Web Desk/AFP

ISLAMABAD: The Pentagon has ordered the deployment of a second aircraft carrier to the Middle East as President Donald Trump weighs taking military action against Iran, AFP quoted what the US media reported on Thursday. Washington and Tehran began indirect talks last week over the future of Iran&#39;s nuclear program, and Trump on Thursday warned of &quot;very traumatic&quot; consequences for the country if it failed to make a nuclear deal. Late last month, Trump sent the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier and accompanying warships to the Gulf as Trump ramped up threats against Iran over its deadly crackdown on anti-government protests. The vessels remain in the region. The USS Abraham Lincoln, however, is from the &lsquo;Nimitz class&rsquo; of US &lsquo;Supercarriers&rsquo;, which are the predecessors of the &lsquo;Ford class&rsquo;.&nbsp;The Ford-class carriers are more advanced, designed to increase sortie generation rates by 25% while reducing crew size by 500&ndash;900, according to the National Security Journal.&nbsp; Key upgrades include electromagnetic catapults (EMALS), advanced arresting gear, triple the electrical power, and a more flexible deck layout.AFP reports that the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford and its escort ships will join that strike group after officials ordered it to the Middle East from its current deployment in the Caribbean Sea, multiple US media outlets reported. The Wall Street Journal, the New York Times and CBS News reported on the Pentagon&#39;s preparations and the expected deployment of the second carrier, citing unnamed officials. The Pentagon did not immediately respond to questions from AFP. The USS Gerald R. Ford initially deployed in June and was soon directed to the Caribbean as part of Trump&#39;s pressure campaign on Venezuela, according to the New York Times. Some of the carrier&#39;s warplanes participated in the deadly January 3 operation in Caracas that led to the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, the New York Times reported. It was not clear how long the USS Ford or the USS Lincoln would remain in the Middle East.

Americas

Middle East

US media says the Pentagon ordered the USS Gerald R. Ford to deploy to the Middle East to join the USS Abraham Lincoln amid rising tensions with Iran; Trump warns of “traumatic consequences" if nuclear talks fail.

Pentagon 'orders deployment of another aircraft carrier' to Middle East

KYIV: Russia and Ukraine will hold US-brokered talks on February 17-18 in Geneva, both countries said Friday, announcing the next leg in fraught negotiations seeking to end the four-year war.&nbsp;US President Donald Trump is pushing to end the conflict, unleashed when Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, but two previous rounds of US-mediated talks in Abu Dhabi have not yielded any signs of a breakthrough.&nbsp;Both sides said publicly the<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/ukraine-russia-exchange-pows-for-first-time-in-months" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">discussions</a>were productive, but Moscow and Kyiv remain far apart on the key issue of territory.&nbsp;&quot;The next round of talks on the Ukrainian settlement will be held in the same trilateral Russia-US-Ukraine format, on February 17&ndash;18 in Geneva,&quot; Russia&#39;s state-run RIA Novosti news agency cited Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying.&nbsp;Peskov said Moscow&#39;s delegation to Geneva will be headed by Vladimir Medinsky, a hawkish ex-culture minister who led previous failed talks in Turkey, in a switch from the senior military officials who led two previous rounds in Abu Dhabi.&nbsp;Kyiv confirmed the talks were set for the scenic Swiss city.&nbsp;&quot;The Ukrainian delegation has already begun preparing for this meeting,&quot; said its top negotiator Rustem Umerov, head of Ukraine&#39;s National Security Council.&nbsp;He will be joined by Zelensky&#39;s chief of staff and former spy master, Kyrylo Budanov, and a host of other officials.&nbsp;Russia&#39;s switch of negotiating teams comes after an assassination attempt on the deputy of its top negotiator in Moscow earlier this month -- an attack it said was orchestrated by Kyiv.&nbsp;TerritoryUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday arrived in Munich to hold rounds of meetings with European and US officials, seeking support from allies ahead of the talks. He also toured a Ukrainian-German drone production facility.&nbsp;Russia has continued to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/russian-strike-on-ukraine-kills-4-including-3-young-children-report" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">batter</a>&nbsp;Ukrainian cities in recent days, killing six people across the country in overnight strikes that targeted the southern port city of Odesa and energy infrastructure.&nbsp;Moscow has stuck to its demands in the talks for sweeping territorial and political concessions from Ukraine -- rejected by Kyiv as tantamount to capitulation.&nbsp;Russia is pushing for Ukraine to pull out of the eastern Donetsk region -- around one-fifth of which Kyiv&#39;s forces still control.&nbsp;Ukraine has rejected a unilateral pull-back and wants robust Western security guarantees to deter Russia from re-launching its offensive following any ceasefire.&nbsp;Hundreds of thousands of soldiers and tens of thousands of civilians have been killed in the four-year conflict, Europe&#39;s deadliest since World War II.&nbsp;Russia occupies around one-fifth of Ukrainian land -- including the Crimean peninsula it seized in 2014 -- and areas that Moscow-backed separatists had taken prior to the 2022 invasion.

