interim government
'Inevitable reasons' for news shutdown and journalist's dismissal
Just four days before World Press Freedom Day on May 3rd, on April 29th, what happened at three television channels in Bangladesh raised serious questions not only about the statements of the interim government's Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus and the former Information and Broadcasting Adviser Nahid Islam but also about journalists' freedom to ask questions, their authority, and the boundaries of that freedom.
A corridor for Rakhine: What are the answers to various questions?
After the residents of Gaza, the Rohingya people of Rakhine are currently facing the most severe humanitarian crisis in the world. In the war-torn country, a famine could strike at any moment. Fearing such a catastrophe, the United Nations has requested Bangladesh to open a corridor for humanitarian aid.
Lowering internet prices could unlock major opportunities
There is no doubt that internet speed in our country—whether through fixed broadband or mobile internet—still lags behind in comparison to many other places. The silver lining, however, is that the current interim government's telecom leadership has shown genuine intent to make quality internet services available at affordable prices for the people. If this intent is matched with trust and cooperation from the operators who understand the value of internet at various levels, then delivering quality service at a lower cost isn’t a far-fetched goal.
The old trick of holding onto power
“When people on the street say you should stay for another five years”—this remark by Home Affairs Advisor Lieutenant General (Retd.) Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury closely resembles a Facebook status posted by Sarjis Alam, the Northern Regional Chief Coordinator of the National Citizen Party (NCP).
To reform the state, political culture must change
Implementing the desired reforms in Bangladesh is extremely difficult, primarily due to the complexities of political and social realities. The main political parties' reluctance, the influence of vested interests, and the weak social demand play significant roles in obstructing the reform process. Although Bangladesh has taken initiatives for policy reform at various times, these efforts have failed to take structural and effective shape. The existing political culture and the centralized nature of power have become major obstacles to implementing reforms. Since the major political parties in Bangladesh lack internal democracy, they are also disinterested in implementing democratic and governance reforms at the national level. The overwhelming dominance of party leaders, hereditary leadership, and the irregular process of decision-making within political parties are significant barriers to political reform.
Speak the truth and demand elections, they label you an Indian agent
Renowned as the "Political Bard," Advocate Fazlur Rahman is a valiant freedom fighter and a former Member of Parliament for Kishoreganj-3. He was the chief of the Mujib Bahini in Kishoreganj district during the Liberation War. Whenever the country, the motherland, or the state faces a crisis, disaster, or turmoil, he emerges as a strong voice of protest. He remains highly vocal against any distortion of history. A steadfast defender of Bangladesh’s independence, sovereignty, and the spirit of the Liberation War, this remarkable figure was born in Koronsi village of Joysiddhi Union under Itna Thana in Kishoreganj district. Currently, he serves as an advisor to the BNP Chairperson.
Story of a forgotten freedom fighter and Bangladesh’s neglected history
If engineering students from BUET had taken on diplomatic roles, perhaps it would have benefited the nation. However, even without that, Dr. Yunus, as the chief advisor of Bangladesh’s interim government, is demonstrating his diplomatic skills on the world stage today. His role is being discussed and analyzed globally. This makes me wonder: is academic knowledge alone enough to accomplish everything correctly? Certainly not. Because without application and practice, knowledge loses its value. In this context, let’s revisit the life of a war courier during the Liberation War.
How relevant is the independence declaration debate today?
Even after 54 years of independence, the debate over who declared Bangladesh’s independence in 1971 remains unresolved. The inability to reach a political consensus on such a nationally significant issue raises serious questions about political failure. Avoiding this question is not an option, as it remains a matter of national importance. Therefore, revisiting the discussion on the declaration of independence and its proclaimer is necessary.
Make the right decision through technical query
The government and the Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) are apparently in a state of muddle over the reform of the telecommunications sector. In the meantime, mobile operators are trying to ensure the future control of their business by 'seizing the opportunity'. I am using the word 'seizing the opportunity' because despite repeated attempts during the previous two political governments, mobile operators did not get the desired decision in their favor. Now they are trying to cash in on the situation if they can somehow implement their desired decision during the interim government. Such an attempt has clearly been observed since the current government took office. On the other hand, network transmission operators built with domestic investment, interconnection exchanges, international gateways, and international internet gateway operators, want to preserve the existence of their systems.
Stop extortion at every level
It is no secret that many businesses in Bangladesh rely on extortion. This has been a terrible cycle of corruption in Bangladesh for a long time. Successive governments come and go; but the pattern of extortion remains the same. When various reforms are being carried out in the state after the popular July uprising, it was hoped that extortion would also decrease somewhat; but there is no sign of a decrease, in some cases it has even increased. A businessman in Dhaka recently told the media, “Earlier, extortion had to be paid to one person, now it has to be paid to four or five people.”
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