State and Politics
The reality of Gaza behind the Iran-Israel conflict
Torture, human rights violations, genocide, hunger, displacement—such heart-wrenching terms now seem reserved solely for Gaza. For the past twenty months, indiscriminate brutal killings have been ongoing in the region, targeting men, women, and children alike. The hellish massacre in Gaza is hard for any normal person to comprehend. These heart-breaking scenes are not isolated incidents—there are thousands of them. All perpetrated by Israel, backed by the United States. Millions live there in uncertainty. They have no food, no shelter, no contact with relatives. The people of Gaza are enduring an inhumane and tragic life. As if they are trapped in a nightmare. There is no accurate count of how many people have died so far. The procession of the dead grows heavier every day.
Why students’ moral uprising being robbed?
Students in Bangladesh are no longer confined to the lessons of the classroom alone. They are now voicing, loudly and clearly, in the streets, squares, digital platforms and media – that the structural inequality, corruption and opportunism in this country can no longer continue. This moral awakening of the youth is not just a symbol of a government’s fall, but the beginning of a new way of thinking about the state.
What Bangladesh should do regarding US tariff
If any country imposes additional tariffs on imported goods, the first reaction is that the price of the concerned exported goods increases. The United States has imposed increased tariffs on imported goods from various countries. In order for Bangladeshi products to enter the US market in the future, an additional 35 percent tariff will have to be paid. Currently, an average of 15 percent tariff has to be paid for exporting Bangladeshi products to the US market. An additional 35 percent tariff will be added to that. That is, in order to enter the US market in the future, a total of 50 percent tariff will have to be paid on Bangladeshi products.
Why debate over party symbols of water lily and sheaf of paddy?
Before the 10th National Parliamentary Election held in 2014, in October 2013, the Bangladesh Nationalist Front–BNF, which was seeking registration with the Election Commission, applied for the symbol of ‘sheaf of wheat’. BNP opposed this, saying that the sheaf of wheat and the sheaf of paddy look similar. Therefore, voters for the sheaf of paddy might mistakenly vote for the sheaf of wheat. The reverse could also happen. In this reality, BNF applied for the ‘paddy plant’ symbol instead of the sheaf of wheat. However, they were not given either ‘sheaf of wheat’ or ‘paddy plant’; instead, they were told to keep their eyes on the television screen! That is, BNF was given the symbol of a television. On 18 November 2013, they were registered with the Election Commission. Their registration number is 42. However, on 16 February 2023, the newly registered Trinamool BNP was given the symbol of golden fibre.
Nature of corruption in mega projects
Adviser on Women and Children Affairs Sharmin S Murshid has said that during the tenure of the previous government, corruption devoured all our progress like termites; every project during that time was marred by corruption. On the other hand, the interim government is following a ‘zero tolerance’ policy towards corruption. Commerce Adviser Sheikh Bashiruddin remarked that past governments indulged in a spending spree. Brigadier (Retd) Sakhawat Hossain, adviser to the Ministry of Shipping, refered the ministry during the Awami League’s tenure as the ‘Pacific Ocean of theft.’ During the Awami League’s rule, opposition parties, including the BNP, alleged massive corruption in mega projects. If project cost estimates are set high, it becomes easier to embezzle.
Division among the left: Clash of ideology and lust for leadership, or a reality of power?
Some days ago, the leftists organised a road march from Dhaka to Chattogram under the banner of “Anti-Imperialist Patriotic People,” demanding the protection of national resources and sovereignty. The main slogan of the campaign was: “Mother, land, and estuary—we will not hand them over to foreigners.” Leftists played an important role in movements to protect national resources earlier too. The issue requires extensive discussion. It has often been said that during the Liberation War, political leadership was solely in the hands of the Awami League. You may call this an “Awami narrative” if you like, but this is not the only truth of history. The provisional was mainly formed with Awami League leaders, but alongside that government was an advisory committee headed by Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani. The committee also included Comrade Moni Singh, Mozaffar Ahmed, and Congress leader Manoranjan Dhar. All of them were leftists except Manoranjan Dhar. This clearly shows that ignoring the position of leftists would be an injustice to history.
Sweden’s proportional election and reality of Bangladesh
Democracy in Bangladesh stands today at a difficult crossroads. On the one hand, we move forward with a constitutional promise of democracy; on the other hand, in reality, political occupation, dynastic rule, party extortion, and one-party authoritarian governance obstruct our path. Elections are no longer a reflection of public opinion—they have become a cruel strategy for consolidating power. To resolve this crisis, structural reform of the electoral system is now the demand of the time. The Proportional Representation (PR) system, used in many democratic countries around the world, is now a timely and realistic alternative for Bangladesh. In my four decades of experience as a citizen, researcher, and voter in Sweden, I have seen how a PR-based parliamentary democracy can lead a society towards justice, peace, and progress.
Proliferation of nuclear weapons and International Atomic Energy Agency
The nearly seven-decade-old International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) works to ensure the peaceful use of nuclear energy worldwide. At the same time, one of its responsibilities is to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons.
Interim government: Breakdown of trust and crisis of accountability
Following the mass uprising last August, the interim government of Bangladesh came to power with promises to restore democratic order and alleviate the suffering of ordinary people. It presented itself as a reform-oriented and good-governance-committed transitional caretaker government. But nearly a year later, the country is now plunged into deeper uncertainty—where extreme mismanagement, growing inequality, and a widening gap between state power and citizen welfare are becoming increasingly evident. What was supposed to be a bridge to stability is now turning into a fall into the abyss of uncertainty.
When justice takes to streets, whose side is state on
A former student leader was publicly humiliated at Paltan in the capital. He was beaten and labelled a 'traitor'. The nature of his crime remains unclear, but the punishment was immediate—on the streets, in full view of the public.