Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Bangladesh has reaffirmed its commitment to revitalizing the South Asian regional cooperation process, indicating renewed momentum for the long-stalled South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), the Foreign Ministry said.&nbsp;Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman conveyed Dhaka&rsquo;s &ldquo;unwavering support&rdquo; during a meeting on Feb. 24, with SAARC Secretary-General Md. Golam Sarwar. He expressed readiness to take proactive steps to revitalize the bloc.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 648px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2026257831289377231&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=d9de6d2732cd3795fc9a78059af0dc9350b4e0de&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px">&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>Rahman reiterated Bangladesh&rsquo;s commitment to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/bangladeshs-incoming-government-signals-regional-reset-pushes-saarc-revival" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">SAARC Charter principles</a>, including sovereign equality, territorial integrity, political independence, non-interference and mutual benefit.&nbsp;He recalled that the idea of regional cooperation in South Asia was first proposed in the early 1980s by then president Ziaur Rahman. A founding member, Bangladesh hosted SAARC&rsquo;s first summit in 1985, and later in 1993 and 2005.&nbsp;The renewed push comes amid calls to restore regular summit-level engagement and revive SAARC&rsquo;s institutional mechanisms.

Md. Golam Sarwar, Secretary-General of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), meets Bangladesh Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman in Dhaka on Feb. 24, 2026.

Bangladesh

Foreign Minister Rahman reiterates Bangladesh’s commitment to the SAARC Charter principles, including sovereign equality, territorial integrity, political independence, non-interference and mutual benefit.

Bangladesh signals push to revitalize SAARC

ISLAMABAD: Bangladesh&rsquo;s Disaster Management and Relief Minister Asadul Habib Dulu on Friday said the government is working to launch the &ldquo;Family Card&rdquo; scheme ahead of Eid-ul-fitr as part of its 180-day priority action plan, according to state-run Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) news agency. The minister made these remarks while exchanging greetings with people at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/bangladesh-vows-to-reform-policies-attract-foreign-investment-in-jute-sector" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Lalmonirhat Sadar</a>. &nbsp; Dulu stated that the government was committed to fulfilling its election manifesto, explaining that a 180-day&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/bangladeshi-pm-vows-to-establish-rule-of-law-equal-rights" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">&ldquo;special package&rdquo;</a>&nbsp;had been adopted and four cabinet meetings have already reviewed its implementation progress. For &lsquo;genuine ultra-poor&rsquo;&nbsp;&ldquo;We want to introduce the &lsquo;Family Card&rsquo; before Eid on a priority basis.&nbsp;The process of identifying the genuine ultra-poor is underway and eligible families will be brought under the program in phases,&rdquo; he said, adding that the scheme will initially be launched as a pilot project in eight upazilas. Dulu also outlined government initiatives to dredge canals and protect the environment during the dry season, aiming to improve inland waterways and irrigation systems. Keeping prices stable&nbsp;He said canal identification was currently under way, and the Ministry of Water Resources, LGED, and the disaster management and relief ministry would work together to ensure its success. The minister said steps have also been taken to keep prices stable, maintain law and order, ensure uninterrupted power supply during iftar and sehri, and facilitate smooth Eid travel.

Minister Asadul Habib Dulu states the Bangladeshi government is committed to fulfilling its election manifesto, explaining that a 180-day ‘special package’ has been adopted and four cabinet meetings have already reviewed its implementation progress.

Govt aims to launch ‘Family Card’ scheme before Eid: Bangladeshi relief minister 

ISLAMABAD: Bangladesh Minister of Commerce, Industry, Textiles, and Jute Khandaker Abdul Muqtadir said national policies would be reformed to increase foreign investment in the country&rsquo;s jute sector, Bangladesh local media reported on Wednesday. Speaking with officials at the secretariat in Dhaka, the minister said, &ldquo;People are now increasingly interested in natural and biodegradable products.&rdquo; He added, &ldquo;policies will be reformed to increase foreign investment in jute sector.&rdquo; The minister said jute has had a historical connection with the country&rsquo;s heritage. &ldquo;We must highlight our competitive mindset, capacity, and advantages globally to attract foreign investors,&rdquo; the State Minister for Textiles and Jute Md Shariful Alam said on the occasion.&nbsp; &ldquo;Everyone must work in unity in accordance with the government&#39;s directives,&rdquo; he added. Bangladesh local media reported that he stressed the need for coordinated efforts to position Bangladesh&rsquo;s jute industry more effectively in international markets. Earlier, textiles and jute secretary Bilquis Jahan Rimi presented an overview of the ministry&rsquo;s overall activities, Bangladeshi media reported. Additional secretaries Arifur Rahman Khan, Subrata Shikdar, Raina Ahmed, along with senior officials and employees of the ministry and heads of its subordinate departments and agencies, were present on the occasion. The ministers represent Tarique Rahman&rsquo;s new cabinet following the Bangladesh nationalist party&#39;s victory in the recent elections. &nbsp; According to local media, both Abdul Muktadir and Shariful Alam have extensive experience in their respective industries and have been associated with politics, business, and trade sectors for a long time.

