quota reform 2024
57 Bangladeshis convicted in UAE granted pardon
Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus disclosed the development at a meeting with editors today.
POETRY / Survival tactics for “peaceful” protests
Stay in a group, never in alleyways
ESSAY / Rhymes, rebellion, and revolution
Movements leave an indelible mark on the psyche of the people, and thus, the culture. As people are pushed to the brink of intolerance through oppressive measures,
POETRY / Magic boys and girls of Bangladesh
Magic boys and girls of Bangladesh, I love you.
POETRY / All hail July
The July wind brought in the scent of new beginnings
#Perspective / Students vs society: Why our kids need more than just grades
I’m not here to take sides, but I want to ask: Why are we so quick to question the students when reports started coming in of some crossing the line?
#Perspective / Non-resident Bangladeshi voices in the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement
Bangladesh has recently witnessed extraordinary times. In July 2024, what began as a student movement demanding a restructuring of the government job quota system escalated into a countrywide mass movement for equality, justice, and democratic freedom.
Opinion / The darkest hour
With his outstretched arms, with his head held high, with his simple yet impenetrable courage Abu Sayed changed everything
#Perspective / Shawarma and solidarity: How Dhaka’s restaurants supported student heroes
Bangladesh’s recent student protests sparked a transformative shift, with youth taking on roles as impromptu traffic controllers in Dhaka, showcasing resilience and unity. Hotels and restaurants, like Beirut in Banani, supported students by providing free meals, symbolizing solidarity. This act of kindness boosted morale and highlighted the power of community support.
We cannot let ourselves become comfortably numb
With our collective inability to pay attention, it is not that unlikely that we will forget this too.
An entity showing serious cracks
Whatever progressive image the ruling party had tried to build for itself has been severely fractured
The (reformed) quota scheme, our state, and the marginalised
History shows how the “woman question”, “indigenous question”, “transgender question”, and “disabled question” get subsumed in the midst of dominant voices
Can we expect some accountability from the government?
Last week’s political violence in Bangladesh was by far the worst I have seen since I first visited and fell in love with this country 15 years ago.
A generation's fight in the shadows of quota
The movement was no longer about quotas; it was about justice.
The shifting political field and the price of permanent war
Is it not easier to defeat your enemies in parliament than to be permanently on the warpath against some shapeshifting enemy?
Uncertainty looms over multiplex reopening amid ongoing unrest
Due to the ongoing unrest over the quota reform movement, the country's cinemas are facing significant difficulties. Even five weeks into Eid, last week's audience interest in movies was noticeable. Weekend crowds were also evident. Those involved in the film industry were hopeful about the future. However, the sudden instability in the country has concerned cinema hall authorities. Although some single-screen cinemas have reopened today, the audience turnout is not the same as before. The multiplexes, however, remain uncertain about their reopening.
Witnessing the quota reform protests as a high school student
From blockades to rallies, protestors have expressed their dissatisfaction with the existing quota system in many ways. Among the masses that attended the rallies in the last few days, a significant portion consisted of students from various high schools.
The government should take responsibility for its mistakes
The government wasted time while the violence continued.
Bring those who ordered the excessive use of force to account
It is critical that there should be proper accounting for who authorised this kind of use of force, which has been excessive and disproportionate