Bangladesh News and Discussion

[SRajesh]

Its official Kangalu are out!!
replaced by Scotland

[uddu]

https://x.com/i/status/2014734078420094994
@ItzBDHindus
BNP leader Salahuddin Ahmed, who spent nearly a decade in political asylum in India’s Meghalaya, now claims the Awami League is “India’s product, made in India.”

[putnanja]

BDs are having a meltdown after they were replaced by Scotland in T20 world series !! Calling ICC Indian cricket council and other names and playing victim As the saying goes these days FAFO They were punching above their weight thinking they can force ICC to bend to their demands. Don't know why BDs always have such a high opinion of themselves, from thinking they can beat all major cricket nations to dreams of capturing all of India's northeast! Claiming ICC will lose money because they will lose 200mil viewers, that India's economy will go down bcos of BDs boycotting them etc. Wonder what is causing such a mass delusion! I mean, they are going around with a begging bowl and literally their garment industries are shutting down and other companies are leaving the country. But their delusions seems to be growing stronger by the day!

[uddu]

https://x.com/sidhant/status/2014738168067633654
@sidhant
Top Awami league politician
@MAarafat71
asks Bangladeshis to boycott elections called by Yunus interim govt. Mr Aarafat, who has served in Hasina cabinet, terms Yunus govt 'illegal'.

[uddu]

https://x.com/Indian_Analyzer/status/20 ... 5800804796
@Indian_Analyzer
Throwback that hits hard. Yunus begged Modi to silence Hasina.
-> PM Modi’s reply was ice-cold: "This is the era of social media. We can’t control it."

Today, Hasina addressed Bangladesh through Audio msg. Kanglus be better knowing their AUQAT

[A_Gupta]

Wonder what is causing such a mass delusion! I mean, they are going around with a begging bowl and literally their garment industries are shutting down and other companies are leaving the country. But their delusions seems to be growing stronger by the day!

Exactly the same mental virus that afflicts Pakistan is beginning to spread in Bangladesh. There are still sane voices in Bangladesh, but they are being intimidated; newspaper offices burned down; mob violence, etc. And the Yunus caretaker government is hugely culpable in actively incubating these.

Meanwhile useful American idiot diplomats are making nice with the Jamaat. Jamaat says, our ideas of keeping women out of the workplace are on hold. We won't impose Sharia. And the Americans are agreeing - Jamaat won't impose Sharia. If they do we will crush the Bangladeshi economy.

But Jamaat's stated purpose is to purge Bangladeshi society of all non-Islamic elements. And since when do Islamists pay heed to economic threats? The Iranian Islamists have survived US sanctions since 1979. The Afghan Taliban care two hoots about American sanctions. The Pakistani Islamists hate the Pakistani Army because the Army bows down to American pressure. That is why the TTP has a jihad against the institution whose motto and mission is jihad in the name of Allah. (Pakistan has a westernized elite that keeps the aam abdul quiet using Islam. The Bangladeshi Jamaat has no western orientation.)

So this upcoming election is very crucial. If Bangladeshis in their vote do not demonstrate a major rejection of Jamaat-type hard Islamism then it is all over for Bangladesh. They too will sink into the Pakistan-type morass, politically and economy-wise. Further, the Gulf States' support for hard Islamism is dwindling - they all realize that their oil wealth is finite, and they need modern economies for which hard Islamism is as fatal as doctrinaire communism. I term what they promote as soft Islamism. It would be a surprise if the Bangladeshi Jamaat goes for a soft Islamism.

The portents are grim. AFAIK, the Jamaat-affiliated student parties have swept the universities' student elections. So there is the educated, radicalized youth to contend with.

[A_Gupta]

The Dhaka Tribune reports:

Govt debt jumps 28% to Tk 7.45 lakh crore in FY25
https://www.thedailystar.net/business/n ... 25-4089246

At the end of FY25, the total outstanding balance of government securities rose 28 percent year-on-year to Tk 744,850 crore.

