden with the tax exemptions enjoyed by military personnel and bureaucrats, painting a picture of a system rigged to protect the elite at the expense of ordinary citizens.
Framing the issue as a class struggle, Hussain calls for a middle-class revolt at the ballot box. He urges voters to reject the ruling Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) party in upcoming elections, arguing that this is the only weapon available to a class committed to democracy and constitutionalism. “Do not vote for the guys who are protecting their own class,” Hussain implores, characterizing the government’s actions as “broad daylight robbery” against hard-working Pakistanis.
Afghanistan Update
Taliban delegation attends UN-led meeting in Qatar on Afghanistan, with women excluded
Arab News reports that a Taliban delegation on Sunday attended a United Nations-led meeting in Qatar on Afghanistan after organizers said women would be excluded from the gathering. The two-day meeting is the third UN-sponsored gathering on the Afghan crisis in the Qatari capital of Doha. Zabihullah Mujahid, the chief spokesman for the Taliban government who leads its delegation, wrote on social media platform X that the delegation met with representatives from countries including Russia, India and Uzbekistan on the sidelines of the meeting. The Taliban were not invited to the first meeting, and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said they set unacceptable conditions for attending the second one in February, including demands that Afghan civil society members be excluded from the talks and that the Taliban be treated as the country’s legitimate rulers
Afghan women’s rights an internal issue, Taliban government says before talks in Qatar
Arab News reports that the Taliban authorities said on Saturday that demands over women’s rights were “Afghanistan’s issues” to solve, ahead of United Nations-led engagement talks where the exclusion of Afghan women has sparked outcry. The Taliban government, which has imposed restrictions on women since seizing power in 2021 that the UN has described as “gender apartheid,” will send its first delegation to the third round of talks starting in Qatar on Sunday. Civil society representatives, including from women’s rights groups, will attend meetings with the international envoys and UN officials on Tuesday, after the official talks.
Rights groups have condemned the exclusion of Afghan women from the main meetings and the lack of human rights issues on the agenda. The Taliban authorities “acknowledge the issues about women,” government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told a news conference in Kabul on the eve of the latest talks.
Pakistan to start second phase of Afghan deportations
Al Jazeera reports that Pakistan is set to start the second phase of a controversial plan to send undocumented Afghan refugees back to their country. Beginning Sunday, authorities are likely to expel more than 800,000 Afghans from the country, after about 541,000 were forced to leave in the first phase in November last year. Before the first phase of repatriation, the Pakistani government claimed there were nearly 4.4 million Afghan refugees, out of which an estimated 1.73 million were undocumented. The government has defended the crackdown, citing security concerns and a struggling economy. The deportation order came amid a dramatic increase in armed attacks across Pakistan, with the government attributing the attacks to groups and nationals based in Afghanistan, an allegation the Taliban government in Afghanistan rejected.
Bangladesh De/Cypher
1 July, 2024
Economy
Parliament passes Taka 7,97,000cr FY25 budget
The Business Post reports that the Bangladesh parliament has passed a Taka 7,97,000 crore budget for FY25, targeting 6.75% GDP growth. The budget, Taka 35,215 crore higher than FY24, includes substantial allocations for development programmes and aims to stabilize the economy. Experts, however, express doubts about its implementation due to economic challenges and inadequate measures to curb inflation and support low-income groups.
Flood damages estimated to be over Taka 800 crore in Sylhet
Daily Country Today reports that recent flooding in Sylhet has caused damage exceeding Taka 800 crore, affecting roads, fisheries, and agriculture. As floodwaters recede, the extent of damage is becoming clearer, with roads suffering significant damage and over 98,000 farmers impacted. Local officials estimate losses to be around Taka 842.45 crore, but this figure could rise. The floods have destroyed 21,111 fish ponds and affected crop production on 15,506 hectares of land. Efforts are underway to assess and address the damage, with concerns about future flooding due to urban development obstructing water flow.
Forex reserve rises to $22b on foreign loans
New Age reports that Bangladesh’s foreign exchange reserves have risen to nearly $22 billion, boosted by $1.15 billion from the IMF and $900 million from other sources. The reserves were $18.64 billion in May. Despite this increase, experts criticize the central bank for delaying the devaluation of the taka, causing market disruptions. The interbank dollar rate soared to Taka 118.
