11:05 am, Friday, 10 October 2025
BREAKING NEWS
Reviving the Rural Economy: $100 Million ADB–Bangladesh Agreement The Journey Begins for Cox’s Bazar’s First Plastic Recycling Plant Why the world’s biggest food company is stepping back Nestlé has withdrawn from a high-profile international alliance to cut methane from dairy supply chains, a move that instantly sharpened debate over how fast and by what methods the sector should decarbonize; the company says it will keep pursuing on-farm emissions cuts through its own programs while reassessing the group’s approach and governance, but the exit deprives the coalition of its most recognizable member and risks slowing peer benchmarking, shared pilot data, and pooled purchasing that can bring down costs for farmers. Methane from cattle is a potent, short-lived climate pollutant, and many governments have leaned on voluntary industry compacts to accelerate adoption of feed additives, manure management, and breeding strategies; critics of Nestlé’s decision warn that a fragmentation of efforts could reduce transparency and make it harder for buyers, lenders, and regulators to compare progress across brands, whereas supporters counter that company-led projects tied to local agronomy and subsidies often deliver faster, measurable gains than broad global charters. The policy backdrop is shifting as well: several markets are moving from pure carrots to a mix of incentives and performance-based conditions on grants and export supports, and that pivot raises stakes for how milk processors document emissions baselines and third-party verification, because the credibility of Scope 3 targets rests on comparable methodologies rather than marketing claims alone. Practically, much of the abatement economics hinge on who pays for early-stage inputs like methane-reducing feed supplements and slurry lids; with farm margins tight, a coordinated model—blending buyer premiums, public cost-shares, and green-finance instruments—is usually needed to avoid penalizing smaller producers, and Nestlé’s departure complicates the coalition’s ability to aggregate demand and negotiate lower unit costs at scale. What changes on the farm, for financiers, and across supply chains For producers, the near-term signal is mixed: one major buyer is still funding on-farm pilots but no longer inside the alliance’s shared roadmap, which could slow knowledge transfer between regions that differ on climate, feed, and herd structure, even as individual Nestlé programs continue to trial seaweed-based additives, nitrification inhibitors, covered lagoons with biogas capture, and pasture rotations to improve enteric and manure outcomes; in parallel, veterinarians and breeders stress that fertility and animal health gains can cut emissions intensity without shrinking output, though activists argue absolute reductions are needed if national targets are to be met. Financiers and insurers will keep pressing for comparable disclosures because the cost of capital increasingly reflects climate-risk metrics: banks baking “sustainability-linked” terms into dairy loans need clear, auditable KPIs, and exporters eyeing tariff-free access to markets with carbon-border rules will face tougher paperwork if standards splinter, which is why industry groups are urging a minimum common MRV (measurement-reporting-verification) framework even when brand strategies differ. For consumers—and for downstream brands in chocolate, infant formula, and ice cream—the implications will show up more in labels and price architecture than in the taste of products: if buyers pay farmers for verified methane abatement while feed and equipment remain pricey, some costs may pass through, but over time biogas revenue, fertilizer substitution, and efficiency gains can offset outlays and stabilize retail pricing. The political risk is that today’s corporate exit becomes tomorrow’s cultural flashpoint, especially in countries where farmer protests have already shaped election cycles; to avoid backlash, climate policy designers are experimenting with “pay for performance” that rewards measured reductions rather than prescribing a single technology path. The bottom line is not that dairy decarbonization stalls, but that governance gets messier: Nestlé’s solo track keeps momentum on pilots yet raises coordination costs for everyone else, and the outcome to watch is whether competing alliances converge on interoperable data, verification, and crediting rules so that farmers can sell a ton of avoided methane once—and get recognized for it across buyers, banks, and border regimes. SOFTBANK BUYS ABB’S ROBOTICS UNIT FOR $5.4B, BETTING ON A NEW WAVE OF FACTORY AUTOMATION Nurul Majid Humayun’s Death and the Placement of Prisons under the International Red Cross IEA TRIMS U.S. RENEWABLES OUTLOOK AS FEDERAL POLICIES SHIFT; GLOBAL SOLAR STILL SURGES GAZA TALKS ENTER DAY THREE IN EGYPT AS MEDIATORS TEST PATH TO FULL CEASE-FIRE OCTOBER PRIME DAY 2025: THE TECH DEALS THAT ARE ACTUALLY WORTH YOUR MONEY PRIME DAY, AGAIN: WIRED’S BIG LIST SHOWS HOW TO SHOP SMART AND SKIP THE DUDS TIMOTHÉE CHALAMET TEASES ‘MARTY SUPREME’ AFTER NYFF PREMIERE, KEEPING PLOT UNDER WRAPS
Home / Bangladesh, Top News

