America
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.
Science, war, geopolitics and tale of a suicidal axe
Do not awaken the sleeping giant inside the lamp; instead of rewarding you, it might kill you! No, such a statement is not found in the tales of Alif Laila. But the sleeping giant that humanity has awakened makes the genie in the lamp seem insignificant.
No place for independent thinking in creativity environment of Bangladesh
When thinking about the intellectual world and arts-literature of Bangladesh, many thoughts arise that I wish to write and express; but I cannot. Looking at the surrounding scenes, writing on this subject feels very difficult. It seems as if the very active people are moving through a kind of intense frenzy, almost everyone else is indifferent. No one wants to look toward anything exceptional. Is this environment conducive to creation? Where is the all-encompassing creation now in the world of thought and literature in Bangladesh?
Pete Seeger: A protester against war
Amid the global wars of the 20th century, one of the most vocal voices against them was American folk music legend Pete Seeger. A passionate singer devoted to folk music, Pete was a tireless advocate for peace.
May the human dignity of women in Bangladesh be established
Today, 8th March, 2025, is International Women's Day. The theme for this year's observance is "Rights, Equality, Empowerment - Development of Women and Girls." If we look at the theme, an inevitable question arises: What is the position of women in Bangladesh today? What rights do they have? How far have we come in establishing gender equality in society? What progress has been made in empowering women? And what role are we playing in the development of girls in society and the state
Every MP wants to become a Union Parishad chairman
Dr Ainun Nishat, Emeritus Professor, is a water resources and climate change expert and a former Vice-Chancellor of BRAC University. He has worked on various research related to Bangladesh’s water resource management and climate change, and his books have been well-received both domestically and internationally. He has also presented numerous research papers at various conferences. Recently, he spoke with Views Bangladesh about the interim government's reform commission, environmental pollution in Dhaka, environmental and ecological issues, and river problems. The first part of his interview is being published today. The interview was conducted by Views Bangladesh’s Associate Editor, Girish Goiric.
Ask yourself once, please
Vandalism in Bangladeshi politics is nothing new. Since the 1990s, we have repeatedly witnessed destruction in various movements, demands, strikes, blockades, and protests. Over the past three decades, we have even seen fires set to moving passenger buses and trains, causing casualties. Yet, we have failed to establish a political culture free from such destruction.
What will Trump’s policy be on Bangladeshi immigrants?
Donald Trump was sworn in as the 47th President of the United States for a second term on January 20, with a stern stance against undocumented immigrants. In his inaugural speech, he declared, “America’s golden era begins today,” and emphasized his “America First” policy, vowing to restore sovereignty and security. He proclaimed, “We will become the envy of every nation. No one will exploit us anymore. Today marks the end of America’s decline. God has kept me alive to make America great again.”
Donald Trump promises 'new golden age'
President Donald Trump declared Monday that the "golden age of America begins right now" and vowed that the nation's challenges would be "annihilated" by his MAGA movement in a bare-knuckled inaugural address that echoed the themes and grievances of his trademark rally speeches.
Economic tensions to intensify worldwide
It is natural for people to be curious about what may happen in the world economy and trade in the coming year. Particularly, with Donald Trump being re-elected as the President of the United States, there is speculation about whether the situation will worsen. The question being raised is whether Trump will launch a full-scale trade war. According to a report by the Financial Times, there is a possibility of a full-scale trade war, but it is not guaranteed. The FT refers to a full-scale trade war as a scenario where, by the end of the year, the United States will impose at least a 10 per cent tariff on all imported goods. Trump has threatened to impose up to a 25 per cent tariff on goods from Canada and Mexico, excluding China. These two countries account for 30 per cent of US imports. They, too, will continue to exert pressure on Trump in various ways. However, FT suggests that due to the additional tariffs, Trump is likely to continue the tariff battle. Hence, they do not believe that these tariffs will be withdrawn by the end of the year.