IMF for regular asset inventories of govt officials to combat corruption
Abul Kashem writes in The Business Standard that the IMF has recommended Bangladesh conduct annual asset inventories of all public officials to combat corruption. Previously, the IMF only required asset statements from key officials. This change follows the discovery of large illegal assets owned by former high-ranking officials. The IMF also set conditions for releasing the fourth tranche of a $4.7 billion loan, including maintaining net international reserves and collecting specified tax revenues.
China now 4th largest source of foreign loans in Bangladesh
The Business Post reports that that China has become Bangladesh’s fourth-largest source of foreign loans, driven by increased funding for infrastructure projects. Since President Xi Jinping’s 2016 visit, Chinese loans have exceeded $1 billion annually, totaling $7.5 billion since 1975. Despite competitive interest rates of 2-2.15%, experts warn about the shorter repayment terms of 10-15 years, compared to the 30-40 years offered by traditional lenders like the World Bank and ADB. Economists express concerns over potential financial strain, limited contractor selection, and the impact on Bangladesh’s foreign reserves. China’s loans now account for nearly 10% of Bangladesh’s annual borrowings.
Internal Politics 🏛️
Despite complications govt determined to bring back Tarique: PM Hasina in parliament
Prothom Alo reports that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina announced in parliament that the government is determined to bring back Tarique Rahman, who is currently in the UK and convicted in several cases, including the 21 August grenade attack. Despite legal complications, efforts involving the foreign ministry and other departments are ongoing to resolve these issues and implement the court verdicts. The government is also working with Interpol and other countries to apprehend and repatriate other fugitive accused.
BNP demands unconditional release of Khaleda, warns of consequences
Prothom Alo reports that BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has demanded the unconditional release of Khaleda Zia, the party’s ailing chairperson and former prime minister, during a large rally in Dhaka’s Naya Paltan area. He warned of severe consequences if the government fails to comply. Fakhrul urged citizens to join the movement to oust the Awami League from power, restore democracy, and protect the country from what he termed as the “looter regime.”
Security
Cybercriminals breach NBR server again
Mohammad Suman writes in The Daily Star that cybercriminals breached the National Board of Revenue (NBR) server using a customs official’s login credentials to attempt releasing a container of cigarettes at Chattogram Port. Customs officials seized the container, worth about Taka 5 crore, acting on a tip-off. The breach, discovered during an investigation, involved false declarations and fake LC documents by Hamko Corporation Limited.
Bangladesh And The World🌐
Indian navy chief in Bangladesh on a 4-day visit
The Daily Star reports that Indian navy chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi began a four-day visit to Bangladesh to enhance bilateral defense relations and explore new avenues for naval cooperation. Admiral Tripathi will meet his Bangladeshi counterpart, Admiral M Nazmul Hassan, and review the passing-out parade at the Bangladesh Naval Academy in Chattogram on July 4. He will also hold discussions with leaders of the Bangladesh Army, Air Force, and government officials, and address participants at the National Defence College in Dhaka. This visit, Tripathi’s first abroad since taking charge, follows Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s recent visit to India, where both nations committed to expanding defense ties.
PM’s Beijing visit after Delhi reflects balanced diplomacy: Hasan
BSS reports that Foreign Minister Dr. Hasan Mahmud highlighted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s visits to Beijing after New Delhi as a reflection of Bangladesh’s balanced diplomacy. Following her bilateral visit to India on June 21-22, Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to visit China from July 8-11. Dr. Hasan emphasized the importance of maintaining friendly relations with both countries, noting India’s role as a close ally based on the 1971 Liberation War and China’s significant investment in key Bangladeshi projects.
Bangladesh posts new envoys in Sri Lanka, Geneva
Nurul Islam Habib writes in The Dhaka Tribune that Bangladesh has appointed Tareq Md Ariful Islam as the Permanent Representative to the UN offices in Geneva and Andalib Elias as the new High Commissioner to Sri Lanka. Tareq, previously the High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, succeeds Ambassador Mohammad Sufiur Rahman in Geneva. Andalib Elias, currently Deputy High Commissioner in Kolkata, brings extensive experience from his roles in Geneva, New York, Manila, and Brussels.