Minority and Ethnic Persecution on the Rise in Bangladesh: MSF

Sarakhon English

Human rights watchdog Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has expressed deep concern over a sharp escalation in attacks on minorities, ethnic communities, and ordinary citizens in Bangladesh during September 2025. Drawing on its own findings and media reports, MSF states that the situation has worsened alarmingly, despite official assurances of protection during the Durga Puja celebrations.

Rising Fear Ahead of Durga Puja

Even during Durga Puja, the largest festival for the Hindu community, incidents of vandalism and attacks continued.

  • The number of reported cases of minority persecution doubled — from 8 last month to 16 this month.
  • Across 16 districts, 29 idols were vandalized, six were set ablaze, two temples were looted, and land-grabbing incidents were reported.
  • In Satkhira, former Puja Celebration Committee leader Bijon Kumar Dey was found dead. In Barishal, the hanging body of a young Christian woman, Nancy Mondal, was recovered.

Attacks on Ethnic Minorities

Three major incidents of ethnic violence were reported this month by the victims:

  • In Khagrachhari, an indigenous teenage girl was gang-raped. Allegations surfaced of police reluctance to file a case, delays in medical tests, and a weak charge sheet.
  • Protests over the assault led to clashes between hill residents and Bengalis, leaving several injured. Authorities imposed Section 144 to curb unrest.
  • On September 28, three young men — Bikash Tripura (26), Chingkheu Marma (26), and Uggya Marma (22) — were shot dead. Looting and arson followed in the same area, with witnesses blaming masked attackers.

Meanwhile, in Rajshahi’s Mollapara, an attempt to evict indigenous families was thwarted after civil society groups intervened.

Mob Violence Spirals Out of Control

MSF statistics reveal mob violence surged to alarming levels in September:

  • Incidents recorded: 43
  • Deaths: 24
  • Seriously injured: 32

Breakdown of allegations leading to mob attacks:

  • Mugging: 6 killed
  • Theft: 10 killed, 13 injured
  • Extortion: 3 killed
  • Attempted rape: 4 assaulted
  • Sexual harassment: 4 assaulted
  • Alleged affiliation with banned political groups: 5 assaulted

Acts of public humiliation also surfaced. In Natore, three madrasa caretakers collecting donations were attacked, and their hair was forcibly cut in front of crowds.

 

“Mob violence is nothing short of extrajudicial killing,” MSF stated, urging authorities to criminalize it formally under state law.

Shrines and Cultural Sites Under Attack

Religious and cultural landmarks were not spared.

  • At least 14 shrines in Sylhet, Cumilla, Rajbari, Rajshahi, Netrokona, and Mymensingh were vandalized or set on fire.
  • In Kushtia, the shrine of spiritual icon Lalon Fakir received direct threats.
  • In Goalanda, Rajbari, an attack on a Darbar Sharif left 50 injured and one person dead.
  • A viral video showed a man, Halim Uddin Fakir, having his hair forcibly cut in public.

MSF warned that such attacks go beyond mere religious persecution, striking at Bangladesh’s cultural heritage and traditions. It called on the interim government to take lasting measures to safeguard shrines and the Lalon legacy.

