分类： politics

In a watershed moment for Bangladeshi politics, Tarique Rahman, the exiled opposition leader and heir apparent to the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), made a dramatic return to Dhaka on Thursday after 17 years of self-imposed exile. The politically charged homecoming attracted massive crowds of enthusiastic supporters who had been gathering since early morning, transforming the capital’s streets into a sea of banners and festoons bearing Rahman’s image.

The emotional significance of the occasion was palpable as Rahman, accompanied by his wife and daughter, performed a symbolic gesture upon arrival—removing his shoes to touch and collect soil from his homeland in a display of reverence. The BNP’s acting chairman, who had resided in London since 2008 citing political persecution, was greeted by senior party leaders at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport before departing under tight security.

Rahman’s return occurs against a backdrop of profound political upheaval following the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, whose 15-year autocratic rule ended with a student-led uprising last year. The upcoming February 12 general election represents the first electoral contest since Hasina’s departure, with Rahman positioned as the BNP’s prime ministerial candidate should the party secure a majority.

The political landscape has been further complicated by recent unrest triggered by the assassination of student leader Sharif Osman Hadi, a prominent critic of India, whose death sparked violent protests including attacks on media outlets perceived as pro-Indian and the Indian High Commission in Chattogram. These events have strained diplomatic relations with India, historically Bangladesh’s ally, which is currently considering extradition requests for the exiled Hasina, convicted in absentia for her administration’s crackdown on protesters.

Adding to the tensions, religious divisions surfaced recently when a Hindu garment worker was lynched by a mob over blasphemy allegations on December 18, reigniting anti-India sentiments in the predominantly Muslim nation.

Rahman’s legal standing has shifted significantly since Hasina’s fall from power, with courts acquitting him of the most serious charge—a life sentence connected to a 2004 grenade attack on a political rally, which he consistently denied. His return symbolizes hope for many supporters like former BNP lawmaker Jahan Panna, who described him as ‘the symbol of hope for this country’ capable of ending the current ‘cycle of anarchy.’

The BNP’s main rival, Hasina’s Awami League party, has been barred from contesting the upcoming elections, potentially clearing the path for a BNP victory. Meanwhile, Rahman’s ailing mother, former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, remains hospitalized in Dhaka after being admitted to intensive care shortly after vowing to campaign in November.

During his exile, Rahman maintained political engagement through social media and significant meetings, including a June discussion in London with Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus, who leads the interim government until the February elections.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan convened with senior Hamas political bureau representatives in Ankara on Wednesday to advance discussions regarding the implementation of the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement. According to a source within Turkey’s Foreign Ministry, the dialogue focused on overcoming obstacles preventing the transition to subsequent stages of the truce.

The Hamas delegation asserted to Minister Fidan that they had fully complied with their obligations under the current ceasefire framework. They contended that Israel’s persistent military operations in Gaza represent a deliberate strategy to obstruct progress toward the agreement’s next phase. The officials further emphasized the critical insufficiency of humanitarian assistance reaching Gaza, highlighting urgent needs for medical supplies, construction materials for shelter, and fuel.

Simultaneously, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz sparked international controversy with statements concerning Gaza’s future. During an address in the West Bank, Katz declared that Israeli military forces would maintain a permanent presence in Gaza, specifically referencing the deployment of Nahal units—military formations historically involved in establishing Israeli communities. Following immediate backlash and interpretation as advocating resettlement, Katz issued a clarifying statement: “The government has no intention of establishing settlements in the Gaza Strip.”

Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem condemned Katz’s initial remarks as a “clear violation of the ceasefire agreement” and fundamentally contradictory to the US-supported peace proposal. The Palestinian Foreign Ministry separately denounced Israel’s approval of 19 new settlements in the occupied West Bank as a “dangerous step” intensifying control over Palestinian territories. The ministry characterized this expansion as extending “apartheid policies,” eroding Palestinian rights, and systematically destroying prospects for stability and Palestinian statehood.

A senior Chinese legislator has urged comprehensive amendments to the nation’s Energy Conservation Law, arguing that current regulations fail to address the transformative shifts caused by rapid renewable energy expansion and digital economic growth. Xiao Jie, Vice-Chairman of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee, delivered this assessment during the legislature’s ongoing session, highlighting both significant achievements and persistent challenges in China’s energy efficiency journey.

The legislative push follows extensive inspections conducted jointly by the national committee and provincial-level congresses across 12 regions, evaluating the law’s implementation since its 1998 enactment and 2007 revision. China has demonstrated remarkable progress, with national energy consumption per 10,000 yuan of GDP plunging approximately 43% from 2007 to 2024—equivalent to saving 2.3 billion metric tons of standard coal. Particularly since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, energy intensity has dropped 27.2%, positioning China among global leaders in efficiency improvement while maintaining 6.1% average annual economic growth against 3.3% energy consumption growth.

Despite these achievements, Xiao identified critical gaps in the current legal framework. The existing law lacks specific provisions for emerging energy-intensive sectors including information technology, computing infrastructure, and energy storage systems. This regulatory vacuum results in insufficient legal authority and enforceable mandatory measures for these rapidly expanding domains. Additionally, the law fails to adequately cover renewable energy integration challenges, where installed capacity frequently exceeds grid absorption capabilities.

