Politics and Bureaucracy
No progressive force can be found in the country now
In seeking an answer to the question of which path Bangladesh is on, we must examine the clear objective of establishing a powerful, prosperous, and democratic state. Mere protest and resistance against malevolent forces yield no significant benefit; at best, they may only replace one corrupt power with another. Constructive thought and action are necessary. We must break the existing laws, regulations, and structures to establish better ones, not to perpetuate disorder. We need to break down the old to build anew, not just to destroy. The focus now must be on building.
How necessary is reform, and how sustainable can it be?
The word “reform” is short, but its meaning and significance are immense and multifaceted. According to the Oxford and Cambridge dictionaries, it means: “to make an improvement, especially by changing a person's behaviour or the structure of something.”
Why does BNP want elections in December?
Following the fall of the Awami League government on August 5 under the pressure of a mass uprising, an interim government was formed on August 8 under the leadership of Dr. Muhammad Yunus. The BNP (Bangladesh Nationalist Party) is considered a significant stakeholder in this government, as it was one of the political parties consulted during its formation. Moreover, with the ousting of the Awami League, the BNP has emerged as the country's most influential political force. Yet, despite its position, the BNP's relationship with the interim government has increasingly grown distant—particularly over the issue of the roadmap and timing of the national election. This tension became starkly visible on Wednesday, April 16, when the BNP Secretary General, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, made a strongly worded statement during a meeting with the Chief Adviser of the interim government.
Rapes and argument over 'exemplary' punishment
Four youths arrested on charges of gang rape of teenager in Bandarban; rape accused snatched from police in capital's Khilkhet beaten up; mob beat up man, handed him over to police on charges of raping a child in Nawabganj; female journo gang raped overnight while being held in an under-construction building in capital's Pallabi; housewife allegedly raped, videotaped by miscreants in Narsingdi, etc. These are some of the recent news headlines. If you search online, you will find much more news of such incidents that happened in March.
The crisis born out of shrinking of democracy
"Government of the people, by the people, for the people"—this famous definition of democracy was articulated by Abraham Lincoln in his Gettysburg Address on November 19, 1863, in Pennsylvania. This definition is widely recognized. The fundamental principles of democracy can be precisely stated as respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, the conduct of free and fair elections, a pluralistic system of political parties and organizations, separation of powers, and independence of governing institutions.
Administrative depoliticization: A prerequisite for breaking the stagnation
According to modern political science, a state is formed based on four essential elements: independence and sovereignty, a defined territory, population, and government. These components are interrelated, and without any one of them, a modern and complete state cannot exist. Among these, the weakest and only changeable element is the government. The government is not the owner of the country; rather, it is a trustee responsible for running the state on behalf of its people. Governments come and go, but the other three components of the state remain unchanged. Whether a government stays in power or not depends on the will of the people. If citizens become dissatisfied with the government, they can change even the most powerful administration through elections.
Will so-called ‘Tawhidi Janata’ become a curse for interim government?
On the night of Wednesday, March 5, news spread that Dhaka University employee Mostafa Asif Arnab had been arrested for harassing a female student over her attire. In response, a group of people, under the banner of the so-called ‘Tawhidi Janata,’ gathered at Shahbagh police station, causing a commotion—videos of which circulated on social media. They continued their protest until 9:30 AM on Thursday, demanding Arnab’s release.
The state of political activities
On March 3rd, around 10 PM, two members or supporters of Jamaat-e-Islami, Nizam Uddin and Abu Saleh, were beaten to death in the Sonkhola area of Eochia Union, Satkania Upazila, Chattogram, after being declared 'robbers' via the mosque's loudspeaker. It is believed that they had a weapon, which is suspected to be a looted weapon from a police station after the fall of the Awami League government. The weapons were not limited to just one; the fugitives, who escaped, also had weapons, and five villagers were injured due to random gunfire.
Women's position today is the result of historical continuity
Now, the patriarchal attitude has entered into the psyche of many women. Even though our two women have been prime ministers more than once, the women of this country have not been very well-off. This is because those two women are actually patriarchal. Their bodies are of women; but their brains are men. Many of our powerful women also have this patriarchal mentality. Therefore, the position of all women cannot be judged by the power of two or four women. Our ordinary women are still victims of neglect, deprivation, and various oppressions. Now, it is increasing day by day.
Let the vow of establishing people’s rights be main commitment of government
As we all know, in a general sense, the rule of law is the main priority of law. The basic essence of the rule of law is the absence of arbitrariness in governance. It is well-established as an overall process and a practical matter. In establishing the rule of law, it is absolutely essential that the attitude of the legislators be in favour of the hopes and aspirations of the people. The law will be the criterion, not individuals, institutions, or parties, for determining every issue of state governance. All citizens of the state, regardless of religion, caste, tribe, class, party, or sect, are equal in the eyes of the law. Just as no citizen of the state can remain outside the purview of the law exerting his own influence, no citizen should be considered inferior in the eyes of the law. Every citizen of the state must have the opportunity to face the law for his actions and also to seek refuge in the law for his rights and demands.
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