Tarique calls for struggle to regain 鈥榣ost democracy鈥�
Bangladesh Nationalist Party acting chairman Tarique Rahman has urged people to play a leading role in the struggle to regain the 鈥榣ost democracy and voting rights鈥� in the country...
Tags : DEMOCRACY
Manmohan Singh: technocrat who became India鈥檚 accidental PM
Manmohan Singh鈥檚 father may have believed his bookworm son would one day lead India, but the understated technocrat with the trademark blue turban, who died Thursday at the age of 92, never dreamed it would actually happen.
Electoral Process: From manipulation to transparency
NATIONAL elections play a pivotal role in shaping the political, economic, and social direction of a country, serving as the cornerstone of democracy and the foundation for governance, stability and public accountability. They empower citizens to exercise their right to vote, enabling the collective voice of the populace to determine leadership and...
Odhikar gets Asia Democracy and Human Rights Award
Odhikar, a Bangladeshi human rights group, on Tuesday won the 19th prestigious Asia Democracy and Human Rights Award for its rights advocacy in the South Asian nation...
Reimagining reform: civic engagement
THE July uprising of 2024 marked a pivotal turning point in our nation鈥檚 history, a moment when people collectively voiced their frustrations against systemic inequalities, unresponsive governance, and widespread corruption. The events of that revolutionary monsoon were not just an eruption of anger but a call for meaningful change and societal reform. At its core, the uprising highlighted the power...
Odhikar wins Asia Democracy and Human Rights Award
Bangladesh鈥檚 human rights organisation Odhikar was announced as an awardee of the 2024 Asia Democracy and Human Rights Award on Wednesday, according to a press release by the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy...
Chief adviser Yunus urges US Republican Party leaders to visit Bangladesh
Bangladesh's interim government chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Wednesday urged top Republican Party leaders to visit Bangladesh to witness the Interim Government鈥檚 efforts to restore democracy in the country, says a press release.
Of bayonets, digital shackles and free speech
FREEDOM of speech, that most glorious of ideals, once envisioned as the beating heart of democracy, has devolved into a tragicomedy in many parts of the world. In some nations, it is a grand performance piece 鈥� hailed with great fanfare but existing only as a figment of collective imagination. Others prefer a more Kafkaesque approach...
Voting machines and democracy
THE demand for free, fair and transparent elections has become pronounced. The issue is reflected in a decision of the interim government to form the election commission reforms committee. Tasked with revamping the election commission to enhance its independence, transparency and public trust, the committee work represents a critical step...
Strengthening democracy and democratic governance
BANGLADESH emerged as an independent nation in 1971 with a democratic beginning, but unfortunately it did not have smooth sailing. In the past 50 years, Bangladesh experienced...
Noor Hossain Day today
Noor Hossain Day will be observed today commemorating the sacrifice of the young campaigner for democracy who was gunned down by the police at Zero Point in Dhaka on November 10, 1987.
Interim govt would hold election at appropriate time: BNP
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party on Thursday hoped that the interim government would be able to hold the next general election at an appropriate time.
Democracy Int鈥檒 holds 鈥楢mio Jitte Chai鈥�
The Democracy International has recently organised an event titled Amio Jitte Chai featuring discussion and theatrical performance at the Rajshahi College auditorium.聽
Freedom, democracy absent during AL regime: discussion
Speakers, including journalists, writers and academics said on Saturday that people鈥檚 freedom and democratic practice in the country were absent during 15 years of authoritarian rule of the Awami League...
JP to continue scheduled activities, GM Quader says
Jatiya Party chairman GM Quader on Friday said that the country was in a state of crisis, affirming that his party would continue its protests and scheduled activities despite the recent attack.
Fair election must to keep democracy continue: Tarique
Acting chairman of Bangladesh Nationalist Party Tarique Rahman on Thursday underscored the need for holding fair elections for continuation of democracy...
