America
Expatriates struggling to live amid unhealthy political culture
After independence, the people of any country need to learn patriotism, civic responsibility, human duty, self-reliance and the use of conscience. But in Bangladesh we were taught politics. Where all those words are almost absent. And because they are absent, we cannot escape partisan political activities even abroad. Not only us, but our country too is being tarnished. Even while living in highly developed countries such as London and America, our overly patriotic politicians want to preserve or have preserved the unhealthy domestic political culture instead of practising advanced politics. This causes me deep pain. What more can be said about the country’s unhealthy politics. We all have some experience of this sick politics. Therefore, my advice to our over-enthusiastic and patriotic expatriate politicians would be that it is good to engage in politics, but let it be above party politics and in the interest of the country and the nation.
Govt must prove thru action, not words, what election will be like
Chief Adviser of the interim government Professor Muhammad Yunus has said, “The election will be held in the first half of February. It will be a festive election, if we can reach a decision through consensus. This election is not just an ordinary election; it will be the rebirth of the nation.” On 14 September, at the Foreign Service Academy in the capital, during ongoing dialogue with political parties organised by the National Consensus Commission, he once again declared his firm stance on the 13th National Parliamentary Election.
Rise of Korea: Enemy's enemy is an ally
Lee Byung-chul was an individual with natural, innate traits for entrepreneurship. He had a magical aura in dealing with business— he was successful in whatever business he took up. In 1938, when the drums of war were rolling out all around, and Korea was under Japanese rule and at war with China, he started his dream company, Samsung.
Why are Trump’s threats losing effect
In that sense, these agreements are little more than signatures on paper. Put simply, confronting Trump does not mean submission; rather, identifying his weak spots and striking there will bring results. A far more effective strategy is to put maximum pressure on the US economy.
The Unfinished Autobiography is indeed written by Bangabandhu
Abul Kasem Fazlul Haque. Renowned essayist in the Bangla language, social analyst, literary critic and political thinker. He is currently serving as the President of the Bangla Academy. This former professor of the Department of Bangla at Dhaka University spoke to Views Bangladesh on several recent issues. The interview was conducted by Views Bangladesh Editorial Assistant Shahadat Hossain Towhid.
How much responsibility does AI bear for divorce
The world is now facing an unprecedented transformation. Technology, urbanisation, climate change, economic inequality and socio-cultural shifts are altering human lifestyles faster than at any other time in history. This is having a direct impact on our closest social institutions—family and marriage. In Europe and North America, birth rates are falling and the number of marriages is declining. In contrast, in societies such as South Asia, family bonds still exist, but they too are rapidly weakening.
Silicon Valley crisis: Rise of Japan and rivalry with America
America's semiconductor industry, once the pride of Silicon Valley, suddenly found itself in the midst of fierce competition in the 1980s. Japanese companies were surging like an irresistible wave. One silent but important hero in this story was Hewlett-Packard (HP) executive Richard Anderson. He set strict criteria for which memory chips HP would buy. Therefore, the fate of semiconductor vendors depended on his decisions.
Stop the politics of vengeance
Aristotle defined politics as the process of solving problems through discussions among different parties without resorting to violence, for the sake of achieving a noble goal. Through countless conflicts, bloodshed and struggles, human civilisation has managed to establish a fair and beautiful democratic system. The modern European democratic system emerged out of debates and disputes, evolving from the ancient Greek model. Among all the forms of governance in the world today, democracy has proved to be the most reliable. Without a democratic environment, truly nothing else remains.
Beginning of the semiconductor revolution in Taiwan and Asia
Two top executives of the US Texas Instruments Company—Mark Shepherd and Maurice Chang—flew to Taiwan in 1968. Their goal was to find a suitable location for a new factory for chip assembly.
A new Bangladesh through the eyes of an expatriate Bengali
I am a village boy. I grew up walking muddy paths, enduring storms and rain, and studying under the light of a hurricane lamp. A few years in the village school, then at a school in a sub-divisional (now district) town, and later at Dhaka Residential Model School and College (DRMC)—this was the path of my education. From there, I passed HSC and set off for distant Sweden. Back then, I didn’t realise how uncomfortable the simplest questions in life could make someone, and how even speaking the truth could sometimes be seen as a fault. I learnt Bengali in the village—from my mother’s mouth, from the scent of the earth. The accent may not be urban, but it is full of heart. To many, this language might seem ‘broken’, but it is in this broken language that I have been writing for the last 10 years. I know that words require not only grammar but also the essence of the heart. My language is not for paper, but for life.