Dhaka,   Thursday 01 June 2023

The South Asian Times | সাউথ এশিয়ান টাইমস
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Writ seeks transfer of Bangladesh’s forex reserves from US

Writ seeks transfer of Bangladesh’s forex reserves from US

A writ petition has been filed with the High Court seeking directives for the transfer of Bangladesh`s foreign exchange reserves from the United States to “safer countries.” The petitioner, Advocate Md Mahmudul Hasan, confirmed the matter on Wednesday. He said he filed the writ petition in the form of public litigation on Tuesday.  The writ also mentions that the people of the countries whose foreign reserves have already been seized by the United States have had to suffer extremely. The finance secretary, foreign secretary, governor of Bangladesh Bank and chairman of the Public Service Commission were made respondents in the writ. The writ petition says the US is the most powerful country in the world. After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the United States became the only superpower in the world. The US has the power to destroy the economy and infrastructure of any country in the world. When the US wants to control a country, it uses either military force or sanctions. The US has destroyed many countries including Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and Vietnam, and killed billions of people using military force. Apart from this, the writ adds, the United States has attacked the economy of many countries including Iran, Russia, Cuba, North Korea, Iraq, Sudan and Venezuela by imposing sanctions. At present, multifaceted international conspiracies have spread across Bangladesh. As a result of the conspiracy, Bangladesh has become a target of the United States. For this, the United States imposed sanctions on RAB. Although there are some controversial activities, RAB`s contribution to maintaining the rule of law, and controlling drug and human trafficking is immense. On the other hand, on May 24, the United States intervened in the internal affairs of Bangladesh and announced a new visa policy. Political leaders, government officials and judges have been targeted through the policy, the petitioner says. The writ petition also states that the country lacks politicians experienced in international politics. On the other hand, most of the government officials who are employed in the foreign ministry and embassies of Bangladesh do not have honours and master`s degrees in international relations. As a result, these government officials are not able to contribute properly to protect the interests of Bangladesh in international politics. Bangladesh is one of the most peaceful countries in the world. Following Article 25 of the constitution, Bangladesh continues to maintain a peaceful coexistence with the outside world. “Bangladesh has unfortunately become a target of the US as part of a global conspiracy. Seizing a country`s foreign reserves is an old practice when it becomes a US target. The US has already seized the foreign reserves of many countries and crippled their economies. In the current situation, there is a possibility that the foreign exchange reserves of Bangladesh may be seized by the United States on any pretext in the near future. Most of Bangladesh`s reserves are deposited in the Federal Reserve Bank of the United States. “Bangladesh Bank manages foreign exchange reserves under the powers given to it by Section 7 (A) (D) of the Bangladesh Bank Order, 1972. Since most of Bangladesh`s reserves are with the Federal Reserve Bank of the United States, if they are seized by the United States under any pretext, the country`s economy will completely collapse – Bangladesh will not be able to import essential food items. In that case, the lives of the people of the country will be at risk. Many people will die from a lack of food.”

High Court orders Dr Yunus to pay NBR over 12C in taxes

High Court orders Dr Yunus to pay NBR over 12C in taxes

The High Court on Wednesday ordered Nobel Laureate Prof Muhammad Yunus to pay over Tk12 crore to the National Board of Revenue (NBR) in cases filed in connection with evading taxes during the years 2011 to 2013. The High Court bench of Justice Muhammad Khurshid Alam Sarkar and Justice Sardar Md Rashed Jahangir delivered the verdict. The court also dismissed three separate petitions filed by Dr Yunus challenging the tax liability imposed by the NBR on the money he had gifted to his three charitable trusts. The court said Dr Yunus`s tax evasion charges have been proved in three cases. Attorney General AM Amin Uddin represented the state in the court, while Mostafizur Rahman Khan stood on behalf of Dr Yunus. Dr Yunus gave Tk76.73 crore to three trusts – Professor Muhammad Yunus Trust, Yunus Family Trust and Yunus Centre – in the tax years 2011-2012 and 2013-2014, according to the case statement.  In line with the Gift Tax Act, 1990, the NBR sent a notice to Dr Yunus demanding Tk12,28,74,000 in taxes against a total donation of Tk61,57,69,000 in the tax year 2011-2012. In the tax year 2012-2013, the NBR demanded Tk1,60,74,000 against a donation of Tk8.15lakh.  Then in the tax year 2013-2014, the NBR issued a notice demanding TK1,50,21,000 in taxes against a donation of Tk7,00,65,000. Later, Prof Yunus filed a case with the Tax Appellate Tribunal challenging the imposition of taxes on the donated money.  Dr Yunus claimed in the case that according to the law, the NBR cannot demand taxes on donations. Then on November 20, 2014, the tribunal rejected his application. Later in 2015, he filed three writ petitions with the High Court.  After hearing the applications, the High Court on April 2, 2015 stayed the operation of the government notifications issued for realizing the demanded taxes. After the final hearing of that rule, May 31 was fixed for the verdict.

