www.cpj.bracu.ac.bd
CPJ NEWS BRIEFING
30 JANUARY 2022
Myanmar Situation
The Guardian Myanmar’s junta torching ‘village after village’ in bid to quell opposition
On the morning of 6 January, Boi Van Thang set out on a motorbike across the mountainous terrain of Chin state in western Myanmar. He would travel to a nearby village, he told his wife, and bring back meat for her and their seven children.
He never returned. Three days later his wife, Thida Htwe, received a call. Boi Van Thang’s body had been found. The bodies of eight other men and one boy had also been discovered.
AlJazeera UN rights chief says response to Myanmar crisis ‘ineffectual’
The United Nations human rights chief has urged world leaders to ramp up the pressure on Myanmar’s military rulers to cease violence against the country’s own people and quickly restore civilian rule.
Almost one year on since the military seized power in the country, UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet said the country’s people had paid a high price in terms of lives and freedoms lost.
Human Rights Watch Myanmar: Year of Brutality in Coup’s Wake
Since the military coup on February 1, 2021, Myanmar’s junta has carried out a brutal nationwide crackdown aimed at suppressing widespread public opposition to its rule, Human Rights Watch said today. Concerned governments, including the United States, European Union, United Kingdom, and Japan, should together block the junta’s access to foreign revenues from oil, gas, and other extractives that are funding its abusive rule.
VoA Myanmar Cybersecurity Law ‘Days’ Away as Coup Anniversary Nears
Myanmar’s military government is set to pass a new cybersecurity law that will ban the use of internet services, a move that has been condemned by digital rights activists and business groups.
The Southeast Asian country has been in turmoil since a coup by the military last February. A widespread grassroots movement has seen thousands refuse to accept military rule, with anti-coup communications and demonstrations now largely mobilized online.
The Independent Death, danger, despair: A year in Myanmar under the military
An elderly woman forced to flee bombings. A former peace negotiator leaving his job to fight Myanmar security forces. A woman’s husband shot during a peaceful protest, leaving her alone to care for their two children.
www.cpj.bracu.ac.bd
CPJ NEWS BRIEFING
30 JANUARY 2022
Bangladesh Refugee Situation
The Daily Star Rohingya camps: Arsa riddle needs to be solved: experts
Despite the government's assertions to the contrary, the recent arrest of an Arsa chief's brother from a Rohingya camp in Cox's Bazar strongly hints atthe insurgent group's presence inside the refugee camps, residents and experts said.
Experts also said the government should seriously investigate the arrest of Mohammad Shah Ali, also an alleged operative of Myanmar's banned organisation Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (Arsa), not only to ascertain the presence of Arsa members in the camps, but also for the sake of ensuring security.
The Financial Express Rohingya repatriation: Bangladesh, Myanmar agree to accelerate verification process
Bangladesh and Myanmar have resumed talks on repatriation of displaced Rohingya refugees to their homeland, the foreign ministry of Bangladesh has said.
During the talks, the Bangladesh delegation expressed dismay over the slow pace of verification of past residency of Rohingya refugees. The delegation also offered all cooperation under the three bilateral instruments, to expeditiously complete the verification process.
The Business Standard Japan provides $2M in support for Rohingyas in Bhasan Char
The government of Japan has decided to extend an emergency aid grant of $2M for the support of the displaced "Rohingya" in Bhasan Char.
This contribution provides $1 million to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and $1 million to the World Food Programme (WFP), according to a press release issued by the Japanese embassy on Friday.
The Business Standard Momen requests continued Malaysian support for Rohingya repatriation Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has requested continued Malaysian support for Rohingya repatriation during a phone call with his Malaysian counterpart Saifuddin Abdullah on Thursday (27 January)
They also exchanged views on issues of mutual interest between the countries, said a press release.
