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Vipodozi vyenye kemikali, dawa bandia zinavyowaua wa Tanzania.

Wanawake zaidi ya 6milioni nchini huenda wakaugua saratani, kuzaa watoto wenye mtindo wa ubongo au kupoteza maisha kutokana na kukithiri kwa matumizi ya vipodozi vyenye kemikali hatari.

Utafiti wa Profesa Msaidizi wa Chuo Kikuu cha Georgia, Atlanta, Marekani, Kelly Lewis wa kitengo cha Sosholojia, kuhusu wanawake wanaotumia ‘mkorogo’ Tanzania umebainisha hayo.

Taarifa ya utafiti huo inaonyesha kuwa asilimia 30 ya wanawake, sawa na 6 milioni ya wanawake wote nchini ambao ni milioni 23, wanatumia vipodozi vyenye kemikali hatari, vyenye madini ya zebaki, hydroquinone na maji ya betri.

Dk Lewis akishirikiana na timu ya Watanzania 20, aliwahoji wanawake 420 katika Jiji la Dar es Salaam ambapo wengi walikiri kujichubua kwa sababu ya dhana kuwa weupe ni uzuri, pamoja na kuwaridhisha wenza wao wanaopenda wanawake weupe.

Utafiti huo wa Shahada ya Uzamivu ulifanyika kuanzia mwaka 2000 na kumalizika Mei  17, 2012.

Profesa Lewis anasema kuwa vipodozi hivyo hasa vyenye madini ya zebaki, kwa kiasi kikubwa husababisha ugumba, saratani na maradhi ya figo.
“Inatisha.

Wanawake hawatumii ‘mikorogo’ ya dukani pekee, lakini pia wanatengeneza mikorogo ya kijadi kwa kuchanganya asidi ya maji ya betri ya gari, dawa ya meno na sabuni ya unga,” anasema Dk Kelly.Akizungumza kwa njia ya Barua Pepe, Profesa Lewis anasema kuwa anatarajia kufanya kipindi kuhusu wanawake wanaotumia mikorogo Tanzania ili kutoa elimu.

‘Kutokana na maombi mengi, nimefungua Kituo cha Utalii kwa Umma na nitafanya safari mbili za kuja nchini Tanzania,” anasema.

TFDA imebainisha vipodozi vyenye sumu kuwa ni pamoja na ni Carolight, inayotajwa kuwa na sumu kali zaidi pamoja na vile vyenye madini ya zebaki au mercury, ikiwamo sabuni ya Jaribu na Mekako.

Vipodozi vingine ni vile vilivyochanganywa na viambata sumu kama Clobetasol na Betamethasone ambapo itajwa pia krimu ya Amira, Betasol na Skin Success.

Inaelezwa kuwa wanawake wanaotumia mafuta ya aina hiyo wakiwa wajawazito huwaathiri watoto walioko tumboni.

Asilimia 70 ya vipodozi hivyo hutoka nje ya nchi, ambapo imebainika kuwa hakuna sheria kali za udhibiti wa dawa na vipodozi.

                 

 Doria ya anga yashindikana mlima Kilimanjaro- Serikali

                         Mlima Kilimanjaro 

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Dodoma. Serikali imesema mpango wa kufanya doria za anga katika Mlima Kilimanjaro kwa kutumia helkopta, haujapata mafanikio kutokana na hali ya hewa pamoja na mazingira ya mlima huo.

Naibu Waziri wa Maliasili na Utalii, Lazaro Nyalandu, alisema hayo jana alipokuwa akijibu swali la Mbunge wa Viti Maalumu, Betty Machangu, aliyeuliza kwa nini Serikali isitumie helkopta katika doria zake kwenye mlima huo lengo likiwa ni kuwadhibiti wahalifu.

Katika majibu yake, Nyalandu alisema kutokana na mlima huo kuwa na msitu mnene uliofunga na kuuzunguka mlima huo, miteremko, makorongo na mito iliyopo inakuwa vigumu kuona wahalifu walio chini kama doria za helkopta zikitumika.