Europe

Russia and Ukraine will hold US-brokered talks in Geneva on February 17–18 to seek an end to the four-year war. Despite previous rounds, major disagreements over territory persist, as Moscow demands concessions and Kyiv seeks security guarantees.

Russia, Ukraine to hold talks in Geneva on February 17-18

LONDON: London&#39;s high court on Friday upheld a challenge to a government ban on activist group <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/palestine-action-launches-court-bid-to-overturn-uk-government-ban" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Palestine Action</a>, saying the proscription had interfered with the right to freedom of speech. A three-judge panel at the court found the ban was &quot;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/almost-900-people-arrested-at-london-palestine-action-protest,-police-say" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">disproportionate</a>&quot; and resulted in a &quot;very significant interference with the right to freedom of speech and free assembly&quot;. UK interior minister Shabana Mahmood said she was &quot;disappointed&quot; and would appeal against the ruling. Palestine Action remains banned to allow the government to contest the decision, judges said. Cheers erupted among dozens of protesters gathered outside the building when the ruling was announced. The government ban made being a member of Palestine Action or demonstrating support for it a serious criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison. It put Palestine Action on a blacklist that also includes Palestinian militants Hamas and the Lebanese Iran-backed group Hezbollah, and sparked a severe backlash. But Judge Victoria Sharp, reading out a summary of the judgement in court, said only &quot;a very small number&quot; of Palestine Action&#39;s activities &quot;amounted to acts of terrorism&quot;. The proscription led to nearly 3,000 arrests, primarily for people carrying placards defending the group, according to protest organisers Defend Our Juries. Hundreds have also been charged and face court hearings. &quot;We won,&quot; Palestine Action co-founder Huda Ammori, who launched the challenge, wrote on social media after the ruling. Outside the court, people waving Palestinian flags and wearing keffiyah scarves cheered and hugged each other. One protester with a megaphone said: &quot;Palestine action is BACK!&quot;. &#39;Over the moon&#39;Niall Pemberton, a 58-year-old retiree who has been arrested four times at pro-Palestine Action demonstrations, told AFP he was &quot;over the moon&quot;. &quot;I think it shows that we were right that direct action groups should not be proscribed as terrorist organisations,&quot; said Pemberton. Unlike previous protests where police have detained people carrying placards supporting Palestine Action, they did not arrest those at the demonstration on Friday, the Defend Our Juries campaign group noted. The government banned Palestine Action in July, days after activists protesting against Israel&#39;s military assault on Gaza broke into an air force base in southern England and caused millions of pounds worth of damage to two aircraft. United Nations rights chief Volker Turk previously called the move &quot;disproportionate and unnecessary&quot;. The UK government had insisted that some of the supporters of the group &quot;don&#39;t know the full nature of this organisation&quot;. &quot;The proscription of Palestine Action followed a rigorous and evidence-based decision-making process, endorsed by parliament,&quot; Mahmood said in a statement after the judgement. But the court concluded &quot;the claimant&#39;s claim is allowed. Subject to any further representations on relief, we propose to make an order quashing the Home Secretary&#39;s decision to proscribe Palestine Action.&quot; &#39;Right the wrongs&#39;In a recent interview with Britain&#39;s Channel 4, Ammori insisted it &quot;was about saving lives in Palestine&quot;. &quot;It&#39;s the very opposite of what a terrorist organisation is to most people,&quot; she added. &quot;Together we took action at great personal risk... We helped make this proscription unenforceable,&quot; Defend the Juries said in a statement after the ruling. It called for a meeting with Mahmood and Metropolitan Police chiefs &quot;to right the wrongs of the ban&quot;. Set up in 2020, Palestine Action&#39;s stated goal on its now-blocked website is to end &quot;global participation in Israel&#39;s genocidal and apartheid regime&quot;. It has mainly targeted weapons factories, especially those belonging to the Israeli defence group Elbit Systems.

