World

Moscow, Feb 12 (IANS) Russia will not attend the first meeting of the US-led Board of Peace, the country's Foreign Ministry announced on Thursday.

In response to a question during a news briefing on Thursday, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova stated, "Russia will not take part in the [upcoming] Board of Peace meeting."

Zakharova added that "work to formulate" Russia's position on the Board of Peace is ongoing, the country's leading news agency Tass reported.

The foreign ministry spokesperson's remarks come as the US is set to host the first meeting of the Board of Peace on February 19.

Earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated that Moscow was working to formulate its position about the Board of Peace and was considering "how warily many countries in the West and the East, including permanent members of the UN Security Council, have reacted to this idea."

On January 22, Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed Moscow's readiness to spend USD 1 billion from assets frozen in the US on the Board of Peace. He announced that Russia was ready to do so even before it decides whether or not to be part of the initiative.

Last month, US President Donald Trump launched the Board of Peace at Davos, outlining a US-backed effort to lock in peace, open crossings, demilitarise armed groups, and begin a long-term reconstruction and economic revival in Gaza. The launch followed the signing of the Board of Peace charter.

“This is a very exciting day,” Trump said as he described the initiative as a shift from war to rebuilding.

Trump later framed Gaza’s future in economic terms, arguing that redevelopment and geography could reshape the territory's prospects.

“I’m a real estate person at heart, and it’s all about location,” Trump said. “Look at this location on the sea. Look at this beautiful piece of property, what it could be for so many people.”

--IANS

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Dhaka, Feb 12 (IANS) Bangladesh's former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has termed the 13th Parliamentary election held in the country on Thursday as "farcical" while expressing gratitude to the citizens, including women and minority communities, for rejecting the polls.

Condemning the "so-called" election organised by the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government, Hasina said the administration that seized power "illegally and unconstitutionally", orchestrated a "well-planned farce". She underscored that the people’s voting rights, democratic values, and the spirit of the Constitution were completely disregarded in the "deceptive, voterless election" conducted without the participation of the Awami League party.

“From the evening of 11 February, this farce began with seizure of polling centres, gunfire, vote-buying, distribution of money, stamping of ballots, and agents signing result sheets. By the morning of 12 February, voter turnout was negligible in most polling centres nationwide, and in many centres across the capital and other areas, there were no voters at all," read a statement by Hasina, which was posted on the Awami League's social media platform X.

“According to the Election Commission’s briefing, by 11 am - just three and a half hours into voting - only 14.96 per cent of eligible voters had participated. This extremely low turnout clearly shows that the Awami League–free election was widely rejected by the people," she added.

Hasina noted that in the run-up to the elections, continuous attacks, arrests, intimidation, and fear was directed at the Awami League voters, supporters, well-wishers, and minority communities, forcing them toward polling centres.

“Even so, despite all threats and harassment, people rejected this fraudulent election, leaving most polling centres effectively empty. Additionally, abnormal increases in voter numbers were observed in voter lists, especially in Dhaka city, which raises serious questions and is highly suspicious," Hasina stated.

The Awami League called for the cancellation of this "voter-less, illegal, and unconstitutional" election, resignation of the “murderous-fascist Yunus”, and release of all political prisoners, including teachers, journalists, and intellectuals, and withdrawal of all false cases. Additionally, it demanded revocation of the suspension on Awami League activities and holding of free, fair, and inclusive elections under a neutral caretaker government to restore the people’s voting rights.

--IANS

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Kathmandu, Feb 12 (IANS) The local administration in Kathmandu has banned all forms of protests involving more than five people at the premises of Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu and its surrounding areas, starting from Friday.

Citing certain groups planning to organise protests at the international airport, the District Administration Office (DAO), Kathmandu, issued a prohibitory order barring protest activities — including hunger strikes, sit-ins, gherao, rallies, demonstrations, and assemblies involving the gathering of more than five people — within the entire premises of Tribhuvan International Airport and the surrounding areas for a month.

The restricted area includes all roads from the main entrance gate of the airport to the airport compound, the domestic terminal area, the international terminal area, the parking area, and all other locations within the airport perimeter.

The DAO said the move was taken considering that the international airport and its surrounding areas are highly sensitive.