“Doria nyingi zinazofanyika katika mlima huo hufanywa kwa miguu ambapo magari hupeleka askari jirani na maeneo tarajiwa ya doria. Doria hizo zimekuwa na mafanikio makubwa na imesaidia sana kudhibiti uhalifu katika hifadhi,” alisema.

Alieleza kwamba, pamoja na doria hizo za miguu na magari, Shirika la Hifadhi za Taifa (Tanapa), litaendelea kutumia helikopta katika kudhibiti uhalifu kwenye maeneo ya wazi katika hifadhi ya Kilimanjaro na hifadhi zingine.

  

Akiuka amri ya Manispaa Kinondoni.

MMILIKI wa jengo la hoteli iliyopo katika kiwanja namba 401 block ‘C’ Sinza jijini Dar es Salaam, Joanes Sanga, amekiuka agizo la Manispaa ya Kinondoni kwa kujenga jengo la ghorofa tisa badala ya tano kama alivyoomba. Kutokana na kukiuka ujenzi huo uliopewa kibali namba 06809 kwenye mpango namba K133/2009, tayari Manispaa ya Kinondoni imemwandikia barua ya kumuelekeza taratibu za kufuata ili jengo hilo lipate baraka ya kuendelea kujengwa. Katika barua hiyo ya manispaa ya Aprili 17 mwaka huu, kwenda kwa Sanga ikiwa imesainiwa na Mhandisi wa manispaa hiyo, Gerald Urio, kwa niaba ya mkurugenzi wake, mmiliki huyo analezwa kuwa kwa taratibu za viwango vya ujenzi mjini ukubwa wa kiwango kilichojengwa katika kiwanja hicho hakitoshi kubeba uzito wa jengo unaoendelea. “Wewe tayari umejenga kwa kibali hicho na kuongeza ghorofa nne, hivyo jengo kuwa la ghorofa tisa (10 storey),” ilisomeka sehemu ya barua hiyo. Pia barua hiyo inaelezea kuwa hakukuwa na aina yoyote ya ukaguzi uliofanywa katika hatua zote za ujenzi ikiwamo kukagua vifaa vilivyotumika. Badala ya kuchukua hatua kwa ukiukwaji huo wa taratibu za ujenzi, barua hiyo imemtaka mmiliki ahakikishe jengo hilo linafanyiwa vipimo (structure assessment) kujua ubovu wake ambapo ametakiwa aende katika taasisi ya serikali (BICO na DIT) na kisha majibu yarudishwe manispaa. Alipotafutwa mmiliki wa jengo hilo kueleza sababu za kujenga bila kufuata taratibu, alisema suala hilo waulizwe Manispaa ya Kinondoni. Sanga alisema anachofanya ni suala la maendeleo na hajui kama amevunja taratibu. Alipotakiwa kuelezea sababu ya kushindwa kukagua ujenzi huo, Mhandisi wa Manispaa ya Kinondoni, Gerald Urio, alisema wao kama manispaa hawawezi kukagua kila jengo katika wilaya hiyo. Alisema sababu nyingine iliyowafanya wasiwe na wasiwasi na ujenzi huo ni kutokana na vibao vinavyowaonesha wajenzi wa jengo hilo kuwa ni wasomi kutoka Chuo Kikuu cha Dar es Salaam, Kuhusu athari inayoweza kujitokeza kutokana na ongezeko hilo, Urio alisema hilo si jambo la ajabu kwa kile alichoeleza kuwa kuna majengo mengi yan       Msiwape wajawazito dawa hovyo’                      na Danson Kaijage, Dodoma MBUNGE wa Viti Maalumu, Felister Bura (CCM), amewataka wakazi wa Dodoma kuacha kuwapa wajawazito dawa ambazo hazijathibitishwa na wataalamu wa afya ili kuepuka madhara yanayoweza kujitokeza. Bura aliyasema hayo jana wakati akizungumza na wajumbe wa kamati za maendeleo za kata za Hombolo, Viwandani na Madukani. Mkutano huo ulilenga katika kuhamasisha shughuli za mradi wa Tuunganishe Mikono (JHI) unaoendeshwa na taasisi ya Aga Khan kwa kushirikiana na Wizara ya Afya na Ustawi wa Jamii, chini ya ufadhili wa Shirika la kimataifa la Maendeleo la Canada (CIDA). “Watu wa Mpunguzi hawapo hapa, lakini kuna