Bangladesh’s Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muqtadir announces planned policy reforms to boost foreign investment in the country’s jute sector, citing rising global demand for biodegradable products and urging coordinated efforts to strengthen international competitiveness under the new cabinet.

Bangladesh plans to attract foreign investment in jute sector

ISLAMABAD: Three days after members of the BJP Yuva Morcha&nbsp;(youth wing)&nbsp;vandalised a Bangladeshi food stall at an international food festival held at MIT World Peace University&nbsp;(MIT-WPU), the Kothrud Police Station has still not registered an FIR against the accused.&nbsp;The institute had submitted a police complaint on February 11, but opposition leaders and activists say the Pune police are dragging their feet, especially as the accused has posted videos of the vandalism online.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2022315538194784350&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2Fnew%2F&sessionId=0bed99bd90766b07f2a109e6e3f0cf489d5d1cff&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 873px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>Speaking to The Indian Express,&nbsp;DCP (Deputy Commissioner of Police)&nbsp;Sambhaji Kadam said, &ldquo;Submitting a written application is different&hellip; the college should &nbsp;provide additional details.&rdquo; Lawyer-activist Asim Sarode argued that since the incident is clearly visible on video, police should take suo motu cognizance. When asked why an FIR was not being registered despite the footage, Kadam said police are &ldquo;investigating&rdquo; and would act afterward.&nbsp; Akshay Jain of the Maharashtra Youth Congress alleged selective enforcement, saying small protests by his side quickly attract cases, while &quot;trespass and vandalism caught on video have seen no immediate FIR.&quot;&nbsp; Anish Gawande of the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) said Bangladeshi students have studied in Pune for decades and urged intervention against hate crimes by the Maharashtra CM, who also holds the home portfolio.&nbsp; Meanwhile,&nbsp;Siddhant Jambhulkar&nbsp;of NSUI (National Students Union of India) called the incident &ldquo;condemnable&rdquo; and warned it could shake international students&rsquo; confidence. This development comes as a &ldquo;secular&rdquo; India experiences a Government aided rise in xenophobia and hate crimes.

India

Police have not registered FIR despite videos of the assault; opposition denounces the incident amid rising hate crimes across India under the Modi government.

BJP youth wing vandalises Bangladeshi food stall in Pune

ISLAMABAD: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has declared a continued &quot;war&quot; against illegal immigrants, following the removal of 0.24 million names from the state&#39;s voter rolls. In the Indian state of Assam, the&nbsp;Election Commission&#39;s special revision of voter rolls has resulted in&nbsp;a significant reduction in the number of voters, according to an Indian media report. The final list, published on Feb. 8, shows a drop of 0.243 million voters, leaving a total of 24.9 million voters across the state&#39;s 126 assembly constituencies. Over the past months, India&rsquo;s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party has come under opposition criticism for the conduct of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), a voters&#39; verification exercise, across multiple states, which it claims has&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/deletions-in-draft-electoral-rolls-trigger-fears-of-disenfranchisement-in-india" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">targeted minorities</a>. &nbsp; According to an Indian media report, the revised list in Assam comes after the filing of claims and objections and marks the end of the Special Revision 2026, which falls between the Special Intensive Revision&nbsp;and the Special Summary Revision exercises. As per another Indian media report, on BJP complaints against &ldquo;doubtful voters&rdquo; during Special Revision in the state of Assam, Assam chief minister Sarma said, &quot;The war against illegal Muslim immigrants from Bangladesh will continue. Lakhs of &#39;doubtful voters&#39; have been deleted.&quot;<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2021486911823675447&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=88e5b5d00d80ee26809a300dd6a9943ea7e521aa&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 672px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div> Sarma has said that the SIR will be conducted in Bihar after the assembly elections to the 126-member House, which are likely to be held in March-April. &lsquo;Call to mass violence and genocide&rsquo;On Feb. 7, in a separate political development, the ruling BJP&#39;s official Assam Pradesh Twitter handle stirred controversy with a video that allegedly glorifies the murder of minorities. The video, which appeared to feature Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, sparked outrage from opposition parties. The Congress condemned the video, calling it a &quot;call to mass violence and genocide,&quot; and accused the BJP regime of promoting hatred for over a decade.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2020400481382850676&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=88e5b5d00d80ee26809a300dd6a9943ea7e521aa&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 720px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>Congress demanded strict judicial action against those responsible for spreading social hostility. Outrage and protest&nbsp;Similarly, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M) joined the protests, expressing outrage over the video, which shows Sarma firing a gun at the minority Muslim community. The CPI-M staged a protest at Jantar Mantar on Tuesday, calling for accountability from both the BJP and the judiciary. Both the Congress and CPI-M emphasized the severity of the situation, demanding immediate action to prevent further incitement to violence and ensure social harmony in the state.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-2" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-2&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2021191829727699151&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=88e5b5d00d80ee26809a300dd6a9943ea7e521aa&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 600px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>SIR in West Bengal&nbsp;Last month, Nobel laureate economist&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/amartya-sen-flags-hurried-bengal-voter-roll-revision-as-unjust-to-democracy" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Amartya Sen</a>&nbsp;raised serious concerns over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in West Bengal, calling the exercise hurried, unjust to voters, and potentially damaging to democratic participation as the state heads toward assembly elections in the coming months. He said that, though he was not an election expert, others had told him the BJP might benefit from undercounting.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma says, ‘The war against illegal Muslim immigrants from Bangladesh will continue. Lakhs of 'doubtful voters' have been deleted.’

