BNP’s health agenda faces major execution challenges

For years, Bangladesh’s health sector has struggled with neglect.
2 March 2026, 00:00 AM

Khamenei’s death and the uncertain future of the Islamic republic

Within hours of the Tehran strikes, Iran launched waves of missiles and drones at Israel as well as US bases in Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, and the UAE.
2 March 2026, 00:00 AM

Appointing a new Bangladesh Bank governor has never been so chaotic

The selection process of the central bank governor in all developed countries is highly rigorous.
2 March 2026, 00:00 AM

Madhabdi rape: Will justice prevail or be forgotten again?

The Madhabdi case carries additional layers that make it more uncomfortable. There have been allegations of prior sexual violence, and of local arbitration.
1 March 2026, 01:10 AM

Imperial maps, Pak-Afghan war, and a way forward

Pakistan knows that invading Afghanistan would be a nightmare: the terrain is unforgiving, the Taliban are experienced guerrilla fighters, and any occupation would trigger wider regional reactions.
1 March 2026, 01:08 AM

What's in a word? The battle for cultural authority in Bangladesh

The crisis in Bangladesh today is not only political. It is civilisational, linguistic, and epistemic.
1 March 2026, 01:05 AM

Central bank shake-up: Why is BNP undermining its reformist legacy?

The removal of Bangladesh Bank Governor Ahsan H Mansur, widely credited with steadying an economy that was on the brink of potential collapse, has been described by many as nothing short of a blunder by the new government.
1 March 2026, 01:00 AM

Restoring public confidence in the judiciary is a test for the government

In any democracy, the line between legitimate prosecution and political litigation depends not only on statutory authority but on credibility.
28 February 2026, 01:16 AM

Leaders, beware of ‘Yes Men’

The truth is that leaders who surround themselves with people brave enough to say “this may be wrong” are far better equipped to govern than those shielded by constant applause.
28 February 2026, 01:13 AM

Who truly pays for the Ramadan price spike?

In countries such as Pakistan and Indonesia, governments routinely expand subsidised sales. Even in low-income countries across North Africa, Ramadan markets are often associated with discounts rather than mark-ups.
28 February 2026, 01:10 AM

Depoliticise institutions, not ideas

Not often do you hear a politician saying that “politicising education, research, and the practice of arts and literature is never a mark of a civilised society.”
28 February 2026, 01:06 AM

How Bangladesh can turn canal excavation into an environmental win

For thousands of years, the delta of Bengal has been defined by its intricate relationship with water. This was never a purely natural phenomenon;
27 February 2026, 00:27 AM

Education system must be built on proficiency, not pass rates

One of the toughest challenges for the new government is to ensure just educational opportunities for over four crore young people.
27 February 2026, 00:21 AM

A controversial decision

Critical decisions are usually judged by three things: their merit, method, and meaning or significance.
27 February 2026, 00:01 AM

Does a referendum mandate mean unlimited authority?

The 2026 referendum was neither a constitution-founding rupture nor a blank cheque for institutional reconstruction. It was a powerful but structured act of authorisation. The distinction matters because transitions succeed when authority is precisely interpreted and designated.
26 February 2026, 13:00 PM

We are neglecting cooking gas danger at our own peril

A faint gas smell is sometimes tolerated for hours. A regulator that hisses slightly is considered manageable. A minor spark in a switchboard is dismissed as routine. We are accustomed to improvisation in many aspects of life. Improvisation, however, is a poor strategy against combustible gases.
26 February 2026, 00:37 AM

Security should not be a pretext for moral policing or erosion of liberties

The recent incidents of assault and harassment by police officers are not merely a string of isolated incidents, but a signal about institutional health.
26 February 2026, 00:33 AM

Economic priorities the new government should focus on

The crises of persistent inflationary pressure, sluggish private investment, and unemployment needs to be dealt with simultaneously, with careful policy planning.
26 February 2026, 00:31 AM

What the transport minister’s words really revealed

What if the minister did not seek to legalise or sanitise extortion, but unintentionally described an informal system of governance that already operates alongside the formal state?
25 February 2026, 11:36 AM

Jahanara’s case and the accountability gap in athlete protection

Sport is often portrayed as a realm of discipline, merit, and national pride. Yet it is also shaped by sharp power imbalances—between administrators and athletes, coaches and players, and selectors and aspirants.
25 February 2026, 00:12 AM