We have had so many reform commissions, but none on education, reflecting our own sense of priority.
Democracy does not seem to be our focus today. Because if it were, then shouldn’t we have been talking about elections more?
Reform of political parties is of urgent need
Just as the fundamental reforms are necessary for the country, so is an elected government.
Right now, there are two major issues: progress of reforms, and the prospect of election
Bangladesh needs a new political party with youthful energy, spirited patriotism, and genuine love for the poor and downtrodden.
We must renew our pledge to journalistic ethos and commitment to democracy, freedom of expression, freedom of the press, and public service.
Sadly, some very disturbing signs can still be seen that are posing a new set of threats against free press.
If the section of the government dealing with the overall management of the Covid situation continuously flip-flops on its decisions, then doesn’t the image of the government suffer?
Simplistically put, it is a “procedure vs patient” issue—meaning a “bureaucracy vs ultimate beneficiary” tussle. We, of course, need procedures to work within, otherwise systems would collapse.
Expatriate workers are our goose of Aesop’s Fables that lays the golden eggs.
About the just-concluded West Bengal assembly elections, there are three things to celebrate and one to be worried about.
In this column and through our reports, commentaries and editorials, we have repeatedly stressed the need for accountability of all public institutions run by taxpayers’ money. Of them, the accountability of law enforcement agencies is most important.
I remember the first time when, in utter horror, we heard the news of the assassination of Bangabandhu along with his whole family, save the two daughters.
Here we were, sailing quite smoothly after the first wave of the pandemic and congratulating ourselves for having “handled” it well. Even the WHO paid us compliments. But suddenly, within a few weeks, we seem to have gone right back where we started.
Myanmar is our only other neighbour, with India being the overwhelming first. To the credit of our policymakers, we have tried our best to maintain good relations with Myanmar notwithstanding their treatment of Rohingyas, forcing nearly 300,000 of them upon us thirty years ago, in the early nineties.
It was extremely bold as a vision, highly ambitious as a project, without parallel in scope, crucial in terms of fulfilling a need, exemplary in its execution and unprecedented as a private project in which people’s participation was the main driving force.
My generation and others close to it formed the bulk of the Mukti Bahini in 1971. The majority of Dhaka University students of the time were an integral part of it, as it was my distinct privilege.
