The Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP) and International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA) have demanded the justice for reported murder of a 14-year-old Indigenous Chakma girl Lakingme Chakma. In a press release on Monday, they (AIPP and IWGIA) pressed home for a nine-point demand to the govt. including taking immediate action against those involved in Lakingme's 'abduction, forced conversion, child marriage, rape, and instigation to death'.

Lakingme's family sources said, five abductors aged between 22 and 28 led by a Bengali Muslim man, Ataullah (23) of Cox's Bazar, allegedly abducted her from her house. Later on 21 January 2020, she was forcibly converted to Islam and married to Ataullah at a registrar's office, a false birth certificate being produced to show her age as 18. Ataullah's mother claimed that Lakingme had committed suicide by drinking poison. However, a civil society-led fact-finding team stated that "the law enforcers must investigate whether she killed herself or was murdered."

Beximco Pharmaceuticals Ltd, one of the leading drug makers, today said it is going to acquire 54.6 percent stake of Sanofi Bangladesh in its bid to further strengthen its position in the drug market. It will be paying GBP 35.5 million, or Tk 412.86 crore for the proposed transaction for a total of 1,963,241 shares, representing approximately 54.6 per cent of Sanofi Bangladesh's total share capital. Sanofi Group, based in France, currently holds 54.6 percent shares in the paid-up capital of Sanofi Bangladesh.

The Industries Ministry holds nearly 25.36 percent and Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporations holds around 19.96 percent shares of Sanofi Bangladesh. The proposed acquisition is subject to government's clearance including necessary approval of the transaction by the Bangladesh Bank and completion of a definitive sale and purchase agreement. "It is anticipated that the acquisition would be completed within the next 3 to 9 months," said Beximco.

Amnesty International said it is deeply concerned about the recent arbitrary detention and other forms of harassment of artists who are facing increasing attacks on their right to freedom of expression in Bangladesh. "We call on the Bangladesh authorities to immediately and unconditionally release all artists unlawfully detained, drop the charges against them, and guarantee people's right to freedom of artistic expression and creativity, as enshrined in domestic and international law," the Amnesty report said.

The rights group also called on the Bangladeshi authorities to immediately and unconditionally release cartoonist Ahmed Kabir Kishore and writer Mushtaq Ahmed since they have been detained solely for the peaceful exercise of their right to freedom of expression, and drop all charges against artists Anonno Mamun, Shaheen Mridha, Rita Dewan, Kishore, and Mushtaq. It also called on the authorities to urgently repeal the Digital Security Act 2018 or substantially amend its repressive provisions.

The Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission on fined fugitive PK Halder and 15 other individuals and institutions Tk 4.68 crore for manipulating prices of shares of Northern Jute Manufacturing Company Limited and Information Services Network Limited. Halder, also a director of International Leasing and Finance Service Limited, fled abroad after allegedly laundering over Tk 10,000 crore from different financial institutions. The BSEC made the disciplinary decision in a commission meeting presided over by its chairman Shibli Rubayat-Ul-Islam, a BSEC press release said.

Amanat Ullah was fined Tk 1 crore and his associates Sitara Begum Tk 5 lakh, Sandip Corporation Tk 60 lakh, Hal Industry Tk 85 lakh and Proshanta Kumar Halder Tk 25 lakh for violating section 17 (e) (v) of Securities and Exchange Ordinance, 1969 for manipulating prices of shares of Northern Jute Manufacturing Company. According to the rules, no person can directly or indirectly effect a series of transactions in any security creating the appearance of raising of price for the purpose of inducing its purchase by others or depressing its price for the purpose of inducing its sales by others.