Af-Pak De/Cypher
25 Sep, 2023
The Taliban are creating a large-scale camera surveillance network for Afghan cities that could involve repurposing a plan crafted by the Americans before their 2021 pullout, as authorities seek to supplement thousands of cameras already across the capital, Kabul. This information was shared by an interior ministry spokesman with Reuters. The Taliban administration also consulted with Chinese telecoms equipment maker Huawei about potential cooperation. The discussion with Huawei occurred several months after China met with Pakistan and the Taliban’s acting foreign minister, after which the parties stressed cooperation on counterterrorism. There are over 62,000 cameras in Kabul and other cities that are monitored from a central control room, according to the Taliban. Human rights advocates and opponents of the regime are concerned enhanced surveillance might target civil society members and protesters.
Read More: Reuters
In July 2023, China announced a new land link with Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. The route starts with a railway line between Gansu, to Xinjiang the northwestern province of China. The route reaches Afghanistan via Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. The route’s main importance is symbolic as China seeks to increase communications with the Taliban regime in Afghanistan. China has been emphasizing that Afghanistan is an important country in its Belt and Road Initiative, but Beijing has not yet recognized the Taliban government. This new route is 3,125km (1,940 miles) long and uses both railways and roads.
In August 2023, Abdul Salam Jawad, spokesman for the Afghan Commerce Ministry, said Afghanistan is set to begin direct trade with China via the Wakhan Corridor that connects Afghanistan’s Badakhshan province with Xinjiang in China. He said that movement of goods between the two countries could start as early as this year.
In September 2023, another new trade route was opened in Central Asia connecting China to Pakistan and Afghanistan. CEVA Logistics and Pakistan’s transport company National Logistics Cell (NLC) completed the first operation along this new TIR route, linking Kashgar, China, to Pakistan by door-to-door road transport for the first time in first week of September 2023. NLC also extended this route to Kabul, Afghanistan. Transports Internationaux Routiers (TIR) meaning International Road Transports is a transport system that enables goods to be shipped from a country of origin to a country of destination in sealed load compartments that are controlled by customs via a multilateral, mutually recognized system.
Earlier in June 2023, NLC also pioneered the use of the TIR system to deliver products from Pakistan to Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan via Afghanistan, arriving in record time to its destination, 70-80% faster compared to alternative transport options.
Read More: South China Morning Post, International Road Transport Union
Top Stories from this week
A recent article by the Intercept published on 17th September revealed that United States helped Pakistan receive an International Monetary Fund Bailout in exchange for arms and ammunition which were supplied to Ukrainian military. Pakistan is known as a production hub for the types of basic munitions needed for grinding warfare.
According to the article, records detailing the arms transactions were leaked to The Intercept earlier this year by a source within the Pakistani military. The documents describe munitions sales agreed to between the U.S. and Pakistan from the summer of 2022 to the spring of 2023. Some of the documents were authenticated by matching the signature of an American brigadier general with his signature on publicly available mortgage records in the United States; by matching the Pakistani documents with corresponding American documents; and by reviewing publicly available but previously unreported Pakistani disclosures of arms sales to the U.S. posted by the State Bank of Pakistan.
The report further said that the economic capital and political goodwill garnered from the transactions performed a “key role” in securing the IMF bailout with the US State Department “agreeing to take the IMF into confidence regarding the undisclosed weapons deal, according to sources with knowledge of the arrangement, and confirmed by a related document”.
Just after the publication of the article in The Intercept, Pakistan’s Foreign Office sternly rejected the claimed Pakistan sold arms and ammunition to Ukraine for the IMF bailout package on 18thSeptember. During a visit to Pakistan in July, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba had similarly rejected reports that Pakistan was supplying arms to Ukraine to support its military during the ongoing conflict with Russia.A report in June had claimed that an arms consignment from Pakistan Ordnance Factories was being shipped to Ukraine.An earlier report had also claimed Pakistan set up a defence trading firm in Warsaw to smoothen the process of arms supplies to Ukraine. In April in an interview with BBC, a Ukrainian commander had talked about receiving rockets from other countries including Pakistan.