The Bigger Picture

  • Religious minority persecution: idol vandalism, arson, land grabs, and killings
  • Ethnic minority persecution: rape, protest deaths, eviction attempts
  • Mob violence: 43 incidents, 24 dead
  • Shrine and cultural site attacks: at least 14 cases

MSF concluded that the overall picture in September 2025 is “extremely alarming.” It urged the government to act decisively to ensure the security of minority and ethnic communities and to dismantle the culture of impunity that fuels these abuses.

More News:
The Journey Begins for Cox’s Bazar’s First Plastic Recycling Plant
Why the world’s biggest food company is stepping back Nestlé has withdrawn from a high-profile international alliance to cut methane from dairy supply chains, a move that instantly sharpened debate over how fast and by what methods the sector should decarbonize; the company says it will keep pursuing on-farm emissions cuts through its own programs while reassessing the group’s approach and governance, but the exit deprives the coalition of its most recognizable member and risks slowing peer benchmarking, shared pilot data, and pooled purchasing that can bring down costs for farmers. Methane from cattle is a potent, short-lived climate pollutant, and many governments have leaned on voluntary industry compacts to accelerate adoption of feed additives, manure management, and breeding strategies; critics of Nestlé’s decision warn that a fragmentation of efforts could reduce transparency and make it harder for buyers, lenders, and regulators to compare progress across brands, whereas supporters counter that company-led projects tied to local agronomy and subsidies often deliver faster, measurable gains than broad global charters. The policy backdrop is shifting as well: several markets are moving from pure carrots to a mix of incentives and performance-based conditions on grants and export supports, and that pivot raises stakes for how milk processors document emissions baselines and third-party verification, because the credibility of Scope 3 targets rests on comparable methodologies rather than marketing claims alone. Practically, much of the abatement economics hinge on who pays for early-stage inputs like methane-reducing feed supplements and slurry lids; with farm margins tight, a coordinated model—blending buyer premiums, public cost-shares, and green-finance instruments—is usually needed to avoid penalizing smaller producers, and Nestlé’s departure complicates the coalition’s ability to aggregate demand and negotiate lower unit costs at scale. What changes on the farm, for financiers, and across supply chains For producers, the near-term signal is mixed: one major buyer is still funding on-farm pilots but no longer inside the alliance’s shared roadmap, which could slow knowledge transfer between regions that differ on climate, feed, and herd structure, even as individual Nestlé programs continue to trial seaweed-based additives, nitrification inhibitors, covered lagoons with biogas capture, and pasture rotations to improve enteric and manure outcomes; in parallel, veterinarians and breeders stress that fertility and animal health gains can cut emissions intensity without shrinking output, though activists argue absolute reductions are needed if national targets are to be met. Financiers and insurers will keep pressing for comparable disclosures because the cost of capital increasingly reflects climate-risk metrics: banks baking “sustainability-linked” terms into dairy loans need clear, auditable KPIs, and exporters eyeing tariff-free access to markets with carbon-border rules will face tougher paperwork if standards splinter, which is why industry groups are urging a minimum common MRV (measurement-reporting-verification) framework even when brand strategies differ. For consumers—and for downstream brands in chocolate, infant formula, and ice cream—the implications will show up more in labels and price architecture than in the taste of products: if buyers pay farmers for verified methane abatement while feed and equipment remain pricey, some costs may pass through, but over time biogas revenue, fertilizer substitution, and efficiency gains can offset outlays and stabilize retail pricing. The political risk is that today’s corporate exit becomes tomorrow’s cultural flashpoint, especially in countries where farmer protests have already shaped election cycles; to avoid backlash, climate policy designers are experimenting with “pay for performance” that rewards measured reductions rather than prescribing a single technology path. The bottom line is not that dairy decarbonization stalls, but that governance gets messier: Nestlé’s solo track keeps momentum on pilots yet raises coordination costs for everyone else, and the outcome to watch is whether competing alliances converge on interoperable data, verification, and crediting rules so that farmers can sell a ton of avoided methane once—and get recognized for it across buyers, banks, and border regimes.
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12:42:07 pm, Wednesday, 1 October 2025

