United News of Bangladesh

Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi was detained by police Wednesday during a protest against the country’s election chief, as opposition parties intensified their campaign over a contentious revision of voter lists. Gandhi and other opposition lawmakers were stopped by police as they marched toward Jantar Mantar, a designated protest site in India's capital New Delhi. A live feed on the YouTube channel of Gandhi’s Congress party showed police taking him into a vehicle and driving him away. Authorities also detained several other opposition lawmakers and protesters. The opposition is demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, accusing the poll body he heads of manipulating voter registrations to benefit Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. The commission and government deny the allegations. The protests are part of a widening campaign by opposition parties, student groups and India’s youth “Cockroach” movement against the nationwide voter list revision known as the Special Intensive Revision. It began last year in the eastern state of Bihar ahead of local elections and has since expanded to most of India’s states and federally administered territories. India's Election Commission has so far removed more than 130 million names from the voter lists. Millions have appealed the removals. Opposition parties and protest groups are calling for the revision to be halted and the names of those they say were wrongly removed to be restored. They allege the changes have disproportionately removed voters who support opposition parties while preserving or adding voters more likely to back Modi’s party. Modi's party and the Election Commission reject the allegations and say the revision has no political motive. They say it is aimed at removing duplicate and ineligible entries while ensuring eligible voters remain registered. The protests pose a fresh political challenge to Modi, just months after demonstrations led by the “Cockroach” movement forced his education minister to resign over exam paper leaks.     END/

Nepal has announced an end to search and rescue operations for victims of the Aug. 26 floods that killed at least 1,455 people, while thousands of others remain unaccounted for. The families of 5,285 missing people, including hundreds of foreign nationals, have reacted differently to the government’s decision announced late Monday, with some accepting it while others expressing anger and frustration. Prime Minister Balendra Shah’s office said the government will now focus on rehabilitation and reconstruction, including restoring roads and bridges cut off by the floods, particularly in remote areas where damaged infrastructure has hampered aid delivery. The government estimates that recovery and reconstruction will require $4.77 billion. Nearly 33,000 people have been affected by the disaster, while around 7,500 homes were damaged or destroyed. Hopes of finding survivors were revived on Sept. 4 when two Nepalese workers were rescued from an underground tunnel at the Trishuli hydropower project. Two days later, rescuers also found a Chinese national alive at the same site. Families of other missing victims have staged protests and held vigils in different parts of Nepal, demanding that search operations be strengthened. Usha Khatri, whose husband remains missing, strongly opposed the government’s decision to end the search. She has spent days traveling to towns along the river where recovered bodies have been found. “I am so angry at the government for giving up on search and rescue with thousands of people still missing. I just don’t understand how they can do that when we still have hope left that our loved one can still be found,” Khatri said Wednesday. As part of her search, Khatri has examined photographs of recovered bodies that were buried for preservation until they can be identified. “Either they have to give up the body or show some solid proof that my husband is gone and then only they can declare him dead,” she said. However, some other relatives welcomed the government’s decision, saying they now want official death certificates for their missing family members. “After so many days and weeks there is little or no hope of finding anyone alive. We are sure that none of our family members survived and we are just looking for a closure,” said Nirajan Poudel, who lost five family members in the floods. Some families whose relatives remain missing have already performed symbolic funerals. Cremation is an important final rite in Hindu tradition, and conducting the ceremony without a body can provide some families with a sense of spiritual closure. Poudel said the government has so far declined to issue death certificates, arguing that existing laws must first be amended. Such certificates are needed by families in Nepal to claim compensation and insurance benefits and to inherit property. The Nepalese government did not immediately respond to a request for information about the issuance of death certificates. Legal experts said a major challenge is establishing the number of people who were swept away by the floods. “There is more to do with practical complications than legal provisions,” said Supreme Court lawyer Hardik Subedi. He said the process for facilitating the issuance of death certificates has not yet been initiated.

