A robust democracy never emerges out of broken institutions.
BNP Standing Committee member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury yesterday said people’s 16-year-long fight and sacrifices were to restore democracy, not to hand over the country to any “superhuman.”
The days of promising reform only to abandon it after securing power must come to an end.
Their lack of internal democracy casts doubt on the future of state reform drive
Beyond laws, society must cultivate both physical and digital spaces for inclusive, civil discourse among its citizens.
Badiul Alam Majumdar, one of the five writ petitioners challenging the 15th amendment, expressed satisfaction with the High Court’s verdict yesterday declaring two articles of the act -- regarding the abolition of the non-partisan caretaker government system -- unconstitutional and nullified.
Return of caretaker system could ensure free and fair elections
The interim government’s stated goal of establishing a liberal democracy may be overly idealistic given Bangladesh’s current social and political landscape.
We may have seen the fall of one fascist regime, but have we truly eradicated fascism itself?
A stable union parishad is crucial for the long-term development of rural communities and the strengthening of democracy.
Another election is in the offing, and even though I want to feel excited again, I simply cannot.
As the country is heading towards an exercise that the incumbent is calling an election, it is imperative that we understand what is in the making.
The BNP failed to reap anything effective from the huge public support that it was able to garner late last year.
Bereft of the basic rights to assemble and express, let alone protest, the people of Bangladesh are currently bearing the brunt of the coercive apparatuses of the state.
Legitimacy is all about inclusion and participation of voters and parties, and how people view the election.
Even though transparent, participatory and competitive elections are a constitutional right, the realities today have vitiated those expectations.
The by-elections in Laxmipur-3 and Brahmanbaria-2 have once again laid bare the grim political reality of Bangladesh, all while the country is just about two months away from its national election.
US Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights Uzra Zeya has reiterated that Washington is keen to see continuation of democracy in Bangladesh
It seems all the opposition forces are becoming active ahead of the national election.
