65 Bangladeshi trafficking victims detained in Malaysia

// Shamsul Basunia //

Hundreds including 65 Bangladeshi nationals remain detained in Malaysia after being rescued from near death at sea during the Asian migration crisis.In total, 390 trafficking victims – 325 Rohingya and 65 Bangladeshis – have spent the past year in detention, despite nominally being freed from captivity in May 2015, in research Amnesty will be publishing in the coming weeks.

Their plight drew the world’s attention this time last year after it was discovered that they had been abandoned by their traffickers and left to drift at sea on packed trawlers without any food.

Initially, the countries of south-east Asia mostly refused to rescue them, and they survived on food provided by fishermen in the area.

Following an international outcry, Indonesia and Malaysia took in about 2,900 people, mostly Rohingya and Bangladeshis. Several thousand are believed to have been left at sea.

Of the 1,100 brought to Malaysia, around 50 Rohingya have been provided with the opportunity to be resettled internationally, and 670 Bangladeshis were sent back home. But nearly 400 remain jailed in Belantik, a Malaysian detention centre, in what former inmates describe as squalid conditions.

Cyclone Roanu claims 24 lives in Bangladesh

Cyclone Roanu claims 24 lives in seven Bangladesh districts

http://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2016/05/21/cyclone-roanu-claims-24-lives-in-seven-bangladesh-districts

No military funds for Pakistan without specific actions, says US

Pakistan is going to be cornered militarily as United States squeezed the supply of arms to the country.

http://www.thefrontierpost.com/article/389496/no-military-funds-for-pakistan-without-specific-actions-says-us/

Delhi nuclearized Indian Ocean stealthily; Pakistan expressed grave concern

// Shamsul Basunia //

India nuclearized its ocean and destabilized the South Asian’s weaponry balance. India confirmed it in April, 2016 tested the K-4 missile, which can be launched by a submarine and carry a nuclear warhead up to 3,500 kilometres away. The confirmation came after secret tests were done in March in the Indian Ocean.

Alarmed at India’s naval nuclear ambitions, Islamabad has taken up New Delhi’s recent test of a submarine-launched, nuclear-capable ballistic missile with its arch rival, amid fears the move has serious implications for strategic stability in South Asia.

The move not only raised tense in Pakistan and surrounding countries but also caused concerns as India did not give prior notification to Islamabad or any other country as part of the broader understanding existing between the parties

This is a serious development. Since 1988 both countries Pakistan and India formally or informally inform each other about such missile tests but this time India chose otherwise, said a senior Foreign Office official while requesting anonymity.

Pakistan and India signed a landmark agreement in 2005 on the pre-notification of ballistic missile tests in order to prevent misunderstanding and misinterpretations, and promote a stable environment of peace and security between the two countries.

The official said Pakistan had raised the issue with Indian authorities through diplomatic channels to explain as to why New Delhi this time ignored this understanding.

Strategic affairs expert Dr Ishtiaq Ahmed said the ‘nuclearisation of Indian Ocean’ will certainly alter the ‘strategic balance’ in this part of the region.

This all happened at a time Pakistan and India have been struggling to resume the structured dialogue following the attack on the Pathankot airbase in January. Although, foreign secretaries of the two countries met in New Delhi at the sidelines of a conference on Afghanistan, the two sides could not agree on the formal start of comprehensive bilateral dialogue.