Assam CM declares 'war' on illegal immigrants; 0.24M names removed from voter rolls

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&#39;s Federal Minister for Railways, Muhammad Hanif Abbasi, has reaffirmed Islamabad&rsquo;s commitment to deepen bilateral cooperation with Bangladesh, focusing on railway development, technical exchange, rolling stock, and manufacturing collaboration. In a message issued during the visit of a Bangladeshi delegation to the Pakistan Railways Workshop Division on Saturday, Abbasi said closer railway-to-railway ties could deliver &ldquo;significant mutual benefits for both countries.&rdquo; The delegation was led by Farhad Islam, secretary for International Organizations and Consular Affairs and designated D-8 Commissioner of Bangladesh, along with Bangladesh&rsquo;s High Commissioner to Pakistan Mohammad Iqbal Hussain Khan. Senior Pakistan Railways officials received the visitors at the department&rsquo;s headquarters and workshop facilities. The visit underscores a renewed focus on institutional cooperation between Pakistan and Bangladesh, with railways emerging as a practical entry point for rebuilding technical and economic linkages through state-run infrastructure collaboration. In his message, Abbasi emphasized the scope for expanding bilateral engagement, particularly through &ldquo;railway development, exchange of expertise, rolling stock, and manufacturing cooperation.&rdquo; He said enhanced collaboration between the two railway systems could strengthen long-term connectivity and capacity-building. During the visit, Chief Mechanical Engineer (Carriage &amp; Wagons) Muhammad Nasir Khalili briefed the delegation on the operational structure, technical capabilities, and ongoing development projects of Pakistan Railways&rsquo; workshops. A short documentary showcasing the workshops&rsquo; operational strength and working capacity was also presented. Addressing the gathering, Khalili said Pakistan and Bangladesh are &ldquo;brotherly countries with a shared history, culture, and heritage.&rdquo; He added that there is &ldquo;vast potential for bilateral cooperation in the railway sector, including technology sharing and joint initiatives.&rdquo; As part of the program, commemorative shields were exchanged between Pakistani and Bangladeshi officials as a gesture of goodwill. The delegation was later taken on a detailed tour of the Mughalpura Locomotive Workshop, where officials explained various stages of locomotive maintenance, rehabilitation, and manufacturing. The visiting dignitaries described the tour as &ldquo;highly informative, productive and encouraging,&rdquo; according to the statement, and praised the technical expertise and professional competence of Pakistan Railways staff. The engagement reflects Pakistan&rsquo;s broader push to expand functional cooperation with Bangladesh through sector-specific partnerships, as both sides explore avenues to strengthen institutional ties beyond diplomatic exchanges.

This screengrab shows Bangladesh’s Secretary for International Organizations, Farhad Islam, and High Commissioner to Pakistan Mohammad Iqbal Hussain Khan visiting the Pakistan Railways Workshop Division in Lahore on February 7, 2026. (Pakistan Railways)

Foreign Affairs

Collaboration on infrastructure, manufacturing, and expertise exchange was evident as officials toured workshops, discussed capacity-building, and signaled renewed institutional engagement through cooperation across state-run transport sectors.

