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.

NEW YORK, 29 February 2020, TON: The American stocks sank around the globe again Friday, 28 February due to the spread of coronavirus outbreak, sending US markets to their worst weekly finish since  2008 financial crisis.

The damage remained: The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 3,583 points, or 12.4%. Microsoft and Apple, the two most valuable companies in the S&P 500, lost a combined $300 billion. In a sign of the severity of the concern about the possible economic blow, the price of oil sank 16%. Crude oil prices sank 4.9% over worries that global travel and shipping will be severely crimped and hurt demand for energy.

The Federal Reserve released a statement saying it stood ready to help the economy if needed. Investors increasingly expect the Fed to cut rates at its next policy meeting in mid-March. The US is facing worst recession and unless Fed do not shoulder the economy, the economic situation in the US is facing greatest challenge of the times.

DECCA, 27 February 2020, TON: Bangladesh is going to celebrate the 100^th birthday of the father of the nation Sheikh Mujibur Rahman from 17^th March this year till 17^th March next year. Not only the people of Bangladesh but many foreign nations would celebrate the day abroad. This will be the international projection of the significance of Sheikh Mujibur Rehman towards Bangali nation. The day will be celebrated in order to let the world know who is Sheikh Mujib? why He is? and how He is? The countdown of ‘Mujib Year’ started on the 10^thJanuary 2020 as the commemoration of returning back of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib to the new born Bangladesh in 1972. The countdown will be end on 17^th March when Bangladesh and the world will celebrate the day. 294 programs have been chalked out with regard to ‘Mujib Year’ celebration. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has forbidden the excessive expense and illegal projection without approval of the authority in our country on this day.

Bangladesh has already received a long list of global guests who will attend a series of programs during the ‘Mujib Year’ celebrations. Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammad, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, former Indian President Pranab Mukherjee, Indian National Congress Party’s President Sonia Gandhi, Organization of Islamic Cooperation’s Secretary General Dr. Yousef A Al-Othaimeen, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohammad bin Zayed Al Nahyam, former UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, and former UNESCO Director- General Irina Bokova are some of the global leaders who will attend the programs. Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed intense interest in the ‘Mujib Year’ celebration and wished a complete success to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. In Pakistan too, which remained as the Western Part and Bangladesh as Eastern part, there will be celebrations throughout the country. The Bangladesh High Commission located at Sector F-6/3, Islamabad will organize special programme while special features will be published in Pakistani media.