[uddu]

https://x.com/i/status/2015278802134577307
@MeghUpdates
Another Hindu KILLED in Bangladesh .
Chanchal Chandra Bhoumik (23) was burned alive inside a garage in Bangladesh’s Narsingdi district.
His family alleges it was a planned murder.

[sanjayc]

^^ A curse on Gandhi and Nehru for not allowing full transfer of population. These two deranged Guru-Chela philosophers did great damage to Hindus. Both were anti-HIndu to the core.

[S_Madhukar]

BDs are having a meltdown after they were replaced by Scotland in T20 world series !! Calling ICC Indian cricket council and other names and playing victim As the saying goes these days FAFO They were punching above their weight thinking they can force ICC to bend to their demands. Don't know why BDs always have such a high opinion of themselves, from thinking they can beat all major cricket nations to dreams of capturing all of India's northeast! Claiming ICC will lose money because they will lose 200mil viewers, that India's economy will go down bcos of BDs boycotting them etc. Wonder what is causing such a mass delusion! I mean, they are going around with a begging bowl and literally their garment industries are shutting down and other companies are leaving the country. But their delusions seems to be growing stronger by the day!

All signs of gas blowing by Pakis .. Khalis, Khangressis BhadraBengali, Lootyens all being simped … Kanglas are just the latest victims

[A_Gupta]

The Dhaka Tribune reports:

BTMA announces indefinite closure of all textile mills from February 1
https://www.dhakatribune.com/business/4 ... ll-textile

The Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) on Thursday announced that all textile mills across the country will be shut down indefinitely from February 1, citing the government’s failure to take effective measures to protect local yarn-producing mills.

[A_Gupta]

^^^ In more depth, from The Business Standard.
https://www.tbsnews.net/economy/rmg/tex ... th-1342056

The immediate trigger was a commerce ministry letter asking the National Board of Revenue (NBR) to scrap the zero-duty facility for yarn imports under the bonded warehouse system. The ministry believes duty-free imports have tilted the playing field against local spinning mills and should be suspended to protect domestic producers.

While the NBR has yet to act on the 12 January request, the response from the two industries has been swift—and sharply divided.

Garment exporters have called the proposal "suicidal", warning that removing access to cheaper imported yarn would cripple competitiveness in global markets. Textile millers, on the other hand, see the move as a "lifeline" and have demanded immediate action. The Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) has gone a step further, threatening to shut down mills from 1 February if the interim government fails to intervene.

This is not a clash between rival sectors. The two industries are deeply interdependent—and together form the backbone of Bangladesh's export economy.

The labour-intensive apparel sector earned nearly $39 billion last fiscal year, accounting for about 85% of total merchandise exports. The capital-intensive textile sector, with investments of around $23 billion, supplies yarn and fabric to garment factories. Both employ millions, rely heavily on bank financing and are highly exposed to global market shocks.

How the standoff emerged

Bangladesh once relied heavily on imported yarn and fabric. Over the past three decades, however, large investments have created strong backward linkages, enabling local producers to supply nearly all knitwear demand and around half of woven garments.

That progress has come under pressure in the past two to three years. As imported yarn—mainly from India—has become cheaper, garment exporters have increasingly shifted to imports. Government data show yarn imports doubled in the two years following FY2022–23, with India dominating the supply.

The fallout for local mills has been severe. As garment orders slowed, spinning mills accumulated inventories three to four times higher than normal, while nearly half of installed capacity went idle. The slowdown spread to weaving, dyeing and printing, affecting operations across nearly 2,000 textile units.

After months of appeals from mill owners, the government moved to curb duty-free yarn imports under bond licences. Once the proposal became public, exporters reacted sharply. The BTMA's shutdown threat soon followed, pushing the two sectors into open confrontation.

BTMA argues that continuing zero-duty imports poses an existential threat to local mills. Garment manufacturers' associations—BGMEA and BKMEA—counter that scrapping the bond facility would raise production costs by 8% to 10%, adding more than $2 billion annually to exporters' expenses.

