Dhaka: A Bangladesh delegation has arrived in Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal, India, to participate in the Joint Committee meeting on the Ganges Water Treaty. Representatives of the Union Ministry of Water Resources from New Delhi will be present at the meeting. The main objective of the meeting is to review the Ganges-Padma Water Sharing Treaty and discuss various related issues.

An 11-member delegation from Bangladesh is participating in the 5-day meeting starting from Monday (March 3). Apart from the Ganges-Padma Water Sharing Treaty, the meeting is likely to discuss Teesta and other Trans boundary rivers.

The meeting is considered very important in the context of the recent strain in diplomatic relations between Dhaka and Delhi following the political change in Bangladesh in August last year and the flight of ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to India.

The delegation will visit the Farakka Barrage on Monday. There, they will examine the amount and condition of water flowing from the Ganges to the Padma. The Farakka Barrage plays a very important role in the distribution of river water between India and Bangladesh. Experts from both countries will observe on-site how the stipulated amount of water from the Ganges is flowing into the Padma.

A formal meeting has been arranged at a luxury hotel in Kolkata on March 7. Representatives of the two countries will hold discussions there. Several sources have said that in addition to the sharing of Ganges water, there may be talks on Teesta and other Trans boundary rivers. The Teesta water sharing agreement, which is particularly important for Bangladesh, has been stalled for a long time.

Dhaka: The Appellate Division has acquitted BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia in the Zia Charitable Trust case.

The Appellate Division headed by Justice Md. Ashfaqul Islam gave the order on Monday (March 3) morning.

On February 23, the state and the Anti-Corruption Commission appealed to the Appellate Division against the verdict acquitting BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia from a 7-year sentence in the Zia Charitable Trust corruption case. Later, the court fixed March 2 for the hearing. However, the court postponed the hearing to March 3 on the ACC's application.

Earlier, the High Court acquitted her from a 7-year sentence in this case on November 27.

It is worth noting that in October 2018, the court had sentenced Begum Khaleda Zia to seven years of rigorous imprisonment in the Zia Charitable Trust corruption case. The court also sentenced the other three accused to the same term of imprisonment. They were also fined Tk. 10 lakh each and ordered to confiscate 42 kathas of land in Kakrail purchased in the name of a trust and transfer it to the state. Begum Khaleda Zia later appealed against this verdict.

The interim government has made provisions for a 5% quota facility for admission to government schools for the children of those killed and injured in the July-August 2024 mass uprising.

The Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE) issued an office order dated February 20 on Sunday (March 2). School headmasters and college principals have been instructed to implement the order.

The office order states that 5% of seats will be reserved for admission to government secondary schools for the sons and daughters of freedom fighters or martyred freedom fighters and family members of those injured or martyred in the July mass uprising. In determining the seats of the sons and daughters of freedom fighters or martyred freedom fighters and family members of those injured or martyred in the July mass uprising, a certified copy of the relevant certificate or gazette must be attached to the application form. The original copies of these must be shown at the time of admission.

The order further states that in this case, the admission process should be completed by properly verifying the freedom fighter certificate issued by the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs or the gazette of martyrs in the July Uprising of the concerned person.

If the sons and daughters of freedom fighters or martyred freedom fighters and family members of those injured or martyred in the July Uprising are not available, admission to that seat should be made from the merit list. Under no circumstances can the seat be kept vacant. Instructions have been given to all concerned to implement this.

Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus, the chief adviser to the interim government, has said that it will be difficult to ensure justice if all the atrocities committed during Sheikh Hasina's rule are not properly documented.

He said this while meeting the UN Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh, Gwyn Lewis, and the UN Resident Coordinator's Office's Senior Human Rights Adviser, Huma Khan, at the Jamuna State Guest House on Sunday (March 2).

During the meeting, he stressed the importance of properly documenting all the atrocities committed during Sheikh Hasina's rule. These include the crackdown on protesters at Shapla Square, police brutality against protesters after the verdict against Delwar Hossain Sayedee, and the extrajudicial killings that have occurred over the years.

The Chief Adviser said, there is a need for proper documentation of all atrocities committed against the people in this country. If these incidents are not properly documented, it will be difficult to know the correct information and ensure justice.

At that time, Resident Coordinator Lewis said, the UN is ready to provide technical assistance to properly document incidents of atrocities committed against the people and to help build the capacity of the people of Bangladesh in this regard. This is a process to prevent such incidents and establish the truth.

The Chief Adviser thanked the UN for publishing an investigative report on human rights violations and torture during the protests in July and August 2024.

He said, we are very happy that the UN has published a report on human rights violations. It was not an easy task to publish, but they have published it in a timely manner.

Lewis informed the Chief Adviser that the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, will brief Member States on the report at the 55th session of the UN Human Rights Council on March 5. He expressed hope that UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' upcoming visit to Bangladesh will bring the Rohingya crisis back to global attention, especially when financial assistance is being cut.

Lewis also said, "We are very concerned about the reduction in financial assistance. Each month, the Rohingya need 15 million US dollars just to ensure food supplies, which are linked to other basic needs."

It is worth noting that UN Secretary-General Guterres will visit Bangladesh from March 13 to 16.