Bangladesh democracy

Unchecked power at the top must end

Rebalancing of powers crucial for restoring democracy
14 May 2025, 08:04 AM

Why we need an elected government soon

Interim administrations are meant to be brief custodians, not long-term stewards.
13 May 2025, 05:00 AM

Can democracy and populism coexist?

Democracy, though globally dominant since the fall of communism, is far from a one-size-fits-all system.
9 April 2025, 07:00 AM

How to avoid a summer of political discontent

It would be a gross dereliction of duty by our political leaders if they fail to reach a consensus on a reform package.
8 April 2025, 02:00 AM

On reforming our imported institutions and governance

South Asia was fragmented in 1947 at the macro (regional) level, but even more egregiously so at the micro (nation-state) level.
8 January 2025, 03:00 AM

Can Bangladesh and India transcend South Asia's colonial legacies?

The broader question is whether South Asia can transcend the legacies of colonialism and embrace a model of cooperation that prioritises collective well-being over individual dominance.
3 January 2025, 06:00 AM

New political settlement and the vision of a democratic state

Bangladesh’s ongoing democratic transformation calls for reforms, a new constitution, and youth leadership.
30 December 2024, 10:31 AM

Our expectations of this government should match its competence

If we grasp that our expectations were unrealistic, a decline in our expectations of the interim government need not entail a sense of disappointment.
20 December 2024, 02:00 AM

Time to fulfil the dreams of 1971

This Victory Day, we must pledge to create a fair and just Bangladesh
15 December 2024, 18:30 PM

Bangladesh's governance crisis is beyond superficial solutions

It requires a complete overhaul of the systems that allowed corruption, inefficiency, and anti-democratic practices to flourish.
12 December 2024, 04:00 AM

The urgent path out of Bangladesh’s current fragility

Having analysed the drivers of democratic transitions in the context of Bangladesh, on balance, we may still be on track to beat the odds.
1 September 2024, 03:46 AM

For true democracy, we need checks and balances of power

When the constitution and laws of a country of 170 million people allow and enable one individual to have complete control over the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of the government, can that country genuinely be considered democratic?
18 August 2024, 10:30 AM

We must strengthen our institutions to preserve democracy

Bangladesh must undergo massive political and constitutional reforms
13 August 2024, 04:00 AM

Can the government govern itself?

The problem with parties in Bangladesh is that their activism relies on backward-looking and person-centric politics and revolves around a single leader.
12 August 2024, 02:00 AM

'No political decision should be taken without students’ input'

Zonayed Saki, chief coordinator of Ganosamhati Andolon, talks with The Daily Star about the current political situation of the country.
7 August 2024, 13:40 PM

Attacks on BNP are condemnable

Government must allow opposition to hold events without interruptions
12 February 2023, 21:08 PM

Who killed democracy in Bangladesh?

The recent by-polls represent the state of democracy in our country fairly accurately.
8 February 2023, 18:00 PM

Which path do we want to be on?

It is imperative to bring voters to conversations pertaining to the 2023 general elections.
11 January 2023, 18:53 PM

Sometimes a slap is not just a slap

Political violence has reached an alarming level in Bangladesh
26 December 2022, 13:12 PM

Democracy crushed under BCL’s boots?

What earned the JCD such a thrashing?
31 May 2022, 18:00 PM