hili jambo la watu kuwapa dawa za kienyeji wanawake wajawazito ili wajifungue mapema halafu wanakuja kupata matatizo,” alisema. Pia aliwataka wakazi hao kuhakikisha wanawapeleka mapema wajawazito hospitali ili waweze kupata uangalizi wa wataalamu na kuepusha vifo. Kaimu Mganga Mkuu wa Wilaya ya Dodoma Mjini, Dk. Festo Mapunda, alisema mradi huo unalenga katika kupunguza vifo vya wanawake wajawazito na watoto. “Takwimu zinaonesha kuwa vifo vya wajawazito katika Wilaya ya Dodoma ni 97 kati ya wajawazito 100, 000 na kwa upande wa watoto vifo ni 16 kila vizazi hai 1,000,” alisema. Alisema mkakati wa Mkoa wa Dodoma ni kupunguza vifo vya wajawazito na watoto wachanga walio chini ya umri wa miaka mitano. Kwanini mabango ya tahadhari barabarani hayaandikwi kwa Kiswahili?   Tom Kilumbi    INGAWA sijafanikiwa kutembelea nchi nyingi duniani, lakini katika hizo chache nilizobahatika kufika japokuwa kwa muda mfupi nilifanikiwa kuona matangazo ya sehemu muhimu yakiwa yameandikwa ama kwa lugha yao ya asili pamoja na Kiingereza au hiyo lugha yao ya asili peke yake. Kitu hiki nakiona hakifanyiki kabisa katika baadhi ya maeneo muhimu hapa nchini, hali ambayo nina hakika inawakwaza watu wengi na kuwanyima haki yao ya msingi ya kupata taarifa sahihi na kwa wakati muafaka. Kwa wakazi wa Jiji la Dar es Salaam na hususan wale ambao wanaishi maeneo ya Mbezi Beach, Tegeta, Boko, Bunju n.k, pamoja na watumiaji wengine wa Barabara ya Bagamoyo, bila shaka wanatambua wazi kuwa kwa hivi sasa kuna ujenzi wa barabara hiyo ambao unaendelea, ukiwa unaashiria kuwa baada ya muda fulani wanaoitumia watapata ahuweni kubwa sana ya kuepuka adha ya msongamano wa magari barabarani. Kutokana na ujenzi huo, kumekuwepo na ubadilishaji wa matumizi ya barabara hiyo ya mara kwa mara ili kupisha au kuwapa nafasi nzuri zaidi wajenzi wa kuendelea na kazi yao pasipo kusababisha bughudha kwa watumiaji wengine wakati wao wakiendelea kuchapa kazi kwa kwenda mbele. Kwa kifupi utaratibu wao wa ujenzi naupongeza sana kwa kuwa unaendelea vizuri. Lakini kitu kimoja ambacho nimejaribu kukifuatilia na kujikuta nikishindwa nimuulize nani kwa kuwa inaonekana kama vile mamlaka husika zimesinzia hivyo itakuwa vigumu kupata jibu la uhakika la moja kwa moja kutoka kwao, ni mabango kadhaa ya matangazo ya tahadhari kwa watumiaji wa barababara hiyo kutokana na shughuli za ujenzi zinazoendelea kuwa katika lugha moja tu tena ya kigeni! Nimeona labda nikipitia njia hii ya kuandika hata kama hao wahusika watakuwa bado wanasinzia na kulifumbia macho jambo hilo, ni dhahiri wengine watasoma na pindi watakapoamka watajulishwa. Hata kama binafsi sijui kwa sasa hivi lugha ya taifa hili la Tanzania ni Kiswahili, Kiingereza au Kiingereza nusu na nusu Kiswahili, lakini ninachokijua mimi na ambacho nina uhakika nacho kwa asilimia zaidi ya 100 ni kwamba Watanzanaia wengi hatujui Kiingereza, kiwe ni cha kuandika, kusoma au kusikiliza, vyote ni tatizo kubwa kwa wengi wetu. Wengi wetu tunachokijua vizuri ni Kiswahili, hivyo kuniwekea mimi Mtanzania matangazo ya tahadhari kuwa nisipite huku, nipite huko au kule kwa lugha ya Kiingereza, yaani “DIVERTION”, kwa kweli huko ni kunitafutia matatizo mengine kabisa zaidi ya kunitahadharisha! Barabara hii imejaa matangazo mengi sana na