Dhaka, 7 March 2020, TON: The relationship between Bangladesh and Germany had always been cordial and this time would be celebrating almost 50 years together. German Chancellor Angela Markel has been invited on the occasion of the celebration of 100^th Birthday of Father of the Nation Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The German Ambassador to Bangladesh, Mr Peter Fahrenholtz spoke about different aspects of the relations between the two countries and put forward some viable suggestions including how Bangladesh could get attention of the investors from different countries.  

Bangladesh, as one of large growing economy of the world, geo-strategically, regionally and globally, it is becoming an important actor. Germany is focusing on academic exchange and exchange of students and researchers. Germany is also trying to enhance cooperation with regard to civil society, schools, NGOs and sports; football remains the top focus, which they want to import. German automobile companies are interested in producing low-cost cars here for Bangladeshi middle class. Germany has also ensured continued support to repatriate Rohingya sheltering in Bangladesh.

Prime Minister Sheikh has called upon the international community, including Germany, for mounting more pressure on Myanmar’s government to take back its Rohingya nationals from Bangladesh. She particularly requested German Ambassador to play active role in repatriation of the forcibly evicted Rohingyas during German Federal Minister of Economic Cooperation and development Dr Gerd Muller courtesy call on her at official Ganabhaban residence in Dhaka.

German Minister also visited Rohingya camps to chalk out meaningful measures compelling Myanmar for safe, dignified and sustainable return of the forcibly displaced Rohingyas. After visiting the camps , the German Development Minister said they will suspend all development cooperation with Myanmar until the country ensures the safe repatriation Rohingya refugees.  Gerd Muller disclosed that Germany will provide 15 million euros in additional funding for education and sanitation measures to help the Rohingya refugees living in the camps in Bangladesh as well as the communities hosting them.

WASHINGTON, 7 March 2020, TON: President Donald Trump on Friday signed an $8.3 billion measure to help tackle the coronavirus outbreak that has killed several dozen people and infected over 1000 people in America.

The legislation provides federal public health agencies with money for vaccines, tests and potential treatments and helps state and local governments prepare and respond to the threat.

WASHINGTON, 7 March 2020, TON: US President Donald Trump said on Friday, Taliban could possibly overrun the Afghan government after the United States at the White House withdraws from the country, leaving the US-backed authorities to defend for themselves.

At the White House briefing, President Trump said, “Countries have to take care of themselves…. You can only hold someone’s hand for so long.” The statement was given by President Trump on the apprehensions that Taliban being overwhelming Pastun majority would overrun the country and the elections if US withdraws from Afghanistan. Analysts say that 7^th March deadly Kabul attack at a minority ceremony in which top opposition leadership including Abdullah Abdullah was also present was aimed to impress upon the western forces of dangers if US and NATO withdraw its forces from Afghanistan.The opposition, which in the past enjoyed the fruits of broad-based government despite democratic elections are perturbed over their future domination over the political, government and social structure of Afghanistan.

President Trump clarified, “We can’t be there for the next twenty years. We’ve been there for twenty years and we have been protecting the country but we can’t be there for the next twenty years,  eventually they’re going to have to protect themselves. ” Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Defense Secretary Mark Esper  and US special envoy for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad discussed plans to convince   Afghan President Ashraf Ghani to agree to a mechanism in which minority fill the political and governmental seats regardless of election results and government rules.

KABUL, 6 March 2020, TON: In a renewed attack at Afghan capital Kabul, unidentified gunmen opened indiscriminate firing at a ceremony organized by the Hazara community in which top opposition leaders were also present. At least 29 people were killed and scores of others injured. As per the detail top opposition leadership was celebrating death anniversary of Abdul Ali Mazari, a  Hazara leader who was killed in 1995.  

Last year too during the ceremony several people were killed in a similar attack. Taliban have denied any involvement in the attack. As per the analysts the attack was carried out by foreign intelligence agencies to create suspicion against the Taliban and create doubts amongst the masses about peace in Afghanistan.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani in a statement condemned the attack and termed it  “a crime against humanity and against the national unity of Afghanistan”. Representatives of Representatives of the US, European Union, Pakistan and NATO condemned the attack. Hazaras are mostly Shi’ite Muslims, who had been in favour of foreign occupation and were critical of any deal with Taliban. It has become a routine affair that any unclaimed attack is attributed to Sunnis and Taliban but this time Taliban and other Sunni leadership has condemned the attack and denied their involvement.

