News

105 killed in Bangladesh protests; nationwide curfew imposed

Published

9 months ago

July 20, 2024

editor

At least 105 people have been killed in Bangladesh as police cracked down on unrelenting student-led protests against govt job quotas despite a ban on public gatherings.

The govt has decided to impose a nationwide curfew and deploy the army.

Earlier in the day, telecommunications were disrupted and television news channels went off the air.

Authorities had cut some mobile telephone services the previous day to try to quell the unrest.

According to reports, police and security officials fired bullets and tear gas at protesters and banned all gatherings in the capital Dhaka.

The protests, which began weeks ago but escalated sharply this week, represent the biggest challenge to PM Sheikh Hasina since she won a fourth consecutive term in office after the January polls.

The government has deployed police and paramilitary forces across the capital to lock down campuses and break up protests.

On Wednesday, universities including the country’s largest suspended classes and closed dormitories, and on Friday police in Dhaka said they were banning all gatherings and demonstrations in the capital.

According to foreign media, border guard officials fired at a crowd of more than 1,000 protesters who had gathered outside the head office of state-run Bangladesh Television, which was attacked on Thursday.

The border guards shot at the crowd with rifles and sound grenades, while police officers fired tear gas and rubber bullets. Bullets littered the streets, which were also marked by smears of blood.

Internet services and mobile data were widely disrupted on Thursday night and remained down on Friday in the capital, Dhaka.

Social media platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp were also not loading. A statement from the Telecommunication Regulatory Commission said they were unable to ensure service after their data center was attacked by demonstrators, who set fire to equipment.

Student protesters said they will extend their calls to impose a shutdown on Friday, and urged mosques to hold funeral prayers for those who have been killed.

Source: Times Of India

News

24 schools closed due to “Siri Dalada Vandanawa” to reopen on Monday

Published

4 hours ago

April 26, 2025

editor

A total of 24 schools in and around Kandy that were closed due to “Siri Dalada Vandanawa,” the special exposition of the Sacred Tooth Relic, will reopen on Monday (April 28), said the Chief Secretary of the Central Province.

Meanwhile, another 37 schools that are accommodating Police and security forces personnel will reopen on 29 April.

Over 50 schools in the Kandy town and surrounding areas were closed from April 21 in view of the special exposition of the Sacred Tooth Relic.

The special exposition of the Sacred Tooth Relic at the Sri Dalada Maligawa in Kandy got underway on April 18 and will conclude tomorrow.

Schools that will reopen on Monday are as follows;
1. Dambawela Primary School
2. Gothami Balika Vidyalaya
3. St. Anthony’s College
4. Sri Chandananda Buddhist College
5. Chandananda Buddhist Girls’ College
6. Pushpadana Girls’ College, Kandy
7. Good Shepherd’s Convent, Kandy
8. Hindu Senior College, Kandy
9. Madduma Bandara Vidyalaya, Kandy
10. Viharamahadevi Girls’ College, Kandy
11. Girls’ High School, Kandy
12. Siddhi Lebbe College, Kandy
13. Dharmawickrema Girls’ College, Kandy
14. Kingswood College, Kandy
15. Peradeniya Central College, Kandy
16. Senkadagala Weerodhara Vidyalaya, Kandy
17. Dharmasoka College, Kandy
18. Sanghamittha College, Kandy
19. Eriyagama Pushpadana Vidyalaya, Denuwara
20. Gannoruwa Junior School, Denuwara
21. St. Mary’s Vidyalaya, Ampitiya
22. Uduwela Buddhist College
23. Uduwela Maha Vidyalaya
24. Wathuliyadda Primary School

Schools to be reopened on Tuesday are as follows:
1. Berrewaerts College
2. Berrewaerts Primary School
3. Siddhartha College, Ampitiya
4. St. Anthony’s Girls’ College
5. Vidyartha College
6. Thakshila College
7. Keppetipola College
8. Mahinda (Special) Model School Kandy
9. Special Education Resource Centre, Ampitiya
10. Asoka Vidyalaya Kandy
11. Gurudeniya Maha Vidyalaya
12. Vidyaloka Maha Vidyalaya, Thennekumbura
13. Dharmaraja College
14. D.S. Senanayake Maha Vidyalaya
15. Mahamaya Girls’ College
16. Sri Rahula National School
17. St. Sylvester’s College
18. Swarnamali Girls’ College, Kandy
19. Wariyapola Sri Sumangala College, Kandy
20. Seethadevi Girls’ School, Kandy
21. Sarasawi Uyana Maha Vidyalaya, Kandy
22. Peradeniya Junior Secondary School, Kandy
23. Peradeniya Hindu College
24. Lumbini Royal College, Kandy
25. Sri Vimalabuddhi Junior School, Kandy
26. Rasindev Vidyalaya, Kandy
27. Risikala Aesthetic College
28. Thalathuoya Junior School
29. Badi-Ud-Din Mahmud Girls’ College, Kandy
30. Mahaweli Navodya Maha Vidyalaya
31. Kandy Model School, Wattegama
32. Samudradewi Girls’ College, Wattegama
33. Bandaranayake National College – Kundasale
34. Hemamali Girls’ College
35. Ranabima Royal College, Kandy
36. Vivekananda Vidyalaya, Kandy
37. Mahanama College, Kandy

News

Pope Francis laid to rest

Published

4 hours ago

April 26, 2025

editor

Pope Francis has been buried at Santa Maria Maggiore basilica following his funeral in the Vatican.

In a statement the Vatican says Pope Francis’ coffin has been entombed in the Basilica of St. Mary Major in central Rome.

“The Pope is the first in over a century to be buried outside the Vatican, and his entombment was a private event, allowing for those closest to him to pay their respects,” the statement adds.Pope Francis “touched minds and hearts” and wanted to “build bridges, not walls”, said Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, who led the funeral service.

Dozens of leaders and dignitaries – including Donald Trump, Volodymyr Zelensky and Prince William – joined an estimated 400,000 mourners who lined the streets of Rome and gathered inside St Peter’s Square itself.

(BBC News)