ambayo kwa kweli usipoyafuata unaweza ukajikuta unaingia matatizoni kwa ama kupata ajali mwenyewe au kusababisha ajali mbaya kwa wengine, lakini kinachoshangaza ni kwa matangazo hayo kwa asilimia kubwa yakiwa katika lugha ya kigeni badala ya lugha ya Kiswahili ambayo ndiyo wengi wetu tunayoimudu kwa kuongea, kuandika na kusoma pia. Hivi haya maneno ya “SLOW DOWN, ROAD WORKS AHEAD, DIVERTION” n.k., hayana tafsiri yake kwa Kiswahili? Kama mmeshindwa kuyatafsiri nina imani BAKITA au TUKI wapo, na wanaweza kuwafanyia kazi hiyo tena kwa ufasaha zaidi kuliko mnavyoendelea kutubandikia matangazo yenu kwa lugha ya Kiingereza tu wakati wengi wetu lugha hiyo ni mgogoro mtupu kwetu. Nitawomba radhi kwa kuwakosea kama hayo yatakuwa ndiyo masharti mliyopewa na hao wanaowawezesha, kwa maana siku hizi wameibuka kuwa na masharti ya ajabu ajabu ili waendelee kutoa misaada yao. Na kama hivyo ndivyo ilivyo, naingia woga tusije tukawa laini laini kukubali misaada ya masharti kama ambavyo jirani zetu wa Malawi wanakoelekea kulainika hadi kupitiliza kwa masharti ya watoaji wa misaada ili tu wasaidiwe katika bajeti yao inayochechemea. Mwaka 2002 nilikwenda India. Nilipofika uwanja wa ndege wa New Delhi (kwa wakati huo sjui sasa hivi ukoje) nilipotaka kwenda msalani iliniwia vigumu sana kujua wapi nielekee kutokana na vibao vilivyokuwa vikionesha hapo ndiyo msalani kuwa vimeandikwa kwa lugha yao ya Kihindi na si lugha nyingine yoyote, hivyo ikanilazimu nimuulize askari ili anioneshe, kwa bahati nzuri alinionesha ingawa baada ya kutoka alinidai nimpe mshiko kwa kunionesha choo kilipo! Ingawa hata wao walikosea kwa kuandika kwa lugha moja tu sehemu kama hiyo ambayo ni uwanja wa kimataifa, lakini ilionesha ni jinsi gani wanavyothamini zaidi lugha yao kuliko nyingine za kigeni tofauti na sisi ambao hata sehemu ambazo walengwa wakubwa ni sisi wenyewe, lakini bado lugha inayotumika si lugha ya Watanzania walio wengi. Sipendi kukumbusha, lakini ngoja niseme kidogo ni jinsi gani lugha hii ya Kiingereza ilivyo mgogoro kwa wengi hadi kwa hao wanaogombea ili majina yao yaanze kuitwa kwa kutajwa mheshimiwa kabla ya majina yao halisi. Kwa wale wanaokumbuka vizuri bila shaka watakumbuka wakati ule wa kinyang’anyiro cha kugombea nafasi za uwakilishi katika Bunge la Afrika Mashariki, pale mgombea kupitia chama cha CUF, Rose Mwalusamba huku akiwa ametoa maelezo yake kwa lugha ambayo binafsi sikuweza kutambua ni lugha gani, lakini yeye alikusudia kuwa ni Kiingereza, kwa kifupi alisema maneno haya: My daily blade is contractor, I have a company noni as Tanzanian yangi ladies, I'm very grad I'm sorry to say I'm withdraw my name as candidate because due…” Sikuweza kujua na wala sitaweza kujua kama lugha hiyo ilikuwa ni Kiswahili, Kiingereza au Kiswahili nusu na Kiingereza nusu, lakini bila shaka yeye alidhamiria kuwa ni Kiingereza! Sasa kama hata hao wanaodiriki kugombea ili waitwe waheshimiwa wanapata tabu hivyo kuongea lugha hiyo ya Kiingereza, vipi hao wenzangu na mimi ambao hata baada ya kufaulu kuingia kidato cha kwanza kusoma na kuandika kwa Kiswahili ni mgogoro? Haya siyo mambo hata kidogo, inashangaza sana inaposemwa kuwa Kiswahili ni lugha ya taifa wakati matumizi yenyewe ya Kiswahili hayapewi umuhimu wowote wa kitaifa.

