Middle East
Inside the US President's working method
There is no doubt that the United States remains the world’s greatest superpower.
Cultural heritage must reflect history
Even after the people of Bangladesh established an independent and sovereign state through a nine-month-long bloody war, they still cannot contemplate the distinct national culture of Bangladesh. Their perspective is backward-looking. A section of Bangladesh’s writers, artists, and politicians exhibit a strong aversion to the culture of India, particularly the culture of West Bengal. These individuals trace the origins of Bangladesh's culture to the medieval Middle Eastern culture, especially the history of the spread of Islam. They do not wish to look beyond the conquest of Lakhnauti and Gour by Bakhtiyar Khalji. They focus on the propagation of Islam in Arabia, the Turkey, Afghan, and Mughal periods of rule in Bengal, and follow the trend of the Wahhabi and Faraji movements, leading to the establishment of the two-nation theory and Pakistan, and then to Bangladesh’s history. They emphasize the two-nation theory. It seems as though, not long ago, in 2004, a group of intellectuals gathered in Paltan Maidan with 17 horses to commemorate the 800th anniversary of Bakhtiyar Khalji's conquest of Lakhnauti, an event that gained significant media attention. A section of Bangladesh’s writers, artists, and intellectuals are devoted to Rabindranath Tagore, while another section is devoted to Kazi Nazrul Islam.
Efforts on to remove us from mainstream cultural practices
Mamunur Rashid is a playwright, actor, and drama director. He is a pioneering figure in the post-independence theatre movement of Bangladesh. He has written and directed numerous plays for television and has acted in numerous television dramas. For his significant contribution to theatre, he was awarded the Ekushey Padak in 2012. Though he received the Bangla Academy Award in 1982, he rejected it as a protest against the autocratic regime. Recently, he talked to Views Bangladesh to discuss the country's political landscape, the disrespect towards artists and intellectuals, and the anti-liberation narratives. The interview was conducted by Views Bangladesh Associate Editor Girish Goiric. This is the first part of a three-part interview.
Was Assad's fall a result of challenging Israel?
Was Assad's fall a result of challenging Israel?
Bashar al-Assad’s Fall: The message to Russia and Iran
Bashar al-Assad’s Fall: The message to Russia and Iran
Accountability and transparency are key to good governance
The people of Bangladesh sought inclusive participation in development activities. Our people fought for a fair, inclusive, and effective democracy, for which the new generation sacrificed their lives. Initially, the student and youth movements were primarily anti-discrimination movements, but over time, they evolved into a mass movement, as noted by Dr. Muhammad Yunus. According to him, this mass movement united the general public, who were deprived of political rights and the benefits of development. It was from a deep belief in liberalism, pluralism, and secularism that the state of Bangladesh emerged. The values that our people embraced in the 1971 Liberation War were revived and seen in a new light by our student community many years later. Through their indomitable determination and resolve, the student community freed us from an authoritarian and undemocratic regime.
Why are the international conventions silent on genocide?
There is a long history of setting rules in human conflicts. However, before the modern era, no power had significant control over all countries, nor was there an alliance of allied nations to enforce or implement these desired rules. But by the mid-19th century, European countries began signing agreements among themselves, making it mandatory to follow international law. These European nations essentially agreed that based on these treaties, they had the authority to impose obligations on international law enforcement. In the middle of this century, these countries reached an agreement on maritime regulations, which became the first foundation of the laws of war. These laws gradually expanded during the 20th century, and some of them are still in force today. After the two world wars, the humanitarian aspects of these laws drew more attention, particularly in the context of eliminating human catastrophes and genocide.
Why Kamala Harris lost in US election
Why did Kamala Harris lose in the US election? The answer lies in Donald Trump's first speech following his victory. He declared, "I am not going to start wars; I am going to stop the wars." This statement reflects Trump’s intention not to instigate new conflicts but to end existing ones. Overcoming various criticisms and setbacks, Trump’s opening words after securing his second presidential term have brought renewed hope not only to Americans but to people worldwide. Reasonably, it can be said that Americans, frustrated by Joe Biden's war-expansion policies over the past four years, lost faith in the Democratic candidate. Consequently, Kamala Harris's fate was sealed, and the crown of victory passed to Donald Trump. Biden's flawed policies led to clear Republican victories in the popular vote, Senate, and Congress.
Attacks on Iran's oil facilities could trigger global economic shock
On October 1, Iran launched nearly 200 ballistic missiles targeting Israel; according to Israeli statements, almost all missiles, except for one or two, were destroyed in the air. Meanwhile, Iran claims that 90 per cent of their missiles successfully hit their targets. There is some truth to Iran's statement; otherwise, Israel would not have been adding the US's most advanced missile defense system, Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD), to its defenses. Israel's air defense system, Iron Dome, was considered impenetrable against enemy-fired missiles, rockets, or warplanes. In addition to Iron Dome, Israel has long been using the US Patriot missile system, but this was deemed insufficient, leading to the addition of THAAD.
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