As dialogue resumes tomorrow, the path to consensus appears far from smooth
The National Citizen Party is set to unveil its charter this week, prioritising democracy within the organisation and presenting a vision for a “New Bangladesh” built on youth-driven decentralised governance.
Last year, 17-year-old Nur Mostofa, like many of his peers, took to the streets, standing shoulder to shoulder with the masses to protest the killings of hundreds at the hands of law enforcers during the July uprising and to demand the resignation of then-prime minister Sheikh Hasina.
Ashiqur Rahman Hridoy, 16, was hit with 35 shotgun pellets -- three of them lodged in his head -- during a protest against the state crackdown on quota reform demonstrators in Dhaka’s Jatrabari on July 18.
The Daily Star found evidence of systematic government efforts to cover up medical records and bodies of the July uprising victims so they can never be found again.
When we first started visiting Dhaka Medical College Hospital in January for this story, there were seven protest-related unclaimed bodies freezing in its mortuaries.
On the afternoon of August 5, 2024, word spread across the country that Sheikh Hasina fled to India. In Gazipur, like elsewhere in the country, thousands poured into the streets in celebration. But there was also anger.
A bittersweet farewell unfolded at Suhrawardy Udyan and Bangla Academy yesterday as the curtains fell on the 2024 Amar Ekushey Boi Mela. Hundreds of bookworms thronged the fairgrounds, a sight that has become synonymous with the month of February in Dhaka.
From the untimely blare of loudspeakers to election camps mushrooming everywhere and the cityscape being marred by posters on every available surface, needless to say, electioneering is going on in full swing in the capital.
If one visits TSC, Dhaka University now, they will encounter a little red and white banner cheerfully wishing people a Merry Christmas beside the Shantir Paira sculpture. However, what catches the eye even more is the message written in bold and big letters alongside it: "GO VOTE"
Some of them are rickshaw-pullers, some ply auto-rickshaws on Dhaka roads while others are shopkeepers, house-helps, bus drivers, private employees, and so on
Rows of buses standing idle at terminals, images of torched vehicles and reports of transport workers being burnt alive inside vehicles -- these are some of the events that have recently dominated the news, during the initial two phases of the BNP-Jamaat enforced blockade and hartal.
A group of day labourers was waiting for employers to come and hire them to work on construction sites at Mirpur-11 yesterday morning.
Nasima Begum, a 35-year-old mother of four, is a regular customer of Fakinni Bazar (a market for ultra poor), located along the rail tracks under Bijoy Sarani-Tejgaon Flyover.
What should have been a routine day for a campus correspondent turned into a harrowing ordeal for Mohammad Iqbal Monwar.
Two more student gangs -- “Nishachor” and “Bhai Brothers” -- had been carrying out criminal activities on Dhaka University campus for several years, say students.
A married couple left their Nazimuddin Road residence to visit their uncle’s home in Dhaka University area. When they arrived at DU’s Shaheed Minar premises, a group of 10 to 12 men, led by DU BCL activists, intercepted them, mercilessly beat them, stole Tk 22,000 and their ATM card, and left.