Mjadala wa Katiba mpya ulivyotikisa Bunge Martin Malera

MOJA ya mambo mazito yaliyotikisa Bunge wiki hii, ni pamoja na mjadala wa katiba mpya. Kwa jinsi mjadala ulivyoendeshwa, hakuna ubishi kwamba mchakato huo wa katiba umeingiliwa na ushabiki wa vyama. Wabunge wa CCM na mawaziri wao, walijitosa kupingana na wabunge wa CHADEMA, tena wakati mwingine kwa maneno makali hata kwenye hoja za msingi. Mjadala huo uliibuka wakati wa hotuba ya bajeti ya Wizara ya Katiba na Sheria, iliyowasilishwa na Waziri Mathias Chikawe, lakini changamoto kubwa ilitolewa na Msemaji wa Kambi Rasmi ya Upinzani wa wizara hiyo, Tundu Lissu (CHADEMA). Lissu ambaye ni Mbunge wa Singida Mashariki, kwanza aliibua barua na nyaraka alizodai kuwa ni mawasilino ya vigogo wa CCM, wakitoa maelekezo ya namna ya kuhamasisha wanachama wao kuwania kuingia kwenye mabaraza ya katiba ya kata. Hofu ya CHADEMA ni kwamba kama CCM imefanikiwa kujaza makada wake ndani ya mabaraza ya kata, ni wazi kuwa katiba itakayoundwa itakuwa ni ya chama hicho kwani itatokana na matakwa yao. Mbowe alalamikia wabunge CCM Kiongozi wa Kambi Rasmi ya Upinzani Bungeni, Freeman Mbowe (CHADEMA), amelalamikia kitendo cha wabunge wengi wa CCM waliokuwa wamepangwa kuchangia mjadala wa bajeti ya Wizara ya Maliasili na Utalii kwa mwaka 2013/2014, kutofanya hivyo na hivyo, kusababisha muda pamoja na mamilioni ya shilingi za kuendesha shughuli za Bunge kupotea. Mbowe, ambaye ni Mbunge wa Hai, alisema hayo alipoomba mwongozo wa spika kwa kutumia kanuni ya Bunge ya 68 (7). Alisema Bunge ni chombo cha wananchi, hivyo ni wajibu wa wabunge wa pande zote kutumia muda kufanya mambo ya msingi. “Katika orodha ya kazi za leo, ilipangwa wabunge 18 wachangie hotuba ya waziri, lakini wabunge kutoka CCM wengi hawakuchangia, bali wanne, na muda wa Bunge umepotezwa bila sababu za msingi,” alisema Mbowe na kuongeza: “Tunapoteza fedha nyingi na tunapoteza saa nzima. Kwanini nafasi hizi zinapotezwa na wenzetu, hawapewi wabunge wengine wa upinzani kuchangia?” Waziri wa Nchi, Ofisi ya Waziri Mkuu (Sera, Uratibu na Bunge), William Lukuvi alisimama na kuomba kutoa taarifa. Lukuvi alisema wakati wanapopitisha taratibu za kanuni za Bunge, majina yanaorodheshwa kutokana na wachangiaji wenyewe, hivyo akasema mbunge mwenyewe ana uwezo wa kuchagua hotuba ya wizara ya kuchangia. Kutokana na hilo, alisema wabunge wa CCM ambao hawakufika bungeni siku hiyo kuchangia, waliorodhesha chaguo lao kwa hotuba ya pili na ya tatu au nyingine, ambazo alisema watazitoa kwenye wizara nyingine. Mwenyekiti wa Bunge, Jenista Mhagama akitoa mwongozo wake, alisema kwa mujibu wa kanuni, utaratibu wa uchangiaji, mgawanyo wa dakika za uchangiaji ndani ya Bunge unakwenda kwa kuzingatia uwiano wa vyama. Alisema taarifa za wabunge watano wa CCM waliziacha dakika zao zitumiwe na mawaziri wa serikali kujibu hoja za wabunge. Majangili wa pembe za ndovu Mjadala mwingine uliokuwa mzito ni wa Wizara ya Maliasili na Utalii, ambapo Waziri Balozi Khamis Kagasheki aliapa kupambana na vyama visivyo vya kiserikali (NGO’S) kwa kuchochea mgogoro wa Loliondo. Msemaji wa Kambi Rasmi ya Upinzani Bungeni, Mchungaji Peter Msingwa (CHADEMA), aliwalipua baadhi ya vigogo wa serikali, CCM na makada wao kwamba ndio wanajihusisha na ujangili huo. Mbowe kwa upande wake, alikuja na hoja nzito ya kutaka Bunge lilete mswada wa sheria wa kutaka watakaopatikana na hatia ya kusafirisha nyara za serikali wahukumiwe kunyongwa. Pia alilifumbua macho taifa kwamba kuna viwanda vya kusaga meno ya tembo na kusafirishwa nje kwenye mabegi kama nguo. Mbowe alidai kuwa viwanda hivyo vinamilikiwa na baadhi ya viongozi wa serikali na kwamba kuna mtandao mpana wa biashara hiyo. Kufutwa matokeo kidato cha nne Kama kuna jambo zito ambalo serikali imeamua kuja na majibu mepesi ni kuhusu taarifa ya kufutwa kwa matokeo ya kidato cha nne na kuagizwa yaandaliwe upya kwa kutumia utaratibu wa mwaka 2011. Uamuzi huo umetangazwa huku baadhi ya wanafunzi wakiwa wamepoteza maisha kwa kujiua kutokana na msongo wa mawazo, huku waziri mwenye dhamana na elimu akiachwa aendelee kukalia kiti chake cha enzi. Uamuzi huo mgumu ulitangazwa juzi bungeni na Waziri wa Nchi Ofisi ya Waziri Mkuu (Sera na Uratibu wa Bunge), William Lukuvi, kwa niaba ya Waziri Mkuu Mizengo Pinda. Umetokana na mapendekezo ya Tume ya Waziri Mkuu iliyoundwa kuchunguza chanzo cha matokeo ya kidato cha nne mwaka jana kuporomoka kwa kiwango cha kutisha. Kwa mujibu wa uchunguzi wa awali wa tume hiyo, Waziri Lukuvi alisema kuwa ilibaini kuwa pamoja na wanafunzi hawa kuwa katika mazingira yanayofanana na wenzao wa miaka ya nyuma, ufaulu wao umeshuka kutokana na mabadiliko ya mchakato wa kuandaa na kutoa matokeo kwa mwaka 2012.    Quarter of adults walk just an hour a week, survey finds Walking is an effective way to keep fit A poll for the walking organisation the Ramblers suggests 25% of adults walk for no more than one hour each week. The YouGov survey, which polled 2,000 adults to find out where and when they walked, found another 43% reported walking for less than two hours a week. Government guidelines say people should do 150 minutes of "moderate" physical activity each week. The survey asked people about the total amount of walking they did, including trips to school, work or the shops. The Ramblers, who are promoting a "Get Walking Week" from 4-11 May, say there is already research showing that two thirds of adults in the UK do too little exercise - and that this survey backs that up. 'Inactivity pandemic' Despite the low levels of walking reported, virtually all those surveyed - 93% - agreed walking was a good form of exercise. The organisation is seeking to get people to go on walks of five miles or less and has free walks led by guides. Benedict Southworth, chief executive of the Ramblers, said: "Walking is one of the most accessible and achievable ways to truly conquer this inactivity pandemic in Britain, and we need to get started now." Public health minister Anna Soubry, said walking was "one of the best ways to keep healthy", and that she supported the initiative.

