State and Politics
There is no alternative to an elected government for economic progress
Under the leadership of Dr. Muhammad Yunus, the primary task of the interim government is to steer the country back to a truly democratic system through proper democratic procedures. The expectation and aspiration of the people is to be able to elect a government of their choice through the exercise of their voting rights. There is no room for deception in this process. The recent mass movement began over the demand for reforming the quota system in government jobs, but it eventually evolved into a movement for toppling the government. At the heart of the movement lies one core demand: democracy, democracy, and democracy.
44 small coffins and a locked file: Who is responsible for structural murder?
When two-and-a-half-year-old Nusayba from Chatmohar in Pabna passed away on March 12, her father received a call from the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Rajshahi Medical College Hospital exactly four days later. He was informed that a bed had been allocated for Nusayba. This ‘posthumous call’ regarding a bed for a deceased child is a significant indictment of our governance in the 21st century. The same unfortunate situation has occurred with Nahid from Terokhadia and 10-month-old Jihad from Durgapur, who have been denied access to a mechanical ventilator despite waiting endlessly. The disheartening admission from the medical team indicates that there have been 53 deaths in the past two and a half months; of these, 44 young lives were lost prematurely in the two weeks from March 10 to 24 due to insufficient intensive monitoring. The greatest irony of progress is that just a few kilometers away from where children are dying daily due to inadequate treatment, a modern specialized children's hospital with 200 beds, constructed at a cost of approximately Tk35 crore in the Ghora Chattar (Behrampur) area of the metropolis, has been fully operational since 2023. Despite having state-of-the-art facilities, including 56 intensive monitoring beds and a central oxygen system, the hospital is awaiting approval for its manpower structure (organogram) due to bureaucratic delays. This official inaction has become more significant than the lives of children today. It is particularly astonishing that the 12-bed child intensive monitoring center currently functioning in the main hospital lacks official approval; it is being operated under its own special management. Is a file concerning a manpower structure on the administrative desk of a state capable of executing large-scale projects worth thousands of crores of taka more important than the lives of 44 children?
War, hegemony, and its global cost
The recent tensions surrounding the United States, Israel, and Iran have brought to the fore an old problem in international politics—the reliance of powerful states on military power in world politics. While the governments involved justify their actions in the name of security and deterrence, the larger reality paints a different picture. This conflict once again demonstrates how the politics of geopolitical hegemony profoundly affects the lives of ordinary people, regional stability, and the global economy.
Blueprint for extermination of Bengalis under guise of duck hunting
The prosperous Indus civilization was founded around the Sindhu River. Larkana in Pakistan is one of the cities that have developed on the banks of this river that stretches across India and Pakistan. It is one of the most prosperous and important cities in the country's Sindh province. This important chapter of the independence movement of the Bengali nation is associated with this city, thousands of miles away. Because it was in this city that the blueprint for the Bengali genocide was finalized instead of handing over power to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The day was February 22, 1971. On the day that President Yahya Khan and Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and top Pakistani army officers finalized the plan to teach the Bengali nation a bloody lesson with heavy feasts, colorful drinks and intoxication with power.
From unlawful arbitration to murder: State must set example of justice
A 15-year-old girl from Narsingdi displayed remarkable bravery by pursuing justice for her rape. Tragically, her life was abruptly ended while she sought that justice. Allegations state that she was abducted in public while attempting to reach safety with her father, and her lifeless body was discovered the following day. This incident transcends mere murder; it highlights a profound crisis within our law enforcement, human rights safeguards, and social justice systems. When an individual striving for justice loses their life, it raises a critical question – does the legal framework of the state truly provide a secure environment for its citizens?
Terrible transformation of wars as games
War has been a longstanding aspect of human history. Following the use of stones, sticks, swords, and cannons, humanity entered the nuclear age during World War II.
People's verdict and a new horizon: Service must become the mantra of politics
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is moving towards forming the government by securing an absolute majority with the people's overwhelming votes in the 13th National Parliamentary Election. This victory is not merely the success of a political party; it is the deep trust, confidence and dream of a new tomorrow for millions of people. The people have placed their hopes and aspirations in BNP's hands with immense expectations.
Election hopes turn into disappointment, fear for women in Bangladesh
Hopes surrounding the election have turned into disappointment and fear for many women in Bangladesh, including those who were at the forefront of the July mass uprising, according to a report by the British national daily The Guardian.
The ‘Covert Politics’ debate and…
As the 13th National Parliamentary Election draws closer, political discourse in Bangladesh is becoming increasingly sharp—marked by heightened rhetoric, strategic wordplay, and intensified efforts to politically weaken opponents. A recent and notable example of this trend is the public war of words between the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami over the use of the term “ Guptho (covert).”
How long the teachers will face guillotine executions?
Post-mass uprising anarchy is still visible in Bangladesh. The state machinery is still largely inactive in the backdrop of the changes. In this vacuum, at least partially, the rule of the insane continues.