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Opinion/Editorial


Sovereignty of states at stake

THE principle of state sovereignty has long been the bedrock of international relations, guaranteeing nations the right to exercise authority free from external interference. Yet, history has repeatedly shown that this principle is fragile when confronted by sheer military might. The latest example came on September 9, 2025, when Israel conducted a coordinated air attack...

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A wake-up call for democrats

THE win of the right-wing Islami Chhatra Shibir, the student front of the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, in the elections to the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union, the yearly event that took place after a gap of six years on September 9, which were by and large free and fair, is a defeat of the centrist and left student political organisations. This needs to be recognised...

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A deterrent against corruption

IN A viral YouTube clip, a young boy was asked why Bangladesh cannot recover from economic crisis if Sri Lanka, after bankruptcy, managed to rebound. His response was disarmingly sharp: ‘Sri Lanka’s government was corrupt, but its citizens were decent people. That is why the country managed to recover.’ He then added with brutal candour: ‘In Bangladesh, the...

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Recognising women’s silent health crisis

Exhaustion, irregular periods, sudden weight gain and persistent acne — these signs are often dismissed as ‘just part of life.’ For a female student balancing studies and part-time work, or a mother managing a household from dawn to dusk, enduring discomfort becomes routine. Yet what if these symptoms refuse to subside? What if they are not simply stress or fatigue?...

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Spiral of doomscrolling

THERE is a strange kind of comfort in the scroll. One minute you intend only to check the weather, and suddenly 45 minutes have passed. You find yourself knee-deep in a reel about the collapse of democracy, another about a looming recession, one more about an influencer’s petty drama and then a final clip of tragedy from halfway across the globe. You pause, your...

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Challenges of trademark law

TRADEMARK is regarded as the primary method by which the products of one entity are distinguished from those of others. However, in today’s global trade, a trademark serves four purposes. It provides source identification, ensures product authenticity, advertises the product and shapes consumer perception. Trademark law plays a crucial role in protecting an...

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Broken promise of non-cadre jobs

THE Bangladesh Civil Service examination, often dubbed the ‘civilian lottery,’ has for decades been a defining gateway to public service. The three-stage test is known for its unforgiving rigour, shaping the destinies of thousands each year. Successful candidates secure coveted cadre positions, posts carrying prestige, authority and long-term security. For those who...

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Weak oversight fuels surge in motorcycle mishap deaths

AN ALARMING increase in motorcycle accidents and consequent fatalities suggests both lax enforcement of traffic regulations and motorcyclists’ proclivity to disregard them. The photograph that ¶¶Òõ¾«Æ· published on September 9 shows three teenagers, in school uniforms and without helmets, riding a motorcycle in the rain near the Teacher-Student Centre on the...

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Govt should effectively work to ensure silence in silent zones

SILENT zones, or no-horn zones, in the capital of Dhaka have almost never been silent. They are, in fact, noisier than other areas where noise is usually high mostly because of a large number of vehicles honking horns. The interim government, after its installation on August 8, 2024 after the fall of the Awami League’s regime amidst the July uprising, declared the...

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Reform must go beyond parties and elites

THE July uprising stirred a renewed sense of hope that Bangladesh’s damaging political cycle might finally be broken, paving the way for a governance system that genuinely serves its citizens. ‘Reform’ quickly became the national watchword. In response, the interim government formed several commissions to draft proposals on constitutional changes, elections...

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Badruddin Umar — taller than life

I ONCE asked Shahriar Kabir: ‘As children, you were our favourite fiction writer. How did such a creative soul become entangled in such barren, uncreative circles?’...