                                                                       

 Clashes over Bangladesh protest leave '15 dead'

Police used stun grenades and rubber bullets to disperse the demonstrators

 

At least 15 people are reported to have been killed and more than 60 hurt after police and Islamist protesters clashed in the Bangladeshi capital, Dhaka.

Police used stun grenades and rubber bullets to disperse a Sunday protest organised by the group Hefazat-e Islam.
But there were later running battles throughout Sunday and into Monday in areas across the city.
Tens of thousands of Islamists had gathered in the city to call for stronger Islamic policies.
Rioters went on to set fire to shops and vehicles.
'Hang atheists' Central Dhaka was reported to be calm following a day and night of violence.
Police said a ban had been imposed on all rallies and protests in the city until midnight on Monday to prevent a repeat of the clashes.

 

Hefazat-e Islam

• A tightly-knit coalition of a dozen or so Islamist groups, pushing to change Bangladesh's secular culture via imposition of what it sees as proper Islamic ways
• Rose to prominence in Feb 2013, rallying against a campaign that demanded the death penalty for an Islamist leader convicted of war crimes
• Support drawn from religious schools across Bangladesh
• Has 13-point charter of demands including exemplary punishment to those who "insult Islam".

Thousands of Islamist activists were seen fleeing the Motijheel area of Dhaka on Sunday as police moved in to take control of the area.

Having secured the business district, the police said officers were searching for protesters hiding in nearby buildings.
The area around the city centre's largest mosque had turned into a battleground as police reacted to stone-throwing rioters with tear gas, stun grenades, rubber bullets and truncheons.
"We were forced to act after they unlawfully continued their gathering at Motijheel," police spokesman Masudur Rahman told the AFP news agency. "They attacked us with bricks, stones, rods and bamboo sticks."
Clashes also broke out in Kanchpur on the south-eastern outskirts of Dhaka.
There were varying reports of the number of dead and injured, but police have confirmed that two officers and a member of the security forces were among the dead in Kanchpur.
On Sunday, crowds of protesters blocked main roads, isolating Dhaka from other parts of the country.
Dhaka's Daily Star newspaper reported that the group hired at least 3,000 vehicles, including buses, lorries and minibuses to bring demonstrators into the capital, while others travelled there by train.
Chanting "Allahu Akbar!" ("God is greatest!") and "One point! One demand! Atheists must be hanged", the activists marched down at least six main roads as they headed for Motijheel, AFP news agency reported.
 

