Sector commander level border coordination meeting held between the BSF and the BGB; The BNP adopts a resolution against Hasina government; The Commonwealth calls for a purposeful dialogue between the major political parties in Bangladesh; The Internatio
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    • (FEBRUARY 3-9)

    According to reports, Border Security Force (BSF) and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) agreed to maintain peace along the border and resist trans-border crimes through joint cooperation in a sector commander level border coordination meeting in Panchagarh on February 7, 2014. Thakurgaon Sector Commander Col Mohammad Golam Mostafa led the five-member BGB delegation while a seven-member BSF team was led by Shiliguri Sector DIG MS Chowhan at the meeting held at Banglabandha border outpost (BOP) under Tentulia upazila of the district.1

    In another development, according to reports, the BNP has adopted a resolution terming the Hasina government and the 10th parliament illegal, immoral and unconstitutional because the people had “spontaneously rejected” the January 5 election. The nine-point resolution also strongly demanded the government hand over power to a non-party caretaker administration “immediately” for a fresh and inclusive national election. A meeting of the party's highest policy-making body -- the national standing committee -- at party chief Khaleda Zia's Gulshan office on February 6, passed the resolution unanimously. 2

    According to reports, condemning the politically-motivated violence in the run-up to the January 5 election, the Commonwealth has called for a purposeful dialogue between the major political parties to agree on a framework for an inclusive election. 3

    Reports noted that the International Crimes Tribunal-2 indicted Syed Mohammad Qaisar, a former state minister of the Ershad regime, on 16 charges of crimes against humanity and genocide committed in Habiganj and Brahmanbaria during the Liberation War in 1971. An alleged local leader of Razakar and Peace Committee, two anti-liberation forces, Qaisar was charged for “participating and abetting” an act of genocide in 22 villages under Nasirnagar upazila in Brahmanbaria that left 108 Hindus dead. 4

    According to reports, in an effort to boost tourism, India has decided to extend visa-on-arrival facility to tourists from Bangladesh and 179 other countries with effect from October. Around 5 lakh Bangladeshis, a large number of who are tourists, visit India every year. 5

    In other developments, according to reports, remittance flow to Bangladesh continues to slide, dropping 5.3 percent in January on the back of declining numbers of migrant workers. The country received $1.25 billion in remittance last month against $1.32 billion in January 2013. Only 4.5 lakh migrants managed oversees jobs in 2013, down by more than 33 percent from 2012, according to the Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit (RMMRU). 6 The current account surplus rose by 124 percent to $2.65 billion in July-December this fiscal year, compared to the same period a year ago, despite a fall in remittances. The surplus came due to higher exports and a decline in petroleum import. However, the central bank in its recent monetary policy statement (MPS) apprehended that the surplus may decrease in the next six months. 7

    Reports noted that inflation edged up 15 basis points to 7.5 percent in January on the back of a non-food price hike. 8

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