Without duty-free imports, exporters would face additional duties of around 37% on yarn, forcing them to source locally at an extra cost of $0.40–$0.60 per kilogram.

At present, Indian yarn costs about $2.55 per kg, while Bangladeshi mills say they cannot sell below $2.80—and even then struggle to break even. Exporters argue that buyers will not absorb the difference. Millers say the comparison is unfair.

[A_Gupta]

Further:

Bangladeshi spinning mills argue that Indian exporters benefit from extensive government support, allowing them to sell yarn in Bangladesh at prices lower than in India's domestic market—what local producers describe as dumping.

According to industry estimates, Indian incentives provide benefits of nearly $0.30 per kg through export rebates, technology upgrade funds, production-linked incentives and state-level subsidies on power, land and financing.

The best I can tell (I can only go by search results) - India does not provide any rebates for yarn exports, except in some technical fibers, not cotton yarn. India does allow duty-free import of capital equipment -- which Bangladesh could do, too.

The best I can determine, it is regular cotton yarn where Bangladesh is not competitive, and it is here precisely where Bangladesh has a disadvantage it cannot overcome - it grows no cotton - and a disadvantage it can overcome only with the help of Nepal and India - its power prices for its mills are high, perhaps can be fixed via cheap hydropower from Nepal.

But for the power situation, a very healthy long-term geopolitical/geoeconomic relationship with India and Nepal is needed. The investments needed, IMO, will be large.

[krisna]

The leaked audio by dhobi post is likley on purpose from uncle to show its displeasure on bangladesh and thawing of usa India trade deals. In the last 2-3 days some talks of renewing India usa trade deals and withdrawing of tariffs. India is too big a country to ignore if pressure is not working. It is still carrot and stick policy.

Funny that uncle thinks it can destroy kanglu economy when India has destroyed it with its policies slowly and methodically over the months. With "mother of all deals" with EU it will be more difficult for bangaldesh

[A_Gupta]

I was thinking the leak was via an anti-Jamaat faction - likely the BNP. Islamis hand-in-glove with the Great Shaitan would not go well with Bangladeshi voters.

Further:

‘Relations between Jamaat and US a warning sign’: Says Farhad Mazhar
https://www.thedailystar.net/news/relat ... ar-4088896

“ Poet and columnist Farhad Mazhar yesterday described the reported relationship between Jamaat-e-Islami and the United States as a “dangerous warning sign”.”

And

https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh ... %25C2%25A0

“ BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday demanded that the foreign ministry explains a Washington Post report alleging a secret pact between Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and the United States, citing thinker Farhad Mazhar, who called the pact “not good for Bangladesh.”

“We are neither of Delhi nor of Rawalpindi; we are Bangladeshis. We oppose any action that would undermine our country’s sovereignty,” Fakhrul said referring to BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman’s statements while making the remarks.”

[A_Gupta]

On January 22nd, the Hindu reported:
EU suspends GSP export benefits; to impact India's shipments
The EU periodically reduces export benefits, as it did earlier in 2013 and 2023; this time, the concessions have been completely withdrawn for three years from 2026 to 2028

The European Union (EU) has suspended export benefits to sectors such as textiles and plastics under a preferential scheme for India and two other countries from January 1, a move that will impact the country's shipment to the 27-nation bloc.

On January 26th, in the Dhaka Tribune:

https://www.dhakatribune.com/business/4 ... sh-step-up
As India hits GSP stumble, can Bangladesh step up?
Sectors such as readymade garments (RMG), textiles, leather, and light engineering now face renewed prospects, as Bangladesh’s competitive standing in Europe appears set to strengthen

And on January 27, the India - EU FTA was signed.