The digital economy—now ranking second globally—presents particular urgency, with computing infrastructure electricity consumption growing nearly 20% annually during the 14th Five-Year Plan period, exceeding 250 billion kilowatt-hours yearly. Xiao emphasized that some regions continue struggling with controlling high-energy-consumption projects due to investment impulsivity, weak oversight, and redundant construction. He called for accelerated revisions through thorough research on implementation challenges and careful consideration of suggestions from law enforcement inspections, urging collective wisdom to achieve high-quality legislative updates that support China’s sustainable development goals.

China is poised to transform its demographic challenge into a strategic economic advantage through its forthcoming 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030), marking a fundamental shift in how the nation addresses population aging. Rather than treating elderly citizens merely as recipients of social welfare, the new framework positions them as active contributors to economic growth through three key mechanisms: long-term care insurance expansion, private pension system modernization, and targeted development of the silver economy.

Current statistics reveal the scale of this demographic transformation: China now counts 310 million citizens aged 60 or above, representing 22% of the total population. Within this group, 220 million have reached 65 years or older. The nation’s life expectancy has climbed to 79 years during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), reflecting a 1.07-year increase from 2020 and standing five years above the global average.

The Communist Party of China’s recently published recommendations outline specific measures to operationalize this strategic pivot. These include enhancing the national pooling mechanism for basic pension insurance and developing a multi-tiered, multi-pillar retirement security system designed to progressively elevate citizens’ post-retirement income levels.

Critical infrastructure adaptations form another cornerstone of the strategy. The plan mandates comprehensive upgrades to public facilities, ensuring they become both barrier-free and elderly-friendly. Simultaneously, it promotes wider implementation of long-term care insurance programs across Chinese provinces.

Workforce policy reforms represent equally significant components. The government will implement gradual retirement age adjustments while relaxing age restrictions for employment and social insurance participation. These measures aim to better utilize senior workers’ capabilities and stimulate silver economy growth.

Recent economic analysis quantifies the opportunity: China’s silver economy currently generates approximately 7 trillion yuan ($996.1 billion), accounting for 6% of national GDP. Projections indicate this could expand to 30 trillion yuan by 2035, potentially representing 10% of China’s total economic output.

Experts emphasize that continued enrichment of elderly services, coupled with strengthened insurance systems and enhanced workplace protections for older employees, will be essential throughout the next five-year implementation period to fully realize this demographic-economic strategy.

DHAKA, Bangladesh — In a politically charged homecoming, Tarique Rahman, the acting chairman of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), returned to Dhaka on Thursday after 17 years of self-imposed exile in London. His arrival marks a significant development in Bangladesh’s volatile political landscape ahead of February’s pivotal elections.

Rahman, son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, arrived at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport under tight security alongside his wife and daughter. The homecoming transformed into a massive political demonstration as supporters flooded a 2-kilometer radius between the airport and reception venue, with party leaders claiming millions had gathered to welcome the returning leader.

The 56-year-old politician originally left Bangladesh in 2008 for medical treatment after enduring torture during the military-backed caretaker government (2006-2008). His return follows acquittals on all criminal charges by the current interim government headed by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, including allegations of involvement in a 2004 grenade attack on a political rally of current exiled leader Sheikh Hasina.

Rahman’s return occurs against the backdrop of profound political transformation. Bangladesh remains governed by an interim administration that assumed power following the 2024 uprising that ended Hasina’s 15-year rule. The Yunus government faces mounting criticism from international human rights organizations and domestic liberals who accuse it of eroding democratic institutions and permitting rising Islamist influence.

Following his reception, Rahman plans to visit his critically ill mother, former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, who led the country from 2001-2006. The political dynasty began when Zia, a former housewife, entered politics after her husband President Ziaur Rahman’s assassination in 1981.

Despite his prolonged absence, Rahman maintained firm control over BNP through digital participation in meetings and rallies, facing no significant internal challenges to his leadership. His return sets the stage for a dramatic political confrontation as Bangladesh approaches what many consider its most consequential election in decades.

In a dramatic political homecoming, Tarique Rahman—the exiled leader poised to become Bangladesh’s next prime minister—has returned to his homeland after 17 years in London. The 60-year-old scion of the influential Zia political dynasty arrived to massive crowds of supporters in Dhaka, marking a seismic shift in the nation’s political landscape ahead of watershed general elections.

Rahman’s return follows the spectacular downfall of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, whose government was ousted last year amid allegations of severe human rights violations. While Hasina’s Awami League party dominated Bangladeshi politics for nearly two decades, Rahman’s Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) now stands as the frontrunner to secure power in the upcoming polls.

The political transition carries profound historical significance. During Hasina’s tenure, Rahman faced multiple criminal investigations that he characterized as politically motivated persecution. All charges against him were dropped following the regime change, clearing his path to leadership. Meanwhile, Hasina herself now lives in exile in India after being tried in absentia and receiving a death sentence for her government’s lethal crackdown on student-led protests—a period that UN investigators say claimed up to 1,400 lives.

With the Awami League likely barred from participation, the upcoming elections represent what many observers consider the most consequential democratic exercise in Bangladesh’s modern history. Rahman’s return from exile symbolizes not just a personal homecoming but potentially the dawn of a new political era for the South Asian nation.