Right now, there are two major issues: progress of reforms, and the prospect of election
Bangladesh needs a new political party with youthful energy, spirited patriotism, and genuine love for the poor and downtrodden.
We must renew our pledge to journalistic ethos and commitment to democracy, freedom of expression, freedom of the press, and public service.
Sadly, some very disturbing signs can still be seen that are posing a new set of threats against free press.
We need legal frameworks to prevent their future misuse
Those who place the election above reforms undervalue the vital need for the latter.
Our initial study of the reports of the four commissions indicates that the recommendations are quite substantive.
Whatever the differing stances of various political parties may be, people in general would prefer to exercise their franchise.
Of the 48 current vice-chancellors (VC) in the public universities across Bangladesh, 39 are former office-bearers of some pro-government teachers’ bodies.
What waited for nearly 50 years is now being implemented with super speed.
The question in the title of this column was triggered by a press comment following our president’s dialogue with National Awami Party (NAP) leaders, published on December 27, 2021.
Using plastic is very convenient. But now it is posing a threat to our healthy living.
The mood of the moment is overwhelmingly celebratory. And why not? Not only are we observing 50 years of our independence, but we are doing so with a new sense of pride, accomplishment and, most importantly, confidence—confidence that we can face all the challenges that come our way.
Just as we are making news as a role model of development, we are also attracting global attention as perhaps the only country in the world where school students need to demonstrate on the streets for days on end to demand road safety measures.
Starting from unannounced road blocks forcing commuters into hours of traffic congestion, to making important arterial roads off limits for visiting foreign guests, to cutting off gas and power for maintenance work without prior information, to unreasonable diversion of traffic for megaprojects, to frequent government price hikes of essentials—all are done without an iota of consideration for public convenience, leave alone rights.
At the very start, I say with as much vehemence as I am capable of that a game is a game is a game.
When we refer to our glorious period of journalism, we usually mean the pre-liberation period. Ironically, compared to today, the media was at its most rudimentary stage at that time.
Never on the soil of independent Bangladesh would anyone ever have to suffer because of his or her religion.
