Post-revolution challenges and the new generation’s role in shaping our future
Democracy cannot operate as a simple majority steamroller, as we also saw in the early days of our independence.
The July-August uprising cannot afford to falter in the face of an entrenched opposition within political parties.
The mutilation done to the nation would require more than run of the mill actions or traditional approach.
Isn’t it time for India to come to terms with the reality about its neighbours, particularly about its most strategically located neighbour, Bangladesh?
Reform is not only overdue, but it has also become urgent given the rot that has engulfed the security sector, particularly over the last 15 years of misrule.
Former army chief Moin’s excuse of following the chain of command betrays his puerility at its worst.
The Indian media’s smear campaign began immediately after the hasty departure of Hasina.
One was willing to credit Trump with some degree of sanity when he rescinded the order to retaliate with force against Iran, till he chose to go for new sanctions.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has returned to power with a renewed mandate, with more seats and even more percentage of votes. Apparently, Modi’s policies have gone down well with the public as the margin of win on both the counts of number of seats and percentage of votes received, which rose by nearly 33 percent compared to 2014, shows. So, what does another five years of BJP mean for the internal politics of India and its external relationship with its neighbours and the rest of the world?
It is very apparent that President Trump is blowing hot and cold in the same breath on Iran. While one moment it seems that he has climbed down from his high horse on the Iran issue, the next moment he threatens Iran with dire consequences. His confusing stance indicates an ambiguous mind, his actions not a product of rational process of thought but of a mind pulverised by arrogance and clogged by preconceived notions about international issues, particularly Iran and the Middle East.
Understandably, the local leaders of the BNP are finding themselves in Hamlet's shoes having to decide on the next course of action as regards the five of its party men who created a unique record of getting elected, i.e. to join or not to join the parliament?
The greatest gift that a government can earn for itself is the trust of the general public. And the best way to do so is to be transparent on matters of grave public concern and come clean on any policy failures.
The media has been looked at both with derision and awe for its capacity to influence the public mind and hold the authority to account. It has also been accused of “misinforming” the public and overplaying its role.
It was absorbing to read the very insightful article by an esteemed columnist of this newspaper entitled, “A citizen's expectations from the police.”
There are many reasons that have been offered from time to time and over the ages by a section of the Muslim clergy to keep women ensconced within the four walls of the house, but never has one heard such a comment that girls should not go to school because doing so would make them “disobedient”. This comment was uttered by the head of Hefazat-e-Islam (HI), a person who is known to be well-versed in various aspects of Islam. And that is what makes the statement all the more surprising.
Despite all the shenanigans that had been resorted to, to win the election, we will have a new parliament for another five years.
I had concluded my previous column with the assessment that the Awami League would in no way countenance a situation where the BNP secured the second highest number of seats so that it could not lay claim to being the opposition in the parliament.
