OF MAGIC & MADNESS
Opinion / BNP faces the weight of history and expectations
For all its pro-reform posturing, BNP has yet to signal a real willingness to lead political reforms, including within itself.
Opinion / The new age demands a re-reading of Bangabandhu
Bangabandhu as a subject of study should be approached with an openness to embrace truths, however unflattering.
The nine lives of a corrupt public servant
Let's delve into the hypothetical lifelines in a public servant’s career that help them indulge in corruption.
Cow running amok in a shopping mall: It’s not a ‘moo’ point
Animals in Bangladesh are losing their homes because people are taking over their spaces.
The only budget I care about is one that reduces my bills
Budget day is turning into our very own Groundhog Day.
Citizen data server? More like a data supermarket
It's frightening to think citizens' private data is being sold through hundreds of social media pages and groups
Why does a six-day holiday feel too good to be true?
This is apparently the longest holiday that journalists have ever gotten in the history of Bangladesh’s newspaper industry.
Who will restrain prices in the month of restraint?
If the government really wants to control or bring down prices during Ramadan and afterwards, it must be willing to go after its 'own people.'
‘Will you be my Valentine?’ and other expensive offers
In the end, love is a personal matter and it should remain so, regardless of how it comes out on February 14 and in the days that follow.
Word of the Election Year: Dummy
Politicians provided a steady supply of obnoxious, potentially title-winning examples
Can BNP survive the pre-election meltdown?
BNP's retreat to the back foot amid mass arrests and convictions was as remarkable as it was rapid.
Voters without choice are just glorified dummies
You’ve already met the dummy candidates, aka independents. Now, meet dummy voters.
Polls schedule is not a cut-off point for dialogue
Without political reconciliations, we're headed for another violent, one-sided election
Who are these nameless, faceless arsonists?
These attacks are at once a political issue, a law enforcement issue, and a human rights issue.
Can bureaucrats be neutral in a win-or-lose-all battle?
Let me put it another way: is a fair election possible even if Awami League “allows” it?
Soft openings, hard politics
As the political landscape heats up in anticipation of the general election, the ruling Awami League seems to be pulling out all the stops
Road safety, transport politics, and a curious policy U-turn
The latest policy rollover on unfit vehicles seems to be the result of our policymakers remembering that they have interests to protect.
A Lunch Date Gone Wrong
The apparent hospitality offered to BNP leaders Gayeshwar Chandra Roy and Amanullah Aman has caused reactions both funny and speculative.