Something appears to have gone seriously wrong with Bangladesh's election dispute process
The absence of any election recounts, with requests allegedly refused, will allow grievances to fester
Bangladeshis Have Chosen to Temper Government Power. And That's a Great Thing.
No one can predict exactly what Bangladesh's constitutional architecture will look like by year's end. The process will be messy, contentious, and imperfect. But the direction is clear. Two-thirds of voters have chosen a path away from capricious rule toward a system where power is tempered.
Bangladesh Has Passed the Electoral Test, But Can It Keep the Republic?
Bangladesh has held many elections since independence in 1971. But few have carried the weight of this week’s vote. Now comes the harder test: Proving that victory does not mean domination.
Something appears to have gone seriously wrong with Bangladesh's election dispute process
The absence of any election recounts, with requests allegedly refused, will allow grievances to fester
Bangladeshis Have Chosen to Temper Government Power. And That's a Great Thing.
No one can predict exactly what Bangladesh's constitutional architecture will look like by year's end. The process will be messy, contentious, and imperfect. But the direction is clear. Two-thirds of voters have chosen a path away from capricious rule toward a system where power is tempered.
Bangladesh Has Woken Up to a New Reality
Tarique Rahman can do what Sheikh Hasina would not: trust the Parliament he leads. Let it examine the Yunus era, line by line. Keep what works. Amend what can be saved. In that sequence, through that process, a course will emerge.
Bangladesh Has Passed the Electoral Test, But Can It Keep the Republic?
Bangladesh has held many elections since independence in 1971. But few have carried the weight of this week’s vote. Now comes the harder test: Proving that victory does not mean domination.
Mission (nearly) accomplished
Sushila Karki was given an impossible task as PM that she has handled with poise and praise
Think That Jamaat Lost the Election? Think Again.
Are you relieved (or disappointed) that Jamaat did not get more seats? Not so fast. This election was a big victory for the party. Those who are disappointed with Jamaat’s result have not yet had their basic lessons in politics.
Emerging Markets Monitor
Emerging markets ETFs’ rally has been somewhat of a surprise: They own shares of companies in less-developed nations. For decades, these stocks took a backseat with investors who would rather pay up for shares of giant companies in developed nations like the U.S. But now, many factors are working in emerging markets’ favor.
Why Elections Matter for the Economy
Bangladesh has tremendous potential to grow both economically and institutionally but the growth depends on the trust that people and investors place in its institutions, and that trust is nurtured through elections that are fair, transparent, and conducted with integrity.
Without Central Bank Independence, No Other Reform Will Matter
An independent central bank could have prevented bank fraud and inflation. There is no alternative unless we want to return to the bad old days of high inflation and a plummeting Taka.
What It Means to Be Bangladeshi Today
Bangladesh remains socially conservative in many ways, but voters demonstrated political moderation. Economic stability, welfare support, and social peace mattered more than ideological confrontation. The electorate did not reject religion. It rejected restriction. It did not embrace radical liberalism. It embraced balance.
Consent, Promises, and the City That Tests Them
Bangladesh has debated itself intensely this season . Now the debate shifts from imagination to implementation. Dhaka is not beyond saving. But it will not be saved by manifestos alone.
Dhaka-8 and the Politics of Trolling
Trolling is hit-or-miss politics. It is unstable, often unserious, and frequently destructive to governance. But when it works, its impact is asymmetrical -- geometric, even gigantic-- compared to traditional campaigning.
What the Interim Government Gave Bangladesh
What Dr. Yunus and his team of advisers stepped into was not a functioning state awaiting a caretaker, it was institutional wreckage requiring reconstruction. What followed was a period of institution-building that, whatever its imperfections, deserves recognition.
An Open Letter to Barrister Zaima Rahman
Whatever path you ultimately choose, I offer you my sincere best wishes. May your journey ahead be guided by wisdom, courage, and purpose -- and may it be as smooth and fulfilling as destiny permits.
The Politics of Responsibility and Compassion
Every Muslim knows the phrase Ar-Rahman Ar-Rahim -- the most Beneficent, the most Compassionate. Can we reorient our moral compass towards the politics of responsibility and compassion?