United Kingdom

London’s High Court rules that the UK government’s ban on activist group Palestine Action was disproportionate and violated free speech rights.

Activist group Palestine Action wins legal challenge against UK ban

Web Desk

DHAKA: Bangladeshi voters have overwhelmingly endorsed the July National Charter, approving a wide-ranging package of constitutional reforms in a nationwide referendum held alongside the country&rsquo;s landmark parliamentary election.&nbsp;The Election Commission announced on Friday that 48,074,429 voters supported the reforms, while 22,565,627 voted against, with an overall turnout of 60.26% across 299 constituencies.&nbsp;Senior Secretary of the Election Commission Akhtar Ahmed formally declared the results at a briefing at 2:00pm, calling the vote a decisive public mandate for structural political change.&nbsp;&ldquo;The referendum has been concluded, and the &lsquo;Yes&rsquo; vote has secured a clear victory,&rdquo; Ahmed said.&nbsp;Reform blueprint approvedThe referendum placed a single, comprehensive question before voters, asking whether they consented to the July National Charter (Constitutional Reform) Implementation Order, 2025, and the reforms recorded within it.&nbsp;The charter, drafted in the aftermath of the 2024 student-led uprising, outlines a roadmap to prevent a return to authoritarian rule and reshape Bangladesh&rsquo;s political system.&nbsp;Among the key provisions approved by voters are:&nbsp;Formation of a bicameral parliament, including a 100-member upper house allocated proportionally based on national vote share&nbsp;Limits on prime ministerial tenure and an expansion of presidential powers&nbsp;Stronger judicial independence and broader constitutional rights&nbsp;Increased representation of women in parliament&nbsp;Election of the deputy speaker and parliamentary committee chairs from the opposition&nbsp;Mandatory implementation of 30 consensus reforms by parties forming the next government&nbsp;Under the charter, constitutional amendments would require approval from both chambers of parliament.&nbsp;Binding political commitmentThe referendum question explicitly stated that approval would make the charter binding on parties that win national elections, obligating them to implement the agreed reforms.&nbsp;The vote marks a major pillar of the transition overseen by interim leader Muhammad Yunus, who assumed office after the fall of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and described the system he inherited as &ldquo;completely broken.&rdquo;&nbsp;The referendum was held simultaneously with the 13th National Parliamentary Election, Bangladesh&rsquo;s first since the uprising that ended Hasina&rsquo;s 15-year rule.&nbsp;While some political parties had expressed reservations ahead of the vote, election officials said the referendum was conducted peacefully, with results reflecting broad national participation.&nbsp;The approved reforms will now move to the newly elected parliament for formal ratification, setting the stage for the most significant constitutional transformation in Bangladesh in decades

Bangladesh

With over 60% turnout, voters backed the July Charter, mandating term limits, a bicameral parliament, stronger courts, and binding reform commitments for the next government.



