Posts From Barrister Harun ur Rashid
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Barrister Harun ur Rashid
Trial of War Criminals:
War crime is a generic term. It includes genocide, crimes against humanity, and grave breaches of the 1949 Geneva Conventions relating to war. The first two can occur in time of peace or in war. These crimes are international crimes
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Independence and National Day: Our Achievements and Challenges
26th March is our independence day. It is a day of reflection of the past and looking forward to future. Our independence was brought about of supreme sacrifices of people and we owe our debt to and remember them on
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Prime Minister’s visit to China: A Timely One
The proposed five-day visit of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from 17th to 21st March to China is a timely one since the ties between the two countries have been characterized by comprehensive interaction of cooperation during the last 35
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Amar Ekushey 21st February:
221st February is a day of national mourning, pride, reflection and action. It is the Language Martyr’s Day. It is fifty- eight years ago on this day that among others, Barkat, Rafiq, Jabbar, Shafiur and Salam sacrificed their young precious
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Turkish President’s Visit to Bangladesh: A new horizon of economic cooperation
Both Bangladesh and Turkey are strategically located. While Bangladesh is a bridge between South Asia and South East Asia, Turkey is located in both Europe and Asia and has been a gateway to Europe from Asia. Given this context, Turkey’s
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A Tribute to Veteran leader Jyoti Basu (1914-2010)
Veteran CPM (M ) leader Jyoti Basu is no more with us. He passed away on 17th January at a Salt Lake Hospital at 11-47. He would have been 96 years this July. I have the great privilege of meeting
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Prime Minister’s Visit to India: Mutual Trust Restored
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s landmark four-day visit (10-14th January) to India has created an excellent environment of mutual trust that will lay foundations to a much more stable and fruitful relationship with India. What was lacking was mutual trust
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Dhaka-Yangon Maritime Boundary Talks: A Big Step Forward
It is a good news that during the recent meeting (8th and 9th January) in Dhaka, the delegations from Bangladesh and Myanmar have been able to agree on the method of delimitation of sea boundary. They reportedly agreed on the
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Let us usher in New Year 2010: A Year of Hope Expectation!
In ancient days, there was no New Year. They used to say ‘in the tenth year of the reign of Emperor such and such’. When a new Emperor comes, the clock is reset: It is year one. On it goes
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Good Bad News about Copenhagen Climate Conference
The Copenhagen climate change conference generated much heat across the world but the outcome has disappointed many because there was no legally binding agreement to reduce the greenhouse gases by 2020 or 2050. A statement that limiting a global temperature
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Fascinating insights into Indo-Bangladesh relations from the departing Indian High Commissioner
A narrative of diplomat’s experiences has always been revealing and entertaining. A life of a diplomat is always exciting as ever and often unexpected events occur during his/her tenure. Diplomats are privy to many interactions with the government which others
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Copenhagen Conference on Climate Change Bangladesh
The UN Conference on Climate Change has commenced in Copenhagen for two weeks from 7th December 2009. About 18,000 delegates are participating in the conference. It is one of the largest conferences held by the UN. Emotions ran high among
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Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s visit to India: Momentous Occasion
Majority of people in South Asia looks at India, the larger and resourceful neighbour with admiration and apprehension. Admiration is felt because the neighbour, having common bonds of history and geography, has been emerging as a global political and economic
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The Copenhagen Launch Fund: Decision at the Commonwealth Summit
The heads of state/government of 53-member states of the Commonwealth met in Port of Spain, capital city of Trinidad & Tobago (Caribbean Islands) for three days from 27 to 29 November. Bangladesh joined the Commonwealth in 1973 and since then
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Bangabhandu Murder Trial: Dark Chapter Finally Closed
The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on 19th November upheld a verdict of the High Court Division that handed down death sentences to 12 former army officers in the Bangabandhu murder case, sealing the gruelling and long-disrupted proceedings of
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Prime Minister’s Visit to Bhutan
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s visit to Bhutan is timely and appropriate. Cooperation with neighbouring countries is one of the priorities of Bangladesh’s foreign policy. The visit is a testimony of this theme. She left on 6th November for a four-day
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Review of the 1972 Constitution
A review of the Constitution of Bangladesh, 1972 has been raised by some constitutional experts This is not only an important issue but also goes to the heart of present political malaise in the country. Many political leaders of major
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Law of Maritime Boundary in the Bay of Bengal
Under the UN Convention of the Law of the Sea of 1982 (UNCLOS), a coastal state can claim jurisdiction of 12-miles territorial sea, 200 mile exclusive economic zone and an additional 150 miles of continental shelf over and above 200
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Why did President Obama receive the Nobel Peace Prize?
President Barack Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize on 9th October in a stunning decision that honored the first-year of his tenure as U.S. President. The bestowal of one of the world’s top accolades on Obama was greeted with gasps
Read MoreIndia’s muscle power
South Asia’s security does not depend only on South Asian countries because China comes in the picture. The impact of Indo-Sino war of 1962 looms large in India’s security strategy. India assesses its security concerns in the light of Chinese
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Time to rethink the direction of Bangladesh foreign policy
Foreign policy is not formulated in a vacuum. It is based on certain ingredients that cannot be changed, such as, geographical location, history, religion, culture and natural resources. Taken together these features, one can objectively assess the opportunities and threats
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Foreign Minister Dr. Dipu Moni’s visit to India
In Bangladesh foreign policy, “India factor” looms large. Many bilateral issues are pending for a long time and Bangladesh cannot force India to resolve the issues, some of them are “bread and butter” issues affecting common people. Both the AL
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Brothers set to be Japan’s Prime Minister and the Opposition Leader
Japanese voters have swept the conservative government of Liberal Democratic Party headed by Prime Minister Taro Aso. The LDP except for a brief period in 1993 ruled the country since 1955. Japan’s usually risk-averse electorate, frustrated with the country’s worst
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Is Myanmar acquiring nuclear weapons?
Foreign media is awash with news that Myanmar (Burma) is building a secret nuclear reactor and plutonium extraction facilities with North Korean help, with the aim of acquiring its first nuclear bomb in five years. The recent aborted voyage of
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Bangladesh mourns the demise of Ted Kennedy
Senator Edward Moore Kennedy 77, youngest brother of former President John F. Kennedy passed away late on 25th August at his home at Hyannis port and the death was announced on 26th August morning by the Kennedy family. He was
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