The Independent Bangladesh, Myanmar resume talks over Rohingya verification
Bangladesh and Myanmar on Thursday resumed talks on repatriation of displaced Rohingyas back to their homeland nearly a year after an apparent lull of direct interactions since the February 1, 2021 military takeover of the country, the foreign ministry said here.
www.cpj.bracu.ac.bd
CPJ NEWS BRIEFING
30 JANUARY 2022
Bangladesh Peace Situation
The Daily Star Balloon gas cylinder blast in Cumilla: Injured 5th grader dies after 17 days
An injured fifth grader died last night, who suffered burn injuries from an explosion of helium gas cylinder that injured around 40 people including 35 children, after fighting for life for 17 days at Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery.
The victim, Sabbir Hossain (14), son of Salauddin and Khaleda Begum of Malipara under Mokora union of Nangalkot upazila, died at around 10:30pm last night while undergoing treatment at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the burn institute, reports our Cumilla correspondent quoting the victim's father.
The Daily Star Nighttime restrictions imposed in Rajshahi
Following a surge in Covid-19 cases, the local administration in Rajshahi imposed night-time restrictions on businesses in the city and nine upazilas of the district from yesterday evening.
The Financial Express Four die in Madaripur as bus runs over rescuers at car crash site
Four people have died after a bus ran over rescuers at the scene of a car crash in Madaripur's Shibchar Upazila, bdnews24.com reports.
Five others were injured in the incident which occurred around 8pm Saturday, according to Shibchar Highway Police Station chief Shakhawat Hossain.
The Business Standard Covid transmission to rise outside Dhaka in next 2 weeks: Experts
Health experts have predicted a surge in Covid cases outside Dhaka in the next two weeks as they find the transmission rate stable in the capital.
They, however, noted that the number of test is very low compared to the transmission rate. They warned that the number of serious patients and deaths will rise too if the number of case increases in the next couple of weeks.
The Daily Star Throwing stones continues
The incidents of throwing stones on moving trains in the West Zone (WZ) of Bangladesh Railway (BR) have been continuing unabatedly despite a campaign by BR to raise awareness.
Experts have opined that such incidents are recurring because of lax laws and the inertia of victims to file lawsuits to avoid harassment.
www.cpj.bracu.ac.bd
CPJ NEWS BRIEFING
30 JANUARY 2022
Bangladesh Climate Change
The Japan Times Activists demand stop to Japan-funded coal plant in climate-vulnerable Bangladesh Japan should stop funding the construction of a coal-fired power plant in Bangladesh as the emissions it produces will accelerate global warming and put the low-lying country at greater risk of climate-change impacts, youth activists said on Friday.
Japanese trading house Sumitomo Corp, along with Toshiba and IHI Corporation, is building the Matarbari power plant in Maheshkhali.
Prothom Alo Climate change in Bangladesh and the government response
As a disaster-prone country, climate change is a well-used buzzword for Bangladesh. It is widely known that Bangladesh is the one of the hardest hit victims of climate change. Every year it is adversely affected by various types of natural disasters including floods, storms, cyclones, etc. The northern part of the country is gradually becoming a desert because of continuous droughts. The southern part is affected by cyclones and a large area is predicted to sink under the sea.
We used to have six seasons in the country, but now see only three due to climate change.
The Financial Express Bangladesh shifting its main focus towards addressing climate change
Being the seventh most climate-vulnerable country in the world, Bangladesh is considering adapting its main focus towards addressing climate effects, according to the environment ministry.
Bangladesh has increased quantified emission reduction targets to 21.85 per cent below the business-as-usual level by 2030 in the updated NDC, submitted to the UNFCCC on 26 August last year.
The Business Standard Carbon emission scenario: Following the right path for climate mitigation in Bangladesh
Increased emission, mostly carbon dioxide (CO2) is the main contributor to rising global temperature.
Burning fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and gas are the sources of emissions. Energy, industry, transport, agriculture and forest degradation are the major sectors that contribute to
increased emissions. After the industrial revolution, human-caused greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, mostly carbon dioxide (CO2), accelerated global warming and climate change.