Bangladesh voters approve sweeping constitutional reforms in post-uprising referendum

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s space agency on Friday said the first day of Ramazan is likely to fall on Feb. 19, based on astronomical calculations. In a statement, the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) said the new moon of Ramazan 1447 AH is expected to be born on Feb. 17 at 5:01 pm Pakistan Standard Time. According to SUPARCO&#39;s detailed calculations, at the time of sunset on Feb. 18, the age of the new moon will be approximately 25 hours and 48 minutes.&nbsp; The time duration between sunset and moonset is expected to be 59 minutes along the coastal areas of the country. &quot;Based on astronomical parameters, the chances of sighting the new moon with the naked eye are very bright in the evening of Feb. 18, 2026,&quot; the SUPARCO statement read. &quot;Consequently, the 1st of Ramazan may likely fall on Feb 19.&quot; Earlier this week, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) had issued a similar forecast, announcing that there is a &quot;fair chance&quot; of sighting the new moon of Ramazan on the evening of Feb. 18. The agency emphasized that while astronomical calculations indicate favorable conditions for moon sighting, the final announcement will be made by the Ruet-e-Hilal Committee, the country&rsquo;s sole authorized body for moon sighting, after receiving and verifying moon-sighting testimonies from across the country.

Climate & Environment

 Calculations indicate favorable conditions for moon visibility on Feb. 18, with the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission and the Pakistan Meteorological Department aligning in their forecasts, though the Central Ruet-i-Hilal Committee will make the official announcement.

First day of Ramazan likely on Feb. 19: Pakistan space agency

BEIJING:&nbsp;Beijing will take &quot;all necessary measures&quot; against foreign espionage activities, the foreign ministry said Friday, after the US spy agency issued a recruitment video targeting Chinese military personnel. The CIA&#39;s Chinese-language video, published on the agency&#39;s YouTube channel on Thursday, appears to target disaffected officers and appeals for information on <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/trump-says-chinas-xi-to-visit-us-toward-the-end-of-the-year" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">China&#39;s leaders</a> and armed forces. &lsquo;Anti-China forces&rsquo;China&#39;s foreign ministry condemned what it called <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/china-rejects-us-claims-of-secret-nuclear-tests" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">&quot;anti-China forces&quot;</a> and vowed action to protect national security. &ldquo;China will take all necessary measures to resolutely combat infiltration and sabotage activities of foreign anti-China forces and resolutely safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests,&rdquo; foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian told a press conference when asked about the CIA video. He did not provide any details on the measures Beijing could take. The video depicts a fictional Chinese officer deciding to contact the US intelligence agency after concluding that &ldquo;the only thing leaders are protecting is their own interest&rdquo; and that &ldquo;their power is based on countless lies&rdquo;. &lsquo;Please contact us&rsquo;It shows the officer at home with his family, then driving past a checkpoint in pouring rain before taking out a laptop in the car and typing on it as he says: &quot;Picking this path is my way of fighting for my family and my country.&quot; Chinese text accompanying the clip appeals for leaks on Beijing&#39;s leaders and military as well as other areas. &quot;Do you have information about high-ranking Chinese leaders? Are you a military officer or have dealings with the military? Do you work in intelligence, diplomacy, economics, science, or advanced technology fields, or deal with people working in these fields?&quot; &quot;Please contact us. We want to understand the truth,&quot; the text says, adding that the CIA can be contacted &quot;securely through our Tor hidden service.&quot; &lsquo;Naked political provocation&rsquo;The latest appeal came after the agency released a number of videos last year that its Director John Ratcliffe said were aimed at recruiting Chinese officials. They are &quot;just one of many ways that we&#39;re adjusting our tradecraft&quot;, Ratcliffe said. Beijing condemned the posts at the time as &quot;naked political provocation&quot;, saying Washington &quot;not only maliciously smears and attacks China, but also openly deceives and lures Chinese personnel to surrender&quot;.

Asia

The CIA's Chinese-language video, published on the agency's YouTube channel on Thursday, appears to target disaffected officers and appeals for information on China's leaders and armed forces.

