Ikhtiarul Arefeen

Erasmus @mundusmapp graduate at @ceu & @IBEI. Worked @BRACUniversity. @TFBangladesh alumnus. Tweets are diversely distracted!

[Brave New Europe @BRAVENEWEUROPE1]

Multilateralism is dead, and has been so for some time

Walden Bello @WaldenBello

The End of Multilaterlism

https://t.co/n1IburDv6k

#Geopolitics #multilateralism #BRICS #ClimateEmergency #Finance #Economics #USA #IsraelIranwar #WTO #imperialism #Capitalism #inequality

[Ikhtiarul Arefeen @arefeenik]

On a separate note, the rumor of the ceasefire might turn out to be a hoax!!

[Ikhtiarul Arefeen @arefeenik]

It seems that this release indicates a near possible ceasefire in Gaza.

[Ikhtiarul Arefeen @arefeenik]

It seems that this release indicates a near possible ceasefire in Gaza.

[Quds News Network @QudsNen]

15 Palestinians who have been abducted by Israeli occupation forces during the ongoing genocide on Gaza have now been released and are seen making their way to the Shuhada al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, as they most likely will need extensive medical treatment after their time in Israeli prisons.

[Press Secretary to CA @CApress_sec]

Dhaka rules out any new alliance with Beijing, Islamabad https://t.co/ceR3S2cNBa

[Ragıp Soylu @ragipsoylu]

NEW: Pakistan’s Sharif meets Erdogan in Istanbul with a sizeable security delegation which appears to include military chief, defense minister, foreign minister, army chief among others

[Starlink @Starlink]

Starlink's high-speed, low-latency internet is now available in Bangladesh! 🛰️🇧🇩❤️ → https://t.co/Q0StscVtIP

[Ikhtiarul Arefeen @arefeenik]

Difficult to predict the destination, but the direction of the war in South Asia over water sharing is not hard to reach if things escalate like this. The ultimate escalation might take some more time…

[Talha Ahmad @talhaahmad967]

India would slowly move up the escalation ladder. Though the cancellation of Visas, closing border crossings and degrading diplomatic relations isn't any major escalation considering already restrained ties, Pakistan would invoke reciprocal measures.
As for the freezing of the Indus Water Treaty (IWT), it's more of a strong political signal both at home and abroad. For the domestic audience, it sends a strong message that 'we will choke the water of Pakistan', as for Pakistan, it reflects the resolve to fight, signalling the seriousness of the matter. Even though in the short term it won't have any serious consequences since it would require notable new infrastructure like dams, etc, to obstruct/divert the water. Not to mention, technical challenges and environmental risks posed by the Himalayan terrain.
Pakistan's diplomatic response could be multilayered, involving further degradation of relations, suspension of the Simla Agreement, and arbitration through the International Court of Justice over IWT.
I'll talk about the Kinetic scenario in a separate post.

[South Asia Index @SouthAsiaIndex]

Dhaka:— Bangladesh makes following demands from Pakistan to normalise diplomatic relations.

1- Apology for 1971 'genocide'
2- $4.3B in compensation for war
3- Compensation for 1970 cyclone
4- Repatriation of Behari Muslims

[David Bergman @TheDavidBergman]

Important reporting by BBC reporter @SamiraHussain15 about the secret detention cells in #bangladesh where disappeared people were kept for weeks, months and sometimes years under the @albd1971 government. Difficult to appreciate how those secretly detained for long periods of time , and finally released, found a way to survive intact. The whereabouts of many remain unknown.

The article is also interesting in reflecting the current positions of the Awami League and the army concerning their responsbility.

The former Awami League government's position has changed. For years, it used to deny that anyone was secretly detained - claiming that, amongst other things, the people were "in hiding" as they had criminal cases against them.

Now, it seems that the party is moving towards acknowledging there were people secretly detained, but that this was done without the government knowing about it. "If any such detention did occur, it would have been a product of complex internal military dynamics," he said. "I see [no] political benefit for the Awami League or for the government to keep these people in secret detention."

Apart from the fact that (in my understanding) the army was only one of the many state security forces involved in the secret detentions - the Detective Branch of the Police and the Rapid Action Batallion were also involved - it is preposterous to think that the Government was not aware of what was going on.

The army's position is also notable. "The army categorically denies operating any such detention centres," Lt Col Abdullah Ibn Zaid is quoted as saying.

This is is equally preposterous - as some of the secret detention cells were controlled directly by country's military intelligence agency Directorate General Forces Intelligence (DGFI).

In terms of accountability, it may be possible for the Bangladesh courts to prosecute politicians and law enforcement personnel for their involvement, but it is likely difficult to see the army giving up any of its officers for prosecution.
https://t.co/iv8GI19xlG

[The Daily Star @dailystarnews]

#Bangladesh #India

[Talha Ahmad @talhaahmad967]

Throughout human history, commitment to the covenant was considered a sacred obligation to be fulfilled under every condition regardless of the balance of power b/w parties. It was integrity that defined its value, not power that's why even the most evil entities had an order.

[Ikhtiarul Arefeen @arefeenik]

"It's as if there's been some terrible tornado for 16 years and we're trying to pick up the pieces."
https://t.co/EfjlmGaijh

[Derek J. Grossman @DerekJGrossman]

Bangladeshi FM next to EAM Jaishankar: "Bangladesh's minorities are Bangladesh's issue, just as how India treats its minorities is India's concern."
https://t.co/Sd62gE69Kg

[UN Human Rights @UNHumanRights]

#Bangladesh: @UNHumanRights team finds serious violations & abuses during last year’s protests.

Additional investigations are warranted to determine the extent they may also amount to crimes against humanity.

[Masum Billah @BillahTalks]

Mr Jaishankar, it is India who must decide what kind of relationship it wants with Bangladesh!
https://t.co/qnVmv0F01D

[Babar Honey @BabarHoneyX]

Bangladeshi Lawyer @taqbirhuda SHREDS Indian Diplomat on Teesta Treaty!

EXPOSES India's Water Aggression 👇
Droughts & Deadly Floods for Bangladesh!

[Taqbir Huda @taqbirhuda]

Spoke to @AJEnglish about how #India’s unilateral use and abuse of the #Teesta river’s watercourse causes severe harm to #Bangladeshi farmers and violate its obligations under international law, much to the persistent denial of my Indian colleague @VivekKatju

[Defence research forum DRF @Defres360]

Extensive changes are being noticed between the police of the former dictator Hasina's era and the police of the current Yunus government.

[Defence research forum DRF @Defres360]

On July 18, 2024, soldiers of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) were indiscriminately shooting residents in their homes in a residential area on Banasree Main Road on the orders of former dictator Sheikh Hasina.

[UN in Bangladesh @UNinBangladesh]

#Bangladesh: Thousands of people, including children, have suffered life-altering injuries during last year’s protests.

Advancing accountability & human rights will be fundamental to achieving the transformation the country needs - @volker_turk presents @UNHumanRights report.