[drnayar]

On January 22nd, the Hindu reported:
EU suspends GSP export benefits; to impact India's shipments
The EU periodically reduces export benefits, as it did earlier in 2013 and 2023; this time, the concessions have been completely withdrawn for three years from 2026 to 2028

The European Union (EU) has suspended export benefits to sectors such as textiles and plastics under a preferential scheme for India and two other countries from January 1, a move that will impact the country's shipment to the 27-nation bloc.

On January 26th, in the Dhaka Tribune:

https://www.dhakatribune.com/business/4 ... sh-step-up
As India hits GSP stumble, can Bangladesh step up?
Sectors such as readymade garments (RMG), textiles, leather, and light engineering now face renewed prospects, as Bangladesh’s competitive standing in Europe appears set to strengthen

And on January 27, the India - EU FTA was signed.

does it matter since FTA signed, are those products covered in the FTA

[A_Gupta]

On January 22nd, the Hindu reported:
EU suspends GSP export benefits; to impact India's shipments
The EU periodically reduces export benefits, as it did earlier in 2013 and 2023; this time, the concessions have been completely withdrawn for three years from 2026 to 2028


On January 26th, in the Dhaka Tribune:

https://www.dhakatribune.com/business/4 ... sh-step-up
As India hits GSP stumble, can Bangladesh step up?
Sectors such as readymade garments (RMG), textiles, leather, and light engineering now face renewed prospects, as Bangladesh’s competitive standing in Europe appears set to strengthen

And on January 27, the India - EU FTA was signed.

does it matter since FTA signed, are those products covered in the FTA

Copilot is asked:


Europe withdrew its Generalized System of Preferences for India and then a few days later signed a Free Trade Agreement with India. What is the net effect?

Copilot replies:
The net effect is that India temporarily lost tariff concessions under the EU’s Generalized System of Preferences (GSP), but the subsequent Free Trade Agreement (FTA) restores and even expands preferential access—meaning short-term pain for exporters, followed by long-term gains once the FTA takes effect.

Immediate Impact of GSP Withdrawal

GSP withdrawal effective January 1, 2026: The EU removed tariff preferences on nearly 87% of Indian exports, including textiles, plastics, and other labor-intensive goods.

Higher tariffs: Many products saw duties rise by 10–20%, raising costs for Indian exporters.

Export value affected: Estimates vary—some reports suggest $66–75 billion worth of exports were exposed to higher tariffs, while India’s Commerce Ministry argued only 2.66% of exports were truly impacted because most were not GSP-eligible anyway.

Short-term disruption: Exporters faced squeezed margins, especially in apparel and industrial goods, at a time when global demand was already weak.

Medium-to-Long Term Effect of the FTA

FTA signed shortly after GSP withdrawal: The India–EU Free Trade Agreement is designed to supersede the GSP system.

Restored preferential access: The FTA lowers tariffs across a broader range of goods, offering stable, negotiated concessions rather than unilateral preferences.

Expanded scope: Unlike GSP (which is unilateral and limited), the FTA covers services, investment, and regulatory cooperation, giving India deeper integration into EU markets.

Implementation lag: Benefits will take months to a year to roll out, as ratification and administrative processes are required

——-
Basically it is a way to get the Indian Parliament to have some urgency to ratify the FTA.

[A_Gupta]

Prothomalo reports:
Bangladesh to produce unmanned aerial vehicles as Air Force Signs Deal with Chinese Company
https://en.prothomalo.com/bangladesh/jq6zvzz632

Bangladesh is set to produce unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) domestically following the signing of an agreement between the Bangladesh Air Force and China Electronics Technology Group Corporation (CETC) International for UAV production, assembly facilities, and technology transfer.

The agreement was signed at the Bangladesh Air Force Headquarters in Dhaka Cantonment on Tuesday, according to information published on the website of the Inter-Services Public Relations Directorate (ISPR).
,,,
ISPR further said that in the initial phase, the Bangladesh Air Force will acquire the capability to produce and assemble various types of Medium Altitude Low Endurance (MALE) UAVs and Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) UAVs.

