India has recently completed long-pending infrastructure projects in Afghanistan.
Fishermen ferrying bricks across a river in Bangladesh
Photo: Scott Wallace/World Bank
COUNTRY REPORTS
Afghanistan
India pledges $1 billion aid
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 14 September during his second trip to New Delhi after assuming office. During the meeting India announced $1 billion development assistance towards reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan. While India has recently completed long-pending infrastructure projects in the country, it will now further identify projects in the spheres of education, health, agriculture, skill development, empowerment of women, energy and strengthening of democratic institutions. Both leaders discussed terrorism and regional security and agreed that terrorism was the single biggest threat to the region.
For more information, see: India announces $ 1 billion assistance to Afghanistan
Police chief killed
Brig-Gen Zorawar Zahid, the police chief for Nangarhar province was killed on 11 September when his vehicle hit a roadside IED in Hesarak district. Speaking at his funeral, President Ashraf Ghani pledged to avenge the death. Zahid had previously served in Ghazni as police chief, leading numerous counter -insurgency attacks against the Taliban and ISIS in the country.
For more information, see: Ghani at police chief’s funeral, vows to defeat terrorists
Peace deal soon
The peace agreement between the government and Hezb-e-Islami is set to be finalised soon, as promised by Ashraf Ghani during his Eid address to the nation. Hizb-e-Islami spokesman Nadir Afghan said that Chief Executive Officer Abdullah Abdullah had expressed reservations on some key elements of the recommendations submitted by his party, but added that the two sides have arrived at a consensus.
For more information, see: Govt, Hizb-e-Islami set to clinch peace accord in days: official
Bangladesh
29 die in factory-fire
In yet another incident factory fire more than 29 people had died this week. The fire followed after a boiler explosion at the Tampaco Foils Ltd. factory outside the capital, Dhaka. Factory safety has been a major concern in Bangladesh. The country has witnessed series of incidents of fire in the factories that caused hundreds of lives.
For more information, see: Fire death toll 29; Death Toll in Bangladesh Factory Fire Rises to 31
PM calls for battling militancy
Conveying her Eid greetings to the people of the country Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has urged all to come together and raise their voices to fight militancy and terrorism. She further added that militancy is not the only problem of Bangladesh but it is also a global problem and countries have to take all necessary means to combat it.
For more information, see: PM Hasina calls for combined efforts to battle militancy
India ties at new high
Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Harshavardhan Sringla observed that India and Bangladesh ties have reached new heights and two countries are now keen in sub-regional cooperation in different sectors. Indian envoy made this comments during his three-day trip to Indian of Tripura.
For more information, see: Ties with Bangladesh at new heights: India
Bhutan
India okays trilateral project
In a first, Bangladesh will be the first country apart from India to invest in a major hydropower mega project in Bhutan, in the form of the 1125 MW Dorjilung project.This comes after India recently and informally agreed to the investment from Bangladesh in Bhutan.
For more information, see: Bangladesh, Bhutan and India agree to 1125 MW Dorjilung Project
Civil servants refute RCSC stand
Civil servants who say they are affected by the Royal Civil Service Commission’s (RCSC) reforms have refused to accept the commission’s stand of addressing the issue of stagnation and have suggested reverting to the old system or consider revisiting the current system to make it agreeable to both parties.
For more information, see: Civil Servants refute RCSC’s stand
India
PMs talk Nepal ties
Prime Minister Narendra Modi held wide ranging talks with his Nepalese counterpart Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ on key issues including the political process in the Himalayan nation and ways to strengthen bilateral ties. The two sides reviewed the full-spectrum of relations during delegation level talks at Hyderabad House here, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted.
For more information, see: PM Modi, Nepal PM Prachanda hold talks in Delhi
Congress loses Arunachal
In less than two months, the Congress is back to square one and is yet again facing a battle of survival in Arunachal Pradesh. The political battle against the party has been launched by its own chief minister Pema Khandu who has the support of 43 other MLAs. Now, 44 out of 45 Congress MLAs in the state, including Khandu, have quit the Congress and joined the People’s Party of Arunachal (PPA).
For more information, see: Congress loses Arunachal as chief minister, 43 MLAs defect to BJP ‘ally’
Two rescued from IS
Two Indians, held captive by the Islamic State in Libya since July 2015, have been rescued by the Misrata forces, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Thursday. A third Indian national, however, continues to remain in captivity and efforts are on to secure his release, the MEA said.”I am happy to inform that C. Gopikrishna (Andhra Pradesh) and T. Balaram Kishan of Telangana, who were captive in Libya since July 29, 2015 have been rescued,” External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj tweeted.
For more information, see: Two Indians rescued from IS in Libya
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