Sheikh Hasina
Bangladesh questioned due to a distrustful political culture
Even before the end of the DUCSU election, the JUCSU election began and is now nearing its end; but the vote counting has been going on for three days; yet election no longer means transparency or trust, but rather a stage shrouded in rumours, counter-rumours and the shadow of party politics. Meanwhile, reports are heard that although several parties including the BNP took part in the election, they later rejected it. The counting continues; but endless questions remain about what the final result will be.
Why is Nepal’s political change being compared with Bangladesh
Nepal lies at the foothills of the Himalayas. Its size is similar to Bangladesh, with a population of just over 30 million. Though often referred to as a small country, in reality it cannot be called small. Yet the term is used due to the size of its economy. It is an economy mainly dependent on agriculture, remittances and tourism. However, Nepal’s geopolitical position is both significant and highly sensitive. On its two sides are China and India, the world’s most populous and major military powers. Nepal’s relationship with India has always been bittersweet. With each change of power in Nepal, its ties with India have also shifted. Relations with China, too, have fluctuated.
DUCSU Election: Hopes, obstacles, possibilities on path of democracy
If democracy is to be properly evaluated, its practice should begin in educational institutions. Especially at Dhaka University, which is called the centre of the country’s political history, the free election of student organisations is the first laboratory of democratic practice. Many had thought that this year’s DUCSU election could be a new beginning. But the reality shows that obstacles have arisen here too.
Why indecent slogans in politics
To hit back at the opponent, political slogans have always included a few unpleasant words. For instance, the well-known chant: “Beat so-and-so with shoes, beat in rhythm.” But now, in Bangladesh, some political slogans have emerged that are extremely distasteful and vulgar. Respectable people cover their ears when they hear them. In many recent OTT films, vulgar words are muted with a “toot toot” sound. The audience understands from the “toot toot” that a swear word has been uttered. Recently, television news has also been seen using “toot toot” in place of political slogans. Such vulgar slogans are now being used that they can neither be spoken nor written.
Is there still more to come after Bibhuranjan Sarkar’s tragic departure
Journalist and columnist Bibhuranjan Sarkar went missing on Thursday (21 August). The following day, police recovered his body from the Meghna River at Gazaria in Munshiganj. I first learnt of his disappearance from writer Linu Haque’s Facebook post, and shortly afterwards saw the news of his disappearance spread across Facebook. I called his classmate at Dhaka University and political fellow traveller Jiban Krishna Saha, but he could not say where Bibhuranjan Sarkar’s residence was. I realised then that society had long ceased to have any use for Bibhuranjan Sarkar.
Death of Bibhuranjan Sarkar and a documentary epitaph
Senior journalist and columnist Bibhoranjan Sarkar has left behind a message of grief for honest journalists in Bangladesh, which may be called his self-written epitaph. That epitaph has become a grim document of the miserable state of professional journalism in Bangladesh.
Paying heed to old transport syndicate’s unjust demands would be inappropriate
The cradle of the July uprising was the 2018 road safety movement. This movement began across the capital when two school students were killed after being run over by a bus. At that time, two buses of the Jabal-e-Noor Paribahan (currently Poristhan Paribahan) were in a deadly race, and while competing, one bus mounted the pavement in the Staff Road area of Airport Road, killing two students and injuring several others. After this tragic accident, in reply to a query of a journalist, Shahjahan Khan, the then Shipping Minister and a key figure in the transport sector, said with a smile, “An accident is an accident.” It was because of Minister Shahjahan Khan’s indifference towards the students’ deaths in the accident that the students became enraged. The movement spread to almost every educational institution in the capital.
Murder cases, mob violence now new weapons for journalist persecution
George Orwell, the author of the world-renowned dystopian novel 1984, which deals with surveillance, fictional injustice, and authoritarianism, also expressed timeless views on journalism. One of them is: “Journalism is printing what someone else does not want printed: everything else is public relations.” And truly so—the journalist’s job is to expose suppressed information, matters of public importance, and secret activities. The aim of journalism is to speak out against injustice, inconsistencies, and corruption. A journalist's mission is to act as an observer and protect people from being deceived and deprived. But questioning those in power, high-ranking officials, members of various forces, and people involved in crimes is a difficult task.
Clear the path for reform and economic progress
“Reform, reform, reform”—Dr Muhammad Yunus, the Chief Adviser of the caretaker government, repeated the word three times to emphasise the importance of reform. He called upon everyone to jump into reform initiatives and repeatedly urged for more and more discussion and review on the subject. Driven by a strong desire for reform, he quickly formed several reform commissions. These commissions submitted their reports, and opinions from various political parties have been taken—and are still being taken—regarding several of the commissions’ recommendations. Based on these opinions, the “July Charter” will be formulated, which will include the signatures of political parties. But all these activities are unrealistic and dreams that cannot be implemented. The ideological difference between the left and the right is as vast as the distance between the North Pole and the South Pole. Therefore, the reforms that come through the “July Charter” will be very limited and will not be able to prevent the emergence of an autocratic government.
Why did a shooting situation arise in Gopalganj?
Even if all 63 districts of Bangladesh become devoid of the Awami League, there is still ample reason to believe that the party will continue to exist—and remain in a strong position—in Gopalganj, the birthplace of Bangabandhu and the location of his mausoleum. That is why Gopalganj is referred to as the "fortress" of the Awami League. The violence that erupted in that fortress or stronghold centring the programme of the National Citizen Party (NCP) has raised several questions. Some are even calculating who gained or lost from this incident. However, regardless of who may have benefited politically, no one suffered more loss than the parents, relatives, and friends of those who were killed. And those who lost their lives are now beyond all worldly gains and losses.