Read More: Dawn, The Intercept
Oil transporters in Pakistan went on a strike from 18th to 19th September, suspending the supply and distribution of petroleum products across Pakistan. Their primary complain was against an increase in fuel supply through the white line pipeline, a system of pipelines which transports petroleum products from Karachi to other parts of Pakistan. The White Oil Pipeline project, inaugurated in 2005, aims to facilitate smooth transportation of oil between the southern port city of Karachi to Mehmood Kot in the eastern Punjab province, with the goal of reducing the traffic congestion caused by approximately 4,000 trucks and mitigating negative environmental impacts. The project is managed by the Pak-Arab Pipeline Company Limited (PAPCO). It is considered crucial for sustaining industrial growth and agricultural productivity in Pakistan especially as energy demand in the country continues to rise.
According to Salman Tareen, leader of the Oil Tankers Contractors Association (OTCA) the supply of petrol and diesel via the white line pipeline on a high level has deeply affected the oil transporter’s business. The Association claimed that their strike caused the suspension of petroleum products’ supply by up to 90%. They demanded a hike in the fares for the supply routes and restrictions on delivery of petroleum products via the white line pipeline from Karachi to Mahmoodkot for five years. Pakistan’s government, after being warned of another possible crisis by the Oil Companies Advisory Council (OCAC), invited the oil transporters for talks in Islamabad on 20th September. Soon after OTCA declared an end to the strike.
Read More: Pakistan Today, Arab News
Taliban
After months of diplomatic standoff, on 21stSeptember the Afghan Taliban stated that security problems between Pakistan and Afghanistan should be solved through “joint committees” and border crossings crucial to the passage of goods and travelers should not be closed due to “political and security considerations.” The announcement came after Pakistan’s Special Envoy for Afghanistan, Ambassador Asif Khan Durrani, visited Kabul on Thursday (21st Sept) and held talks with the Taliban administration’s acting foreign minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi. Pakistan and Afghanistan have been in a months-long standoff over Islamabad’s accusations that its neighbour is harbouring militants from the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and allowing them to use its soil to launch attacks. Afghanistan has rejected this allegation.
Read More: Arab News
In a report released on 20thSeptember, the United Nations has recorded over 1,600 incidents of rights violations against people detained by the Taliban authorities, nearly half of them acts of torture and ill-treatment mostly by police and intelligence agents. The UN Mission to Afghanistan (UNAMA) said 18 people had also died in prisons and in the custody of police and intelligence in the 19 months ending July 2023. Around one in ten of the violations were against women. Journalists and civil society members accounted for nearly a quarter of the victims of the violations. In a response published with the report, the Taliban-led ministry of foreign affairs said the number of reported violations was not accurate, especially the number of journalists or civil society advocates affected.
Read More: The Express Tribune
Election Watch
On 21st September, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has announced that the general elections will now be held the last week of January. The announcement has evoked mixed reactions among political parties and analysts, with some expressing skepticism as to whether the polls would be free and fair. ECP stated that that polls could only be held after constituencies are redrawn according to the result of the latest census, a process that would take at least four months. The final list of redrawn constituency maps will be issued on November 30, allowing for a 54-day election program consisting of filing nomination documents, appeals, and campaigning.
Read More: Aljazeera,
On 23rd September ECP issued a notification highlighting its amendments to the electoral rules and asking the political parties to file their objections or suggestions in connection with the changes to its secretariat in the federal capital by October 17. Due to the changes electoral candidates will now have to open a bank account or dedicate an existing account to maintain the transactions of election expenses. Political party will now submit a detailed report on the conduct of intra-party elections to the ECP.
Read More: The Express Tribune
Business and Economy
On 19th September, The International Monetary Fund (IMF) expressed concern over smuggling of 120,000 tons of petroleum products per month and sought a report from authorities in Pakistan about the measures being taken by the federal government to curb smuggling. IMF was worried that an increased smuggling of petroleum products would result in a revenue shortfall due to a fall in the import bill.