At least 10 people have been killed and more than 60 injured in continuing clashes between police and Islamist activists in Bangladesh's capital DHefazat-e Islam wants greater segregation of men and women, as well as the imposition of stricter Islamic education.The movement draws its strength from the country's madrassas, or religious schools.Its opposition to a national development policy for women has angered women's groups.The government, which describes Bangladesh as a secular democracy, has rejected Hefazat-e Islam's demand for a new law on blasphemy.Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said current legislation was adequate.Muslims make up nearly 90% of the country's population, with the rest mostly Hindus.Are you in Dhaka? Did you witness the protest? You can share your experiences using the form below.

Neo-Nazi murders: Beate Zschaepe goes on trial in Germany

The BBC's Stephen Evans: "The authorities have admitted that things went wrong"

  

An alleged member of a German neo-Nazi cell has gone on trial in Munich in connection with a series of racially motivated murders.

Beate Zschaepe, 38, is accused of being part of the National Socialist Underground (NSU), which killed 10 people, mostly of Turkish background.
She denies the murder charges. After entering court, she stood with folded arms and turned her back on the camera.
The case sparked controversy as police wrongly blamed the Turkish mafia.
The head of Germany's domestic intelligence service was eventually forced to resign over the scandal. It also emerged that intelligence files on far-right extremists were destroyed after the cell's activities came to light.
Four male defendants are also on trial with Ms Zschaepe, facing lesser charges of having helped the NSU.
 This police video shows alleged Neo-Nazi Beate Zschaepe in an identity parade.

Critics have accused authorities of turning a blind eye to the crimes of right-wing extremists, the BBC'S Steve Evans reports from Munich.
Officials deny this, saying mistakes occurred because the murders were spread across different regions, each with different police and security agencies.
The killings took place over a seven-year period, and none of the victims or locations was high-profile.
Execution-style killings Ethnic Turkish community groups and anti-racism campaigners demonstrated outside the courthouse on Monday demanding justice. Some suspect the police of institutional racism, which may have helped the neo-Nazis to act with impunity, our correspondent says.
Before the trial got under way a large crowd of journalists had gathered outside, along with dozens of people hoping to get seats in the court. About 500 police officers were deployed and nearby streets were cordoned off.

German neo-Nazi trial shrouded in intrigue

 

 Uwe Boehnhardt (L) and Beate Zschaepe are seen here in an undated photo

 

One of the biggest trials in Germany since the war focuses on an alleged neo-Nazi ring.

She has the sweetest face. Beate Zschaepe smiles gently at the camera as she twirls for the video the police made for their files. She is dressed in a girlish pink top as she performs the required choreography shortly after giving herself up. It is a face of child-like innocence, a young woman who would not hurt a fly.
But is it the face of genuine innocence - or a deceptive face concealing her involvement in the murder of 10 truly innocent people?
Prosecutors have called Beate Zschaepe the country's most dangerous neo-Nazi. She is accused of helping to murder nine men, all but one of them of Turkish background, and a policewoman.
She is also accused of helping in 28 attempted murders as well as being a member of a terrorist organisation. And she is charged with robbery, causing explosions and arson.
The arson relates to the fire which she is alleged to have started before giving herself up on 8 November 2011, telling police she was the one they were looking for.

  Campaigners say there needs to be a broader investigation into the crimes

She shared a flat in Jena, in the old East Germany, with two men - Uwe Boehnhardt und Uwe Mundlos. They had been found shot dead four days earlier, apparently a double suicide after they botched a bank robbery.
After the deaths, the gun used in the murders of the 10 people was discovered, thus clearing up one mystery but opening another: how did they get away with it for so long?
And it opened a debate about whether the police and security services were "blind in the right eye" because they had failed to see right-wing terrorism. And there was even speculation that maybe they had detected it through informers but then failed to act on it out of sympathy.
Families' ordeal The first murder took place at a stall on the outskirts of Nuremberg on the Saturday afternoon of 9 September, 2000.