Beijing vows 'measures' after CIA Chinese-language recruitment ad

ISLAMABAD: The United Nations Security Council on Thursday extended the mandate of its sanctions monitoring team overseeing measures against the Taliban for another year, keeping the group under UN sanctions amid ongoing concerns about security and human rights in Afghanistan. All 15 members of the Security Council unanimously adopted the resolution under the 1988 sanctions regime, which targets the Taliban and affiliated entities deemed to threaten Afghanistan&rsquo;s peace, stability, and security. The draft resolution was prepared by the United States, renewing the Monitoring Team&rsquo;s mandate until Feb. 17, 2027.&nbsp;The decision means the UN monitoring team will continue to track implementation of sanctions, including asset freezes, travel bans, and arms embargo measures.&nbsp; Travel-ban exemptions previously granted to several Taliban leaders were not renewed. The Taliban has repeatedly urged the international community to lift sanctions, arguing that restrictions hinder economic recovery and diplomatic engagement.&nbsp; However, members of the Security Council cited persistent concerns over the presence of militant groups in Afghanistan, sweeping restrictions on women and girls, and the absence of an inclusive political framework as reasons to maintain the measures. Diplomats said the extension reflects the Council&rsquo;s view that conditions on the ground have not improved sufficiently to justify easing the sanctions regime.&nbsp; The monitoring team will continue reporting regularly to the Council on compliance and developments related to security threats and governance in Afghanistan.&nbsp; As there is an ongoing threat from Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), ISIL-Khorasan (ISIL-K), Majeed Brigade, and Al-Qaeda. The report pointed to growing concern across the region about cross-border attacks, the radicalization of vulnerable communities, and the use of commercial satellite communications and artificial intelligence by militant groups to advance their operations. &nbsp;While Afghan authorities emphasize no terrorist groups are present in the country, the Monitoring Team stated that &ldquo;no UN member state supported that assessment.&rdquo; On Al-Qaeda, the report said the group&rsquo;s intent and capability for external operations remain unchanged. It continues to serve as a training and advisory hub, particularly for TTP, and &ldquo;favors spectacular attacks aimed at attracting global media attention,&rdquo; highlighting the continued threat beyond the immediate region. The Monitoring Team warned that TTP could deepen cooperation with Al-Qaeda-aligned groups, potentially expanding the threat beyond the region.&nbsp;

Afghanistan

UN monitoring team will continue to track implementation of sanctions overseeing measures against the Taliban for another year; all 15 members of the Security Council, unanimously, adopted the resolution under the 1988 sanctions regime, which targets the Taliban and affiliated entities deemed to threaten Afghanistan’s peace, stability, and security.

