Myanmar should immediately schedule by-elections in areas where the Union Election Commission (UEC) cancelled the November 8 polls, and ensure the right to vote for all eligible persons, including Rohingya and others disenfranchised under discriminatory laws, said Fortify Rights yesterday.

Four Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) are likely to be signed during the virtual meeting of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina with her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi next month.

India has said it is keen to work with Bangladesh on defence hardware platforms like Akash missile, radars, mortars, artillery guns and ammunitions and invited investments from its eastern neighbour in two key Indian defence industrial corridors.

India today summoned the Charge d’Affaires of Pakistan’s High Commission in New Delhi and lodged a strong protest over “unprovoked ceasefire violations by Pakistani forces” on multiple sectors along the de facto border in Jammu yesterday, resulting in the death of four civilians and serious injuries to 19 others.

Authorities in Pakistan's most populous province on Saturday banned an outdated medical procedure in which rape victims are subjected to an invasive physical examination.

Bangladesh and India will chart out plans to take the "rock-solid and historic" Dhaka-Delhi relations to the next level, expanding areas of cooperation between the two countries with a number of engagements in December, officials say.

At least 10 civilians and five security personnel were killed in cross-border shelling between India and Pakistan on Friday, in one of this year’s deadliest days along the heavily militarised frontier separating the nuclear-armed rivals, officials said.

Aung San Suu Kyi's ruling party secured an absolute majority in Myanmar's election, official results showed on Friday, in a poll disputed by the military-aligned opposition and criticised by rights groups.

The United States has said it looks forward to continuing to work with Myanmar’s new government to foster respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms of all.

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen today expressed optimism over the resumption of talks on Rohingya repatriation using a tripartite mechanism after the formation of a new government in Myanmar.

Senior military commanders of India and China have agreed to ensure their frontline troops exercise restraint and avoid misunderstanding and miscalculation at the Line of Control in the western Himalayas.

The government is likely to import three crore doses of coronavirus vaccines from India’s Serum Institute, a top official of the health ministry confirmed to The Daily Star tonight.

Rohingya rights groups have expressed grave concern about an online propaganda war being stepped up by the Myanmar Army, the Tatmadaw, in Rakhine State.

India has complained to Saudi Arabia over a banknote that shows Kashmir as a separate country, in the latest protest over maps of the disputed region that have also targeted foreign media outlets and a social media giant.

Shops and businesses were shut in several parts of Indian-controlled Kashmir on Saturday as separatists challenging Indian rule called for a general strike to denounce new laws that allow any Indians to buy land in the disputed region.

Malaysia Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin has said that the Malaysian government is considering issuing temporary work permits to undocumented foreign workers in the country in a bid to overcome the shortage of foreign workers in the oil palm and rubber industries.

Seeking to ramp up the infrastructure for Covid-19 vaccine distribution, the Indian government has asked states to set up committees for coordination and overseeing the vaccination with minimal disruptions in other routine healthcare services.

Myanmar-based civil society groups today said the political disenfranchisement of Rohingyas is of “particular concern” and “closely tied to the denial of citizenship for Rohingya and related laws”.

India has amended a law in Jammu and Kashmir allowing Indian citizens to buy land in the disputed territory, said officials, sparking opposition criticism about a steady erosion of the rights of Kashmiri people.

Eleven digital-only news organisations of India have united to form a body that would “represent, amplify and evolve best practices to build a robust digital news ecology that is truly world-class, independent and upholds the highest standards of journalism”.