Japan pledges 495 million Yen scholarship fund to Bangladesh
The Business Standard reports that Japan has pledged 495 million Yen (approximately Tk35.25 crore) to fund the Project for Human Resource Development Scholarship (JDS) in Bangladesh. The exchange of notes and grant agreement was signed by Md Shahriar Kader Siddiky, Secretary of the Economic Relations Division, and Iwama Kiminori, Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh, along with Ichiguchi Tomohide of JICA Bangladesh.
FM Hasan to urge Saudi to deposit funds in Bangladesh’s offshore accounts
Business Insider reports that Foreign Minister Dr. Hasan Mahmud plans to discuss opportunities for Saudi Arabian funds to be deposited in Bangladesh’s offshore accounts during his political consultation with Riyadh. This initiative aims to attract Saudi investments into Bangladesh’s financial sector. The Offshore Banking Act, 2024, was enacted to enhance foreign currency reserves and attract foreign investment.
Govt inks deal worth over $800m with Korea Eximbank for railway project
The Business Standard reports that Bangladesh has signed two loan agreements worth $815 million with Korea Eximbank to construct a rail-cum-road bridge over the River Karnaphuli at Kalurghat in Chattogram. The loans include $724.73 million from the Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) and $90.18 million from the Economic Development Promotion Facility (EDPF). The project, managed by Bangladesh Railway, aims to alleviate traffic congestion and enhance railway transport in the Chattogram-Cox’s Bazar corridor, contributing to the Trans-Asian Railway connectivity initiative.
Bangladesh, Bhutan to strengthen cooperation on environment, energy
The Daily Sun reports that Bangladesh and Bhutan plan to strengthen cooperation on environment and energy, as stated by Bangladesh’s Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Saber Hossain Chowdhury during a meeting with Bhutan’s Energy and Natural Resources Minister Gem Tshering in Thimphu. Chowdhury emphasized that bilateral cooperation can serve as a regional and global model. The ministers discussed forest conservation, renewable energy, and climate-resilient strategies. Chowdhury invited Tshering to a tripartite meeting of environment ministers from Bangladesh, Nepal, and Bhutan in Dhaka in July.
PM seeks Sweden’s support for smooth LDC graduation
Dhaka Tribune reports that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has sought Sweden’s support for Bangladesh’s smooth transition from the least developed countries (LDCs) category. During a farewell call by Swedish Ambassador Alexandra Berg Von Linde, Hasina requested GSP plus facilities to aid in the transition. The ambassador expressed Sweden’s interest in supporting this move, especially in the ready-made garments sector, with a focus on sustainability.
PM sends mango, hilsa and roshogolla to Tripura chief minister
The Business Standard reports that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina sent a goodwill gift to Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha, including 400 kilograms of Haribhanga mangoes, 50 kilograms of Hilsa fish, and 50 kilograms of Roshogolla. The consignment was sent through the Akhaura land port and received by Md Rezaul Haque Chowdhury, First Secretary of the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission in Agartala. This gesture follows Tripura’s chief minister sending 500 kilograms of pineapples to Sheikh Hasina on June 23.
Ansar Al Islam still active
Written By Mahmudul Hasan, Published in Prothom Alo
Summarized By De/Cypher Team
Ansar Al Islam is a militant organization in Bangladesh that is associated with Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS). The group rose to prominence around 2013, when it launched targeted attacks on secular bloggers, writers, and activists, including the murders of Avijit Roy and Xulhaz Mannan.
Ansar Al Islam remains active in Bangladesh, despite the weakening of other militant groups. Taking advantage of the organizational decline of groups like JMB, neo-JMB, and HuJI-B, Ansar Al Islam has formed cells nationwide, recruiting new members and training existing ones. Law enforcement agencies regard them as the primary militant threat, though overall militant activities have decreased since the 2016 Holey Artisan Bakery attack.
CTTC chief Md. Asaduzzaman acknowledges the ongoing risk, noting that while visible militant activity has decreased, online recruitment and propaganda continue. Ansar Al Islam maintains a strict confidentiality policy and recruits members through a variety of digital platforms, with a focus on technology experts.
