Politics
Bangladesh to seek extradition of ousted leader Sheikh Hasina from India
Published
2 months agoon
By
Ekwutos BlogBangladesh will seek the extradition of the former prime minister Sheikh Hasina to face trial on charges including crimes against humanity, the country’s interim leader, Muhammad Yunus, has said in a speech.
Hasina, whose autocratic regime governed Bangladesh for 15 years, was toppled in a student-led revolution in August. Since then she has been living in exile in India after fleeing the country in a helicopter as thousands of protesters overran the presidential palace.
Following her escape, Bangladesh has been run by an interim government under Yunus, an economist and Nobel laureate who agreed to return to the country as a “chief adviser” to help restore democracy and reform Bangladesh.
In an address over the weekend, Yunus confirmed his government intended to bring Hasina back to the country to face a mounting number of charges, including corruption, murder and crimes against humanity.
Referring to Hasina, Yunus said: “We will seek the extradition of the ousted autocrat from India.”
Earlier this month, prosecutors issued an arrest warrant for Hasina and confirmed they intended to put out an Interpol red notice for the former prime minister and her allies, many of whom fled abroad as protests broke out over the summer. Others who remained in the country or were stopped from leaving have been arrested.
“We have already taken initiatives to try those responsible for enforced disappearances, murders and the mass killings during the July-to-August uprising,” said Yunus in his address, which marked 100 days since the interim government took power.
The decision to make an official extradition request for Hasina could cause diplomatic tensionswith neighbouring India. During her time in office, Hasina was seen to be very close to the Indian government and the country’s decision to offer her a safe haven has been a source of anger among many in Bangladesh. Hasina has been accused of using her position in India to attempt to undermine the actions of Yunus and the interim government.
The first hearings of a special tribunal looking into alleged crimes committed by the Hasina regime will begin this week. As well as human rights abuses, business people and allies close to Hasina are accused of rampant corruption and embezzling millions of dollars out of the country. Prosecutors have sought help from financial agencies in the UK, US and Singapore in an attempt to track down the allegedly stolen money.
On Monday, about 14 people, including a former law minister and a businessman who was Hasina’s private sector adviser, were to appear before the court. A further six people are due to appear on Wednesday.
According to Yunus, more than 3,500 people may have been forcibly disappeared during Hasina’s rule, when it became commonplace for her critics or opponents to be picked up by the security agencies and tortured in undisclosed detention centres. Many of the victims were never seen again after being abducted.
Yunus said the number killed during the uprising that eventually ousted Hasina could exceed 1,500. In an attempt to bring the protests under control, Hasina’s government had given police orders to shoot protesters on sight. Officers were documented using metal pellets, rubber bullets and live ammunition against civilians.
Yunus said: “Every day, new names are being added to the list of martyrs. We will prosecute all the crimes committed over the past 15 years.”
In his speech, he also requested for people to be patient when it came to the reforms that his interim government has been tasked with implementing, including ensuring an independent judiciary and ensuring transparency and accountability to prevent autocratic leaders gaining power in the future.
Yunus reaffirmed that he intended to remain in post only to oversee the reforms, after which there would be an election and a handover of power to an elected government. Nonetheless, the timeline for the vote remains unclear and there has been rising agitation on the streets.
He said: “I promise that we will hold the much-anticipated election once the necessary and essential reforms are complete. I request your patience until then. We aim to build an electoral system that will endure for decades. For this, we need some time.”
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Politics
Putin Hails Trump On Inauguration As US President For Second Time, Says Russia Willing To End War
Published
12 hours agoon
January 22, 2025By
Ekwutos BlogRussia President Vladimir Putin has congratulated Donald Trump as he is being inaugurated as the 47th President of the United States.
Putin on Monday, 20th of January 2025 revealed he was open to dialogue with the new U.S. administration on Ukraine and nuclear arms. He also indicated that Moscow was ready to discuss nuclear arms control and wider security issues.
In a video broadcast, Putin noted that he was interested in a long-lasting peace in Ukraine rather than a short-term ceasefire with the country.
He made the comments during the Russia’s Security Council meeting that was shown on state TV. According to him, “We see the statements by the newly elected president of the United States and members of his team about the desire to restore direct contacts with Russia,” said Putin.