SAN DIEGO, 4 March 2020, TON: At annual West 2020 conference which concluded on 3 March, the US was represented by Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Mike Gilday, Marine Corps Commandant General David Berger and Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Karl Schultz. The commanders ensured that the spreading Covid-19 coronavirus so far has not affected US military readiness but the actual figures of Coronavirus positive is not being disclosed.  

However, more than a week ago, another American Army soldier stationed in Korea became victim of Coronavirus as his test was positive for Coronavirus and is under treatment. His wife and their baby were also transported from Daegu to an isolation unit at Camp Humphreys where the soldier also is being held. An Army spokesman confirmed the soldier’s test is positive. Reportedly, as on 4 March 2020, 71 US military personnel are infected with virus and have been quarantined.

The US military command has prohibited travel to Italy due to the concentration of the outbreak there. Navy is scrutinizing port visits for its ships and scaling back some naval exercises.

WEST is a large naval conference held in San Diego each year. It attracts top military brass and defense contractors to the San Diego Convention Center.

DHAKA, 3 March 2020, TON: Thousands of Bangladeshi protesters marched through the street of the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka. They were demanding cancellation of the invitation to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is scheduled to visit Dhaka on 17 March 2020. It was reaction of anti-Muslim policis in India, especially after recent anti-Muslim violence in the Indian capital Delhi.

At least 46 people have been killed and more than 200 injured in the mob violence that continued for three days beginning from Sunday in the Indian capital New Delhi.

Bangladeshi government has invited Indian Prime Minister Modi to address a function marking the 100th birth anniversary of the father of the nation Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

ABUJA, 2 March 2020, TON: Ever since row between Washington and President Buhari Muhammadu started over certain anti-Islamic actions, the liberals and minorities have joined hands to weaken the Nigerian Government. Thousand of Christians gathered in Nigerian capital Abuja to protest against the worsening insecurity in the country. They demanded a liberal society.

The march started from the National Christian Centre and terminated at the Our Lady Queen of Nigeria and was led by president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN).  

Speaking after the procession, Rev. Augustine Akubeze threaten President Buhari Muhammadu that silence of Christians is causing insecurity problem in the country and sowing and breeding a seed of mistrust.

Meanwhile, The Northern Youth Coalition (NYC) has admonished President Muhammadu Buhari to resign from office before Nigeria becomes another Somalia.  Chairman, Senate Committee on Army, Ali Ndume has urged the Federal Government to immediately engage the services of foreign mercenaries in the fight against insurgency if that would end the Boko Haram crisis.

DOHA, 29 February 2020, TON: American media is celebrating US -Taliban historic agreement, which American leadership claims would set into motion the drawdown of US troops from Afghanistan and potentially pave the way to ending America's longest-fought war. The media throughout the world is rejoicing over deal between the US and the Taliban but question remains, where is the deal? In fact, the deals authenticate US troops’ presence till April-May 2021, censures Taliban-Al Qaida linkage and set condition of political settlement prior to the withdrawal.

This winter the average deployment of US troops in Afghanistan was less than 4000 but the agreement provides reduction of US troops from about 12,000 to 8,600. Similarly, the NATO troops have also been explained in the deal in a similar fashion. A joint statement issued by the US and Afghan governments from Doha provide that the United States and NATO would withdraw all troops in Afghanistan within 14 months if the Taliban upheld its commitments.

Afghanistan’s Independent Election Commission has announced that President Ashraf Ghani won 50.64 percent of a 28 September. Where Washington has asked President Ashraf Ghani to give up his claim of winning the elections, interestingly, the so called Taliban representatives are also dubbing President Ashraf Ghani’s government as US puppet regime. Obviously, who is left to be negotiated is an open secret.  Interestingly, Afghanistan’s government has also agreed to postpone President Ashraf Ghani’s inauguration to a second term. In the same regard, US State Department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus said in a statement that US notes the results announced in Ashraf Ghani’s favor but Washington claims that it is not recognizing either victory claim.

If we recall, prior to the signing of the deal, President Donald Trump said: “If the Taliban and the government of Afghanistan live up to these commitments, we will have a powerful path forward to end the war in Afghanistan and bring our troops home”. One wonders is this the same democracy which USA, Britain and other western feel proud of and want the other nations to follow and implement as a political system in their countries.  