Reviving the Rural Economy: $100 Million ADB–Bangladesh Agreement

The Journey Begins for Cox’s Bazar’s First Plastic Recycling Plant

Why the world’s biggest food company is stepping back Nestlé has withdrawn from a high-profile international alliance to cut methane from dairy supply chains, a move that instantly sharpened debate over how fast and by what methods the sector should decarbonize; the company says it will keep pursuing on-farm emissions cuts through its own programs while reassessing the group’s approach and governance, but the exit deprives the coalition of its most recognizable member and risks slowing peer benchmarking, shared pilot data, and pooled purchasing that can bring down costs for farmers. Methane from cattle is a potent, short-lived climate pollutant, and many governments have leaned on voluntary industry compacts to accelerate adoption of feed additives, manure management, and breeding strategies; critics of Nestlé’s decision warn that a fragmentation of efforts could reduce transparency and make it harder for buyers, lenders, and regulators to compare progress across brands, whereas supporters counter that company-led projects tied to local agronomy and subsidies often deliver faster, measurable gains than broad global charters. The policy backdrop is shifting as well: several markets are moving from pure carrots to a mix of incentives and performance-based conditions on grants and export supports, and that pivot raises stakes for how milk processors document emissions baselines and third-party verification, because the credibility of Scope 3 targets rests on comparable methodologies rather than marketing claims alone. Practically, much of the abatement economics hinge on who pays for early-stage inputs like methane-reducing feed supplements and slurry lids; with farm margins tight, a coordinated model—blending buyer premiums, public cost-shares, and green-finance instruments—is usually needed to avoid penalizing smaller producers, and Nestlé’s departure complicates the coalition’s ability to aggregate demand and negotiate lower unit costs at scale. What changes on the farm, for financiers, and across supply chains For producers, the near-term signal is mixed: one major buyer is still funding on-farm pilots but no longer inside the alliance’s shared roadmap, which could slow knowledge transfer between regions that differ on climate, feed, and herd structure, even as individual Nestlé programs continue to trial seaweed-based additives, nitrification inhibitors, covered lagoons with biogas capture, and pasture rotations to improve enteric and manure outcomes; in parallel, veterinarians and breeders stress that fertility and animal health gains can cut emissions intensity without shrinking output, though activists argue absolute reductions are needed if national targets are to be met. Financiers and insurers will keep pressing for comparable disclosures because the cost of capital increasingly reflects climate-risk metrics: banks baking “sustainability-linked” terms into dairy loans need clear, auditable KPIs, and exporters eyeing tariff-free access to markets with carbon-border rules will face tougher paperwork if standards splinter, which is why industry groups are urging a minimum common MRV (measurement-reporting-verification) framework even when brand strategies differ. For consumers—and for downstream brands in chocolate, infant formula, and ice cream—the implications will show up more in labels and price architecture than in the taste of products: if buyers pay farmers for verified methane abatement while feed and equipment remain pricey, some costs may pass through, but over time biogas revenue, fertilizer substitution, and efficiency gains can offset outlays and stabilize retail pricing. The political risk is that today’s corporate exit becomes tomorrow’s cultural flashpoint, especially in countries where farmer protests have already shaped election cycles; to avoid backlash, climate policy designers are experimenting with “pay for performance” that rewards measured reductions rather than prescribing a single technology path. The bottom line is not that dairy decarbonization stalls, but that governance gets messier: Nestlé’s solo track keeps momentum on pilots yet raises coordination costs for everyone else, and the outcome to watch is whether competing alliances converge on interoperable data, verification, and crediting rules so that farmers can sell a ton of avoided methane once—and get recognized for it across buyers, banks, and border regimes.