Read More: The Express Tribune
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has ranked Pakistan’s development framework lowest based on five major flaws out of a total of 15 categories evaluated by the Public Investment Management Assessment (PIMA). The report published by IMF clearly states existing development plans are not costed and they lack measurable outcomes. Till 2018 Pakistan used a Five-year planning system. In the new system objectives are not linked to plans, so it is not possible to know how Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) projects are helping to attain national goals. IMF has assessed that fiscal rules have had little impact in containing expenditure in the last 10 years and the debt limit has often been breached. Highlighting the major flaws, the IMF pointed out that the current and development budgets are prepared by separate ministries.
Read More: The News International
Foreign Affairs
It seems Pakistan’s interim Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq is not taking his job seriously. His five-day visit to the UN headquarters in New York culminated without important meetings. He failed to meet Turkish President Recep Erdogan and the official US delegation. He headed straight to London amid rumours of meeting with Ex-PM Nawaz Sharif. Earlier on his way to New York stopped over in Paris and visited the Eiffel Tower with his family. He was also seen enjoying with his family and friends in New York at a Turkish restaurant. He did have a meeting with IMF officials at the UN headquarters and business bodies in the US that showed interest in the economic revival plans of Pakistan through privatization and the Special Investment Facilitation Council.
Read More: Dawn
Is United States trying to capitalize on Pakistan’s brain drain? Washington has minimized the wait time for the most sought-after American visas for Pakistani nationals willing to travel to the United States. The US Embassy in Islamabad is already accepting interview waiver applications for qualified applicants. US has expedited thousands of non-immigrant visa appointments. More than ten thousand Pakistani visa applicants originally scheduled for 2024 at the US Consulate General in Karachi are receiving notice that their appointments have been rescheduled in 2023, some as early as next week. Demand for US visas is the highest it has ever been. “We are processing more visa applications than ever before and are working hard to bring down visa appointment wait times”, the US embassy said in an official statement last week.
Read More: The News International
According to Pakistan’s Caretaker Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani, Pakistan’s decision to recognize Israel will be determined by the interests of Palestinians. This statement came after Israeli Foreign Minister claimed that six or seven Muslim countries would make peace with the Jewish State if Saudi Arabia-Israel deal goes through. US President Biden has been pushing for landmark deal between Saudi Arabia and Israel. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman told Fox News recently that his country was in talks with Israel, dismissing reports that process was suspended. There have been concerns in Pakistan that recognizing the Israeli state without permanent solution to Palestinian conflict would undermine the Pakistan’s narrative on the Kashmir issue.
Read More: The Express Tribune
Pakistan has been craving for a visit from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman ruler for months. The Mohammad Bin Salman visited India recently to attend a G20 summit and later for a state visit. There were reports that the Saudi leader might make a brief stopover in Islamabad but later the plan was shelved. It is expected that the Saudi ruler may visit Pakistan in the first week of October. Because of the likely visit of the Saudi crown prince, Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar postponed his trip to Saudi Arabia. Pakistan has high hopes of the impending visit of Saudi crown prince against the backdrop of economic crunch. Saudi Arabia has been identified as the major country to chip in with billions of dollars investment. Sources said during the visit of Mohammad Bin Salman, both sides are expected to announce major investment projects. One project includes the setting up of an oil refinery in Gwadar. The multibillion-dollar project was first announced during the visit of MBS in February 2019. However, no further progress was made due to various reasons including tensions between the PTI government and Saudi Arabia.
Read More: The Express Tribune
Views and Analysis
Climate Change
Shifts in seasons, abnormal water flows and stubborn glaciers are wreaking havoc in Pakistan’s mountainous regions. In 2023 varying temperatures destroyed crops and thousands of acres were washed away by flash floods and lake outbursts leaving behind broken dreams and empty stomachs. According to the United Nations Development Program, a total of 3,044 glacial lakes — formed due to rapid melting of glaciers — were found in GB and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in 2022. Of these, 33 were determined to be dangerous, with potential of severely disrupting downstream communities, infrastructure, and human settlements. Muzhira Amin in his article describes the destructive effects of Climate Change in Pakistan’s most backward regions.
In Gilgit-Baltistan, climate change is changing how people dream – Dawn
Taliban
How exactly does the Taliban raise its funds? Very Little is known about how Taliban in Afghanistan uses, moves, stores, manages, and obscures its funds. Even public understanding of Taliban revenues suffers from lack of precision. Traditional analyses of the Taliban’s finances have focused primarily on how the group raises money. These methods can be broadly categorized into taxation and extortion activities, state sponsorship, donations from wealthy individuals, kidnapping for ransom, and, of course, the drug trade.
