Politics and Bureaucracy
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.
The Election Commission is now the accused
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has filed a case against 24 individuals mentioning position or name alleging of holding an “unjust and farcical” election. The election commissioners involved in holding 2014, 2018, and 2024 national elections,
How much of July mass uprising expectations were fulfilled
The foundation of every political movement and social change in our country’s history has been the establishment of equality and justice.
No progressive force can be found in the country now
In seeking an answer to the question of which path Bangladesh is on, we must examine the clear objective of establishing a powerful, prosperous, and democratic state. Mere protest and resistance against malevolent forces yield no significant benefit; at best, they may only replace one corrupt power with another. Constructive thought and action are necessary. We must break the existing laws, regulations, and structures to establish better ones, not to perpetuate disorder. We need to break down the old to build anew, not just to destroy. The focus now must be on building.
How necessary is reform, and how sustainable can it be?
The word “reform” is short, but its meaning and significance are immense and multifaceted. According to the Oxford and Cambridge dictionaries, it means: “to make an improvement, especially by changing a person's behaviour or the structure of something.”
Why does BNP want elections in December?
Following the fall of the Awami League government on August 5 under the pressure of a mass uprising, an interim government was formed on August 8 under the leadership of Dr. Muhammad Yunus. The BNP (Bangladesh Nationalist Party) is considered a significant stakeholder in this government, as it was one of the political parties consulted during its formation. Moreover, with the ousting of the Awami League, the BNP has emerged as the country's most influential political force. Yet, despite its position, the BNP's relationship with the interim government has increasingly grown distant—particularly over the issue of the roadmap and timing of the national election. This tension became starkly visible on Wednesday, April 16, when the BNP Secretary General, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, made a strongly worded statement during a meeting with the Chief Adviser of the interim government.
Rapes and argument over 'exemplary' punishment
Four youths arrested on charges of gang rape of teenager in Bandarban; rape accused snatched from police in capital's Khilkhet beaten up; mob beat up man, handed him over to police on charges of raping a child in Nawabganj; female journo gang raped overnight while being held in an under-construction building in capital's Pallabi; housewife allegedly raped, videotaped by miscreants in Narsingdi, etc. These are some of the recent news headlines. If you search online, you will find much more news of such incidents that happened in March.
The crisis born out of shrinking of democracy
"Government of the people, by the people, for the people"—this famous definition of democracy was articulated by Abraham Lincoln in his Gettysburg Address on November 19, 1863, in Pennsylvania. This definition is widely recognized. The fundamental principles of democracy can be precisely stated as respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, the conduct of free and fair elections, a pluralistic system of political parties and organizations, separation of powers, and independence of governing institutions.
Administrative depoliticization: A prerequisite for breaking the stagnation
According to modern political science, a state is formed based on four essential elements: independence and sovereignty, a defined territory, population, and government. These components are interrelated, and without any one of them, a modern and complete state cannot exist. Among these, the weakest and only changeable element is the government. The government is not the owner of the country; rather, it is a trustee responsible for running the state on behalf of its people. Governments come and go, but the other three components of the state remain unchanged. Whether a government stays in power or not depends on the will of the people. If citizens become dissatisfied with the government, they can change even the most powerful administration through elections.
Will so-called ‘Tawhidi Janata’ become a curse for interim government?
On the night of Wednesday, March 5, news spread that Dhaka University employee Mostafa Asif Arnab had been arrested for harassing a female student over her attire. In response, a group of people, under the banner of the so-called ‘Tawhidi Janata,’ gathered at Shahbagh police station, causing a commotion—videos of which circulated on social media. They continued their protest until 9:30 AM on Thursday, demanding Arnab’s release.