'Living freely in India', Sheikh Hasina says she won’t return to Bangladesh under illegitimate rule
New Delhi: Ousted Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who has been freely living in exile in New Delhi since fleeing her country in August 2024 amid student-led protests over government job quotas, has reportedly said she will not return to Bangladesh under any government formed after elections that exclude her party, the Awami League.
In her first media appearance since going into exile, Hasina described her life in India as “free but cautious,” referencing the assassination of her father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Bangladesh’s founding leader, and three brothers during a 1975 military coup while she and her sister were abroad.
“I would of course love to go home, so long as the government there was legitimate, the constitution was being upheld, and law and order genuinely prevailed,” news agency Reuters quoted Hasina as saying.
The 78-year-old Awami League chief fled Bangladesh after a 15-year rule ended amid violent protests, and an interim government led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus has been in power since her ouster. The interim administration has pledged to hold national elections next February.
The Election Commission suspended the Awami League’s registration in May, and the Yunus-led government subsequently banned all party activities, citing national security concerns and ongoing investigations into senior Awami League leaders for alleged war crimes, added the report.
“The ban on the Awami League is not only unjust, it is self-defeating. The next government must have electoral legitimacy. Millions of people support the Awami League, so as things stand, they will not vote. You cannot disenfranchise millions of people if you want a political system that works,” Reuters quoted Hasina as saying.
Hasina further said that her party still hopes common sense will prevail and that they will be allowed to contest the election themselves.
Hasina, who is facing charges of crimes against humanity related to the crackdown on protesters during the 2024 agitation, dismissed the ongoing trial against her as a “politically motivated charade.
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Trekking without nature guide won't be allowed; Karnataka forest minister releases SOP
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre on Friday said that trekking will no longer be permitted on any approved trekking routes under the forest department, without a certified nature guide equipped with GPS-enabled walkie-talkies.
Speaking after releasing the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) formulated for the safety of trekkers, he said that there will be one local nature guide for every 10 trekkers. A maximum of 150 trekkers will be allowed per batch on any trekking route.
According to him, online registration for trekking is mandatory. Even if a single individual registers for a particular day, a guide will still be provided, and trekking without a guide will not be allowed.
He said the SOP was introduced following recent incidents, including a woman from Kerala who went missing for three days in the forests during a trek at Tadiandamol hill in Kodagu, and a minor girl who went missing and was later found dead near Manikyadhara in Chikkamagaluru, which is outside forest jurisdiction.
In a statement, the Khandre's office said that nature guides will be mandatorily equipped with GPS-enabled walkie-talkies on all trekking routes. "Additionally, a mobile app containing trekking route maps will be installed on trekkers' phones. This will help locate trekkers if they lose their way", it said.
As per the SOP, before the trek begins, trekkers will be briefed about the distance, duration, and local conditions.
"Instructions on how to respond if wildlife is encountered will also be provided. Loud devices, sharp metal objects, weapons, and campfires are strictly prohibited on trekking routes," it said.
The SOP further stated that separate toilets for men and women and drinking water facilities will be provided at base camps.
Directional arrow markings will guide trekkers along the route, and rest points will be created along the way, it said.
Citing the SOP, the statement said that nature guides must ensure that no trekker moves ahead of them or is left behind. Headcounts must be conducted at base camps and rest points.
"Guides must communicate with the base camp via walkie-talkie every 30 minutes. If there is no communication within an hour of the trek starting, base camp staff will contact the guide to confirm safety," it said.
The SOP states that minors must carry a consent letter from their parents or guardians, and senior citizens must provide a fitness certificate confirming their physical capability to undertake trekking. To be able to respond to unexpected health issues, trekkers and guides must carry a first aid kit.
However, flash photography, single-use plastics, and carry bags are prohibited and trekkers must bring back their waste and dispose of it only at base camps, as per SOP.
It further said that all trekking routes under the forest department will be integrated into the official website (https://aranyavihaara.karnataka.gov.in/) to enable advance booking of tickets.