Jessica Davis, president of Insight Threat Intelligence and a former senior analyst with the Canadian Security Intelligence Service takes a closer look at Taliban’s finances. Her article reveals multiple systems that vary by region within Afghanistan.
The Challenges of Understanding Taliban Finance – Lawfare Media
Social Media Propaganda
A report by Stanford Internet Observatory (SIO) in 2020 exposed a network of Pakistan-based Facebook and Instagram accounts that leveraged mass reporting to silence critics of Pakistani ruling establishment. As many as 103 Facebook Pages, 78 Facebook Groups, 453 Facebook accounts, and 107 Instagram accounts were taken down on August 31, 2020, by Facebook, for engaging in ‘coordinated inauthentic behavior’. The main theme across the Pages and Groups was Pakistani nationalist content. There was also content elevating the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party and criticism of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party. This network mobilized social media users to report accounts that were Ahmadi, or critical of Pakistan’s military and government. The report doesn’t claim to know who was behind this operation but indicates Pakistan government links.
Infographic
Source: Gallup & Gilani Pakistan
The study in Pakistan was conducted and released by Gilani Research Foundation and carried out by Gallup & Gilani Pakistan, the Pakistani affiliate of Gallup International. The recent survey was carried out among a sample of 853 men and women in urban and rural areas of all four provinces of the country, conducted during 24 August to 28 August 2023. The error margin is estimated to be approximately ± 2-3 percent at the 95% confidence level. The methodology used for data collection was telephonic surveys (CATI).
Bangladesh De/Cypher
25 Sep, 2023
Top Stories from this week
US to provide $116 million in humanitarian aid for Myanmar, Bangladesh
On Thursday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced that the US will provide $116 million in humanitarian aid to Myanmar, Bangladesh, and the neighbouring region to help Rohingya refugees who have fled Myanmar. This contribution brings the United States’ total assistance to those affected by the Myanmar crisis to more than $2.2 billion since August 2017, when over 740,000 Rohingya fled genocide. Read more: Relief Web
Observers may lend credibility to elections
On Sunday, in a letter to the European Union (EU), Bangladesh’s Chief Election Commissioner, Kazi Habibul Awal, stated that both local and foreign observers could improve the credibility of an election. This response comes after the EU informed the Election Commission that it would not be sending a full-fledged mission to observe Bangladesh’s upcoming national election. While the EU’s decision was based on concerns about the fulfilment of necessary conditions, the Chief Election Commissioner hopes that the EU will continue to support efforts to ensure a free, fair, participatory, and credible election, possibly by sending a small group of observers. Read more: The Daily Star
Dengue death toll surpasses 900
As of Sunday, the death toll from dengue fever in Bangladesh has surpassed 900, with 16 new cases reported in the last 24 hours. According to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), 3,008 additional dengue patients were hospitalised during this time period, with 812 in Dhaka and the rest in other parts of the country. There are currently 10,470 dengue patients being treated across the country. This year, the DGHS has recorded 187,725 dengue cases and 176,346 recoveries, with September accounting for 316 deaths and 63,917 cases. Read more: Rtv News
International Outlook
On the sidelines of the 78th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session in New York, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina held several bilateral meetings. Discussions with Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Timor-Leste President Dr. Jose Ramos-Horta, and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen took place during these meetings. During her meeting with the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Mariano Grossi, Prime Minister Hasina emphasised the peaceful use of nuclear energy and Bangladesh’s commitment to nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation. Read more: Rising BD
Relevant Stories
Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister, AK Abdul Momen, has denied any tension in the country’s relations with the United States following the US State Department’s announcement of visa restrictions on Bangladeshi individuals. Individuals attempting to disrupt the upcoming election in Bangladesh will not be granted visas by the United States. Momen emphasised that President Joe Biden’s goal for the next 50 years is to strengthen friendly relations between the two countries. The United States has stated that it will not reveal the names or numbers of people facing visa restrictions in Bangladesh, citing confidentiality under US law. Read more: The Dhaka Tribune
