On Friday—just 13 days before the vote—the NCP, largely dominated by young activists of the uprising, announced the “Manifesto of Youth and Dignity.” The 36-point document’s most distinctive feature is its strong emphasis on young people’s political aspirations. Among its youth-centric pledges, the most striking is the proposal to lower the voting age to 16.

From the invention of the printing press to the rise of broadcast media, every major shift in communication technology has reshaped how news is produced, distributed, and consumed. Journalism has survived for centuries not because it resisted change, but because it adapted to it.

On January 14, a Bangladesh Bank (BB) letter announcing a “haircut” on deposit profits (no profit on deposits) for the five merged Islamic banks for 2024 and 2025 took depositors by surprise.

In 2025, Bangladesh achieved an unprecedented milestone in its economic history: remittance inflows surpassed $32.8 billion for the calendar year—the highest ever recorded, marking a roughly 22 percent increase from the previous year.

As I began writing this, a community in Raozan, Chattogram, was desperately trying to rescue a boy named Misbah, trapped in the depths of an abandoned tube-well pit.

Across the country, countless families have been ruined while trying to pay medical bills.

Bangladesh has made notable progress in improving many health outcomes. Yet, primary healthcare services remain insufficient in both rural and urban areas.

Since 1971, the history of the war has been repeatedly edited, reshaped, amplified, or muted, often depending on who governs.

Bangladesh relies primarily on fossil fuels, especially coal and natural gas, to generate power.

Bangladesh, by default, has designed inequality in education through its multiple streams.

Following prolonged discussions between the National Consensus Commission (NCC) and various political parties on reforms in key state institutions, the July National Charter was signed on October 17, 2025.

It has been about a week since the window for official campaigning for the upcoming election opened, and things are already settling into a familiar pattern.

Bangladesh is entering a decisive phase in its approach to governing its media. The proposed Broadcasting Ordinance, 2026 and the National Media Commission Ordinance, 2026 make this evident.

In the tradition of reviewing the performance of the Annual Development Programme (ADP) at the mid-point of each fiscal year, the National Economic Council (NEC) recently revised the total ADP allocation.

Academic freedom—the right to teach, study, pursue knowledge or research without unreasonable interference—is often perceived through a narrow lens in our country.

The proposal for a “Board of Peace” (BoP), spearheaded by US President Donald Trump with an initial focus on Gaza but with declared global ambitions, raises profound questions about the future of international diplomacy and multilateralism.

International sport depends on a simple bargain: athletes accept risks, including physical and monetary, but governing bodies accept responsibility.

Bangladesh is not short of women in leadership, be it in business, government offices, or academia. It is short of women in electoral politics.

The so-called ceasefire in Gaza was a cynical ruse to secure Israeli captives while giving Israel free rein to starve, murder and assassinate Palestinians at will.

Sir William Mark Tully, well known in the Indian subcontinent as Mark Tully of the BBC, was a friend of Bangladesh.