Democracy, though globally dominant since the fall of communism, is far from a one-size-fits-all system.
It would be a gross dereliction of duty by our political leaders if they fail to reach a consensus on a reform package.
South Asia was fragmented in 1947 at the macro (regional) level, but even more egregiously so at the micro (nation-state) level.
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.
Bangladesh’s ongoing democratic transformation calls for reforms, a new constitution, and youth leadership.
If we grasp that our expectations were unrealistic, a decline in our expectations of the interim government need not entail a sense of disappointment.
This Victory Day, we must pledge to create a fair and just Bangladesh
It requires a complete overhaul of the systems that allowed corruption, inefficiency, and anti-democratic practices to flourish.
Having analysed the drivers of democratic transitions in the context of Bangladesh, on balance, we may still be on track to beat the odds.
Bangladesh must undergo massive political and constitutional reforms
The problem with parties in Bangladesh is that their activism relies on backward-looking and person-centric politics and revolves around a single leader.
Zonayed Saki, chief coordinator of Ganosamhati Andolon, talks with The Daily Star about the current political situation of the country.
Government must allow opposition to hold events without interruptions
The recent by-polls represent the state of democracy in our country fairly accurately.
It is imperative to bring voters to conversations pertaining to the 2023 general elections.
Political violence has reached an alarming level in Bangladesh
What earned the JCD such a thrashing?
Expressing frustration over the poor voters' presence in many places during the upazila polls, Juktafront Chairman Prof AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury yesterday warned that the voters' apathy might put democracy in grave danger.
In recent times, the socio-political scenes in scores of countries around the world have been turning toxic. A creeping polarisation among political forces is taking hold, accompanied by a culture of demonising the adversaries, use of vitriolic and bareknuckle hate rhetoric.