The Afghan war has led around 1.6 million innocent Afghan men, women, children killed since bloody attacks on Kandhar by the US in 1998 from the Arabian Gulf.  Whereas, although the death toll of the foreign forces in Afghanistan is much higher but the official figures released by the US and British governments says that more than 2,400 American troops and 450 from Britain have been killed in the Afghan war. One wonders if United Nations Organizations has a role to play as World Organization; if United Nations Organization can authorize US and allies to invade and destroy Afghanistan what bars United Nations Security Council to order complete withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan.

I am a human, and this is my primary identity in this world. What about you? But it is regretful that some people feel ashamed to express them as ‘humans’. Many among these ashamed people are, no doubt, strong supporters of Aristotle. According to Aristotle they are not specifically humans but political animals but what about those who are not political animals? They are just humans who love each other without imposing any condition; they are the true patriots, whose religion never becomes the resistance in the path of patriotism.

Yes, I am a Muslim also. My Islam gives me the lessons to be a die-heart lover of own country and our people. It never advises me to hate people of other religions. Instead, Islam is practical that never separate us from rest of the world. Each country comprises of different segments of the society on the basis of their religions, races, classes and the very aspect is even recognized by Islam. We never want to separate ourselves from our neighbors, our fellow people as they are our siblings. Like Islam other divine religions also teaches us the same. Even Hinduism spread the message to maintain peace. I know a large number of Hindus living in our country who are very generous, love others irrespective of their religions and posses patriotism. So should we hate such people? No! we can never do that.

The world is familiar with patriotism of people of India. Although, Hindus are the majority but Indian Muslim nation is very patriotic and are equally contributing in the development of today’s India. So why they are kept oppressed and deprived? The political animals have its answer. Some Indians are of the view and have tweet like this, “Sometimes A King Has To Remind Fools Why He’s King.”  In India, many Muslims are beaten to death or seriously injured; their homes and shops are burned only because they are living within Hindustan which should be only for Hindus.

Nevertheless, majority of Indians want peaceful environment and desire their expelled brothers back. Yes, they are humans rather than political animals as regard to their patriotism. If we recall, some Muslim brothers were killed were singing their national anthem despite inhumane torture. One wonders, how meaningless was their patriotism and entire service for the country.

Now I want to talk about my country, Bangladesh, where people are happy and peaceful. Here people believe in The Creator but our religion lives inside us. Segregation from each other and making trouble for others can never be way or mean to secure a religion or a nation. Rather, it can destroy our religion and the nation. Recently, issue of oppression of Indian Muslim in India is instigating our local people and some groups who are trying to mislead Bangladeshis. We need to hate political animals but not the innocent humans, specially the Hindu minority in our country. As some groups are spreading feelings of hatred towards Hinduism inside local Bangladeshi people, we should not forget our religion does not permit us to hate them. So in order to save our own-self, we need to first protect them, which in sour national and religious obligation.

ANKARA, 29 February 2020, TON: In the backdrop of  attack on Turkish positions in Syria in which 34 Turkish soldier were killed, Turkey summoned emergency meeting of NATO. Turkey’s 28 allies expressed their condolences over the deaths and urged de-escalation, but no additional NATO support was offered in open. Since NATO is already engaged in Syria there is an apprehension from Russia that NATO would take appropriate action to aid to its ally in Syria. Apart from providing some aerial surveillance over Syria, NATO had been covertly active in operations. Presently, NATO has refused to play any direct role in the conflict. However, NATO members are divided over Turkey’s actions there, and European allies are concerned about any new wave of refugees.

The principle of collective defence is at the very heart of NATO’s founding treaty.  It is laid down in the NATO Charter that an attack against one Ally is considered as an attack against all Allies. NATO invoked Article 5 for the first time in its history after the 9/11 terrorist attacks against the USs. NATO has taken collective defence measures on several occasions, for instance in response to the situation in Syria and in the wake of the Russia-Ukraine crisis. However, NATO members are silent over attack on Turkish soldiers.

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in a statement  said, “We stand by our NATO ally Turkey in the aftermath of the despicable and brazen February 27 attack on Turkish forces in Idlib, which resulted in the death of dozens of Turkish soldiers”, He added, “The Assad Regime, Russia, Iran and Hizballah must cease their ongoing attacks in Idlib.”

Earlier, at Friday’s emergency Security Council meeting, 13 of its 15 members supported U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ call for an immediate cease-fire.