UN Security Council extends Afghanistan sanctions monitoring mandate

ISLAMABAD: At a meeting with Annalena Baerbock at UN Headquarters, Pakistan&rsquo;s parliamentary delegation led by Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani urged resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in line with UN resolutions and called for stronger international action against terrorism targeting Pakistan. The high-level Pakistan parliamentary delegation led by Gilani, chairman Senate, met Baerbock, president of the UN General Assembly on the sidelines of the Annual IPU Parliamentary Hearing 2026 at the <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-reaffirms-support-for-kashmiris-on-kashmir-solidarity-day" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">UN headquarters</a>, said a statement shared by Pakistan&rsquo;s Permanent Mission to the UN on X on Friday.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-2" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-2&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2022102311519109423&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=e79a25569e508f448e776fe8581c4fedba454a27&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 696px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" data-tweet-id="2022102311519109423"></iframe></div></div>The Senate chairman reiterated Pakistan&rsquo;s firm and principled support for the United Nations as the central pillar of multilateral cooperation. &lsquo;Essential for durable peace&rsquo;&nbsp;Recalling Pakistan&rsquo;s longstanding policy for friendly neighborhood and peaceful settlement of disputes, Gilani termed the resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in line with the relevant UN Security resolutions as &ldquo;essential for durable peace and stability in South Asia&rdquo;. He underlined that while the UNSC resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir remained unimplemented, India has taken further destabilizing action in unilaterally holding the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) in abeyance, arguing that this unlawful action constituted a blatant violation of the Treaty&rsquo;s provisions and established principles of customary international law, the statement said. Gilani said that such actions threaten the lives and livelihoods of over 240 million Pakistanis and set dangerous precedents, particularly at a time when climate stress and water scarcity demand cooperation and strict respect for international agreements. Terrorist threats&nbsp;Drawing the attention of the president of the UN General Assembly to the terrorist threats faced by Pakistan, the chairman said that the TTP, BLA, Al-Qaeda, ISIL-K and other terrorist organizations are using the Afghan soil to target Pakistan with impunity. The chairman Senate underscored that the people of Pakistan strongly support the United Nations&rsquo; mission of promoting international peace and security, sustainable development, and the protection of human rights, the statement said. Gilani said that at a time of multiple and overlapping global crises, the multilateral system is facing serious challenges, including persistent violations of the UN Charter and the continued non-implementation of long-standing UN Security Council resolutions. Highlighting a broader erosion of adherence to international law and established legal instruments, the chairman Senate warned that such trends undermine the international order. Highlighting the adverse impacts of climate change, he said that countries like Pakistan remain among the most severely affected and underscored the urgency of collective action, climate justice, and strengthened international cooperation. He emphasized that the United Nations provides an indispensable platform for addressing these interconnected challenges. &lsquo;Commendable role&rsquo;Speaking on the occasion, Baerbock conveyed her condolences to the government and people of Pakistan on the loss of lives in the recent terrorist incidents in Pakistan. She said that it is in the interest of all countries to fight terrorism together. It was the PGA&rsquo;s first engagement with the visiting high-level parliamentary delegations. &nbsp; Welcoming the Pakistan parliamentary delegation, she praised the high-level participation comprising senior law makers in the IPU Annual Hearing. She also appreciated the commendable role Pakistan is playing in the United Nations. Senator Saleem Mandviwala, Senator Farooq H Naek, Senator Muhammad Abdul Qadir, and Senator Syed Faisal Ali Subzwari, were present in the meeting.

Foreign Affairs

Pakistan parliamentary delegation, led by chairman senate, meets president of the UN General Assembly Annalena Baerbock at UN Headquarters; Baerbock appreciates commendable role Pakistan is playing in United Nations. 

Pakistan calls for resolution of Kashmir dispute, action against terrorism

ISLAMABAD: India&rsquo;s Union Home Ministry (Federal Ministry of Interior) issued a directive on Thursday, Feb. 12, that the national song &lsquo;Vande Mataram&rsquo; must be sung, in its entirety of six stanzas, at all official and cultural events. The directive further stated that, &ldquo;The national song should be sung first and the audience must stand up whenever it is played.&rdquo; Moreover, it must be sung before and after the arrival of the President, at all flag hoisting ceremonies and even at all everyday assemblies in schools, in its entirety. In 1937, it was observed by the Congress-led government that since stanzas 4 to 6 identify India with Hindu goddesses, Durga and Lakshmi, it is against the fundamental principle of Islamic faith of Tawhid. Therefore, it was decided then, that only the first two stanzas will be adopted as the national song, as they only focus on the beauty of nature.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2022008768817770980&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Fdashboard%2F&sessionId=496ea50cd0bfdbaa6aeafe748fceeb7c91012e8e&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 641px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>The origins of the song are also anti-Muslim as it originally appeared in Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay&rsquo;s 1882 novel, &quot;Anandamath&quot;, which historians describe as having strong anti-Muslim and xenophobic rhetoric. It depicts Muslims as &quot;aliens and oppressors&quot; who must be driven out by a movement led by Hindu monks. Compelling Muslims to sing a song that violates their religious tenets is seen by many as a &quot;violation of religious freedom&quot; under Article 25 of the Indian Constitution. This is the latest in a series of anti-Muslim and anti-minority steps taken by India&#39;s &quot;Hindutva&quot; ideology-led BJP government. Indian media has reported that the move has already widened fault lines inside the country, with Muslim organizations and opposition parties publicly objecting that mandating the full six-stanza rendition risks turning a patriotic symbol into a test of conformity for minorities. The episode underscores how India&rsquo;s majoritarian politics is increasingly reshaping state practice and shrinking space for pluralism in the country.