Experts emphasize the importance of vigilance, as a decrease in visible militant activities does not imply eradication. The rise of militancy is frequently linked to global trends, and militant groups in Bangladesh adhere to Al-Qaeda and IS ideology. Continuous monitoring and proactive counter-radicalization strategies are required to address the ongoing threat posed by Ansar Al Islam and other extremist organizations.
It’s time to take our maritime security seriously
Written By Jannatul Naym Pieal, Published in The Business Standard
Summarized by De/Cypher Team
Increased armed robbery and theft in Bangladeshi ports has raised concerns about maritime security. Notably, ships anchored near Chattogram and Mongla have been targeted, with a significant increase in incidents from January to May 2024 over 2023. Despite increased patrols and monitoring by local authorities, the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP) emphasizes the need for greater vigilance.
Bangladesh’s strategic location and vital seaports facilitate more than 90% of its international trade, so maritime security is critical. Persistent thefts jeopardize foreign trade confidence, potentially leading to higher shipping costs and decreased port activity. The rise in maritime crimes contradicts Bangladesh’s international maritime ambitions, which include leadership positions in global maritime organizations and initiatives to promote sustainable shipbreaking.
Experts argue that the rise in incidents could be attributed to regional instability, such as border tensions with Myanmar, which have diverted law enforcement attention. Also, problems such as illegal fishing, drug and human trafficking, and maritime accidents exacerbate the security situation. The recommendations emphasize the need for a comprehensive Maritime Security Policy, stronger laws, and international collaboration to effectively address these multifaceted threats.
Headlines Quick Recap
Strong dollar hits Asian stock gains in first half of 2024
Lisa Kim reports for Nikkei that the influence of the U.S. on Asian financial markets has become more pronounced this year as its robust dollar and relatively high interest rates have dragged on everything from regional currencies to Japanese stocks. For dollar investors, weak Asian currencies have cut into returns on domestic shares. Many market watchers predict the trend will continue until later in the year, when the U.S. Federal Reserve is likely to start cutting interest rates. Japan, India equities top picks for global investors while Southeast Asia’s luster dims.
Rohingya ‘genocide intensifying’ as war rages in Myanmar’s Rakhine: BROUK
Al Jazeera reports that A United Kingdom-based rights group has called for global action over what it called an “intensifying genocide” against Myanmar’s mostly Muslim Rohingya minority as fighting between the Southeast Asian country’s military and a powerful ethnic armed group escalated in the western Rakhine State. The warning from the Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK (BROUK) on Tuesday came as the United Nations’ World Food Programme (WFP) condemned the looting and burning of its food stores and warehouse in Maungdaw, a coastal town on Myanmar’s border with Bangladesh that is mainly home to the Rohingya and is the focus of the current hostilities between the military and the Arakan Army (AA).
Sri Lanka Plans to Hold Presidential Election From September
Anusha Ondaatjie reports for Bloomsburg that Sri Lanka announced plans to vote for a president from September as the South Asian country looks to get back on track after the worst economic crisis in its independent history. The Election Commission will carry out the presidential poll on a day between Sept. 17 and President Ranil Wickremesinghe, whose term ends in November, is likely to seek a mandate for the economic reforms he is carrying out in exchange for a $3 billion bailout loan from the International Monetary Fund. Wickremesinghe was elected by lawmakers in July 2022 after Gotabaya Rajapaksa resigned following weeks of street protests. Oct. 16 after calling for nominations for candidates, according to a statement on Thursday.
Japan’s shaky business mood and GDP downgrade cloud BOJ hike timing
Leika Kihara reports for the Japan Times that the business mood in Japan’s service-sector soured in June as the lower yen pushed costs higher, a quarterly central bank survey showed Monday, offsetting a big lift in factory confidence and pointing to weakness in consumption. A rare, unscheduled downgrade to Japan’s historical gross domestic product data also showed the economy shrank more than reported in the first quarter, which will likely force the Bank of Japan to cut its growth forecasts later this month. The findings, which come ahead of the BOJ’s next policy meeting on July 30 and 31, complicates its decision on how soon to raise interest rates, analysts say.
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