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News Title :
Reviving the Rural Economy: $100 Million ADB–Bangladesh Agreement The Journey Begins for Cox’s Bazar’s First Plastic Recycling Plant Why the world’s biggest food company is stepping back Nestlé has withdrawn from a high-profile international alliance to cut methane from dairy supply chains, a move that instantly sharpened debate over how fast and by what methods the sector should decarbonize; the company says it will keep pursuing on-farm emissions cuts through its own programs while reassessing the group’s approach and governance, but the exit deprives the coalition of its most recognizable member and risks slowing peer benchmarking, shared pilot data, and pooled purchasing that can bring down costs for farmers. Methane from cattle is a potent, short-lived climate pollutant, and many governments have leaned on voluntary industry compacts to accelerate adoption of feed additives, manure management, and breeding strategies; critics of Nestlé’s decision warn that a fragmentation of efforts could reduce transparency and make it harder for buyers, lenders, and regulators to compare progress across brands, whereas supporters counter that company-led projects tied to local agronomy and subsidies often deliver faster, measurable gains than broad global charters. The policy backdrop is shifting as well: several markets are moving from pure carrots to a mix of incentives and performance-based conditions on grants and export supports, and that pivot raises stakes for how milk processors document emissions baselines and third-party verification, because the credibility of Scope 3 targets rests on comparable methodologies rather than marketing claims alone. Practically, much of the abatement economics hinge on who pays for early-stage inputs like methane-reducing feed supplements and slurry lids; with farm margins tight, a coordinated model—blending buyer premiums, public cost-shares, and green-finance instruments—is usually needed to avoid penalizing smaller producers, and Nestlé’s departure complicates the coalition’s ability to aggregate demand and negotiate lower unit costs at scale. What changes on the farm, for financiers, and across supply chains For producers, the near-term signal is mixed: one major buyer is still funding on-farm pilots but no longer inside the alliance’s shared roadmap, which could slow knowledge transfer between regions that differ on climate, feed, and herd structure, even as individual Nestlé programs continue to trial seaweed-based additives, nitrification inhibitors, covered lagoons with biogas capture, and pasture rotations to improve enteric and manure outcomes; in parallel, veterinarians and breeders stress that fertility and animal health gains can cut emissions intensity without shrinking output, though activists argue absolute reductions are needed if national targets are to be met. Financiers and insurers will keep pressing for comparable disclosures because the cost of capital increasingly reflects climate-risk metrics: banks baking “sustainability-linked” terms into dairy loans need clear, auditable KPIs, and exporters eyeing tariff-free access to markets with carbon-border rules will face tougher paperwork if standards splinter, which is why industry groups are urging a minimum common MRV (measurement-reporting-verification) framework even when brand strategies differ. For consumers—and for downstream brands in chocolate, infant formula, and ice cream—the implications will show up more in labels and price architecture than in the taste of products: if buyers pay farmers for verified methane abatement while feed and equipment remain pricey, some costs may pass through, but over time biogas revenue, fertilizer substitution, and efficiency gains can offset outlays and stabilize retail pricing. The political risk is that today’s corporate exit becomes tomorrow’s cultural flashpoint, especially in countries where farmer protests have already shaped election cycles; to avoid backlash, climate policy designers are experimenting with “pay for performance” that rewards measured reductions rather than prescribing a single technology path. The bottom line is not that dairy decarbonization stalls, but that governance gets messier: Nestlé’s solo track keeps momentum on pilots yet raises coordination costs for everyone else, and the outcome to watch is whether competing alliances converge on interoperable data, verification, and crediting rules so that farmers can sell a ton of avoided methane once—and get recognized for it across buyers, banks, and border regimes. SOFTBANK BUYS ABB’S ROBOTICS UNIT FOR $5.4B, BETTING ON A NEW WAVE OF FACTORY AUTOMATION Nurul Majid Humayun’s Death and the Placement of Prisons under the International Red Cross IEA TRIMS U.S. RENEWABLES OUTLOOK AS FEDERAL POLICIES SHIFT; GLOBAL SOLAR STILL SURGES GAZA TALKS ENTER DAY THREE IN EGYPT AS MEDIATORS TEST PATH TO FULL CEASE-FIRE OCTOBER PRIME DAY 2025: THE TECH DEALS THAT ARE ACTUALLY WORTH YOUR MONEY PRIME DAY, AGAIN: WIRED’S BIG LIST SHOWS HOW TO SHOP SMART AND SKIP THE DUDS TIMOTHÉE CHALAMET TEASES ‘MARTY SUPREME’ AFTER NYFF PREMIERE, KEEPING PLOT UNDER WRAPS

