The United States welcomes the ongoing efforts of the interim government of Bangladesh to ensure the safety and security of all citizens.

A spokesperson for the US State Department made this information in response to a question from Voice of America Bangla on Tuesday (December 3).

Expressing concern over the alleged inaction of the interim government on the safety of minority communities, the US State Department said in an email message, "We condemn any violence or intolerance against members of minority communities and welcome the ongoing efforts of the interim government to ensure the safety of all citizens of Bangladesh."

The US position on allegations of persecution of minority communities in Bangladesh was sought. In response, the State Department said, "The United States supports the fundamentals of freedom of religion or belief, freedom of expression, and the right to peaceful assembly and association. We consistently support the rights of the interim government of Bangladesh and our other partners to uphold these rights."

The US State Department also highlighted the designation of ISKCON as a 'terrorist organization' in Bangladesh and the ongoing legal complications of Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari.

The spokesperson noted that the Bangladesh government should resolve these issues in light of its constitutional and legal rights. We urge Bangladesh, like all other countries, to uphold freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, association and religion or belief.

Tensions have increased between Bangladesh and India over the arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das and reports of Hindu persecution in Bangladesh. Responding to a question about the US role in strengthening regional security amid these incidents, the spokesperson said, "We deeply value our relations with both Bangladesh and India. We leave the issue of their diplomatic relations to the respective governments."

Whatever happens politically, there will be no impact on economic and trade relations with India, said Finance Adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed.

He said this while talking to reporters after the meeting of the Advisory Council Committee on Government Procurement at the Secretariat on Wednesday (December 4).

The Finance Adviser said that the ongoing tension in relations with India will not have any impact on political and trade relations. Businessmen who sell products are not confused by the statements of politicians, they sell products. Bangladesh will buy from where it can get products at a low price.

Stating that there is talk of importing rice from India, Myanmar and Vietnam, he said that there will be no shortage of products during Ramadan. The price of soybeans has increased a lot in the world market, due to which there is some shortage in the market.

He said that 24 billion dollars has gone out of the country from the reserves of Bangladesh Bank. Due to which deposits in banks are not increasing. He said that inflation will come down to 7 percent by June.

Regarding the rise in prices of daily necessities, the adviser said that the prices of goods are not decreasing. This is because the political extortion syndicate still exists.

The news of illegally occupying government forest land and building resorts, garden houses and holiday centers is not new in the country. The influentials have been illegally occupying various forest lands through various strategies through political patronage, muscle power and huge money for ages. Obaidul Karim, owner of the controversial industrial group Orion, has illegally occupied at least 100 acres of land in the reserve forest in Bhaluka, Mymensingh and has built various establishments there, including an Orion refrigerator manufacturing factory and personal bungalows.

Not only Obaidul Karim, his brothers Beacon Group owner and former MP Ebadul Karim and Ridisha Group owner Rezaul Karim have also occupied another 100 acres of land in the same forest. According to the Forest Conservation Act, anyone is completely prohibited from entering the reserve forest without permission. Forest guards have the power to shoot anyone who tries to enter without permission. However, not only locals, but also forest officers or forest workers cannot enter the illegally occupied land of Orion. No one dared to protest due to fear of the armed security guards employed by Obaidul Karim and his brothers. However, forest department officials have filed six to seven cases against Obaidul Karim and his brothers at different times, which are pending in various courts. Obaidul Karim and his brothers have been able to stop the proceedings of the cases for years due to the influence of the high-ranking officials of the previous government. As a result, they are still alive despite illegally occupying billions of taka of state assets.

The Orion empire has been built on at least 100 acres of land opposite the Forest Range Office (Seedstore Bazar) in Bhaluka Upazila of Mymensingh. Orion owner Obaidul Karim started the process of encroaching on the forest by buying a few bighas of land next to the forest in 2016. Obaidul Karim took control of 102 acres of forest land little by little. He did not leave the reserved forest area. Among them, Orion's refrigerator manufacturing factory has been set up on 154 dag of land in Habirbari bit in Bhaluka Reserve Forest. Obaidul Karim's brother, Ebadul Karim, owner of Beacon Group, has occupied 154 and 185 dags of the same bit and 107 dags of land in Kathali bit. Another brother of theirs, Rezaul Karim, owner of Ridisha Group, has also occupied 185 and 107 dags of land in Habirbari bit. Out of these dags, the total area of forest land in 154 dags is 201 acres, which Obaidul Karim and Ebadul Karim have illegally occupied. It is alleged that when the Awami League-led government came to power in 2009, Obaidul Karim and Ebadul Karim started trying to encroach on the land of the Bhaluka Forest Division. By 2016, that attempt was somewhat successful. They occupied the lands, which are more valuable than gold, located along the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway, without much hindrance. The Forest Department has only filed a case and has been held accountable. Locals said that Obaidul Karim and the other two brothers were able to illegally occupy the lands by using their power, sometimes by using lathi-charge, and sometimes by lining the pockets of dishonest officials of the Forest Department. In this regard Bhaluka Range Forest Officer (RFO) Harunur Rashid told a media, "The total forest land in Bhaluka Range is 13,000 acres. Of this, 8,000 acres have been encroached upon. In addition to Orion, Beacon, Ridisha and some influential individuals and organizations have illegally occupied these lands. 

Interim government adviser Mahfuz Alam said that India should understand Bangladesh's new reality and unequivocally recognize the July Uprising and the democratic struggle of the students and the masses in Bangladesh.

The adviser said this in his verified Facebook post at 5:54 am on Wednesday (December 4).

In this post written in English, titled 'Relations with India and Bangladesh', he said, 'India should change the post-'75 playbook and understand Bangladesh's new reality. This is not the post-'75 situation.'

Mahfuz Alam said that the July Revolution was a democratic, generational and responsible struggle. And this struggle will continue for a long time....

The Bangladeshi people are not what they were before, 'They are now united and dignified. They will fight for their dignity until they die.’

He said, ‘In this part of Bengal, the pro-India or Indian allies think that the situation will calm down and that if they ignore the July Revolution and the atrocities of the fascists, nothing will happen to them. This is a wrong idea. People are watching everything!’

The Indian organization has tried to portray the July Revolution as a seizure of power by some militants, anti-Hindu, and Islamists, he said, ‘But their propaganda and incitement are failing.’

Adviser Mahfuz Alam said, ‘Delhi or Dhaka? Dhaka, Dhaka!’ and ‘Homeland or martyrdom!’ – These slogans are echoing in every corner of this country to unite Bangladesh into a single entity.

He sounded a warning, saying, ‘And India should not make this united, dignified and democratic Bangladesh its enemy.’

Noting that after almost two long decades, the people of Bangladesh are enjoying their democratic rights without hindrance, he said, ‘Truth has come... Lies will be destroyed. Forever!’

The adviser expressed his strong conviction and said, ‘We failed as a state after 1971, but not this time.’

‘In Allah, trust!’ He ended the post.