The global watchdog CIVICUS Monitor has placed Bangladesh on its watchlist due to rapid declines in civic freedoms. The civil rights organisation based in Johannesburg accused the government of crushing dissent, targeting opposition supporters, and attempting to silence activists and journalists. The CIVICUS Monitor Watchlist, which was released during the UN Human Rights Council session, includes five countries that are at risk of a sharp decline in civic rights and freedoms, including Bangladesh. Read more: Bangi News
On Wednesday, the Bangladeshi government purchased 2 million bags of injectable saline solution from India to address a shortage of IV fluids needed to treat dengue patients. This purchase includes 1.2 million sodium chloride bags and 800,000 glucose saline bags. The move comes as the country is experiencing an increase in dengue cases, resulting in a high demand for injectable saline. Market manipulation by unethical traders has exacerbated the shortage, prompting the government to intervene to ensure an adequate supply of essential fluids for treatment. Read more: The Daily Star
On Thursday, Yao Wen, China’s Ambassador to Bangladesh, expressed confidence that the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) would propel China-Bangladesh relations to new heights and usher in a new era of friendly cooperation. He emphasised that the BRI seeks peace, cooperation, openness, inclusiveness, and mutual benefit, which is consistent with Bangladesh’s “Vision 2041” and development goals. The BRI has attracted global participation, generated significant investment, and lifted millions out of poverty over the last decade. Under the BRI, China has committed $40 billion to Bangladesh’s development, contributing to economic growth and poverty reduction. Education Minister Dipu Moni praised China’s assistance, and both countries promised to strengthen their relationship even more. Read more: The Business Post
National Politics
The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has stated that the US visa policy will have no impact on the Bangladesh Police force because the law enforcement agency operates within the confines of existing laws. While the US has imposed visa restrictions on individuals in Bangladesh suspected of obstructing the democratic electoral process, the DMP stressed that these restrictions would not affect their work because only a small number of police officers may wish to travel to the US. Read more: The Daily Observer
On Tuesday, it was announced that former BNP leaders Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury and Advocate Taimur Alam Khandaker were elected chairperson and secretary-general of the Trinamool Bangladesh National Party (BNP), respectively. According to its leaders, the Trinamool BNP, which registered with the Election Commission on February 16, aims to depoliticise the country and protect democracy. Barrister Nazmul Huda, a former minister in Khaleda Zia’s government, founded the party. Read more: Prothom Alo
On Sunday, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the government, demanding that its chairperson, Khaleda Zia, be released and immediately sent abroad for medical treatment. At a rally, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir issued the ultimatum, stating that the government would be held accountable if anything happened to her. The government had previously suspended Khaleda’s prison sentence, but only on the condition that she not leave the country and receive treatment in Bangladesh. Read more: New Age
Business and Economy
Bangladesh’s gross domestic product (GDP) is expected to grow by 6.5% in fiscal year 2024, up from 6% in fiscal year 2023, according to the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The ADB’s forecast is based on improved domestic demand and stronger export growth, which are being driven by the Eurozone’s economic recovery. Due to improved remittance growth, inflation is expected to fall from 9% in FY2023 to 6.6% in FY2024, and the current account deficit is expected to narrow slightly from 0.7% of GDP in FY2023 to 0.5% of GDP in FY2024. The main risk to this forecast is weaker-than-expected global demand, which will affect export growth. Read more: The Financial Express
Relevant Stories
The World Bank has approved a $300 million loan package to help Bangladesh recover from the COVID-19 pandemic’s learning setbacks. This assistance will be used to implement a hybrid of online and in-person learning in order to strengthen the education system’s resilience, improve learning outcomes and teaching quality, and reduce secondary school dropout rates. Read more: The Bangladesh Post
Sri Lanka has repaid Bangladesh the entire $200 million loan it received over two years ago through a currency-exchange agreement known as SWAP. Sri Lanka was in serious financial trouble, and loan repayment had become uncertain, prompting the country to declare itself a sovereign debt defaulter. However, as the Sri Lankan economy improved this year, the country was able to quickly repay its foreign debt. Bangladesh loaned the money in three instalments in 2021, with Sri Lanka initially expected to repay it in three months. The final repayment of $50 million, plus interest, was made recently, confirming the repayment’s completion. Read more: The Business Post