Minority and Ethnic Persecution on the Rise in Bangladesh: MSF

12:42:07 pm, Wednesday, 1 October 2025

Human rights watchdog Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has expressed deep concern over a sharp escalation in attacks on minorities, ethnic communities, and ordinary citizens in Bangladesh during September 2025. Drawing on its own findings and media reports, MSF states that the situation has worsened alarmingly, despite official assurances of protection during the Durga Puja celebrations.

Rising Fear Ahead of Durga Puja

Even during Durga Puja, the largest festival for the Hindu community, incidents of vandalism and attacks continued.

  • The number of reported cases of minority persecution doubled — from 8 last month to 16 this month.
  • Across 16 districts, 29 idols were vandalized, six were set ablaze, two temples were looted, and land-grabbing incidents were reported.
  • In Satkhira, former Puja Celebration Committee leader Bijon Kumar Dey was found dead. In Barishal, the hanging body of a young Christian woman, Nancy Mondal, was recovered.

Attacks on Ethnic Minorities

Three major incidents of ethnic violence were reported this month by the victims:

  • In Khagrachhari, an indigenous teenage girl was gang-raped. Allegations surfaced of police reluctance to file a case, delays in medical tests, and a weak charge sheet.
  • Protests over the assault led to clashes between hill residents and Bengalis, leaving several injured. Authorities imposed Section 144 to curb unrest.
  • On September 28, three young men — Bikash Tripura (26), Chingkheu Marma (26), and Uggya Marma (22) — were shot dead. Looting and arson followed in the same area, with witnesses blaming masked attackers.

Meanwhile, in Rajshahi’s Mollapara, an attempt to evict indigenous families was thwarted after civil society groups intervened.

Mob Violence Spirals Out of Control

MSF statistics reveal mob violence surged to alarming levels in September:

  • Incidents recorded: 43
  • Deaths: 24
  • Seriously injured: 32

Breakdown of allegations leading to mob attacks:

  • Mugging: 6 killed
  • Theft: 10 killed, 13 injured
  • Extortion: 3 killed
  • Attempted rape: 4 assaulted
  • Sexual harassment: 4 assaulted
  • Alleged affiliation with banned political groups: 5 assaulted

Acts of public humiliation also surfaced. In Natore, three madrasa caretakers collecting donations were attacked, and their hair was forcibly cut in front of crowds.

 

“Mob violence is nothing short of extrajudicial killing,” MSF stated, urging authorities to criminalize it formally under state law.

Shrines and Cultural Sites Under Attack

Religious and cultural landmarks were not spared.

  • At least 14 shrines in Sylhet, Cumilla, Rajbari, Rajshahi, Netrokona, and Mymensingh were vandalized or set on fire.
  • In Kushtia, the shrine of spiritual icon Lalon Fakir received direct threats.
  • In Goalanda, Rajbari, an attack on a Darbar Sharif left 50 injured and one person dead.
  • A viral video showed a man, Halim Uddin Fakir, having his hair forcibly cut in public.

MSF warned that such attacks go beyond mere religious persecution, striking at Bangladesh’s cultural heritage and traditions. It called on the interim government to take lasting measures to safeguard shrines and the Lalon legacy.

The Bigger Picture

  • Religious minority persecution: idol vandalism, arson, land grabs, and killings
  • Ethnic minority persecution: rape, protest deaths, eviction attempts
  • Mob violence: 43 incidents, 24 dead
  • Shrine and cultural site attacks: at least 14 cases

MSF concluded that the overall picture in September 2025 is “extremely alarming.” It urged the government to act decisively to ensure the security of minority and ethnic communities and to dismantle the culture of impunity that fuels these abuses.

Editorial : Swadesh Roy

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