Bangladesh politics

AL ban debate: BNP sniffs ploy to delay the polls

Party leaders argue these are "attempts to incite tensions between the military and the public, creating political unrest"

Towards a common minimum reform programme

A CMRP agreed upon by the maximum number of political parties is necessary.

A reminder of the nearly unwinnable hand Yunus was dealt

A sentiment has taken root in Bangladesh: Yunus is an honest man with good intentions.

2024: The year that was / Nation sees tectonic shifts in politics

Seismic. That is perhaps the one word close enough to describe Bangladesh’s transformation in 2024.

Opinion / Uprising, unity, and uncertainty: Power, protest, and politics in 2024

To speak of politics in 2024 is also to recall the entire history of political culture that has unfolded in Bangladesh since 1972.

Bangladesh needs to strengthen its political leadership

Effective political leadership is essential for achieving democratic governance.

BNP’s pledge for reforms sounds good

We would like to see the party match its words with actions

Can we exorcise Sisyphus from our political culture?

Bangladesh's political culture is riddled with unscrupulous blame games.

There should be reconciliation among parties

German Ambassador to Bangladesh Achim Tröster has advocated for reconciliation between and within the political parties for a peaceful transition to democracy.

July 24, 2023
July 24, 2023

Political tensions near a boiling point?

The two instances provide somewhat of an indication as to how the Election Commission will be handling voting in the 300 constituencies.

July 19, 2023
July 19, 2023

What message emanates from the attack on Hero Alom?

Hero Alom may have been ostracised by our political and cultural elites, but he has a huge fan base among the poor and working class.

July 14, 2023
July 14, 2023

Column by Mahfuz Anam: Need for a change in our political culture

BNP to some extent and AL to a far greater extent have changed Bangladesh. Can’t we expect them to change themselves, even a bit?

July 13, 2023
July 13, 2023

A Detriment to Democracy

The rigid positions of AL-BNP will only lengthen the political deadlock

July 2, 2023
July 2, 2023

A hazy pre-election atmosphere

Eid has always been a singular occasion for mass campaigns. Aspiring electoral candidates seize the opportunity to meet their voters in their constituencies amid festivities

June 18, 2023
June 18, 2023

An ex-MP’s abuse of power

How did he get away with it for so long?

June 17, 2023
June 17, 2023

How to explain Jamaat’s return to the political scene?

Jamaat-e-Islami, one of the largest fundamentalist parties in Bangladesh, was recently allowed to hold a public meeting in Dhaka after almost a decade.

June 11, 2023
June 11, 2023

Shouldn’t the EC be saying how it will make elections free and fair?

There’s no reason to believe the current EC has either the will or the ability to act independently

June 7, 2023
June 7, 2023

A step backward for democracy

Proposed curbing of EC’s power sends a wrong message at the wrong time

May 29, 2023
May 29, 2023

Time for AL to do some soul-searching

Infighting within the party has grown over the years, leading to the Awami League becoming its own rival at the grassroots level.