Junta frees ally of Suu Kyi on health grounds
A close ally of detained Myanmar democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi was granted amnesty by junta authorities as he battles cancer, a party source said on Sunday...
Democracy impossible without addressing inequalities: discussion
Former Jahangirnagar University professor Anu Muhammad said on Friday evening that democratic governance would not be possible unless four types of inequalities namely class, ethnic, religious, and...
Path to restore democracy
I believe that the selection of Professor Ali Riaz as head of the Constitution Reform Commission was an excellent decision. I support Professor Riaz鈥檚 proposal to rewrite the constitution rather than continuing with amendments...
Roadmap for electoral reforms
THE cornerstone of an inclusive democracy lies in a free and fair electoral system. Electoral reform, therefore, is one of the interim government鈥檚 highest priorities. While restructuring the Election Commission is crucial, shifting public perception about the significance of voting is equally important. The interim government can swiftly restructure the...
Balancing inclusivity and stability in democracy
THE democratic aspirations that Bangladeshis have nurtured, despite the former Sheikh Hasina-led government鈥檚 decade-long stringent suppression of dissent, have paved the way for a fresh political discourse through the July uprising. Riding the wave of renewed hope, the demand for a new political landscape has become stronger than ever...
Fragile unity and challenges ahead
REVOLUTIONS or mass uprisings have been both triumphs and tragedies in history鈥檚 archives, marked by the inevitable complexities that follow the overthrow of entrenched regimes. The July uprising, which brought down the Awami League鈥檚 16-year autocratic rule, is no exception. This student-led uprising was hailed as a watershed moment for democracy in Bangladesh,...
Disputed elections becoming a global phenomenon: report
Voter turnout is diminishing around the world and the results of elections are increasingly questioned, a report on the state of democracy said on Tuesday.
Long way to go building strong democracy: Tarique
Bangladesh Nationalist Party acting chairman Tarique Rahman on Saturday said that Bangladesh still had a long way to go to build a robust and strong democracy as weaknesses of...
Renaissance for new awakening and progress
IN THE 1960s East Bengal, now Bangladesh, witnessed a huge uprising in political and cultural awareness. This period is generally referred to as a political and cultural renaissance, driven by a deep desire for autonomy, democracy, the freedom of speech, secularism and justice. This collective awakening among the people of East Bengal laid the foundation for a non-sectarian, progressive society, which culminated in the 1969 mass uprising and played an important role in Bangladesh鈥檚 independence in 1971...
Mobocracy: always a threat to democracy
IN THE last month, Bangladesh has experienced a disturbing surge in violent incidents involving large groups acting outside the law. Recently, in less than a week, a teenage Hindu boy in Khulna was brutally assaulted and beaten by a mob in front of local police after being accused of defaming Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) on social media. Concurrently...
Democracy, responsible journalism and the role of newspapers
IN THE annals of human civilisation, democracy stands as a magnificent garden, a living, breathing ecosystem that requires constant care and attention. This garden, with its countless plants representing the diverse voices and ideals of society, is not a barren, untamed wilderness but a carefully cultivated space where the fruits of freedom and justice can flourish...
BNP announces programmes
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party on Wednesday called a two-day programme to pay homage to those who were killed in the movements against authoritarian rule over the past 17 years and to mark International Democracy Day...
Gatekeeper of democracy
LORD Acton famously said, 鈥楶ower tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.鈥� When citizens fail to hold their government accountable, a regime can accumulate unchecked power, weakening even the strongest checks and balances and leading to autocracy. John Stuart Mill鈥檚 reminder that 鈥楾he price of liberty is eternal vigilance鈥� highlights...
Effective parliament and mutually exclusive executive authority
The constitution contains a controversial clause that restricts members of parliament elected through a political party from exercising their voting rights in parliament according to their own will if it contradicts the party鈥檚 decision. Article 70 of the constitution empowers political parties to oblige their members of parliament to comply with party decisions...