BNP-Jamaat
UNGA, egg throwing, and few questions from conscious citizens
Every September, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) meets in New York. Heads of state and government from almost every country gather there. They present their country’s position, challenges and priorities, seek international support, and take part in various meetings. For Bangladesh too, this visit has never been an exception. Since independence, almost every government has given special importance to the UNGA trip and highlighted it heavily.
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.
Jamaat had honeymoon period with both Awami League and BNP
Writer and researcher Mohiuddin Ahmed is at the same time a historian and a valiant freedom fighter. Among those who have written, analysed and researched most on the political context of post-independence Bangladesh, he is one. He is the only political writer in Bangladesh who wrote a book on the 1973 election titled “The Election of ’73”. He has also written “Red Terror: Siraj Sikder and Proletariat Politics”, “Anti-hero Sirajul Alam Khan”, “Awami League BNP: Which Way”, “The Rise and Fall of Jasad: Politics of a Turbulent Time” and many other works. He continues to write on contemporary politics.
Why unity of political parties only in words, not in action
In the politics of our country, full unity is still absent. On many important political issues, enough conflict among political parties is becoming visible. Besides, political unrest is also increasing significantly. It is not unusual for ordinary people to be worried about these matters. Naturally, the subject of elections has become everyone’s main expectation. Yet, disunity remains among political parties over the method of elections. There is even considerable doubt as to whether political parties are properly reaching the people or even trying to do so. Yet, in a democratic state, the main function is a change of government through elections. According to the constitution, elections are held in Bangladesh with the objective of changing government. Of course, at times this continuity has been disrupted in the context of the country’s political situation and conflicts among political parties.
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.
Take early measures to ensure violence-free election
The winds of election have begun to blow. The campus is already heated up over the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) election. A few days ago, Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus announced that the 13th National Parliamentary Election would be held in February next year. Since then, political parties have been rushing to make their final preparations. In line with that, on Thursday (28 August), Election Commission Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed announced the roadmap for the upcoming national election. According to the roadmap, the parliamentary election will be held in the first half of February and the schedule will be announced in the first half of December.
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.
Hillocks will be gobbled up also after stones thru all-party unity
With the fall of the Awami League government on 5 August last year, the looting of stones began and continued relentlessly in mass scale over the past year. Although stories of this looting spread on social and other media, the government and local administration remained in a deep slumber like Kumbhakarna. They only woke up after the looting was over. On 13 August, the joint forces launched an operation to recover the looted white stones and seized 130 stone-laden trucks. According to the Sylhet district commissioner, the confiscated stones will be returned to the areas from where they were looted, and there is also a court order regarding this. Stone is a mineral resource, and therefore its authority lies with the Ministry of Mineral Resources. The power to permit or stop extraction lies with that ministry. However, if stone extraction causes environmental damage, the Ministry of Environment can raise objections.
Truth and falsehood of national election surveys
In the upcoming national election, 12 per cent of people will vote for the BNP. Jamaat will get 10.40 per cent and the National Citizen Party (NCP) will get 2.80 per cent. If the Awami League is able to contest the polls, 7.30 per cent of people will vote for them. Besides, the Jatiya Party will get 0.30 per cent and other Islamic parties 0.70 per cent of the vote. This picture has emerged in a recent survey by the Brac Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD). It reflects the opinions of 5,489 people from different classes and professions in rural and urban areas.
Stones recovered, but why looting couldn’t be prevented
After the white stones of Bholaganj in Sylhet were looted, there was an uproar across the country. Strong criticism began on social media. Surely, this is not only because the state’s property was looted, but also because the country’s beauty was stolen. Countless tourists have visited Bholaganj to see the white stones. Anyone who goes sightseeing in Sylhet almost certainly visits a couple of places, and the white stones are one of them. Those who have previously visited Bholaganj took photos, uploaded them to social media, and wrote about them—now all of that is just a memory! Perhaps people would not be as hurt if their possessions were looted, but memories stolen cause deeper pain. In today’s Bangladesh, everything is being looted—assets, beauty, and memories!