After bloody clashes between students in the capital, with at least 100 injured, St. Gregory's High School & College was forced to interrupt classes due to damage to its facilities. Its principal, Br Ribeiro, calls it a “premeditated assault". The army has restored order. Meanwhile, Chinmoy Krishna Das, a Hindu community leader, was arrested for "sedition" at Dhaka airport. The NGO representing religious minorities laments “unprecedented violence”.
The Himalayan country, which has abandoned fossil fuels thanks to surplus renewable energy in the monsoon season, has started exporting to Dhaka via the Indian power grid. The tripartite agreement provides for supplies from June to November, for five years. This is a turning point for connectivity between South Asian countries.
Having come to power after the ousting of the historic premier Hasina and the student protests, the interim executive does not seem to meet expectations. The issue of the fight against corruption is unresolved and there is a risk of a growing Islamic drift. Economic challenges, in particular the issue of inflation, continue to weigh on the citizens.
The story of 14-year-old Mahinur, who thanks to the Catholic organisation's Sddb programme was able to embark on a path to schooling. Coming from a poor family, she faced marginalisation and indifference for a long time; now she dreams of becoming a teacher. Like her, 6,378 people in eight districts receive support.
The interim prime minister met a delegation from the Bishops' Conference led by Archbishop Bejoy N. D'Cruze. The prelates call for a nation grounded in justice, human rights, and participatory governance. The Church's educational and healthcare institutions offer their services "regardless of caste or creed”. The bishops urge the government to simplify visa procedures for missionaries.
The Indian company close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi already has reduced supply and is now asking for payment of US$ 850 million. Bangladesh is struggling with foreign payments due to a shortage of foreign currency, while the caretaker government wants to revise the terms of the deal with India because its prices are too high.