In addition, the Bangladesh Air Force will manufacture its own indigenous UAVs through this project.

[V_Raman]

Basically it is a way to get the Indian Parliament to have some urgency to ratify the FTA.

I dont think parliament needs to ratify anything here - AFAIK there is no such process in India unlike USA.

[chetak]

𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐀𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐮𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝐨𝐟 𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐡 𝐀𝐢𝐫 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞 𝐒𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐝𝐫𝐨𝐧 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫.

Earlier statement from @BD_Air_Force , said the crashed YAK 130 fighter jet encountered mechanical failure, resulting in a catastrophic crash in the Patenga area of Chittagong. However, a recently obtained cctv footage from the runway area contradicts this claim by BAF, displaying a chilling sequence where the aircraft attempts to perform three consecutive aileron rolls at a perilously low altitude, nearly colliding with the runway in the process.

The footage reveals the jet scraping the runway at high speed, causing significant damage to the fuselage and igniting a fire. At the 19-second mark, a slowed-down analysis shows fragments of the aircraft detaching as it rebounds and gets airborne.

In the critical moments that followed, as captured in the video, the engine became engulfed in flames, emitting black smoke. The two pilots, demonstrating exceptional skill under pressure, managed to eject from the flaming jet. The ejection, a procedure known to exert enormous g-force on the body, often results in temporary loss of consciousness.

Given Chittagong's proximity to the sea, Bangladesh Air Force pilots are mandated to wear a 'mae west' life jacket, designed to inflate automatically upon water contact, thus ensuring the pilot remains buoyant. On this tragic day, Wing Commander Suhan's mae west functioned correctly, but Squadron Leader Asim's failed. Despite being extracted from the water by civilian boatmen pulling his parachute, Squadron Leader Asim did not survive.

Wing Commander Suhan, an expert in aerobatic maneuvers, was reportedly instructing Squadron Leader Asim Jawad, who was training in advance aerobatic techniques. The exercise was part of a demonstration for military guests at the Air Force Base Zahurul Haq.

The tragic death of Squadron leader Asim, raises serious questions about the safety measures in place during such high-risk training exercises and the reliability of life-saving equipment provided to the pilots by Bangladesh Air Force.

watch video

https://x.com/i/status/1789304418640294319

[A_Gupta]

@V_Raman, you are right, Parliamentary approval is not needed for a FTA.

--
In other news, Prothomalo reports:
Biman resumes Dhaka–Karachi flight tomorrow
https://en.prothomalo.com/bangladesh/ayrrqib9qx

Biman Bangladesh Airlines is set to resume direct flights between Dhaka and Karachi tomorrow after a 14-year gap, with the inaugural flight departing fully booked, reflecting strong passenger demand for the revived route.

All 162 seats on the inaugural flight were sold out, leaving no vacant seats, airline officials said.

“The first flight was fully booked, and the second flight is also almost full, indicating significant interest among travelers,” Biman’s General Manager (Public Relations), Boshra Islam told BSS today adding that the response from passengers has been highly encouraging.

....
Initially, the national carrier will operate two weekly flights on the route every Thursday and Saturday.

Biman will be overflying India, I think.

The inaugural flight will depart Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 8:00 am and is scheduled to arrive in Karachi at 11:00 am local time. The return flight will leave Karachi at 12:00 am and reach Dhaka at 4:20 am the following day.

[A_Gupta]

I don't know what to make of the candid admission.
The Dhaka Tribute reports:
CA Yunus: Bangladesh is the world champion in fraud
Yunus said Bangladeshis face visa rejections abroad largely due to forged documents
https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh ... hampion-in

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Wednesday said Bangladesh has earned an unenviable reputation as a “world champion in fraud,” citing widespread document forgery that has damaged the country’s global credibility.

“Everything is fake. Many countries do not accept our passports. Visas are fake, passports are fake,” Yunus said. “You must have seen the headlines—‘American base of fakes.’ This is a factory of fraud that we have built.”