3 Bangladeshi UN peacekeepers wounded in IED attack in Mali

Three Bangladeshi peacekeepers were injured when a motorcade of a patrol team under Bangladesh Formed Police Unit (BANFPU-2) came under attack by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in Mali on Sunday morning. The armoured personnel carrier (APC), which was carrying the policemen, was also damaged in the incident, says a press release issued from Police Headquarters in Dhaka on Monday evening. However, the police headquarters did not disclose the identities of the three injured Bangladeshi police peacekeepers. The attack took place at around 9:30am local time on Sunday on the patrol team assigned to the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission, the press release says. As a result, three members of BANFPU-2, Minusma (The United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali), Mali were injured and an APC carrying policemen was damaged in the incident, the press release added. It is mentionable that the incident occurred when the patrol team of the BANFPU-2 reached the remote desert road along the mountains of Gundam-Tongka-Niaphungke Highway, some 15km off from the Gundam Super Camp in Mali`s Timbuktu region.  Several IED blasts have occurred in this area in the past. Police peacekeepers on patrol duty spotted a suspicious hole in the middle of the road. The IED exploded as they maneuvered past the hole. Due to the intelligence of the police peacekeepers and the APCTs` capability to withstand the high-level explosions, they escaped from greater danger. It is also to be noted that Minusma authorities have highly appreciated the members of BANFPU-2, Minusma, Mali as they have performed their peacekeeping duties with utmost professionalism and vigilance.

BGB, BSF agree to resolve border issue through dialogue

Bangladesh Border Guard (BGB) and Indian Border Security Force (BSF) in a sector commander level border coordination meeting on Monday agreed to resolve any border-related issue through dialogue to maintain the existing peace on the common borders. BGB sources said the meeting was held from 11am to 4pm inside Bangladesh territory in the conference room of Sonahat Land Port near international border pillar no-1008 adjacent to Sonahat border outpost in Bhurungamari upazila of Kurigram district. Talking to reporters, Commanding Officer of BGB-22 Kurigram Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Md Abdul Mottakim, confirmed this information. Rangpur Sector Commander of BGB, Colonel Md Yasir Jahan Hossain, led the BGB delegation while Deputy Inspector General of Dhubri BSF Sector in the Indian State of Assam, DIG Shri Ashutosh Sharma, led the BSF delegation in the meeting. Commanding officers, deputy commanding officers and staff officers of BGB-22 Kurigram Battalion, BGB-15 Lalmonirhat Battalion, BGB-51 Rangpur Battalion and commandants, staff officers and other officers of BSF of the respective areas were present. According to BGB sources, the BGB and BSF sides discussed border surveillance, increasing joint patrols and mutual cooperation to stop cross-border crimes including smuggling, cattle, drug and human trafficking in the border areas. In addition, both sides agreed to maintain the existing friendly relationship between BGB and BSF through mutual communication and cooperation to resolve any untoward incident to maintain the existing peace and order across the common international border between the two friendly countries.

Children of single mothers face immense mental health challenges

Raising children as single mothers comes with unique difficulties, particularly in the social reality of Bangladesh where they have to battle various obstacles very often.  Studies have revealed that more than 54% of Bangladeshi single mothers experience psychological problems. These challenges encompass work-related stress, social barriers, and financial strain. According to recent research, 44.2% of married women raise children alone due to the death of their husbands, 34.60% face divorce, and 21.20% due to extramarital affairs, second marriages, and physical abuse. Among these single mothers, 17.3% work as domestic workers to support their families. The constant stress faced by these women undoubtedly impacts their children`s mental well-being. The absence of either parent during a child`s early years can disrupt their world and impact their mental development. The situation also raises a critical question: to what extent do their children bear the burden of separate stressors? Dhaka Tribune has undertaken an exploration of these issues. A joint survey conducted by the Department of Health`s Non-Communicable Diseases Branch and the World Health Organization (WHO) discovered that 13.6% of children between the ages of 7 and 14 in Bangladesh suffer from mental illnesses. Tragically, many of these children do not receive the necessary treatment due to societal taboos surrounding mental health. Stories of resilience and struggle emerge from single mothers like Amena (pseudonym), raising her son Amin, 16, alone. Amin`s father vanished shortly after his birth, leaving Amena no choice but to leave her child with her mother in their village home while she sought work as a housekeeper in Dhaka.

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