“The protest programme — including hunger strikes, sit-ins, gherao, rallies, demonstrations, and assemblies — may lead to vandalism, arson, and other unruly and undesirable activities by agitated crowds,” the DAO said. “It may also lead to clashes, confrontations, mob violence, or disturbances, thereby seriously affecting essential services, public service delivery, public transportation, public property, and overall peace and security.”

However, the DAO made it clear that the local administration remains fully committed to upholding every citizen’s constitutional right to freedom of expression, to assemble peacefully without arms, and to participate in protest programmes, in accordance with the Constitution of Nepal, in other areas.

The DAO has urged organisers to provide prior notice when planning protests in other areas. It also warned that if any damage or loss is caused to government, public, or private property, the loss will be assessed in accordance with the law, and the amount of such compensation will be recovered from the organisers themselves.

--IANS

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Dhaka, Feb 12 (IANS) As voting during the 13th Parliamentary elections continues in Bangladesh on Thursday, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) spokesperson Mahdi Amin stressed the importance of maintaining strong relations with all countries, including those in the neighbourhood.

Bangladesh elections: BNP stresses strong ties with neighbouring countries if it forms govt

Commenting on how he perceives the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in fostering a strong and vibrant Indo-Bangladesh relationship, Amin told IANS, "For Bangladesh, it's very important to maintain as good relations as possible with every country, including the neighbourhood. We want people-to-people connectivity, enhance ties in trade, business, economy, culture, education, healthcare and many other aspects, but also build upon reciprocal relations which puts the essence of justice, fairness and equality at its core."

Addressing a question on whether country's former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina would be an issue in dealing with the bilateral relationship with India, the BNP leader said, "It will be decided by the people of Bangladesh. Once the BNP forms a government, we'll do what the people want. Depending on that, we'll take the next course of action and our bilateral relations will be based upon the sentiment of the public."

When asked about BNP’s priority if it wins the election, Amin emphasised that improving the law and order situation of Bangladesh would be paramount.

“We want to build a country where every citizen will be safeguarded and protected. The law enforcement agencies operate with accountability and transparency, and the true essence of the rule of law, human rights, and freedom of expression thrive,” he stated.

Responding to a question on how the BNP government would safeguard minority Hindus if voted to power, Amin said that the party’s ideological foundation is rooted in equal protection of all citizens regardless of religion.

“The political ideology of BNP is Bangladeshi nationalism, which means we treat every individual, irrespective of faith, religion, politics, belief, as the same. So it's in the policy of BNP legacy, where we make every effort to ensure that every individual, irrespective of religion, is fully protected,” the BNP leader told IANS.

Speaking about the path towards a better Bangladesh, Amin said, "Bangladesh can become beautiful once we have a government that has its mandate from the people. Once we have a government that truly wants to change the face of the country, it truly commits to changing the fate of the people. A lot of that has to go with good governance, where the government is elected and maintains accountability to serve the people"

Bangladesh’s high-stakes parliamentary elections are unfolding amid escalating political conflict and violence, with several parties raising concerns over the fairness of the polls.

--IANS

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Islamabad, Feb 12 (IANS) Police has intensified its crackdown on undocumented foreigners in Pakistan, with 5,439 illegal Afghan nationals detained in a holding centre in Rawalpindi, local media reported on Thursday.

Furthermore, 19 individuals have been reported missing from the centre since the government's deadline of March 31 last year to leave Pakistan voluntarily expired. The police has stepped up drives against undocumented immigrants in the federal capital territory with action aimed to arrest illegal Afghan citizens, Pakistan's leading daily Dawn reported.

Police has been directed to focus only on daily arrests of illegal Afghans, illegal tenants, hotel eye and travel eye. Police officials have been warned that strict departmental action will be taken against those who do not record entries.

Police has also launched a crackdown against violations of the Tenancy Act in Rawalpindi, detaining 38 people, according to police spokespersons. He stated that actions against those arrested were conducted in areas, including Chontra, Chakri, Kahuta, Naseerabad, Chaklala, Jatli, Sadar Baruni and Kallar Syedan.

Crackdown has been launched to implement the Tenancy Act, with daily search operations, as per the orders issued by CPO Syed Khalid Mahmood Hamdani, Dawn reported. People have been asked to register tenants to maintain law and order and register details about tenants and employees at the relevant police station.