A consortium led by the Japanese Sumitomo Corporation and Parker Bangladesh is building a 200MW solar power plant in the Barapukuria coal mine area of Bangladesh, with a 50MW floating unit and a 150MW ground-mounted unit. Tariffs for the plant are proposed at $0.12 per kWh for the ground-mounted unit and $0.16 per kWh for the floating unit, which the government will purchase for a period of 20 years. These tariffs are higher than those approved recently by the cabinet committee for the country’s largest solar power plant. By 2025, Bangladesh hopes to generate 10% of its electricity from renewable sources. Read more: The Business Standard
In 2023, Italy hired a record number of Bangladeshi workers, with approximately 14,434 workers employed in various industries, particularly agricultural farming, hospitality, and manufacturing. The Mediterranean country intends to hire 82,705 seasonal and non-seasonal workers from 33 non-EU countries, including Bangladesh. While this is a positive trend, some employees have expressed concern about high migration costs, which can exceed Tk15 lakh, far exceeding the Tk2-Tk2.5 lakh limit recommended by authorities. Despite this, Bangladeshi expatriates in Italy sent remittances totalling $800 million in the first eight months of 2023. Read more: The Business Standard
Rohingya Refugee Situation
On Thursday, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina urged the international community to use the existing legal and multilateral mechanisms to hold those responsible for atrocities committed against the Rohingya people in Myanmar accountable. She emphasised the need for humanitarian assistance and repatriation solutions for the Rohingya crisis during a speech at the United Nations General Assembly High-Level Side Event, emphasising that the root of the problem is in Myanmar. She urged the international community to stay focused on justice and accountability processes, as well as to cooperate with international justice mechanisms working on the issue. Read more: The Daily Sun
Relevant Stories
On Tuesday, police detained 101 Rohingya refugees who fled refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. Authorities have increased patrols and launched a special operation to keep refugees from fleeing the camps. The operation comes after a meeting of the National Committee on Security and Management of Myanmar’s Displaced Rohingya Citizens Sheltered in Bangladesh, which aimed to strengthen law enforcement supervision and surveillance to ensure registered Rohingyas do not leave the camps without permission. Read more: The Daily Star
On Tuesday, Rohingya community leader named Mohammad Ayub, aged 35, was brutally hacked to death by unidentified assailants in the Ukhiya refugee camp in Cox’s Bazar. Ayub, a sub majhi (community leader), was attacked by a group of 10 to 12 criminals wielding sharp weapons while he was speaking with others. Despite being rushed to a local hospital, he was declared dead by doctors. The perpetrators remain at large, and the motive behind the attack is unclear. Read more: The Daily Observer
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has welcomed the Republic of Korea’s $1 million contribution to help Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. This funding will assist UNHCR in providing protection and humanitarian aid to nearly one million Rohingya refugees who rely on such assistance for their daily needs. Read more: Dhaka Tribune
Latest in Society
On Tuesday, a case was filed in Rangpur Labour Court against Nobel laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus and five others. The case was filed by a retired senior farm manager of Grameen Krishi Foundation, who claims he was not paid wages, gratuity, or earned leave and is seeking compensation. He owes the foundation Tk 9.75 lakh (approximately $11,500 USD). The other accused individuals include the foundation’s chairperson, acting managing director, and board members. Read more: Bangla news 24
According to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED), Bangladesh is ranked 22nd out of the world’s 50 most conflict-ridden countries. The index is based on data gathered from over 240 countries and territories between July 2022 and July 2023, with conflict levels classified as extreme, high, or turbulent. Bangladesh is in the “high” category, followed by India (16th) and Pakistan (19th). Read more: Shampratik Deshkal
According to a Telenor report, 97% of Bangladeshi mobile internet users are concerned about privacy and security issues when using their phones. According to the study, Bangladeshis are among the most concerned about keeping up with rapidly changing technology, with 97% concerned about their digital skills. In Bangladesh, however, 91% of respondents said mobile use had improved their quality of life, and 73% said they planned to increase their smartphone usage in the coming months. Read more: The Daily Star
Views and Analysis
Politics
In Bangladesh, involvement in militancy often stems from various motivations
The RAB has been critical in dismantling militant networks, apprehending top leaders of various militant organisations, and contributing to increased security. This article focuses on the motivations that drive people to engage in militancy, such as ideological and religious convictions, mental vulnerability, personal grievances, and socioeconomic factors. It emphasises the importance of a multifaceted approach to combating militancy, addressing root causes, and promoting reintegration into society. Read more: Weekly Blitz
Economy