Pakistan's government has extended fuel subsidies to more than 9 million low-income people as the U.S.-Iran war pushes up global energy prices, officials said Tuesday. Information Technology Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja said the program was introduced to reduce the financial burden on millions of people as geopolitical tensions in the region drove fuel prices higher. "We have ensured the process remains seamless and agile for citizens," Khawaja said, describing the initiative as Pakistan's first nationwide technology-based system for delivering targeted fuel subsidies. Rising petrol and diesel prices have added to the pressure on the cash-strapped country, which is already dealing with high inflation. Higher fuel costs have increased transportation and food expenses and other living costs, fueling concerns about possible anti-government protests. Approved by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif last month, the program provides fuel discounts to eligible motorcycle riders, rickshaw operators and small-car owners, many of whom rely on their vehicles for work and daily commuting. The subsidies were announced after Jamaat-e-Islami, one of Pakistan's major Islamist political parties, threatened to march on Islamabad to demand cuts in taxes on petrol and diesel. Fuel prices in Pakistan have increased by more than 50% since the United States and Iran went to war earlier this year, adding to the financial strain on households already struggling with the rising cost of living. Sharif's government says the subsidy program is aimed at helping low-income motorists purchase gasoline at prices similar to those before the war. Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik said more than 9 million people were benefiting from the scheme. Under the system, eligible motorists receive a token via text message and present it at participating fuel stations, where staff verify their eligibility before applying the discount. According to the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication, the amount and frequency of assistance depend on the type of vehicle. Motorcycle and three-wheeler users receive a discount of 500 rupees ($1.79) per week, with a maximum of four tokens a month, allowing them to receive up to 2,000 rupees ($7.14) in monthly assistance. Owners of cars with engines of up to 800 cubic centimeters are eligible for a discount of 100 rupees (36 cents) per liter on up to 10 liters of gasoline every 10 days. They can receive up to three tokens a month, providing maximum savings of 3,000 rupees ($10.71). Amir Shahzad, an Islamabad resident, said the subsidy was enough to cover his daily commute between home and work. However, he added, "if I need to travel to another city, I will have to purchase petrol at the prevailing market price." Pakistan remains heavily dependent on loans from the International Monetary Fund, which has called on Islamabad to reduce subsidies on wheat and other commodities.

More than 5,000 supporters of imprisoned former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan began a dayslong march toward Islamabad on Sunday to demand his release, after talks between the government and the opposition fell through. The looming showdown threatens to deepen Pakistan’s political uncertainty at a time when the country is also grappling with a surge in militant attacks. Khan is current Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s main political rival and has been imprisoned since 2023 on corruption and other charges that he and his party say are politically motivated. Despite his imprisonment, he retains a substantial and passionate support base, keeping him at the center of Pakistan’s turbulent political landscape. The demonstrators, traveling in a convoy of trucks, buses and cars, departed from Lakki Marwat district in the northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where Khan’s party holds power. Organizers have planned overnight stops along the route as the caravan makes its way toward the capital. Sohail Afridi, the province’s chief minister, and a staunch Khan supporter is leading the march. Speaking from a specially designed container truck emblazoned with a large portrait of Khan, he expressed confidence in the movement’s ability to press its demands and bring the political standoff into the heart of the capital. Authorities have erected roadblocks, using containers, at the entrance to Islamabad and inside the city. Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, or PTI, and the federal government were in talks to postpone the march but failed to reach a resolution. Gohar Khan, the party’s chairman, said negotiations remained deadlocked after two rounds. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi blamed Afridi for the failure of the talks, warning that he would be held responsible for any loss of life during the planned march. Sharif's government urged postponement of the march, citing a surge in militant attacks by the Pakistani Taliban in the northwest. His government has accused PTI of sympathizing with the Pakistani Taliban, also known as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan. The organizers now vow to reach the capital after rallying with hundreds of thousands of Khan supporters. Besides Khan’s release, protesters are demanding his transfer to a hospital and permission for his family to visit him. Officials say he is in good health and receives regular family visits but maintain that meetings with the imprisoned former leader cannot be used for political purposes. The march was originally scheduled for Sept. 27 but was postponed after party leaders said authorities blocked key approaches to Islamabad, including Attock Bridge, a major crossing for convoys from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Previous protests by Khan’s supporters have turned violent, including one in 2024 in which security personnel and civilians were killed. Khan, a former cricket star, was ousted in a parliamentary no-confidence vote in April 2022. Sharif returned to office after the February 2024 election, which Khan’s party says was rigged to deny it victory. The government denies the allegation.

Nearly 1,500 Myanmar nationals repatriated from Malaysia arrived in the country's largest city on Sunday, despite warnings from the United Nations refugee agency and rights groups that conditions in Myanmar remain unsafe for returnees. Myanmar has remained in turmoil since the military ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi on Feb. 1, 2021, sparking widespread resistance and pushing large parts of the country into armed conflict. The returnees, including 86 women, had been convicted in Malaysia of illegal stay and other immigration violations, according to Myanmar state media reports. They were brought back aboard two navy warships and a hospital ship that left Malaysia last Tuesday. The group arrived in southern Yangon early Sunday, Nay Lin Tun, a regional government minister, said. They are part of some 5,000 Myanmar nationals scheduled to be repatriated from Malaysia in phases. According to Malaysia's Home Ministry, another 10,388 Myanmar nationals were being held at immigration detention centers in the country. The U.N. high commissioner for refugees and rights groups have raised concerns over the repatriation, saying the security and humanitarian situation in parts of Myanmar remains volatile and that returnees could face persecution or forced military conscription amid the ongoing conflict. "Under international law, the Government of Malaysia is obligated to uphold the principle of non-refoulement and prevent the return of individuals to situations where they face a real risk of persecution, torture, or other serious human rights violations," Kelley E. Currie, the U.N. special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, said in a statement Thursday. "In my assessment, the risk of refoulement in the present circumstances is substantial," she said. It was not immediately clear whether any Rohingya Muslims were among the returnees. The minority group faces persecution in Myanmar and has been denied citizenship. Myanmar Foreign Ministry official Han Win Aung told The Associated Press that the repatriation involved "genuine citizens." Malaysia hosts about 215,600 refugees and asylum seekers registered with the UNHCR, including around 126,000 Rohingya, making them one of Southeast Asia's largest refugee communities. Despite hosting the refugees, Malaysia is not a party to the U.N. Refugee Convention and treats refugees as undocumented migrants. Min Aung Hlaing, the leader of Myanmar's military-backed government who was sworn in as president in April, is expected to visit Malaysia this month to discuss refugee and migrant issues.

