Mahfuz Anam

The question in the title of this column was triggered by a press comment following our president’s dialogue with National Awami Party (NAP) leaders, published on December 27, 2021.

Using plastic is very convenient. But now it is posing a threat to our healthy living.

The mood of the moment is overwhelmingly celebratory. And why not? Not only are we observing 50 years of our independence, but we are doing so with a new sense of pride, accomplishment and, most importantly, confidence—confidence that we can face all the challenges that come our way.

50 years ago, on this day, Bangladesh was born out of a bloody war. In the face of a brutal massacre by the Pakistani military, the freedom-loving people of this land, with their unwavering resolve and monumental sacrifices,

Over the last 49 years, we have observed the Martyred Intellectuals Day annually, realising more and more the significance of the damage that the enemy caused to our nation. What sort of an enemy who, on the verge of defeat, c

Just as we are making news as a role model of development, we are also attracting global attention as perhaps the only country in the world where school students need to demonstrate on the streets for days on end to demand road safety measures.

When it comes to the BNP is it at all possible for the ruling party to see it through any other prism but political? Can the decision to allow Khaleda Zia to go abroad for medical treatment be seen as a humanitarian case rather than party politics?

Judge Mosammat Kamrunnahar, of the Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal-7, found all the five accused “not guilty” in the rape case of two university students filed with Banani Police Station on May 6, 2017.

Starting from unannounced road blocks forcing commuters into hours of traffic congestion, to making important arterial roads off limits for visiting foreign guests, to cutting off gas and power for maintenance work without prior information, to unreasonable diversion of traffic for megaprojects, to frequent government price hikes of essentials—all are done without an iota of consideration for public convenience, leave alone rights.

At the very start, I say with as much vehemence as I am capable of that a game is a game is a game.

When we refer to our glorious period of journalism, we usually mean the pre-liberation period. Ironically, compared to today, the media was at its most rudimentary stage at that time.

The pandemic has had a severe impact on the global economy just as it has had on ours. Thanks to massive financial assistance in various forms from the government, the economy is back on track somewhat. Our private sector has shown great resilience and creativity by finding new ways to keep the wheels of factories running and make way for our exports and imports in the world market.

Never on the soil of independent Bangladesh would anyone ever have to suffer because of his or her religion.

The contribution of the Daily Ittefaq to the formation of our nationhood is well-known. Its editor-publisher, Tofazzal Hossain Manik Miah, remains an icon of journalism in this part of the world, and a source of inspiration and pride for those of us who have tried to follow in his footsteps.

Our next election is not due for two years—at the end of 2023. For many countries, it is too early to talk about it. But not in our case. To hold a proper election, there will be endless talks, mostly one-sided, as we have not made any progress in sitting together and accommodating each other’s positions and moving on.

We are delighted that Jhumon Das finally walked out of prison on Tuesday, after being incarcerated for nearly seven months for a Facebook post in which he criticised Hefazat-e-Islam leader Mamunul Haque.

What happened recently in Barishal between a local mayor and an Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) is not the real story. Why it happened is. And in that story is hidden many facets of the crucial issue of the state of our governance.

We journalists have some experience of fighting governmental repression of the media.

Death is always difficult to accept, but in the case of some, it is more so. The news of Major (retd) Muqtadir Ali passing away on August 20 not only shocked his family, but also all his freedom fighter colleagues, second war course batchmates, professional colleagues in the energy sector, and personal friends and relatives.

History unfolds in ways that may appear to be totally incomprehensible to us. It may not fit into our logic, may appear to be contrary to the facts that are at hand and our own analysis, which, often guided by our prejudice, may have indicated a different outcome.