State and Politics
Bangladesh's December dilemma: Rising fundamentalism or spirit of '71
Every December, a strange light ignites in the heart of Bangladesh— victory, grief and pride blend into an overwhelming emotion. The victory of 1971 was not just the end of a war, but the triumph of a nation fighting for existence, the liberation of a civilisation. Every year, December reminds us of the sacrifices of the freedom fighters and the pride of a red-green flag born through immense struggle. Yet the question arises; 53 years after victory, are we still holding on to that spirit? Or is that light fading amid political instability, social division and the currents of time? Several recent incidents have intensified this question.
Sufism, palagaan, political conflict and Baul Abul Sarkar
‘Amar saradeho kheyogo mati' (O soil, take my whole body), ‘Amar babar mukhe prothom jedin shunechhilam gaan' (The day I first heard my father singing)’ and ‘Ami tomat duti chokhe duti tara hoye thakbo' (I will be the apples of your eyes)… These songs sung by Andrew Kishore, have become immortal to the generation of the early 80s and 90s. The lyrics and melody of these songs still touch and yearn. These timeless songs are from the Bangla movie ‘Nayoner Alo’ made in 1984. Many of the 80s and 90s generations can remember this film even today.
Who would hold the political power in the future?
'Those who control Bangladesh's politics are inherently undemocratic and the standard of education and training of the ruling class here is very low.' New Age Editor Nurul Kabir came up with the observation on November 18, a day after ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina was sentenced to death in a case of crimes against humanity, the first such case in Bangladesh's history in which a former prime minister has been sentenced to death. At the unveiling of a book by the late politician Barrister Moudud Ahmed, Nurul Kabir said, 'From the first day of the Bangladesh state to today, democracy has never existed.'
Cost of self-destructive sabotage can be enormous
On Monday morning, I was utterly shocked after watching a video clip. Filmed from a distance, the video showed towering flames rising above the trees, lighting up the night sky. At first glance, I thought the footage was from Ukraine or Gaza. But soon I realised I was wrong. According to various media reports, it was not a scene of destruction from abroad, but from Savar, on the outskirts of Dhaka—where students of Daffodil International University had vandalised and set fire to the campus of City University. As the day went on, the horror of the incident became even clearer.
From hope to uncertainty: Path of interim govt
Fourteen months ago, a mass uprising had raised a wave of hope across the nation. The arrival of the interim government under Dr Muhammad Yunus had inspired dreams of a new dawn. Many described it as a “government of morality” or a “bridge of change”.
Challenges Tarique Rahman must confront
We are passing through a time when Bangladesh stands at a crucial crossroads in its history. In 2024, a historic mass uprising ended the Awami League government’s fifteen-year rule, and within a few months, Bangladesh is moving towards an election. Just as the country’s history holds the glorious chapter of the Liberation War, it also bears the cries of justice lost in the dark alleys of power. More than half a century after independence, the nation is still searching for a stable democracy in which every branch of the state works for the people’s welfare, and politics reflects ethics and morality. Yet the people of this country have repeatedly witnessed electoral farce, capture of polling centres, ballot-stuffing and violence. From national to by-elections and countless local polls, many have been questioned over time. Political disputes centring on elections have become a permanent feature of Bangladesh, eroding public trust in the process and often putting democracy itself in doubt.
Plight of neglected education increasing
The results of the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and equivalent examinations for the current year, 2025, have recently been published. The average pass rate across the 11 education boards is 58.83 per cent. More than 1.2 million students took the exams, half of them girls. The pass rate has dropped by 18 per cent compared to last year. The poor results have caused an uproar on social media, as the failure of 41.17 per cent of candidates cannot be acceptable. When out of 1.2 million examinees, around half a million fail, questions are bound to arise.
Is Jamaat's strength in changing colour
No third political force has emerged in Bangladesh after the Awami League and BNP. The Jatiya Party has effectively acted as the Awami League’s B team. Since the July uprising, there have been murmurs in the public sphere that Jamaat-e-Islami might form the next government. The results of student union elections at several public universities appear to hint at that possibility.
What to do to overcome political doubts over ‘July Charter’
The present state of Bangladesh’s political structure after the people’s uprising of 2024 can be called an exceptional arrangement.
How far Bangladesh progressed in eliminating discrimination
Discrimination means showing bias or prejudice towards someone based on race, religion, caste, gender, or age. It does not necessarily have to be linked with good or evil.