DEMOCRACY is not a one-time achievement secured through the ballot box; it is an ongoing process of institutional development, civic engagement and the constant renegotiation of power and accountability. In Bangladesh, the democratic journey has been both inspiring and turbulent. While the country has made notable strides in economic development and social...
WHILE the youth leaders of the victorious July uprising against the autocratic regime of Awami League, a year ago, announced that the spirit of their struggle was to establish a democratic polity and, that too, in the light of Bangladesh鈥檚 historic promise to establish equality, human dignity and social justice, the Jamaat-e-Islami and its political allies at a huge gathering on July...
Kenya marked its fight for democracy on Monday, with police blocking main roads in Nairobi ahead of potential protests, after last month鈥檚 demonstrations descended into violent clashes...
Bangladesh Nationalist Party chair Begum Khaleda Zia stressed the urgency of acting on the opportunity created by the July-August mass uprising to institutionalise democracy, while BNP acting chair Tarique Rahman underscored the need to seize this chance to build a democratic Bangladesh...
IN THE soft twilight of a battered republic, I stand 鈥� a retired navy man 鈥� sifting through the debris of what once passed for democracy. I am no politician. Duty and discipline kept me apart from the fevered pitch of slogans and street battles. Yet, I have always watched. As a citizen, as a soldier of the soil, as a son of this broken dream...
BACK in 2008 when the monarchy was overthrown in Nepal, a friend there excitedly exclaimed, 鈥楴ow we will have democracy!鈥� I tried to warn him that democracy does not just happen overnight; that it requires a lot of work and nurturing and then a lot more work...
DEMOCRACY is not merely a system of governance 鈥� it is the heartbeat of a free society, the framework upon which freedom of expression, individual rights and public participation are built. At its core, democracy thrives not in institutions alone, but in the active participation of its people 鈥� especially the youth. With their energy, idealism and innovation, young people...
The South Asian Institute of Policy and Governance in collaboration with the Private University Teachers鈥� Association of Bangladesh hosted a national seminar titled Democracy in Bangladesh: Crisis and Pathways Forward at the Syndicate Hall of North South University...
Bangladesh Nationalist Party chair Begum Khaleda Zia on Thursday hoped that democracy would soon be restored in Bangladesh, describing the goal as the party鈥檚 pledge on the occasion of Ziaur Rahman鈥檚 martyrdom anniversary.
Failing to satisfy citizens鈥� expectations of democracy leads to serious societal problems, including the intensification of conflict. This is a finding from research (a collaborative research with SOAS, University of London, exploring parliament and public engagement) that my colleagues and I conducted in Bangladesh from 2014 to 2017. In Bangladesh, the 2018 quota...
Stating that the country鈥檚 situation was being made complicated with various conditions and statements, Bangladesh Nationalist Party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Thursday voiced doubt over whether the restoration of democracy...
Eminent citizens have said that democracy and political will can reduce the gap between the police and the force must be free from politicisation鈥�
The amir of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Shafiqur Rahman at a programme in Dhaka on Monday called on the political parties to remain united for the sake of the national interests...
Founder of the Gonoforum and its emeritus president Dr Kamal Hossain on Sunday called on the political parties to cooperate with the interim government headed by Professor Muhammad Yunus for democratic transition of the country...
IN A functioning democracy, the justice system exists to uphold truth, safeguard the innocent and ensure the guilty are held to account. Yet in Bangladesh, the courts are not reliably the sanctuary they were once believed to be. The proliferation of false and fabricated legal cases for control, revenge or coercion 鈥� signals not just institutional dysfunction, but a deeper...
Speakers at a seminar on Saturday emphasised that Bangladesh鈥檚 future prosperity hinges on the strengthening of democratic practices, inclusive governance, and the creation of an equitable and discrimination-free society.
PLURALISM is a fundamental principle of liberal democracy, ensuring that diverse political parties, ideologies, and social groups coexist and actively participate in governance. The constitutional reform commission proposed key amendments to the preamble of the constitution, emphasising values such as equality, social justice, human dignity, and democracy...
EVERY nation faces moments that define its future, crossroads where it must decide whether to cling to a broken past or embrace the promise of transformation. Bangladesh stands at such a crossroad. The July mass uprising was more than a protest; it was a declaration that the people refuse to be silent...
Experts on Thursday urged to establish the Information Commission Bangladesh as an independent constitutional body to ensure its independence in strengthening democracy and accountability...
THE remark of an influential standing committee member of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, Salahuddin Ahmed, about the newly launched National Citizens鈥� Party鈥檚 pronounced objective of establishing a 鈥榮econd republic鈥� in Bangladesh was 鈥榗onspiratorial鈥� and was aimed at prolonging 鈥榰ndemocratic governance鈥� is misleading. Nahid Islam, the convener of the new party...
THE recent meeting of the National Consensus Commission, chaired by chief adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus, represents a crucial step towards political reform in Bangladesh. This meeting convened leaders from six reform commissions alongside approximately 100 representatives from 27 political parties and alliances, including BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, Nagorik Committee...
SIX months ago, Bangladesh witnessed a historic transition 鈥� the fall of the Awami League鈥檚 16-year autocratic rule through the July revolution of 2024 and the formation of an interim government. The expectations from this government were immense, shaped by the sacrifices of the people who braved bullets, repression, and state-sponsored violence to restore...
BANGLADESH鈥橲 media sector has witnessed remarkable growth over the past decades. The expansion in the number of outlets and the diversification of platforms reflect the vibrancy of this sector, which serves as a crucial pillar of democracy and development. However, this growth has not come without challenges. From restrictive legal frameworks...
HASINA鈥橲 return to power in 2008 was not just the return of a leader; it was the return of something darker, more insidious. As the caretaker government retreated quietly, she swiftly reasserted control over every arm of the state, her will bending institutions like pliable clay. The dream of democracy, nurtured with such care in the days following the...
Interim government of Bangladesh needs to work on long-term systemic reforms to address issues like arbitrary arrests, reprisal violence, enforced disappearance and extra-judicial killings and to restore democracy in the country, Human Rights Watch said in a report released on Tuesday...
WHEN a president has failed as miserably as Joe Biden, you have to change the subject. You have to distract the public...
The Constitution Reform Commission has recommended the substitution of 鈥榚quality, human dignity, social justice, pluralism and democracy鈥� for 鈥榥ationalism, socialism, democracy and secularism鈥� as the fundamental principles of the state...
BANGLADESH鈥橲 democracy is at risk as it seeks to reform state agencies before holding a national election to establish a sustainable democracy. While the interim government prioritises agency reforms over the election, law and order and non-violent political environment rapidly deteriorate. A strong political culture is essential for ensuring...
ABRAHAM Lincoln鈥檚 famous words, 鈥楧emocracy is a government of the people, by the people, and for the people,鈥� encapsulate its core principles. Democracy is essential for advancing human rights, fostering peace, and ensuring individual security. It stresses the importance of the rule of law, promoting international peace, security and economic and...
