South Asians for Human Rights

When a new government assumed power following a landslide victory in a free and fair election after the 2024 July uprising, there was a flicker of hope that journalists’ safety would finally be ensured in Bangladesh. However, a recent report by the Human Rights Support Society (HRSS), noting that at least 75 journalists were harassed across the country just last month, dashes that hope.
https://www.thedailystar.net/opinion/editorial/news/press-freedom-should-not-be-elusive-4169386

Press freedom should not be elusive Amend laws, train police appropriately to stop journalist harassment

A rules-based order has ironically been eroded by those who framed those rules themselves. The increasing use of hard power and resort to force by powerful countries to bend other states to their will has become a dominant global trend. Such actions have defied international law, further fragmenting a fraying global order and undermining systems of international cooperation and global governance, including the UN. The UN’s standing has also been diminished in recent years by the cavalier attitude of the US, which has abandoned key UN bodies during Trump’s administration.

Is the UN irrelevant? The world body has failed in its core task but needs to be strengthened to address global challenges.

“This is a matter of urgent concern for the protection of Odisha’s wildlife and forest ecosystems,” said Samantaray. “Immediate intervention is needed to uphold environmental laws and prevent further irreversible damage,” he added. Environmental groups in Odisha are closely monitoring the situation, viewing it as a critical test of industrial compliance and wildlife protection enforcement. The National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) has yet to respond to the complaint.

Environmental Activist Raises Alarm Over Wildlife Threats at JSW Utkal Steel Project in Odisha Bhubaneswar, Odisha: Environmental activist Sri Dillip Kumar Samantaray has formally lodged a complaint, dated 4 May 2026, with the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL), urging immediate action against JSW Utkal Steel Limited for alleged violations of environmental and wildlife protection norms in Jag...