Analysis

The Future of Reform

As a supporter of substantive reform within the political structure of this country, this dim scenario really makes me sad. And it also clarifies one thing: our failure has come from one major shortcoming -- we didn’t reach out to people.

Jamaat's Quiet Victory

What Jamaat's 68 seats do is give the party institutional leverage to shape the answers to questions that matter far more than whether Bangladesh wakes up tomorrow under a theocracy.

Bangladesh Cannot Reach $1 Trillion by Rewarding Passivity

A trillion-dollar economy requires a financial system that can recognize risk, tolerate risk, and allocate capital with intelligence.

Notes on the Ceasefire

It is a clear admission that the war failed to deliver its stated objectives. No regime change, no oil conquest, no uncontested control of the Strait of Hormuz, no elimination of Iranian nuclear capabilities without serious concessions.

No Time to Waste

It is striking that nearly two years after a youth led uprising that was triggered by protests about jobs, the economy is largely absent from public discourse. This may be the ultimate July betrayal of them all. 

Our Energy Crisis is Structural

With only a few weeks of stock, Bangladesh ranks among the region’s most vulnerable.

The Wrath of the Religious Right

It is very true that the religious right in Bangladesh have found a new voice that had been brutally suppressed by Sheikh Hasina all these years, and that the group has now taken the opportunity to abuse this new-found freedom.

Why a Business Advisory Council isn't a Bad Idea

At a time when investor confidence is closely tied to perceptions of policy stability and transparency, a structured and inclusive engagement framework sends a powerful signal. It tells both domestic and international investors that policymaking is consultative, predictable, and responsive.

Iranianism, Beyond the Nation-State

Iran is more than just a state; it is a civilization capable of developing a new system or model that others might follow, beyond the Westphalian framework. Without wise leadership, the ongoing conflict could not only lead the world into a prolonged economic downturn but also reshape global power balances.

Societies in Exile: Power, Estrangement, and the End of Universalism

Societies in exile may not yet find their way home. But exile, once recognized, need not end in disappearance. It can become watchfulness, and watchfulness, has often been the difference between mere survival and quiet renewal.

Who Pays for Interest-Free Loans? We All Do.

Money is not free. Interest-free loans do not eliminate cost; they merely obscure it. Whether financed through budgetary allocations or institutional balance sheets, the subsidy embedded in such loans must ultimately be borne by someone.

The Solar Panel Solution

The integration of solar panels into agricultural land offers a practical pathway toward achieving energy independence, environmental sustainability, and resilient food systems in Bangladesh.

A Reply to Shahidul Alam on Performative Governance

A government that reduces VIP protocol but continues to evict vendors without rehabilitation has merely exchanged one performance for another.

America’s Goliath Moment

Against this background Trump is a disaster for America and its Iran war has pushed it to a point where presumably every ordinary man across the world has started mocking the American power by mistaking Trump to be the personification of the United States.

Why are Critical Ordinances not being Passed into Law?

The ordinances concerning the Human Rights Commission, the Anti-Corruption Commission, and the prevention of enforced disappearances, are all directly aimed at protecting citizens’ rights, and maintaining the separation of powers. Rendering them ineffective is deeply disappointing from the perspective of citizens.

The Demise of International Law

International law appears to bind only the weak nations but not the powerful, mighty ones. Afghanistan, Gaza, Guantanamo Bay, and targeted actions against foreign leaders all show how rules can be bypassed without consequence.