标签： Asia

Nepalese authorities have detained more than 400 individuals linked to the widespread protests that erupted in September, leading to the collapse of the government. According to police data released on Monday, the arrests include suspects accused of crimes ranging from murder and vandalism to illegal possession of weapons, theft, and indecent behavior. The protests, initially sparked by a government ban on social media, quickly escalated into nationwide unrest fueled by economic struggles and widespread corruption. The violence resulted in at least 76 deaths, including protesters, escaped prisoners, and police officers. During the chaos, over 2,700 structures were attacked, including government buildings, police stations, and private residences. Additionally, around 14,500 detainees escaped from prisons, with 5,020 still at large. Home Minister Om Prakash Aryal announced a special operation to recapture the escapees and recover looted weapons. Meanwhile, representatives of the youth-led ‘Gen Z’ protest groups have called for Aryal’s resignation, accusing him of failing to hold those responsible for the deadly crackdown accountable. The government has imposed travel bans on former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and four senior officials as an investigation into the unrest continues.

Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, has been shaken by a series of petrol bomb attacks targeting key locations, including a building associated with interim leader Muhammad Yunus. Police reported that seven crude petrol bombs were detonated on Monday, though no injuries were sustained. A 28-year-old man, identified as a member of the student wing of the outlawed Awami League, has been arrested in connection with the attacks. The Awami League, the former ruling party of ousted leader Sheikh Hasina, was removed from power in a violent uprising in August 2024. The suspect is currently under interrogation for multiple incidents, including petrol bomb attacks on St Mary’s Cathedral and a Catholic school in Dhaka over the weekend. Early Monday, additional petrol bombs targeted the offices of Grameen Bank, founded by Nobel Prize-winning Yunus, as well as properties linked to Yunus’ cabinet member Farida Akhtar, two buses, and a hospital. These incidents have escalated tensions in Bangladesh as political parties prepare for the first elections since Hasina’s fall, scheduled for February 2026. Security forces have launched a citywide manhunt to apprehend all individuals involved in these violent acts. The election campaigns, which began in early November, have already been marred by violence, including a fatal shooting at a campaign rally last week. Bangladesh continues to grapple with political unrest, with police offering rewards for the surrender of over 1,300 firearms looted during last year’s turmoil.

Despite the implementation of a ceasefire in Gaza a month ago, the lives of many Palestinians, including Manar Jendiya, remain fraught with danger and uncertainty. Originally from Gaza City, Jendiya has been displaced in Deir al-Balah since the truce began on October 11. Her neighborhood, Shujaiya, remains under Israeli control, and two weeks into the agreement, Israeli forces bombed the area where she was staying, forcing her to flee once again. Tragically, one of these attacks claimed the life of her sister, who had been caring for her children alone after her husband was killed earlier in the conflict.

Jendiya’s story is emblematic of the broader suffering in Gaza, where many residents feel that Israel’s two-year campaign of violence continues unabated. Daily explosions demolish homes, and shelling and gunfire persist, claiming lives and causing injuries. Essential supplies like food and medicine remain scarce due to the ongoing Israeli siege. Jendiya poignantly remarked, ‘The genocide has only stopped in the media. But for us, it’s still ongoing.’

Since the ceasefire began, Israeli forces have killed at least 242 Palestinians, including dozens of children, in clear violation of the agreement. The Rafah crossing, crucial for evacuating the severely wounded to Egypt, remains closed, and only a fraction of the agreed-upon aid trucks are allowed through daily. Most carry non-essential items, leaving critical supplies in short supply.

Adding to the psychological toll, Israeli drones hover over Gaza, broadcasting threatening messages and playing disturbing sounds late at night. Anas Moeen, a 30-year-old resident, described the drones as a deliberate tactic to spread panic and anxiety. ‘They are addressing civilians with messages like ‘hand over the bodies of captives’ and ‘respect the ceasefire’, but as civilians, this is not our responsibility,’ he said. ‘What we understand from these messages is that the army can reach us at any moment, that the war isn’t over, and we could be the next target whenever the drone operator decides.’

The situation on the ground remains dire, with Israeli military vehicles positioned just two kilometers from central Gaza City. Moeen described the constant routine of air raids, artillery shelling, and gunfire as ‘hysterical,’ with soldiers sometimes keeping their fingers on the trigger for extended periods. Despite the ceasefire, the threat of renewed war looms large, leaving Gaza’s residents in a state of perpetual fear and uncertainty.