Bangladesh’s economic boom
The article discusses Bangladesh’s economic growth as well as the country’s potential as a promising destination for international businesses and investors. It emphasises the country’s impressive economic figures, infrastructure investments, and cost advantages, positioning it as a desirable location for foreign investment. It does, however, emphasise the importance of raising Bangladesh’s global cultural profile in order to attract more investors and tourists. The article suggests that Bangladesh should celebrate its rich history and heritage while leveraging its Commonwealth ties to enhance its international reputation and drive investment, drawing lessons from India’s success in revising its global image. Read more: Dhaka Tribune
Climate
Climate Smart Rice Varieties and Food Security
The article emphasises the importance of climate-smart rice varieties in ensuring food security in Bangladesh, particularly in vulnerable coastal areas. It discusses various stress-tolerant rice varieties developed by institutions such as the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) and the Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture (BINA) to combat challenges such as salinity, submergence, drought, and extreme temperatures. These climate-resilient rice varieties are critical for mitigating the effects of climate change on rice production. Read more: The Daily Asian Age
Infographic
The global Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) measures acute multidimensional poverty across more than 100 developing countries. It does so by measuring each person’s overlapping deprivations across 10 indicators in three equally weighted dimensions: health, education and standard of living (see figure). The health and education dimensions are based on two indicators each, while standard of living is based on six indicators.
According to the United Nations Development Programme’s Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) 2023, 25 countries out of 110 have cut their global MPI value for poor populations in half in 15 years, demonstrating progress towards the Sustainable Development Goal of halving poverty by 2030. While Bangladesh is not on the list, it has made significant progress in nutrition, child mortality, education, and other areas. Economists, on the other hand, are sceptical, citing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and income inequality as factors not adequately addressed in the MPI. Read more: The Business Standard
Video
YouTuber with 1 billion views unites Bangladeshis with food challenge
The SS Food Challenge, created by Omar Sunny Somrat, is uniting communities in Bangladesh through innovative physical games recorded for social media. In the midst of the prevalence of smartphone games, Somrat and his team organise difficult physical games with essential items such as cooking oil as prizes, with the goal of fostering community harmony. Their YouTube and Facebook channels have over three million subscribers and over a billion views combined. Read more: The National
Watch Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9Mij6SqHEY
Rest of Asia
Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe called the AUKUS security pact between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States “a mistake” and stated that it is a military alliance against China. He also dismissed concerns about China’s influence in Sri Lanka, saying there are no spy ships in the country and referring to them as “research vessels.” He emphasised his country’s desire to avoid military activity in the Indian Ocean, noting that the Sino-US rivalry has spread from the Western Pacific to the Indian Ocean and South Pacific. Read more: South China Morning Posts
Saudi Arabia and Houthi rebels met in Riyadh to discuss ending Yemen’s war. While the talks were described as “positive,” no concrete results were reported. The talks take place against the backdrop of increased diplomatic efforts to end the long-running conflict, which has resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths, widespread famine, and millions of displaced people, making it one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. The Riyadh talks are seen as a positive development, especially after the restoration of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran earlier this year. Read more: Dawn
China’s placement of a floating barrier in the Scarborough Shoal, a disputed area in the South China Sea, has been condemned by the Philippines. Eduardo M. Ao, the country’s national security advisor, stated that the Philippines would take the necessary steps to have the barriers removed, emphasising that they violated Filipino fishermen’s traditional fishing rights. China claims a large portion of the South China Sea, which overlaps with the exclusive economic zones of several other regional countries, including the Philippines. The Scarborough Shoal has been a source of contention since China took control of it in 2012. Read more: Money Control
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this newsletter are solely those of the respective authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policies or positions of decypher or ASIA, chaired by Prof. Najeeb Jung.
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