Pakistan, Bangladesh push rail cooperation during delegation visit

ISLAMABAD: Bangladesh&#39;s Election Commission said on Friday that all preparations for the country&#39;s general elections and referendum scheduled for Feb. 12 have been completed, with the largest security deployment in the nation&#39;s history in place. &quot;Now there is no preparation left except for the voters to go to the polling stations and exercise their right to vote,&quot; Election Commissioner Md Anwarul Islam Sarker told the state-run Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) news agency in an interview. Sarker said ballot papers have reached 116 constituencies, with the remaining to be delivered by Friday. EC Secretariat Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed said ballots had to be reprinted in some areas following last-minute court orders reinstating candidates, causing minor delays. Security arrangements include deploying 900,000 law enforcement personnel, with the army remaining in the field for seven days before and after the polls, and Ansar paramilitary forces for eight days. Some 1,050 executive magistrates will operate mobile courts from Feb. 8 to 14, BSS reported. The 13th Jatiya Sangsad (parliament) elections will see 2,034 candidates contesting across 300 constituencies, though voting in Sherpur-3 has been cancelled following the death of a Jamaat-e-Islami candidate. According to BSS, the commission has registered 127.7 million voters for the polls and referendum, with voting to be held at 42,779 polling stations nationwide.&nbsp; Fifty-one parties are contesting, alongside over 250 independents, while more than 800,000 officials and around 56,000 observers will oversee the process.&nbsp; Over 1.5 million voters, including expatriates, have registered for postal voting.

Election Commissioner Md Anwarul Islam Sarker (Photo by BSS/File)

With ballots largely distributed and extensive security in place, authorities say the Feb. 12 vote will involve millions of voters, thousands of candidates and unprecedented monitoring.

Bangladesh Election Commission says poll preparations complete

ISLAMABAD: The Bangladesh interim government has decided to request an international investigation into the killing of political activist Sharif Osman Hadi. It plans to propose that the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) conduct the investigation, as announced by the Chief Adviser&rsquo;s Press Secretary, Shafiqul Alam, on Thursday. Alam said the decision had already been taken, and the proposal would be made to the OHCHR &ldquo;at the earliest opportunity,&rdquo; the state-run Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) news agency reported. &ldquo;The interim government remains steadfast in its commitment to ensuring full justice in this case and will extend all possible cooperation to such an investigation,&rdquo; Shafiqul&nbsp;Alam said when asked whether an international inquiry would be pursued. The government did not specify a timeline for submitting the formal request to the UN human rights office. Bangladesh has been under interim administration following political upheaval that led to the departure of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024. The caretaker government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus as chief adviser, has pledged to hold free and fair elections.

Authorities said the proposal would be made at the earliest opportunity, underlining the interim administration’s pledge to cooperate fully with an international human rights investigation into the killing.

