Interview
Instances of mismanagement and rigging have put JUCSU poll into question
The casting of votes in the Jahangirnagar University Central Students' Union (JUCSU) and Hall Parliament elections has ended and vote counting is underway. Four panels of progressive students have boycotted the elections, alleging widespread irregularities. Meanwhile, JU unit Chhatra Dal has also boycotted the elections, alleging rigging and brought out protest march. In view of this situation, Views Bangladesh's JU correspondent spoke to JUCSU election observer teacher Raihan Rhyne. The detailed conversation is presented below:
Denying the Liberation War is nothing but stupidity: Badruddin Umar
Vateran writer-researcher and leftist politician Badruddin Umar was born in the city of Burdwan under British India on December 20, 1931. He died today (Sunday) at the age of 94 at a hospital in Dhaka. This interview was conducted by Views Bangladesh on the occasion of his 94th birth anniversary. The interview was published in two parts respectively on December 22, 2024 and January 5, 2025. This interview highlights Badruddin Umar's political philosophy, the fall of the Awami League government, and intellectual thoughts. The interview is republished for the readers of Views Bangladesh.
Why this delay in holding DUCSU election?
Some university teachers are more focused on becoming Vice Chancellors or CEOs than on teaching. This doesn’t happen elsewhere in the world. In Asia, teachers used to be respected like gurus — but now they’re self-serving. Student politics has become anti-student. Who cracks down on protests first? The ruling party's student wing. It’s a kind of proxy system. For example, at Rokeya Hall, members of a student group aligned with the ruling party — along with the police — attacked female students. Before the July uprising, another (now banned) mainstream student organization also carried out attacks. All major student organizations claim to support development but were in power at some point. Let them list what they did for the university. In the 90s, they asked for a museum — and sent DUCSU into one. So when they say “the spirit of the 90s is back,” does that mean DUCSU won’t return? Is that what they’re implying?
The Unfinished Autobiography is indeed written by Bangabandhu
Abul Kasem Fazlul Haque. Renowned essayist in the Bangla language, social analyst, literary critic and political thinker. He is currently serving as the President of the Bangla Academy. This former professor of the Department of Bangla at Dhaka University spoke to Views Bangladesh on several recent issues. The interview was conducted by Views Bangladesh Editorial Assistant Shahadat Hossain Towhid.
I am successful as a teacher, not as a writer
Essayist and educationist Professor Jatin Sarker (August 18, 1936 –August 13, 2025) was a man enriched through the pursuit of knowledge, who, standing on his own soil, could witness the sunrise of the entire world. By reading his autobiographical work The Birth and Death of Pakistan – A Vision, one can easily understand how he became Jatin Sarker. He was a follower of the philosophy of ‘dialectical and historical materialism’, a line of thought reflected in his book “Bangalir Samajtantrik Oitihyo” (The Socialist Tradition of the Bengali). However, he believed that in his work “Prakritojoner Jibondorshon” (Life Philosophy of the Common People), he expressed a distinctive and original perspective. His first book, Expectations from Literature, was published in 1985, when he was fifty. Including all genres, he published nearly fifty books in total. On Wednesday (13 August), this great thinker passed away. Long before his death, poet Shishir Rajan had interviewed him. The interview is being published here in memory of Jatin Sarker.
If there’s no food in stomach, journalists are bound to be corrupt
Amidst the multifaceted and multi-dimensional crisis of Bangladesh's media, the 11-member Media Reform Commission of the interim government has already submitted its report on timely and effective reforms. Under the leadership of Kamal Ahmed,
BTV, Betar, BSS need to be brought under one umbrella for best use of state resources
Amidst the multifaceted and multi-dimensional crisis of Bangladesh's media, the 11-member Media Reform Commission of the interim government has already submitted its report on timely and effective reforms. Under the leadership of Kamal Ahmed, the commission has made 20 recommendations on various issues including media ownership, income and expenditure, advertising market, financial security, measures regarding BTV-Betar-BSS, and the freedom and protection of media and journalists. These 20 points include several sub-points detailing various issues. Simultaneously, to implement these recommendations, the commission has also submitted a draft of the ‘Bangladesh Media Commission Ordinance: 2025’. This draft ordinance is currently under consideration by the interim government. Media stakeholders are hopeful that the proposals of this commission will soon receive legal endorsement. Rahat Minhaz, Assistant Professor of Mass Communication and Journalism at Jagannath University, had an in-depth discussion with Kamal Ahmed about the formation, operations, various obstacles and challenges of the commission. The interview is being published in series by Views Bangladesh. The forth part of the six-part interview is published today.
Bangladesh's advertisement market is kind of saturated market
The 11-member Media Reform Commission of the interim government has already submitted its report for the timely and effective reform of Bangladesh's media which is suffering from various multifaceted crises. Led by Kamal Ahmed, this commission has made 20 recommendations on various issues, including media ownership, income and expenditure, the advertisement market, financial security, necessary actions regarding BTV, Bangladesh Betar (radio), and BSS, as well as the freedom and protection of the press and journalists. Under these 20 recommendations, there are several sub-points where various issues have been elaborately discussed. At the same time, the commission has also submitted a draft titled 'Bangladesh Media Commission Ordinance: 2025' to implement the recommendations.
90 percent media outlets do not submit income-expenditure reports on time
Amidst multiple and multifaceted crises, the 11-member Media Reform Commission formed by the interim government has already submitted its report for the timely and effective reform of Bangladesh’s media sector. Headed by Kamal Ahmed, the commission made 20 recommendations concerning media ownership, income and expenditure, advertisement market, financial security, the future of BTV, Bangladesh Betar (radio) and BSS, and the freedom and protection of journalists and media houses. Under these 20 key points are several sub-points where various issues have been elaborated in detail. At the same time, the commission has submitted a draft of the ‘Bangladesh Media Commission Ordinance: 2025’ to implement these proposals. This draft ordinance is currently under consideration by the interim government. Media stakeholders hope that the commission’s proposals will soon gain legal validity.
Obtaining license for political goals means blocking scope for journalism
Amid the multifaceted and deep-rooted crises facing the media landscape in Bangladesh, the 11-member Media Reform Commission formed by the interim government has already submitted its report proposing timely and effective reforms. Headed by Kamal Ahmed, the commission has made 20 major recommendations covering issues such as media ownership, revenue and expenditure, the advertisement market, financial security, the future of BTV, Bangladesh Betar, and BSS, as well as the freedom and protection of journalists and media organisations. Each of these 20 points includes several subpoints with detailed explanations. Alongside the recommendations, the commission has also submitted a draft ordinance titled Bangladesh Media Commission Ordinance: 2025, which is now under consideration by the interim government. Media professionals and stakeholders are hoping that the proposals will soon be given legal standing. In this context, Kamal Ahmed sat down for an in-depth conversation with Rahat Minhaz, Assistant Professor of Mass Communication and Journalism at Jagannath University. They discussed the formation and work of the commission, the obstacles and resistance it faced, and the broader challenges at hand. This interview is being published in installments by Views Bangladesh. Today, we present the first part of the five-part series.