Views & Opinion

Untangling the opposition’s baseless assault on Bangladesh’s Election

Within the complex fabric of Bangladesh's political terrain, the aftermath of elections frequently manifests as a contentious arena of competing narratives. Regrettably, a troubling pattern has arisen in which individuals who are unsuccessful in elections seek to undermine the legitimacy of the voting system, both domestically and internationall...

What does the West want in the name of a ‘free and fair election’?

Professor Mizanur Rahman: After the 7 January election, many states such as China, India, and Russia congratulated prime minister Sheikh Hasina for her fourth straight victory. However, the reactions from the West were a bit critical and mostly careful. Therefore, the French newspaper Le Monde called it ‘mixed reactions’. In a stat...

The Sheikh Hasina Era: Transforming Bangladesh's Destiny

Dr Rashid Askari: Sheikh Hasina is poised to become the world's longest-serving female head of the government. She reshuffled her cabinet that marks a significant shift in her attitudes to governance. Her line of work seems to be in keeping with the principles of the party manifesto. Sheikh Hasina started a new era that stands as a transformat...

Call to boycott polls, intimidation, violence: A repeat of 2013-15 style undemocratic exercise by BNP-Jamaat

Dr. Pranab Kumar Panday: In the build-up to Bangladesh’s January 7 national election, the political landscape was fraught with tension. Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), led by its acting chairman Tarique Rahman, mounted a campaign urging voters to boycott the election, in an attempt to disrupt the democratic process. Despite these effo...

Benapole Express tragedy reminiscent of 2013-2014 violence, raises serious concerns about their impact on democratic process

Since October 29, 2023, Bangladesh has witnessed an alarming surge in deliberate arson attacks on public transportation, a disturbing trend initiated during the Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s (BNP) campaign of hartals and blockades. These acts, vehemently opposing the 12th parliamentary election, echo the tactics used prior to the 2014 election,...