democracy

Abul Mansur Ahmad’s 46th death anniversary / His lament was the unfulfilled promise of democracy

Following autocracy's fall, debates on the constitution, elections, & democracy intensify, echoing Abul Mansur Ahmad's insights.

Why Bangladesh needs deliberative democracy now

The July Revolution of 2024 marks Bangladesh's shift toward deliberative democracy.

Democracy ends where leadership begins

The Daily Star analysis of 25 political parties

From crisis to change: The right education can sustain the revolution

Standing on the isthmus of change, we must avoid any form of myopia.

You have crushed fascism, now strengthen democracy and press freedom

The Daily Star Editor Mahfuz Anam's appeal to the ‘new generation leaders’

We must build a foundation for genuine democracy

Democracy cannot operate as a simple majority steamroller, as we also saw in the early days of our independence.

International Day for Tolerance / A global wake-up call

The idea of dedicating a day to promote harmony and peaceful coexistence—a day that fosters diversity, justice, and understanding across borders, cultures, and beliefs—seems promising in theory.

World Freedom Day / Freedom is more than the absence of oppression

Dissent in Bangladesh has been met with hostility, with individuals being labelled as traitors or enemies of the state for expressing opposing views.

Opinion / Are we trying to get ‘everything, everywhere, all at once’?

The euphoria of August 5, and the momentous days leading up to it, especially since July 15, are now being overshadowed by a cloud of uncertainty.

October 16, 2024
October 16, 2024

Youth leading the way to good governance in Bangladesh

Young people have been at the centre of a major political transition.

September 24, 2024
September 24, 2024

A victory for democracy that Bangladesh can learn from

Sri Lank's neighbours have to come to terms with the fact that AKD was the democratic choice of the mass people.

September 15, 2024
September 15, 2024

Quest for democracy: Bangladesh at crossroads again

More than half a century after its independence, Bangladesh still finds itself at the crossroads of crafting a state built on durable democratic foundations.

August 25, 2024
August 25, 2024

Reforms needed in political parties and the electoral process in Bangladesh

The citizens of Bangladesh have been victims of a frustratingly underperforming democracy for quite a long time.

August 25, 2024
August 25, 2024

Creation of the new political order: Rebuilding ship in an open and turbulent sea

The past Awami League regime completely undermined the forms of accountability and checks and balances that characterise a liberal and representative democracy.

August 18, 2024
August 18, 2024

For true democracy, we need checks and balances of power

When the constitution and laws of a country of 170 million people allow and enable one individual to have complete control over the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of the government, can that country genuinely be considered democratic?

July 16, 2024
July 16, 2024

The thick line between ‘state’ and ‘government’

If we compare the state to a four-legged chair, the government represents only one leg.

June 22, 2024
June 22, 2024

The spectre of neo-fascism is haunting Europe

If enough people despair of emancipatory politics and accept the withdrawal into buffoonery, the political space for neo-fascism widens.

March 16, 2024
March 16, 2024

Let journalists do their job

Persecution by government officials deeply concerning

March 15, 2024
March 15, 2024

'The US still cares deeply about democracy'

US ambassador Peter Haas reflects on two years in Bangladesh