India

India’s Union Home Ministry has directed that all six stanzas of ‘Vande Mataram’ be sung at official, cultural, and school events, drawing objections from Muslim groups and opposition parties; critics say the mandate risks violating religious freedom and deepening majoritarian politics.

India orders full ‘Vande Mataram’ recital at all events, sparks minority backlash

Muhammad Ibrahim

Ayesha Mir

DHAKA: The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) won a majority of more than two-thirds of the seats in parliamentary polls, the Election Commission said on Friday. Election Commission figures said the BNP alliance had won 212 seats, compared with 77 for the Jamaat-e-Islami-led alliance, Commission senior secretary Akhtar Ahmed told reporters, according to AFP.&nbsp; Turnout was 59%. A referendum on a sweeping democratic charter was endorsed by 60%of voters. The BNP has emerged with a decisive parliamentary majority as counting continues from Dhaka&rsquo;s landmark general election, the first since a deadly 2024 uprising ended years of one-party dominance. According to the latest unofficial results, the BNP has won&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/bangladesh-votes-amid-tight-security-as-polling-begins-in-landmark-election" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(41, 105, 176);" rel="noopener noreferrer">198 seats</a>,&nbsp;while Jamaat-e-Islami secured 62 seats. The youth-led National Citizen Party (NCP) won two seats, with results in several constituencies still pending or withheld on legal grounds. Polling concluded on Thursday evening, with hand counting beginning immediately under heavy security. The vote is widely seen as Bangladesh&rsquo;s most competitive election in nearly two decades, following the student-led uprising that forced former prime minister Sheikh Hasina from power in August 2024. The BNP, returning to power after nearly 20 years, urged restraint despite its strong showing. In a statement, the party said no victory rallies would be held, calling instead for nationwide prayers.&ldquo;Despite winning by a large margin, no celebratory procession or rally shall be organised,&rdquo; the statement said, citing the party&rsquo;s responsibility to preserve stability. A clear outcome had been viewed as critical for the Muslim-majority nation of roughly 170 million people, after months of unrest disrupted daily life and key industries, including garments, Bangladesh&rsquo;s largest export sector. BNP leader Tarique Rahman, who returned from years in exile late last year, is widely expected to lead the next government. The transition was overseen by interim chief adviser Muhammad Yunus, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate who assumed office after Hasina fled the country. At the BNP headquarters in Dhaka, supporters gathered overnight as the scale of the party&rsquo;s victory became apparent. Meanwhile, Jamaat-e-Islami chief Shafiqur Rahman struck a conciliatory tone, saying his party would accept the outcome if the prevailing trend held. &ldquo;We will do positive politics,&rdquo; he told reporters, adding that national interest would remain the party&rsquo;s priority. The Election Commission said results in three constituencies, Sherpur-2, Chittagong-2 and Chittagong-4, have been temporarily withheld due to pending legal cases involving winning candidates. &ldquo;The commission is legally obligated to withhold publication of results until final disposal of the relevant cases,&rdquo; said EC official Md Shahidul Islam. Turnout appeared higher than in the previous election, with officials earlier reporting participation approaching the mid-40% range by late afternoon. Voting was held in 299 constituencies, with one seat postponed following a candidate&rsquo;s death. 59% voter turnout&nbsp; Voter turnout in the 13th National Parliamentary Election held on February 12 reached 59.44%, according to the Election Commission of Bangladesh (EC). The information was released on Friday at 11:30 a.m. through a brief statement by Md Ruhul Amin Mallik, Director of the EC&rsquo;s Public Relations Division. Several parties raised concerns after preliminary results were announced. The NCP demanded recounts in multiple constituencies, alleging discrepancies between centre-level counts, media tallies and official announcements. &ldquo;We are getting clear evidence of result tampering aimed at top candidates,&rdquo; NCP spokesperson Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain said at a late-night press conference. Despite these challenges, senior BNP figures framed the outcome as a mandate accompanied by responsibility. BNP standing committee member Salahuddin Ahmed said the party would avoid triumphalism. &ldquo;We have many responsibilities ahead,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;We do not want to create any tension through celebratory rallies.