Last month, the Taliban regime in Kabul said that the problems faced by Afghan refugees in Pakistan are rising and stressed that Pakistani government should respect refugee rights and stop arresting and harassing Afghan migrants.

"Unfortunately, problems faced by Afghan refugees in Pakistan are increasing, with arrests, harassment, and mistreatment by Pakistani officials on the rise, leaving refugees in serious difficulty," Pajhwok Afghan News quoted Taliban deputy spokesperson Hamdullah Fitrat as saying in an audio message.

Fitrat urged the United Nations and other relevant organisations to uphold refugee protection principles and intervene in nations where refugee rights are breached. He stated that Afghan refugees who returned to Afghanistan need economic cooperation and support.

He emphasised that Pakistani government should be forced to respect refugee rights, follow international refugee principles and stop arresting and harassing Afghan refugees, Pajhwok Afghan News reported.

Pakistan has repatriated thousands of Afghan migrants over the past year as part of a nationwide crackdown, with journalists and human rights activists being among those impacted.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Feb 12 (IANS) Nearly one million children were missed and more than 53,000 families refused vaccination during Pakistan’s latest nationwide polio campaign, raising serious concerns about the effectiveness of eradication efforts, a report has said.

While health officials report that over 44 million children were vaccinated and overall coverage reached 98 per cent, experts warn that even a small gap is dangerous in a country that still carries the poliovirus, according to Dawn report.

According to campaign data, around 670,000 children were marked as ‘not available at home.’

Health specialists say this explanation is difficult to justify, as children who are not at home are usually present in public places such as schools, markets, parks or relatives’ houses.

They stress that vaccination teams should be deployed in busy public areas and that households must be revisited multiple times to ensure no child is left out.

Missed children, they argue, should be treated as a serious operational failure rather than a routine statistic, the report said.

Refusals remain another major challenge. Karachi alone accounted for about 31,000 refusals, nearly 58 per cent of the national total.

This has raised questions about the role of misinformation, weak planning, poor local governance and lack of political focus in the country’s largest city.

Public health advocates say Karachi needs a targeted, neighbourhood-level approach, stronger involvement of community leaders and stricter enforcement of vaccination laws after due process.

Security concerns also continue to disrupt campaigns in some areas. Experts insist that no child should miss vaccination because health workers feel unsafe, and that providing visible and effective security for polio teams is the state’s responsibility.

Although Pakistan has reported fewer polio cases recently and several environmental samples have tested negative, officials caution that eradication requires zero tolerance for gaps, as per the report.

Missed children, refusals and security lapses must be addressed urgently to protect every child from a preventable disease.

--IANS

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Dhaka, Feb 12 (IANS) Violence continues to rage across Bangladesh as the country votes during the 13th parliamentary election on Thursday. Nasiruddin Patwari, a candidate for the 11-party alliance and leader of the National Citizens Party (NCP), was reportedly attacked as he was visiting a polling booth in the Dhaka-8 constituency.

Bangladesh's leading Bengali daily Jugantor reported that Patwari was attacked while speaking to reporters at the centre around 12 noon on Thursday. Safely rescued by the law enforcement forces, he later alleged that the supporters of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) candidate Mirza Abbas were behind "vote theft" and attacks.

"While he was speaking, supporters of Mirza Abbas shouted slogans of 'Fake Fake'. At one point, they were chased and the attack took place," reported Jugantor.

In a social media post, the NCP leader stated that voting is being done by "Mirza Abbas's terrorist forces" and the BNP leaders and activists attacked him in the presence of the local administration.

Election Day in Bangladesh has been marred by violence.

Violence erupted at several polling booths across the country on Thursday, leading to the death of a political leader as the voting was underway across the nation, local media reported.

The incidents started unfolding after polling began early morning, reflecting the deteriorating law and order situation and volatile security landscape in Bangladesh.

Amid the escalating violence, a Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leader, Mohibuzzaman Kochi, died at the Alia Madrasa polling station in Khulna district.

Citing eyewitnesses and police, Jugantor reported that tension arose between BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami supporters on Thursday morning near the Alia Madras Academic Building.

