News digests

Friday 17th July

Bangladesh government seeks a return to secularism

This week in Bangladesh: the controversial move to abolish the Consitution's Fifth Amendment returns to the spotlight; the energy sector comes under renewed scrutiny in the wake of a crackdown on illegal power tapping; and Bangladesh's prime minister is voted in as Vice Chairman of the Non-Aligned Movement.
Wednesday 15th July

India takes a step out of the closet

The process of decriminalising homosexuality has begun, but the road to equality remains a long one
Friday 10th July

Bangladesh Human Rights Commission Given Extensive Powers

In this week's Bangladesh update: The National Human Rights Commission has finally been reinstated by Bangladesh's parliament and given far-ranging powers to pursue its mandate. Critical legislation regarding War Crimes Trials is also passed, despite calls for caution from Human Rights Watch. And the prime minister urges opposition parties to end their boycott of the political process.
Wednesday 8th July

India’s Maoist dilemma: the case of Lalgarh

The ongoing security crisis in West Bengal exposes the cracks in Indian democracy
Friday 3rd July

Riots strike Dhaka

In Bangladesh this week, garment workers riot in the capital, the CHT Peace Accord will be implemented and further JMB arrests are made.

Friday 26th June

Diplomatic deadlock as wrangle over Indian dam continues

This week in Bangladesh, India remains adamant that its controversial hydro-electric project bordering Bangladesh’s northeast will go ahead. Alleged war criminals are finally charged as the War Trials process gets underway. The BNP is thrown into chaos as moves to reorganise its grassroots base backfire.
Wednesday 24th June

US drone strikes kill scores in South Waziristan

US strikes Taliban funeral while Pakistan prepares for war in South Waziristan and further security developments from Russia, Israel, Korea, Afghanistan and China.
Friday 19th June

Extremists regroup in Bangladesh’s rural northwest

An illegal Islamic militant group is rebuilding its forces in Bangladesh's Chapainawabganj region. A community of indigenous people is attackedby land grabbers. And more in this week's Bangladesh update.
Thursday 18th June

Fresh thinking: education and security reforms

The new, stable government in New Delhi has monumental hurdles awaiting it in tackling the education and national security sectors
Friday 5th June

British security services "complicit" in Bangladesh torture row

This week in Bangladesh: MI5 is implicated in the torture of a British national by Bangladeshi security forces; a devastating cyclone strikes Bangladesh's exposed southern coast, while Sheikh Hasina takes the offensive against environmental degradation; and one of the most influential figures in Bangladesh's military and political scene retires

Friday 22nd May

Bangladesh government insists on Pakistan apology

This week in Bangladesh, the government calls on Pakistan to apologise for 1971, Human rights Watch calls for the RAB to be disbanded and more.

Monday 18th May

With the alleged killing of LTTE chief, Sri Lanka claims victory

Velupillai Prabhakaran, the leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, has been reported dead by the Sri Lankan military, prompting them to declare the 26-year civil war over.
Friday 15th May

India awaits election results

The verdict of the month-long parliamentary election is due tomorrow. India's big parties scramble for allies as the horse-trading kicks off

Sheikh Hasina’s husband dies after long fight against illness

This week in Bangladesh: the Prime Minister is in mourning after the death of her husband, the RAB clashes with suspected Islamic militants and gangsters, the trauma of the 1971 liberation war gets entangled in the thicket of contemporary politics, and more in today’s digest.
Friday 8th May

"By the Grace of God" to remain in Bangladesh’s constitution

As a key constitutional decision by the Supreme Court looms, the Bangladeshi Law Minister confirms that "Bismillah" will remain in the constitution. The Gorai river is on the verge of becoming an ecological disaster. The government moves to stop extra-judicial killings. And more in this week's Bangladesh digest.
Thursday 7th May

The Af-Pak air-war and its victims

Air raids in Pakistan and Afghanistan spark outrage, and further security developments from Sri Lanka, Georgia and the middle east. 
Tuesday 5th May

Pakistani militant in Kashmir surrenders to authorities

In today's update: a Pakistani militant turns himself over to security forces in Kashmir, commentators bemoan the lack of ideas in Indian politics, and voters stay at home in Mumbai.
Friday 1st May

Sri Lanka continues bombing of "safe zone"

Today's security update contains stories from Sri Lanka, Iraq, Russia and Lebanon.

Bangladesh Rifles Commander backs probe into prison deaths

Momentum builds for an investigation into suspicious custodial deaths of suspected BDR militants. A replacement is finally found to lead Bangladesh's efforts against corruption. It is confirmed that a Bangladeshi national has died of the swine flu in Mexico. And much more in this week's news digest.
Thursday 30th April

Disappointment after low voter turnout

Despite hopes that recent events like November's Mumbai attacks would energise voters, turnout is depressingly low in the third phase of the general elections. And much more in this week's round-up of the big stories in India.
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