Bangladesh to seek UN probe into Hadi killing case

ISLAMABAD: Former England cricketer Mark Butcher has said the International Cricket Council (ICC) had &ldquo;made its own bed&rdquo; by allowing some teams to refuse to play in certain countries while denying the same option to others.&nbsp;Speaking on the Stick to Cricket podcast alongside David Lloyd, Michael Vaughan, and Phil Tufnell, Butcher criticized what he described as the &ldquo;nonsense&rdquo; surrounding India&rsquo;s refusal to play Pakistan outside ICC tournaments, calling the overall approach hypocritical. &#39;Pakistan pulled a blinder&#39; Butcher said Pakistan&rsquo;s stance had dealt a major blow to India and the ICC, given the commercial importance of an India-Pakistan fixture.&nbsp;&ldquo;Pakistan have basically pulled a blinder. They have said they still&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-departs-for-t20-world-cup-will-not-play-against-india" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">want to be involved in the tournament</a>, but they are not going to play India. That is the only lever Pakistan have to pull in this situation. For India, that&rsquo;s a disaster,&rdquo; he said.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 524px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2018975086917964182&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Fmedia-library%2F&sessionId=ad2152ad0bfbd2fe032e994bdc015718dac83bd2&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" data-tweet-id="2018975086917964182"></iframe></div></div>Butcher criticized the ICC&rsquo;s handling of security concerns raised by different teams, pointing to Bangladesh&rsquo;s case ahead of the T20 World Cup in India. He said Bangladesh was not given the same options that India had previously received when it refused to travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy. He noted that India played all of its Champions Trophy matches, including the semi-final and final, in Dubai after citing security concerns, while Bangladesh&rsquo;s request for similar flexibility was denied.&nbsp;&ldquo;The Pakistan-India game is the most lucrative fixture in world cricket. That&rsquo;s why these two teams are always placed in the same group. It&rsquo;s not a coincidence. Everything is arranged from the top,&rdquo; Butcher said.&nbsp;He added that while most teams qualify and are placed in groups through standard procedures, special arrangements are often made for India due to commercial considerations. &ldquo;With these two teams, it&rsquo;s all about money,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;Former England captain Michael Vaughan also questioned the consistency of ICC decisions, saying the governing body appeared to apply different rules to different teams.&nbsp;&ldquo;Is it one rule for one and another for another? India refused to play in Pakistan and got a neutral venue. Bangladesh didn&rsquo;t get the same treatment. That&rsquo;s why Pakistan are taking this stance,&rdquo; Vaughan said.&nbsp;The comments come as reactions continue after the Pakistani government confirmed that the national team would&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-to-play-t20-world-cup-2026-skip-india-match" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">skip the group-stage match against India</a>&nbsp;scheduled for February 15. The decision followed consultations between PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. &#39;ICC double standards&#39; Pakistan&rsquo;s move was described by officials as a response to the ICC&rsquo;s &ldquo;double standards&rdquo; in dealing with Bangladesh&rsquo;s security concerns ahead of the tournament.&nbsp;Butcher said Pakistan&rsquo;s refusal to play India was a direct reaction to that decision. &ldquo;If you won&rsquo;t come to us, we won&rsquo;t play against you,&rdquo; he said, summing up Pakistan&rsquo;s position.&nbsp;Following Pakistan&rsquo;s decision, reports say the ICC has been left concerned about the potential financial and logistical fallout, given the massive broadcast and commercial value attached to an India-Pakistan clash.&nbsp;Butcher also highlighted what he described as a power imbalance within international cricket, calling India the most influential and wealthiest nation in the sport.&nbsp;&ldquo;When this happens, it affects all the other teams. Schedules change, teams have to travel to suit India, and everyone else has to fit in,&rdquo; he said.

Cricket

Former England cricketer says Pakistan’s stance had dealt a major blow to India and the ICC.

ICC ‘hypocrisy’ exposed as Pakistan skips India clash in T20 WC: Mark Butcher

ISLAMABAD: Bangladesh&rsquo;s remittance inflows rose sharply in January, posting a year-on-year growth of more than 51% in the first 26 days of the month, according to data released by the Bangladesh Bank. The bank reported remittances totaled $2,708 million during the period, compared with $1,789 million in the corresponding period last year. The surge adds to strong inflows seen so far in the current fiscal year. From July through Jan. 26, expatriate workers sent home $18.97 billion, up from $15.57 billion during the same period of the previous fiscal year, representing a 22% increase. In December, the country recorded its second-highest monthly remittance inflow in history, reaching $3.23 billion, with the record month coming in March 2025, Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) reported. According to BSS, economists say the rise in remittances has strengthened Bangladesh&rsquo;s foreign exchange reserves, which have rebounded from a multi-year low and stood at over $31 billion under the central bank&rsquo;s traditional measure by mid-2025. Remittances are supporting the country&#39;s balance of payments, ensuring a strong and sustainable inflow of foreign currency amid persistent challenges such as inflation, economic slowdowns, and rising debt levels, BSS says.

Bangladeshi Taka, poisha coin (Photo: Envato/SvarunPogani)

Stronger remittance inflows are easing pressure on Bangladesh’s external accounts, boosting foreign exchange reserves above $31 billion and helping the economy against inflation, slowing growth, and rising debt, according to central bank data and state media.

Articles tagged with "Bangladesh"

Bangladesh signals push to revitalize SAARC

Govt aims to launch ‘Family Card’ scheme before Eid: Bangladeshi relief minister

Bangladesh plans to attract foreign investment in jute sector

BJP youth wing vandalises Bangladeshi food stall in Pune

Assam CM declares 'war' on illegal immigrants; 0.24M names removed from voter rolls

Pakistan, Bangladesh push rail cooperation during delegation visit

Bangladesh Election Commission says poll preparations complete

Bangladesh to seek UN probe into Hadi killing case

ICC ‘hypocrisy’ exposed as Pakistan skips India clash in T20 WC: Mark Butcher

Bangladesh remittance inflow surges 51% in January

Bangladesh signals push to revitalize SAARC