Former Khulna Sadar Thana BNP organising secretary Yusuf Harun Majnu said, "There was tension at the centre since morning. The principal of Alia Madrasa was campaigning for Jamaat. When he stopped him, he pushed Mohibuzzaman Kochi. As a result, he hit a tree and got hit on the head. This is what caused his death."

Confirming the incident, Khulna Sadar Police Station Sub Inspector Khan Faisal Rafi, in charge of the centre, said, "When tension arose between the two parties, we immediately went to the spot and separated the two parties."

Emergency Medical Officer at Khulna City Medical College Hospital, Partha Roy, told Jugantor that the BNP leader Kochi was brought dead to the hospital.

In another incident on Thursday morning, a cocktail bomb attack at a polling station in Gopalganj Sadar Upazila during voting left three people injured. The incident occurred at the Reshma International School polling station in Gopalganj district.

Bangladesh's high-stakes parliamentary elections are unfolding amid escalating political conflict and violence, with several parties raising concerns over the fairness of the polls.

--IANS

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Dhaka, Feb 12 (IANS) Radical Islamist party Jamaat-e-Islami Chief Shafiqur Rahman on Thursday voiced optimism that his party would secure power through the mandate of the voters in the high-stakes Bangladeshi national elections, local media reported.

Addressing reporters in Dhaka, Rahman made the comments after casting his vote at the Monipur High School and College polling centre on Thursday morning.

“If the voting is held in a free and fair manner, we will accept the results. Others should also accept the verdict of the people,” Bangladesh’s leading newspaper, The Daily Star, quoted Rahman as saying.

“We pray that this election is peaceful, fair, free from violence and occupation, and acceptable to all. Through this vote, we hope a government will be formed that does not belong to any individual, family, or party, but to the 180 million people of this country. We are hopeful about forming such a government,” he added.

Meanwhile, Jamaat-e-Islami and its leader, Shafiqur Rahman, have been accused of using religion and financial incentives to attract voters in a bid to form the country's first Islamist-led government.

According to a report in NDTV, the Jamaat coalition has distributed pamphlets across the country offering Bangladeshi taka 15,000 to voters backing the party.

The document states that for families who vote for the party, their afterlife will be "free of sin", and they will gain "salvation from grave punishment".

The pamphlet, accessed by NDTV, asked voters to bring a camera phone to the polling booths and take photographs of their stamped ballot papers as proof of voting for Shafiqur Rahman.

“You must fulfil the promise of having all family members vote for the "Dari Palla" (weighing scale) symbol. This promise will make your afterlife free of sin and grant salvation from grave punishment. You must go to the centre early on election day and must bring a camera phone so that you can take a photo after stamping the ballot as proof,” read the document.

The party said that the promised 15,000 taka will be sent to the voters through bKash or cash after the election results are announced, adding that voters were also promised some advanced payment through bKash.

--IANS

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Dhaka, Feb 12 (IANS) Violence erupted at several polling booths across Bangladesh on Thursday, leading to the death of a political leader as the voting was underway across the nation, local media reported.

These incidents unfolded hours after polling began, reflecting the deteriorating law and order situation and volatile security landscape in Bangladesh.

Amid the escalating violence, a Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leader, Mohibuzzaman Kochi, died at the Alia Madrasa polling station in Khulna district.

Citing eyewitnesses and police, Bangladesh's leading Bengali daily Jugantor reported that tension arose between BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami supporters on Thursday morning near the Alia Madras Academic Building.

Former Khulna Sadar Thana BNP organising secretary Yusuf Harun Majnu said, "There was tension at the centre since morning. The principal of Alia Madrasa was campaigning for Jamaat. When he stopped him, he pushed Mohibuzzaman Kochi. As a result, he hit a tree and got hit on the head. This is what caused his death."

Confirming the incident, Khulna Sadar Police Station Sub Inspector Khan Faisal Rafi, in charge of the centre, said, "When tension arose between the two parties, we immediately went to the spot and separated the two parties."

Emergency Medical Officer at Khulna City Medical College Hospital, Partha Roy, said the BNP leader Kochi was brought dead to the hospital.

Meanwhile, a cocktail bomb attack at a polling station in Gopalganj Sadar Upazila during voting left three people injured.