[A_Gupta]

"The Indian Parliament paid homage to former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia on the opening day of its 2026-27 Budget Session."

[chetak]

X posted from the internal security thread


turkey, paki and the beedis have joined up to infiltrate India via the NE states and the bengal border. The culinary institute is a big supporter of this project.


Calcutta High Court delivers major blow to Mamata Govt: Directs West Bengal Govt to hand over already-acquired land in 9 border districts to BSF by March 31, 2026, for Indo-Bangladesh border fencing.

No more excuses — national security can't wait for electoral or administrative hurdles. Ongoing acquisitions must also wrap up by same deadline. Matter listed for April review.


https://www.telegraphindia.com/west-ben ... id/2144627

HC orders state to transfer land for border fence in nine Bengal districts

The division bench also said that the states concerned and the Centre would not have to settle the issues with immediate effect so that fencing in the remaining part of the border between the two countries could be completed by March 31 this
year

A division bench headed by Chief Justice Sujoy Paul of Calcutta High Court on Tuesday directed the Bengal government to transfer to the Centre immediately a 2,016km stretch running through nine districts of the state to erect fences between India and Bangladesh.

"Problem of handing over the areas to the Centre during the ongoing SIR process by the state would not be considered. It will have to handover the land by evicting the occupiers for which the Centre had already paid the compensation amount," the court said.

The division bench also said that the states concerned and the Centre would not have to settle the issues with immediate effect so that fencing in the remaining part of the border between the two countries could be completed by March 31 this year.

The bench fixed the matter for hearing again on April 2.

[A_Gupta]

Logistics mess in Bangladesh, reports Prothomalo.

1.3m tonnes of essential commodities stranded at sea
https://en.prothomalo.com/business/local/x5qzgqxb9o

People involved in port operations say many new companies have increased imports of essential commodities this year. But a large number of these firms lack adequate warehousing or storage facilities.

As a result, after goods are transferred from large vessels to lighter ships, they cannot be unloaded quickly at river terminals. This causes lighter vessels to remain stuck for extended periods.

At the same time, rising imports have increased demand for lighter vessels, further worsening the shortage.
…
According to {Chattogram} port data, an average of 50,000–60,000 tonnes of essential commodities are transferred daily from large vessels to lighter ships. These lighter vessels then transport the goods via river routes to Dhaka, Barishal, Khulna, and various terminals across the country for unloading.

…
The sudden surge in imports has significantly increased demand for lighter vessels used in river transport. However, under the Bangladesh Water Transport Coordination Cell (WTCC), the number of lighter vessels has fallen from around 1,200 previously to just 1,022 at present, making the shortage more acute.

According to a WTCC report dated 25 January, 265 lighter vessels have been stuck at various river terminals for periods ranging from 10 days to one and a half months while awaiting unloading. Of these, 122 are carrying essential commodities.

The report also highlights how long lighter vessels can remain stranded. For instance, the lighter vessel Shubharaj-8, with a capacity of around 2,000 tonnes, was allocated on 11 December to unload wheat from the MV Telerig at Chattogram Port’s outer anchorage for importer SS Trading. Although the vessel was taken to a terminal in Narayanganj, unloading had not been completed even after more than one and a half months.

WTCC data show that this is not an isolated case. A total of 13 lighter vessels carrying wheat for SS Trading have been stuck for one to one and a half months at terminals in Narayanganj, Noapara, and Kanchpur.

[uddu]

https://x.com/i/status/2016829369726226857
@ItzBDHindus
522 incidents of communal violence in Bangladesh last year, 61 cases of murder :

:- Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council...

[uddu]

https://x.com/i/status/2017151681897910498
@salah_shoaib
Following release from prison by the Yunus regime, prominent figures of Ansar Al Islam (local franchise of Al Qaeda) and ISIS-connected Jamaat Ul Ansar Fil Hindal Sharqiya are issuing public statements calling for joining jihad to actualize "Ghazwatul Hind"