“We also hear his statement about the need to do everything possible to prevent World War Three. We of course welcome this attitude and congratulate the elected president of the United States of America on taking office. “As for the resolution of the situation (in Ukraine) itself, I would like to emphasise that the goal should not be a brief ceasefire, not some kind of period of respite that would allow a regrouping and rearmament of forces, but a long-term peace based on respect for the legitimate interests of all people and all peoples who live in the region.”
Politics
Court remands suspect over alleged assassination attempt on Lokpobiri
Published
14 hours agoon
January 21, 2025By
Ekwutos Blog
Yenagoa—A Magistrate’s Court sitting in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, has ordered the remand of a 35-year-old man, Susaine Morgan, over an alleged assassination attempt on the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri on new year day.
The suspect is also facing charges of unlawful possession of two assault rifles (AK-47).
He was reportedly apprehended at the minister’s residence in Ekeremor town, Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
The remand warrant, issued by the state Commissioner of Police, Francis Idu, and filed by Police Prosecutor, Stella Jerry-Friday, was approved to allow the suspect’s detention for 30 days at Okaka prison.
This is to enable the investigating team of the police to track and arrest six others now at large.
The charge sheet read: “The defendant was arrested on January 1, 2025, at Senator Lokpobiri’s residence for conspiring with others to commit armed robbery, attempted kidnapping, and for being in possession of two AK-47 rifles.”
The police prosecutor explained that the request for suspect remand was necessary due to the limited power of the police to detain the suspect without a court order.
“The suspect’s detention will prevent interference with the ongoing investigation, especially as six other suspects remain at large,” a police source said.
According to security report, seven of the suspects gained access into the residence of the minister by mingling with the crowd of visitors who came to pay homage.
But information got to the military personnel stationed at the residence of the presence of armed persons among the visitors.
“Due to the large crowd, the soldiers could not open fire but ordered everyone to lie down. It was only the arrested suspect, who was with the bag conveying the weapon, that got arrested. Others mingled with the crowd and escaped,” the source stated.
The other suspects reportedly fired shots as they fled the community, attacked a filling station and carted away N400,000.
Politics
42 Executive Orders By Trump On the First Day
Published
23 hours agoon
January 21, 2025By
Ekwutos Blog
Here is the list of all 42 Executive Orders, Memoranda, and Proclamations Signed by President Donald Trump
1.Declaring a National Emergency at the Southern Border
2.Designating Mexican Drug Cartels as Foreign Terrorist Organizations
3.Reinstating the ‘Remain in Mexico’ Policy
4.Ending Birthright Citizenship for Children of Illegal Immigrants
5.Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism
6.Eliminating Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Programs in Federal Agencies
7.Withdrawing from the Paris Climate Agreement
8.Declaring a National Energy Emergency
9.Reversing Electric Vehicle Mandates
10.Implementing ‘Schedule F’ for Federal Employees
11.Relocating U.S. Space Command Headquarters to Alabama
12.Pardoning Individuals Convicted in Relation to January 6 Events
13.Halting Federal Funding for Abortion Services
14.Suspending Security Clearances for Officials Linked to Hunter Biden Scandal
15.Establishing a Federal Bitcoin Reserve
16.Releasing Classified Documents on JFK, RFK, and MLK Assassinations
17.Reversing AI Regulation Policies
18.Imposing Tariffs on Imports from China, Mexico, and Canada
19.Reinstating the Ban on Transgender Military Service
20.Prohibiting Transgender Women from Participating in Women’s Sports
21.Halting Government Offshore Wind Leases
22.Renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America
23.Reverting Mount Denali to Mount McKinley
24.Freezing Federal Workforce Hiring
25.Easing Regulations on Oil and Gas Production
26.Pausing Congress’ TikTok Ban to Seek a U.S. Buyer
27.Reversing Biden-Era Immigration Policies
28.Pulling Out of the World Health
organisations
29.Eliminating Federal Funding for DEI Programs
30.Establishing the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)
31.Reinstating the ‘Muslim Ban
32.Ending Birthright Citizenship
33.Reforming the Criminal Justice System
34.Banning Critical Race Theory in Federal Agencies
35.Demanding Increased NATO Contributions
36.Confronting China on Trade Practices
37.Ending the War in Ukraine
38.Supporting Law Enforcement
39.Promoting School Choice
40.Restricting Refugee Admissions
41.Increasing Federal Focus on Fentanyl Trafficking
42.Launching a National Infrastructure Plan.
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