The incident occurred at the Reshma International School polling station in Gopalganj district on Thursday morning.

According to Sub-Inspector Jahidul Islam, on duty officer at the polling station, voting was going on peacefully since morning when miscreants threw cocktails from across the canal outside the centre. The explosion injured two on-duty Ansar members, a paramilitary auxiliary force and a child accompanying a voter, triggering panic among the voters.

Additionally, Jamaat alleged that its leaders, workers and supporters were prevented from voting and attacked in several parts of the country.

Addressing a press conference on Thursday morning, the party's Assistant Secretary General Ehsanul Mahbub Zubair made the allegation.

"The elections are being held in a festive atmosphere. In the meantime, there have been allegations of attacks on Jamaat leaders, activists and candidates' agents in different parts of the country, and obstruction of voting. Among them, Jamaat leaders and activists were attacked at a polling station in Barisal, there was a massive attack in Bhola-2 constituency, militants are attacking and obstructing agents in Comilla-8 constituency," Bangladeshi Bengali daily Bonik Barta quoted Zubair as saying.

"Besides, voters are being prevented from going to polling stations in Hatia, Noakhali. Several such incidents are happening. We think those who are doing this are depressed and bankrupt. We have informed the administration, the Election Commission and those responsible to take action in these incidents. We have told the administration not to take sides," he added.

Bangladesh's high-stakes parliamentary elections are unfolding amid escalating political conflict and violence, with several parties raising concerns over the fairness of the polls.

--IANS

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Quetta, Feb 12 (IANS) Baloch activists, political leaders and human rights activists voiced concerns over the situation in Balochistan, focusing on issues like enforced disappearances and political representation, during the Asma Jahangir Conference in Lahore, local media reported.

The Baloch Yakjehti Committee's (BYC) central member Sammi Deen Baloch participated in the conference and held meetings with diplomats, politicians, journalists and reporters. The BYC stated that Baloch used the conference to highlight what it termed serious human rights issues and raise the viewpoint of the Baloch people.

During the conference, Sammi Deen Baloch met several United Nations officials, including the UN Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, Gina Romero, the UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls Reem Alsalem of Jordan and the senior adviser to UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders Ed O’Donovan, The Balochistan Post reported.

During these meetings, Sammi Deen Baloch stated that peaceful assembly and freedom of expression were being restricted and people were not being allowed to protest or speak out against state actions in Balochistan. She voiced concerns about alleged violence against Baloch women, including enforced disappearances of women and minors and what she termed as unlawful arrests.

She spoke about the systematic targeting of human rights activists, citing allegations of threats, harassment, enforced disappearances, arbitrary arrests, killings and mentioned cases of Mahrang Baloch, Beebo Baloch, Gulzadi Baloch and others. According to the statement released by BYC, UN representatives voiced concern over the reported human rights violations and announced that they would highlight these issues at relevant UN forums.

While addressing the conference, Balochistan National Party (BNP) head Sardar Akhtar Mengal spoke about the security situation in Balochistan and mentioned that groups labelled as militants by the state were considered protectors by residents.

He mentioned that residents often confined themselves indoors in fear when security forces entered towns, while armed Baloch fighters were received differently by residents. He spoke about earlier agreements related to Balochistan, including an agreement between the Khan of Kalat and Muhammad Ali Jinnah and mentioned that commitments made about autonomy were not followed, The Balochistan Post reported.

In his address, Balochistan's former chief minister Abdul Malik Baloch stated that he receives complaints about missing persons whenever he visits his constituency, terming the situation alarming. He urged the government and political leadership to address issues through urgent and sustainable solutions.

He said that treating Balochistan only as a security issue would further deteriorate the situation and emphasised the need for political dialogue and inclusion of elected representatives. He voiced concern over what he termed as shrinking political space for political parties in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, The Balochistan Post reported.

Later, protests erupted during the conference after Pakistan's former interior minister Rana Sanaullah made remarks regarding Balochistan and enforced disappearances. Participants in the conference objected to his remarks as Sanaullah seemed to justify enforced disappearances in the context of militancy. After continued disagreement, a large number of participants, including social activist Sheema Kermani and Sammi Deen Baloch, staged a walkout.

--IANS

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