Shakhawat Liton

People in Bihar have voted against politics of arrogance, intolerance and communalism causing a humiliating defeat for the ruling BJP led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, according to Indian media analyses.

By inviting Saarc leaders to his swearing-in ceremony one and a half years ago, Indian PM Narendra Modi had sent a message among neighbours that they would be treated with fairness and respect in his foreign policy.

An effective and meaningful separation of lower judiciary from the executive has not really worked out as expected even after eight years of an official separation of judiciary.

The claim that the brutal militant group IS has carried out the bomb attack at the Huseni Dalan in Old Dhaka on the eve of the Tazia parade early last Saturday does not stand to reason. If one looks at the history of the emergence of the Islamic State or IS as it is better known, and its current operations in some regions in the Mid-east, it does not seem that the militant group was behind the attack.

It has been a long settled principle across the globe that without upholding the independence of the judiciary, no country will be able to strengthen democracy. It is because independent courts are the hallmark of a strong democratic society.

Will the partisan elections to the local government bodies open a window for “nomination business” by the major political parties? Is it going to tighten the parties' grips over their grassroots level leaders?

President Abdul Hamid and Chief Justice SK Sinha, in their recent comments, have really spoken for the people while talking about the abnormal rise of businessmen in politics.

Twenty-four years back, the country switched over to parliamentary democracy from the presidential form of government. Yet, the local government bodies still function like in the presidential form of government.

By shooting the 10-year old boy, Sourav, who went for a walk with his uncle on last Friday morning, ruling Awami League MP Manzurul Islam Liton has made a place for himself in the club of controversial and unruly MPs who have been in discussion for all the wrong reasons.

The tragic death of around 800 Hajj pilgrims in Makkah may or may not have been caused by the Saudi's faulty management but it has brought the simmering hostility between Saudi Arabia and Iran to a boil.

An unprecedented joint visit by the foreign ministers of France and Germany to Dhaka and the topping off ceremony of the Franco-Germany Embassy in the city has made it evident that their bi-lateral relationship has reached a new height.

When he was a High Court judge in 2012, he had accused then Speaker Abdul Hamid, now the President, of committing an offence tantamount to sedition. He accused Hamid for making a comment in the House on a High Court order. He also said the Speaker was completely ignorant of the apex court and the constitution.

The latest High Court verdict scrapping a law that had indemnified all actions including killing in the Operation Clean Heart by joint forces 12 years ago is a welcome boost for people's right to life and right to protection of law.

The government's pay scale for civil servants and teachers runs counter to ruling Awami League electoral manifesto. In the run up to the last two consecutive general elections, the AL had promised to give separate pay scale for teachers. And in line with the pledges, the prime minister and education minister had also assured teachers on several occasions of a separate pay scale.

It was an “adventure” to Adventure Land!

For Annisul Huq and Sayeed Khokon, two mayors in the capital, a met office forecast that there will be no more heavy downpours in the current rainy season will be more than welcome.

A total of 16 amendments have been brought to our constitution over the past four decades. But it is difficult to find any amendment which was actually aimed at improving the constitution's quality, enhancing people's rights and paving the way for flourishing democracy.

Accompanied by a dozen armed soldiers Major Dalim had stormed into the office of Gen Shafiullah, the then chief of army, in the morning of August 15, 1975.

Being the foreign minister he engaged in a conspiracy to foil Bangladesh's Liberation War in 1971 and wanted to keep Pakistan united. In independent Bangladesh, he joined another conspiracy to overthrow Bangabandhu's government.

Human rights leaders are blaming the long pervasive culture of impunity as one of the major reasons for the gruesome killings of children and bloggers.