&rdquo; Alongside the parliamentary vote, a nationwide referendum on constitutional reforms was held, proposing term limits for prime ministers, stronger judicial independence and changes to parliamentary structure. Official results of the referendum have yet to be announced. International reactionsRegional and international leaders moved quickly to respond to the outcome of Bangladesh&rsquo;s landmark election, praising the peaceful conduct of the vote and the clear result. Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari congratulated BNP leader Rahman on the party&rsquo;s landslide victory and extended greetings to the people of Bangladesh for what he described as a successful and orderly election. In a statement, Zardari said Pakistan &ldquo;felicitates Tarique Rahman on the decisive mandate&rdquo; and congratulated Bangladesh&rsquo;s citizens for participating in peaceful polls, reaffirming Islamabad&rsquo;s support for democratic governance and closer bilateral cooperation.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2022139603470495866&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=e79a25569e508f448e776fe8581c4fedba454a27&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 322px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>He said Pakistan looked forward to strengthening ties &ldquo;based on shared democratic values and mutual progress.&rdquo; Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in a post on X on Friday, stated: &quot;I extend my warmest felicitations to Mr. Tarique Rahman on leading the BNP to a resounding victory in the Parliamentary elections in Bangladesh. I also congratulate the people of Bangladesh on the successful conduct of the elections.&quot; &quot;I look forward to working closely with the new Bangladesh leadership to further strengthen our historic, brotherly multifaceted bilateral relations and advance our shared goals of peace, stability, and development in South Asia and beyond.&quot;<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=eyJ0ZndfdGltZWxpbmVfbGlzdCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOltdLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X2ZvbGxvd2VyX2NvdW50X3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9iYWNrZW5kIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19yZWZzcmNfc2Vzc2lvbiI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZm9zbnJfc29mdF9pbnRlcnZlbnRpb25zX2VuYWJsZWQiOnsiYnVja2V0Ijoib24iLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X21peGVkX21lZGlhXzE1ODk3Ijp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRyZWF0bWVudCIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZXhwZXJpbWVudHNfY29va2llX2V4cGlyYXRpb24iOnsiYnVja2V0IjoxMjA5NjAwLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X3Nob3dfYmlyZHdhdGNoX3Bpdm90c19lbmFibGVkIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19kdXBsaWNhdGVfc2NyaWJlc190b19zZXR0aW5ncyI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdXNlX3Byb2ZpbGVfaW1hZ2Vfc2hhcGVfZW5hYmxlZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdmlkZW9faGxzX2R5bmFtaWNfbWFuaWZlc3RzXzE1MDgyIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRydWVfYml0cmF0ZSIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfbGVnYWN5X3RpbWVsaW5lX3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9mcm9udGVuZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9fQ%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2022158528757350813&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=e79a25569e508f448e776fe8581c4fedba454a27&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 369px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>The United States also welcomed the result, offering congratulations to both voters and the winning party. &ldquo;Congratulations to the people of Bangladesh on a successful election, and to the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and Tarique Rahman on your historic victory,&rdquo; the US embassy in Dhaka said in a statement. It added that Washington &ldquo;looks forward to working with the new leadership to advance shared goals of prosperity, security and regional stability.&rdquo; As counting continues and final results are certified, analysts say the coming days will test whether Bangladesh&rsquo;s post-uprising transition delivers political stability and restores public trust in democratic institutions.

According to Election Commission figures, the BNP alliance wins 212 seats, compared with 77 for the Jamaat-e-Islami–led alliance; voter turnout stands at 59%, and a referendum on a sweeping democratic charter is endorsed by 60% of voters.

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