Two Pakistani civilians were killed and another was injured after Indian Border Security Force (BSF) personnel allegedly opened fire near the India-Pakistan border in Kasur district of Punjab province The sources said the three villagers had crossed only a few steps beyond a border marker when BSF personnel reportedly fired at them without issuing a warning. They added that none of the civilians was carrying weapons. Pakistani security officials described the incident as a breach of the agreement and established standard operating procedures governing activities along the Pakistan-India border.

Six people were killed and 10 others injured after a passenger bus was involved in an accident in Nepal's Nawalparasi East district, police said Saturday. The bus, carrying 18 people, was traveling to Kathmandu from Banke district in western Nepal when the accident occurred, according to police. Nine of the injured are hospitalized, and one of the critically injured has been referred to a Chitwan-based hospital, Anil Pandit, spokesperson at the district police, told Xinhua. A preliminary investigation indicated that brake failure may have caused the accident, after which the bus crashed into a retaining wall, Pandit said.     

Indian Border Security Force (BSF) personnel shot dead two Pakistani nationals and wounded a third along the Punjab border on Friday, media reported, renewing bilateral tensions. Citing security sources, Pakistan Television reported that three unarmed civilians from Kasur district were fired upon after stepping slightly beyond a border pillar. Indian media carried conflicting reports, alleging the men attempted to infiltrate India. New Delhi offered no immediate comment. The shooting came a day after Pakistan's military disputed India's claim of killing a senior Lashkar-e-Taiba commander in Indian-controlled Kashmir, presenting the man India allegedly misidentified. Tensions follow an April 2025 attack in Indian-held Kashmir that killed 26 tourists, which New Delhi blamed on Islamabad, triggering weeks of missile and drone strikes. While exchanges of fire frequently occur across disputed Kashmir, the Punjab international border has remained largely peaceful.

Japan's unemployment rate climbed to 2.5 percent in August from 2.4 percent in July, marking the first deterioration in five months, government data showed Friday. The number of people with jobs rose by 30,000 from the previous month to a seasonally adjusted 68.34 million, according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. Of those out of work, 810,000 quit their jobs voluntarily, typically in pursuit of better working conditions, up 8.0 percent from July, while 400,000 were let go by their employers, an increase of 5.3 percent. Meanwhile, the number of people newly looking for work grew 2.2 percent to 460,000, according to the ministry. Separate data from the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare showed the job availability ratio in August stood at 1.18, unchanged from the previous month, meaning there were 118 job opportunities for every 100 job seekers. By industry, job openings fell from a year earlier in eight of the 11 sectors, led by an 11.1 percent drop in accommodation and restaurant services, followed by a 10.2 percent decline in wholesale and retail, the labor ministry said. Of the three sectors that posted increases, manufacturing rose 3.9 percent, and information and communications gained 3.3 percent.   

Pakistani airstrikes on Afghanistan’s Helmand and Kunar provinces killed at least 10 civilians, mostly children, and wounded nine, the United Nations mission in Afghanistan said Thursday, as cross-border tensions continued. Pakistan’s Ministry of Information said the strikes targeted militant hideouts at two locations and initial reports indicated 22 militants were killed, though the claim could not be independently verified. It did not immediately comment on civilian casualties. Taliban government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said the strikes destroyed three civilian homes and condemned them as aggression and a violation of international principles. Kunar resident Mohammad Hashim, 30, said the strike occurred around 3am and that he helped rescue an injured woman from rubble, where he also found the bodies of two men and four children. Resident Mohammad Habib, 32, said a killed shepherd had no links to militant or government groups. Pakistan said the strikes were precisely planned against militant hubs, with weapons and ammunition destroyed. It accuses Kabul of sheltering TTP militants, a charge Afghanistan denies.