Views & Opinion

Sheikh Hasina's homecoming and resurrection of democracy

Sheikh Wali Asif: Bangladesh's political discourse, 17 May 1981, is popularly known as "Hasina's homecoming day". The homecoming of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was not only the individual return of Bangabandhu's daughter but also the return of democracy and the spirit of the liberation that had been halted after the brutal killing of the fathe...

17 May Homecoming Day: Sheikh Hasina Last destination of the people

Hiren Pandit: May 17 is the 41st Homecoming Day of Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. On this day in 1981, after six years in exile, she returned to the country. After the brutal assassination of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his family members on 15 August 1975, they could not return t...

Revisiting the BNP-Jamaat era: When power cuts were normal

Tonmoy Ahmed: A media report published in 2005 by one of the leading dailies serves as a grim reminder of how the BNP-Jamaat-e-Islami government pushed the country’s power sector to an unprecedented low. Titled – “Three records of failures in the power sector” – the report laid bare the sordid tale of this sector ...

Misplaced comparison between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka

Pranab Kumar Pandey: A rich mix of opposition politicians, members of the civil society and unabashed Islamist radicals — has taken heart at the huge economic crisis that is bedevilling Sri Lanka. I call them the Doomsday Brigade of Bangladesh as they seem to be praying for divine intervention for such a crisis to fall on Bangladesh becau...

Bangladesh and Sri Lanka economies are not simply comparable

Agriculture, remittances, and export (including of RMGs) have been the main pillars of Bangladesh's economy. Despite some recent pressure on Bangladesh Taka arising from the growing trade deficit, Bangladesh has managed its external economy well as reflected in rising foreign exchange reserves now exceeding 45 billion US dollars. The Taka to USD...