Bangladesh

Deadly violence has erupted during local elections in Bangladesh, leaving at least 13 people dead this week. Analysts said the mayhem shows the country's democracy is struggling in the face of Islamist extremism and a divisive debate over how to deal with the legacy of its 1971 civil war.

A bill headed for President Barack Obama this week includes a provision that would ban U.S. imports of fish caught by slaves in Southeast Asia, gold mined by children in Africa and garments sewn by abused women in Bangladesh, closing a loophole in an 85-year-old tariff law that has failed to keep products of forced and child labor out of America.

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) -- Families of scores of people presumed dead after their ferry capsized in central Bangladesh accused authorities on Tuesday of launching a feeble rescue effort and leaving their loved ones trapped inside the vessel for more than 24 hours.

LOUHAJONG, Bangladesh (AP) -- A passenger ferry carrying hundreds of people capsized Monday in central Bangladesh, killing at least two people and probably many more as horrified villagers watched from the shore, authorities said.

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) -- A court in Bangladesh's capital on Monday sentenced eight people, including a leader of a banned Islamist group, to death for their roles in a bombing at a New Year's celebration concert 13 years ago.

South Asia is the most corrupt region of the world and governments must strengthen their anti-graft agencies to prevent political interference and protect whistleblowers, Transparency International said Wednesday.