Fresh unrest in Bangladesh
Bangladesh’s interim Government, led by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, has ordered a nationwide security clampdown after fresh unrest erupted following the shooting of right-wing cultural group youth leader Sharif Osmann Hadi in Dhaka. Hadi, leader of Inquilab Mancha and an independent candidate in the February 12 general elections, was shot in the head at close range on Friday while launching his campaign in the Bijoynagar area. Doctors say his condition remains critical, though stable, and he is on life support at a private hospital. Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (Retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury announced the launch of the second phase of “Operation Devil Hunt” to curb illegal arms and rising violence. A reward of Tk 50 lakh has been announced for information leading to the arrest of suspect Faisal Karim Masud, identified as one of three motorcycle-borne assailants. Yunus ordered a manhunt and met Hadi’s family, pledging full support. Political parties and student groups condemned the attack, warning against a return of violence ahead of the elections.
UK honours Dadabhai Naoroji
The House of Lords in London hosted a special reception to mark the 200th birth anniversary of Dadabhai Naoroji, the nationalist leader remembered as the “grand old man of India” and the first Indian elected to the British Parliament. Born in Mumbai in September 1825 to a Parsi family, Naoroji travelled to Britain in 1855 and went on to play a significant role in its political and intellectual life. The event was hosted by Lord Karan Bilimoria, the Parsi peer and founder of Cobra Beer, who highlighted Naoroji’s pioneering journey as a businessman, academic and politician, and his historic election to Parliament in 1892. Indian High Commissioner to the UK Vikram Doraiswami reflected on Naoroji’s enduring legacy and the outsized contribution of the Parsi community to public life in India and Britain. Former UK minister Sir Vince Cable recalled Naoroji’s influential “drain theory”, which exposed the economic costs of British colonial rule in India. The bicentenary event also featured an exhibition tracing key milestones of Naoroji’s life and career.
Delhi fuels health crisis
Delhi’s prolonged pollution crisis is triggering a sharp rise in health problems, with hospitals reporting a 20-30 per cent increase in respiratory patients, including many first-time cases and young adults, doctors said. On Saturday, air quality worsened from “very poor” to “severe”, with the Air Quality Index crossing 400, a level that affects even healthy individuals. At 4 pm, the 24-hour average AQI stood at 431, according to official data. Doctors across the city said outpatient departments and emergency rooms are seeing a surge in patients with breathlessness, chest tightness, wheeze and persistent cough. Pulmonologists warned that symptoms are more severe and prolonged this year, often requiring higher medication doses. Alarmingly, people with no prior respiratory illness are showing reduced oxygen levels and airway inflammation. Health experts attributed the spike to sustained exposure to toxic pollutants such as PM2.5, PM10, nitrogen oxides and ozone, which penetrate deep into the lungs and bloodstream. Vulnerable groups, including children, the elderly and diabetics, are most affected. Doctors have advised residents to limit outdoor activity, use N95 masks if necessary, and seek medical care for persistent symptoms.