SC summons Sindh IG over murder FIR delays

DHAKA: Bangladesh has asked India to clarify its position over a planned virtual address by former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, saying political activities by a fugitive could undermine efforts to improve relations between the two neighboring countries. The request comes ahead of an event scheduled for August 5 in New Delhi, where Hasina is expected to deliver a video address alongside her son, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, during a programme organized by the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of South Asia. Bangladesh’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam said Dhaka is committed to strengthening ties with India but believes New Delhi should clearly explain its stance regarding political activities by individuals wanted by Bangladeshi authorities. She said Bangladesh has repeatedly expressed concerns over Hasina and other leaders of the Awami League making political statements while residing in India. According to the minister, Dhaka does not want such activities to negatively affect the progress made in bilateral relations. The minister noted that the event is not being organized by the Indian government but added that Bangladesh is prepared to raise the matter through diplomatic channels if required. India’s Ministry of External Affairs had not issued an official response to the remarks at the time of reporting. Relations between Bangladesh and India have remained under strain since Hasina left Bangladesh in August 2024 following a student-led uprising that ended her tenure in office. Although both countries have recently indicated a willingness to rebuild diplomatic engagement, the issue of Hasina’s stay in India continues to be a sensitive matter. Bangladesh has formally requested Hasina’s extradition to face legal proceedings. In 2025, she was sentenced to death in absentia over crimes against humanity linked to the 2024 crackdown on anti-government protests. Hasina has rejected the verdict, describing it as politically motivated and without legal validity. Despite the legal cases against her, Hasina has said she intends to return to Bangladesh in the future, while her planned virtual appearance has once again brought the issue of her presence in India into the diplomatic spotlight.

NEW DELHI: N. Chandrasekaran, chairman of Tata Sons, has decided not to seek another term at the helm of India’s major business conglomerate, bringing his leadership tenure towards an end after growing differences with the group’s influential charitable trust arm. Chandrasekaran, 63, said on Wednesday that he would remain chairman until his current term expires in February. He said greater certainty over the group’s future leadership was necessary because several major projects were at critical stages. The decision follows months of disagreement between Chandrasekaran and Tata Trusts, which controls about 66% of Tata Sons. The two sides have reportedly differed over several important strategic and governance issues. Among the disputed matters were the future ownership and structure of Tata Sons, whether the company should pursue a stock market listing, losses at Air India, the proposed departure of a minority shareholder and the composition of the board. Tata Sons had postponed a decision on Chandrasekaran’s reappointment in February after Noel Tata, chairman of Tata Trusts, opposed extending his tenure. Six months later, the issue remained unresolved. A person familiar with Chandrasekaran’s decision said the disagreement with Tata Trusts was the sole reason behind his decision not to seek another term. Tata Trusts has not publicly commented on the development. Leadership change comes at difficult time Chandrasekaran’s planned departure comes as the Tata Group faces challenges across several major businesses. Air India, which is controlled by Tata, has been struggling with losses following its return to private ownership. Tata’s automotive operations are also facing pressure, including weaker performance at Jaguar Land Rover. The group’s electronics business has additionally faced the consequences of a recent data leak that affected major customers, including Apple and Tesla. The leadership uncertainty immediately affected investor sentiment. Shares of Tata Consultancy Services, where Chandrasekaran spent most of his career, fell around 5% following news of his planned departure. Tata Motors also declined, while Tata Steel and Titan recorded smaller losses. From TCS intern to Tata chairman Chandrasekaran joined Tata Consultancy Services as an intern in 1987 and spent his entire corporate career with the information technology company. He rose through the ranks and became TCS chief executive in 2009. He was appointed chairman of Tata Sons in 2017. He became the first chairman of Tata Sons who was not a member of the Tata family or from the Parsi community. Under his leadership, Tata expanded its presence across technology, automobiles, aviation, electronics and consumer businesses. The Tata Group is one of India’s oldest and most prominent business organisations. Its companies operate across a wide range of sectors, with products and services ranging from salt and consumer goods to automobiles, hotels, aviation and software. The group’s publicly listed companies had a combined market value of hundreds of billions of dollars at the end of March, highlighting the potential significance of any leadership transition at Tata Sons. Tata’s history has also included previous disputes between its corporate leadership and charitable trusts. One of the most prominent occurred in 2016, when the Tata Sons board removed chairman Cyrus Mistry following a bitter dispute involving governance and the group’s leadership.