Karate is a tool for personality development: UT Khader
Mangaluru: Karnataka Legislative Assembly Speaker UT Khader stressed on the role of karate in shaping students' personalities, describing it as a valuable supplement to education. Speaking at the inauguration of the Shaurya International Karate Championship on Friday, held at the Cordell Church Hall in Kulasekhara, Khader highlighted the importance of parental and teacher support in sustaining and promoting the art of self-defense.
Khader noted that previously, students from Mangaluru had to spend significant amounts, up to two to three lakh rupees, to participate in international karate championships. However, the local organization of this event now provides a crucial opportunity for young participants at the beginning of their journeys.
The event was also marked by Mangaluru Bishop Dr. Peter Paul Saldanha's blessing and a special address by Mangaluru Mayor Sudhir Kumar Shetty, who announced a donation of Rs 10 lakhs from the Mangaluru City Corporation to support the tournament. Shetty expressed his best wishes for the championship's success.
MLA D. Vedavyasa Kamath, the Chairman of the Organizing Committee, presided over the function. Tournament Director A. Sadananda Shetty was felicitated during the event.
The inauguration saw the presence of several dignitaries, including Vidhan Parishad Member Ivan D'Souza, KIO President Hanshi Bharat Sharma, Self Defense School of Indian Karate President Kiosi Ishwara Kateel, and other key figures from the karate community. Organizers and committee members, including the founder president of the Dakshina Kannada district karate organization, K. Tejomaya, played a significant role in the successful organisation of the event.
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Indian visa application centre suspended indefinitely in Bangladesh's Chattogram
Dhaka (PTI): India on Sunday suspended visa operations at its mission in Bangladeshi port city of Chattogram until further notice, according to media reports.
The move comes in the wake of a fresh wave of unrest witnessed in the country following the death of prominent youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi.
His death triggered attacks and vandalism across Bangladesh, including stone-hurling at the Assistant Indian High Commissioner's residence in Chattogram on Thursday.
Hadi, a prominent leader of the student-led protests last year that led to the ouster of the prime minister Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government, was a candidate for the scheduled February 12 general elections.
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He was shot in the head on December 12 by masked gunmen at an election campaign in central Dhaka’s Bijoynagar area and died while undergoing treatment in Singapore on December 18.
“Due to the recent security incident at Assistant High Commission of India (AHCI) Chittagong, Indian visa operations at IVAC Chittagong (Chattogram) will remain suspended from 21/12/2025 until further notice,” the Indian Visa Application Centre (IVAC) said in a brief statement.
The announcement for reopening the visa centre will be made after reviewing the situation, the statement added. The decision came into effect on Sunday.
There are five IVAC facilities across Bangladesh at Dhaka, Khulna, Rajshahi, Chattogram and Sylhet. An IVAC official told PTI that the other four offices have remained operational as of Sunday.
India on Thursday resumed operations at its visa application centre in Dhaka, a day after closing it over escalated security concerns, but closed for a brief period two other identical facilities in Rajshahi and Khulna as anti-India protestors tried to march towards the Indian missions there.
On Saturday, security was strengthened at the Indian Assistant High Commission office and the visa application centre in Bangladesh's Sylhet city.
The enhanced security measures were put in place to ensure that “no third party can exploit the situation,” Additional Deputy Commissioner (Media) of the Sylhet Metropolitan Police Saiful Islam was quoted as saying by The Dhaka Tribune newspaper on Saturday.
Hadi, 32, was laid to rest on Saturday amid extra-tight security beside the grave of National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam near the Dhaka University mosque.
Tens of thousands of people attended the funeral prayers, and ahead of the ritual, chanted anti-India slogans like “Delhi or Dhaka - Dhaka, Dhaka” and “brother Hadi’s blood will not be allowed to go in vain.”
Earlier on December 17, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) summoned Bangladesh envoy Riaz Hamidullah and conveyed its strong concern over certain extremist elements announcing plans to create a security situation around the Indian mission in Dhaka.
“We expect the interim government to ensure the safety of Missions and Posts in Bangladesh in keeping with its diplomatic obligations,” it said.
The envoy was apprised of India's strong concerns about the deteriorating security environment in Bangladesh, it added.
