The road to Bangladesh’s next general election, due on February 12, could decide far more than who governs next. It could determine whether the country restores its democratic soul or slips further into polarisation.

Bangladesh has long depended on quiet, steady forces that make good choices feel natural: teachers who turn study into habit, newspapers that promotes tolerance, and cultural bodies that rehearse pluralism in public life.

The surest sign of a liberal democracy is not a flag, nor a constitution framed behind glass. It is the quiet competence of institutions—and the political culture that keeps them honest. One shapes the other the way a river shapes its banks, and the banks, in turn, discipline the river.

Political analysts urged citizens to remain vigilant all the time, not only in holding their own governments to account, but also in questioning the global systems that help shape crises in developing nations.

Money moves more quickly than ever in the modern world. However, not all money is what it seems or claims to be. While some subtly advance hidden interests and undermine accountability, others create opportunity, institutions, and trust.

With almost every new day, we, the ordinary people, are forced to see a new height of grotesque mob violence.

Beyond the constitutionally recognised political parties, there exists an invisible yet influential force in society: the “Comfort Party.”

The return of multi-party democracy would be the first step necessary to reset Bangladesh’s embittered political culture.

The internet, once a mere repository of information, has evolved into the most formidable arena for political engagement.

Following autocracy's fall, debates on the constitution, elections, & democracy intensify, echoing Abul Mansur Ahmad's insights.

The July Revolution of 2024 marks Bangladesh's shift toward deliberative democracy.

The Daily Star analysis of 25 political parties

Standing on the isthmus of change, we must avoid any form of myopia.

The Daily Star Editor Mahfuz Anam's appeal to the ‘new generation leaders’

Democracy cannot operate as a simple majority steamroller, as we also saw in the early days of our independence.

The idea of dedicating a day to promote harmony and peaceful coexistence—a day that fosters diversity, justice, and understanding across borders, cultures, and beliefs—seems promising in theory.

Dissent in Bangladesh has been met with hostility, with individuals being labelled as traitors or enemies of the state for expressing opposing views.

The euphoria of August 5, and the momentous days leading up to it, especially since July 15, are now being overshadowed by a cloud of uncertainty.

There is much to learn from both Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, two South Asian countries, as they navigate their shifting landscapes.

Young people have been at the centre of a major political transition.