Politics

Crossfire killings

Of late, an influen-tial ruling party MP has registered his contempt for the latest rounds of extra-judicial killings by the RAB in Bangladesh.
25 August 2015, 18:00 PM

Social media, freedom of expression and the ICT Act

Now the question is, can we say whatever we want on Facebook, Twitter or blogs? Some argue that comments made on social media should be ignored as they are people's very personal expressions. However, social media embody two spheres—a private sphere and a public sphere— simultaneously.
24 August 2015, 18:00 PM

TRASH CITY - from Beirut to Dhaka

Unlike the people of Lebanon who are taking to their rubbish strewn streets to demand the removal of mountains of garbage, we in Bangladesh have resigned ourselves to the fate of living indefinitely in revoltingly filthy conditions.
24 August 2015, 18:00 PM

Rationality of fuel prices

It is now generally agreed by all major stakeholders that gas reserves in the country are finite and depleting.
24 August 2015, 18:00 PM

There is no guideline limiting the actions that they can take: Sara Hossain

We challenged this legislation as being unconstitutional back in 2010. There was a petition that was filed by three of my colleagues who challenged the blocking of Facebook in 2010.
23 August 2015, 18:00 PM

An anxious swivel-point in India-Pak ties

There is some confusion over the precise meaning of “talks” in the context of India and Pakistan. Both sides are committed to what is known as a “composite” dialogue, and this indeed covers all issues, including Kashmir.
23 August 2015, 18:00 PM

Better health for South Asia

Bangladeshi patients travel now more than ever before. And this is not a trend only among the affluent section, but also across middle and even lower middle class patients.
23 August 2015, 18:00 PM

The lawmaker and the lawless

It was indeed refreshing and encouraging to find lawmaker Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh speaking out on extrajudicial killings.
23 August 2015, 18:00 PM

It is a black law and we should rethink it: Fahmidul Haq

Under this law, if anyone complains that his or her image is tarnished by someone's speech or writings, the police will take actions against the latter and it will be a non-bailable offence.
23 August 2015, 18:00 PM

Nuke Deal and the emerging security paradigm for Middle East

Post World War II power balance between Zionist Israel and Arab-Persian Muslim countries, who considered Israel as a “pushed in state” in Middle East, is now being replaced in the post-Iran treaty era by an emerging strategic balance between Iran on one side, and Israel plus Gulf Arab countries on the other side.
21 August 2015, 18:00 PM

Reluctance to shame British

I wish that the Commonwealth War Graves Commission would bring out these Indian sacrifices and not project the two world wars as fought only or largely by white troops. The deaths of Indians are as shocking as the demise of any white soldier. They too have mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers.
21 August 2015, 18:00 PM

Rethinking the roots of Dhaka's traffic congestion

The sooner we realize that Dhaka's traffic congestion is not a problem of transportation engineering alone the better. This is also a problem of culture. It is much more than a result of broken bureaucracy, inadequate infrastructure, and ad-hoc planning.
21 August 2015, 18:00 PM

STORY INSIDE THE STORY

Sometimes, a most obvious question of history remains unasked and unanswered through a lack of pursuit of or targeted research into an overwhelming event.
21 August 2015, 18:00 PM

The blood-stained August 21

In Bangladesh, we need to seriously acknowledge the significance of authoritative approval or condoning of violence because such action is construed as social approval.
20 August 2015, 18:00 PM

The day of infamy

Eleven years ago on August 21, 2004 the nation was rattled, shocked and surprised by an unprecedented grenade attack on a peace rally organised by Bangladesh Awami League in front of their party office at Bangabandhu Avenue.
20 August 2015, 18:00 PM

STOP the madness

The killers are pathetically mixed up in their minds. They're alarmingly oblivious that destroying human life is criminal offense, not God's work. They deserve utmost condemnation and the highest possible punishment.
20 August 2015, 18:00 PM

An unelectable candidate

His ability to get away with aggressiveness, insults, lies, and threats are exactly the attributes that attract his audience to him.
19 August 2015, 18:00 PM

How much democracy does a country need?

The reaction of the AL was predictable and one can safely assert that had it been the BNP in place of AL, the reaction would not have been any different. After all, who would want to have his or her 'powers' clipped?
19 August 2015, 18:00 PM

A Time for Global Citizenship

Bangladesh is one of the most disaster prone countries in the world, and has not only experienced several catastrophes in its young history, but is persistently hit by seasonal disasters.
18 August 2015, 18:00 PM

Defining Terror

One would expect the concept of “terrorism” to convey the same meaning for all in this country. It is not quite the case yet.
18 August 2015, 18:00 PM