Analysis

Cometh the Hour

If Tarique wishes to be prime minister and lead this nation, as his mother and father did before him, then a time comes when he needs to step up and stand up, and show the nation that he too is made of the stuff of leaders. This is such a time.

The Case for Staying Away

The real question is not why Tarique Rahman has not returned yet. The real question is whether the nation will stay focused on restoring democracy rather than chasing distractions.

The Unheard Song: How Abul Sarkar's Arrest Reveals Bangladesh's Fractured Soul

The arrest of Baul singer Abul Sarkar exposes a deeper struggle over who gets to define Bangladesh’s cultural and religious identity, portraying a growing state-backed exclusion of syncretic and minority traditions from the national narrative.

The Moral Cost of Being a Politician in the Global South

Political life becomes a stage where guilt is assigned by association, not by evidence.

Bangladesh’s AI Policy Needs an Engine, Not Just a Map

A policy without execution mechanisms is not a plan. It is a press release.

Key Takeaways from the Latest IRI Survey

Until 2019, people in the country used to say the country was on the right track. After 2020, there has been a sharp decline. Recently, 53% of people now say the country is running well again.

Is the Judiciary in Bangladesh Truly Independent?

True judicial independence cannot rest on the discretion of one office, no matter how elevated.

A Tale of Two Leaders

This emotional polarity is not irrational -- it is Bangladesh rediscovering its moral compass. It is the people reclaiming ownership of their history, their pride, and their right to choose who deserves their trust: Not through coercion, but through character.

Should Former IGP Mamun Walk?

Can an Approver still be an accused in the Hasina case? It is difficult to defend the proposition that a person who has been formally pardoned, can remain in law an accused for the same conduct.

Why Is It Only Majoritarian Religious Sentiment That Matters?

Here is the cruel asymmetry that exposes the game. Hurt religious sentiment is always, unfailingly, something felt by the majority or by those who claim to speak in its name. No minority, no freethinker, no ordinary citizen can ever demand accountability for the trampling of their own emotions.

The Trillion Dollar Question

The development of Chittagong Port is more than just a project; it is the key to Bangladesh's next wave of economic growth. If we cannot raise the FDI-GDP ratio from 0.3% to 2.5%, the ambition of becoming a trillion-dollar economy will stay just a dream.

No, Dhaka Is Not At Risk of a 9.0 Earthquake That Would Liquefy the City

Dhaka’s earthquake threat lies in poor construction, not geology. We need to be concerned about and plan soberly for what would happen if a 6.0 quake hits instead of catastrophizing doomsday scenarios.

How the ICT’s Gratitude Makes the Court Controversial

In a few words of thanks, the ICT judges suggest partiality towards the prosecution side

The First Real Choice in Fifteen Years

We do not need to be perfect voters, and we do not need to know every answer. In a transitional period, what matters is the willingness to participate and the courage to relearn what authoritarianism tried to take away: that our voices count and that democracy is a skill we can rebuild together.

The Case for the DP World Deal

The reality in Chittagong is: three days at the outer anchorage, indefinite waiting inside the port for a berth, one week to discharge using small lighter vessels, discharge stops if the sea is rough -- all added up, instead of 2 days, in some cases it is taking 25 days.

What Did the Dhaka Earthquake Mean?

The November 21 earthquake was unprecedented in our recent memory. What does this mean for the future of the city, how prepared are we, and what needs to be done now?