United News of Bangladesh

A massive power outage struck Cuba on Friday night, affecting Havana and multiple provinces, leaving millions without electricity. According to Cuba’s Ministry of Energy and Mines, the outage occurred around 8:15 p.m. local time due to a failure at the Diezmero substation on the outskirts of Havana. This resulted in “a significant loss of generation in western Cuba,” ultimately leading to the collapse of the National Electric System. Hemingway look-alikes visit Cuba and some of the late writer's favorite places The ministry announced on its social platform X account that efforts are underway to restore power. Havana’s streets were shrouded in darkness and largely deserted, with illumination coming only from hotel windows powered by generators. Internet services were also disrupted. Residents in provinces as distant as Guantánamo, Artemisa, Santiago de Cuba, and Santa Clara reported widespread blackouts, with only occasional flickers of light. Earlier in the day, the Electric Union, the state entity overseeing the energy sector, indicated in its daily report that peak-hour demand was projected to reach 3,250 megawatts, while the shortfall was estimated at 1,380 megawatts, meaning 42% of the national energy system would be offline. This, however, was not the most severe shortfall recorded in recent times. Hurricane Rafael is expected to rapidly intensify as it barrels toward Cuba At the end of last year, Cuba endured three major failures in its national power grid, plunging the island into darkness amid a deep economic crisis. The country’s power network has long been plagued by frequent outages, with more than half of the population experiencing blackouts during peak hours. These disruptions are largely attributed to fuel shortages and aging infrastructure. In many areas, electricity remains essential for cooking and water supply. Authorities have launched a programme to install photovoltaic parks and have pledged to complete dozens of them within the year. Blackouts have previously triggered anti-government protests in 2021, 2022, and 2024.

Bangladesh has stressed the need for strengthening the G-77 forum under the current presidency of Cuba and for coming up with a strong statement against interference in the internal affairs of other countries at the upcoming G-77 Summit. The Summit will be held in Havana in September 2023 to promote and safeguard the interests of developing countries. Bangladesh High Commissioner to Canada, Dr. Khalilur Rahman, presented his credentials — as concurrent Ambassador to the Republic of Cuba — to Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez at the Presidential Palace in Havana on Saturday (April 15, 2023). The Ambassador received a guard of honour from the presidential guard at the palace. Read more: Want security in the region but no defence pact: Momen on Indo-Pacific Strategy After the presentation of the letters of credence, a discussion was held with the Cuban president in presence of Bruno Eduardo Rodríguez Parrilla, foreign minister of Cuba. The president of Cuba highlighted the long-standing and friendly bilateral relations laid down by the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Cuban Revolutionary leader and its former president Fidel Castro. He also highlighted the bond of existing friendship ever since diplomatic relations were established between the two countries. He deeply appreciated Bangladesh’s support to Cuba in different international organizations and looked forward to continuing collaboration between the two countries. On his part, the ambassador also recalled the support of the Cuban people and its government led by the revolutionary leader Fidel Castro during Bangladesh’s war of liberation in 1971, and personal friendship between Bangabandhu and Castro. Read more: US wants Bangladesh to set a strong example of free, fair election The ambassador specifically mentioned that in recognition to the support to Liberation War by revolutionary leader Fidel Castro, the Government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina awarded him ‘Bangladesh Liberation War Honour’ on March 24, 2013.

Large contingents of Cuban police patrolled the capital of Havana on Monday following rare protests around the island nation against food shortages and high prices amid the coronavirus crisis. Cuba’s president said the demonstrations were stirred up on social media by Cuban-Americans in the United States. Many young people took part in the Sunday protests in Havana, which disrupted traffic until police moved in after several hours and broke up the march when a few protesters threw rocks. Cuba is going through its worst economic crisis in decades, along with a resurgence of coronavirus cases, as it suffers the consequences of U.S. sanctions imposed by former President Donald Trump’s administration. The demonstrations in Havana and other communities around the tightly controlled country marked some of the biggest displays of antigovernment sentiment in decades, and authorities appeared determined to put a stop to them. Internet service was also spotty, possibly indicating an effort to prevent protesters from communicating with each other. READ: "Wonder City" Havana celebrates 500th anniversary “We’ve seen how the campaign against Cuba was growing on social media in the past few weeks,″ President Miguel Díaz-Canel said Monday in a nationally televised appearance in which his entire Cabinet was also present. “That’s the way it’s done: Try to create inconformity, dissatisfaction by manipulating emotions and feelings.” In a statement Monday, U.S. President Joe Biden said Cuban protesters were asserting their basic rights. ’’We stand with the Cuban people and their clarion call for freedom and relief from the tragic grip of the pandemic and from the decades of repression and economic suffering to which they have been subjected by Cuba’s authoritarian regime,″ Biden said. The U.S. urges the Cuban government to serve their people ’’rather than enriching themselves,″ Biden added. U.N. deputy spokesman Farhan Haq on Monday stressed the U.N. position “on the need for freedom of expression and peaceful assembly to be respected fully, and we expect that that will be the case.” The demonstrations were extremely unusual on an island where little dissent against the government is tolerated. The last major public demonstration of discontent, over economic hardship, took place nearly 30 years in 1994. Last year, there were small demonstrations by artists and other groups, but nothing as big or widespread as what erupted this past weekend. In the Havana protest on Sunday, police initially trailed behind as protesters chanted, “Freedom!” “Enough!” and “Unite!” One motorcyclist pulled out a U.S. flag, but it was snatched from him by others. READ: Spanish king grants highest civilian honor to Havana historian “We are fed up with the queues, the shortages. That’s why I’m here,” one middle-age protester told The Associated Press. He declined to identify himself for fear of being arrested later. Later, about 300 pro-government protesters arrived with a large Cuban flag, shouting slogans in favor of the late President Fidel Castro and the Cuban revolution. Some assaulted an AP videojournalist, smashing his camera. AP photojournalist Ramón Espinosa was then beaten by a group of police officers in uniforms and civilian clothes; he suffered a broken nose and an eye injury.The demonstration grew to a few thousand in the vicinity of Galeano Avenue and the marchers pressed on despite a few charges by police officers and tear gas barrages. People standing on many balconies along the central artery in the Centro Habana neighborhood applauded the protesters passing by. Others joined in the march. Although many people tried to take out their cellphones and broadcast the protest live, Cuban authorities shut down internet service throughout the afternoon. About 2 1/2 hours into the march, some protesters pulled up cobblestones and threw them at police, at which point officers began arresting people and the marchers dispersed. AP journalists counted at least 20 people who were taken away in police cars or by individuals in civilian clothes. READ: University of Havana honors Russian PM with doctorate Demonstrations were also held elsewhere on the island, including in the small town of San Antonio de los Baños, where people protested power outages and were visited by Díaz-Canel. He entered a few homes, where he took questions from residents.

As Cuba's capital celebrates its 500th anniversary of its founding on Nov. 16, 1519, residents and visitors alike reflect on what makes Havana unique.