Posts

Too Little, Too Late

While we may briefly celebrate that the onslaught of criticism finally led to an apology and considerations for exam retakes, the government's quick patch-ups, for now, are, simply put, temporary band-aids.

The Crisis of Coherent Foreign Policy

Engagement with China is presented as proof of resistance against Western dominance. Good relations with India become synonymous with regional stability. Foreign policy becomes a performance of political identity rather than a framework for advancing long-term national interests.

The Unseen Line: On Andrzej Bargiel, Everest, and the Geography of Ambition

The Western adventurer, armed with a historically cultivated obsession and corporate capital, comes to a land where the mountains are woven into the spiritual and daily life. He relies on the unparalleled skill and strength of the Sherpas, whose names are too often relegated to the fine print of history, to achieve a personal zenith.

The J-Z Show | Episode 25 | USA Turns 250 -- Political Commemorations at Home and Abroad

Jon Danilowicz and Zafar Sobhan discuss the United States' 250th anniversary, exploring how political commemorations shape national identity, historical memory, and international perceptions in an increasingly interconnected world.

What is Going On in Europe?

Keir Starmer’s resignation in the UK, the sixth in a row over the last ten years, suggests a genuine crisis not only in the UK but across European politics.

Kulsum’s Disconnected Island

In Bangladesh, we nonstop speak of institutional reform, a tech-forward future, and human potential, but willingly deprive the people in char areas entirely of essential infrastructure.

Can We be an Alternative to the Strait of Malacca?

There is the India-shaped hole in the map. By excluding New Delhi, Beijing has made the corridor more diplomatically tractable, but it has also converted an economic connectivity project into a more explicit piece of the China-India strategic contest in the Bay of Bengal.

Women and Girls Must Still Fight the Beauty Wars

Mental health is significantly affected by the media's ideas given towards women's beauty, especially for younger girls. Research shows that exposure of media images of unachievable beauty standards can lead to body dissatisfaction, low self-esteem and eating disorders.

Life of a Paiki in Dhaka

For those unfamiliar with the cultural tapestry of Dhaka, your obligation as a paiki is to run as a spiritual messenger from one local shrine to another during the 7th to 10th day of Moharram -- entirely barefoot, enduring the burning asphalt and the direct heat.

So, Should the Education Minister be Fired?

Bangladesh needs emergency protocols that operate before photographs go viral, independent technical review of every national question paper, public disclosure of examination failures, and a transparent remedy for affected candidates.

Shut Down Ad-din Hospital? Not So Fast.

The recent closure of Ad-din Hospital in Bangladesh illustrates how policymakers sometimes impose extreme sanctions without considering proportional alternatives.

Where is the Evidence?

Law exists to separate truth from allegation, evidence from assumption, and justice from vengeance. The moment these lines become blurred, it weakens public confidence in the legal process.

Let's Get Real on Taxes

Taxation is not simply about extracting more money from society. It is about defining the relationship between the state and its citizens. Countries do not become middle-income merely because they collect more taxes. They succeed when taxation strengthens the social contract rather than weakens it.

How the Iran War is Changing Everything

The latest regional security shocks have exposed a deeper reality. Hormuz is not simply an oil chokepoint; it is the foundation upon which the modern economies of the Gulf were built.

Assessing Trump's Iran Deal

A war fought in part to eliminate Iranian leverage ended with Iran holding more of it, over Hormuz, over Lebanon, and over the sanctions regime, than it had before the first missile was fired. Whether that trade was worth it depends on whether the next 60 days produce a durable peace or simply a longer, costlier version of the same unresolved fight.

Why is Albert Pinto Always Angry?

Everyone knows that to understand the legal nitty gritty is not everybody’s cup of tea. But everybody at least is entitled to one's common sense.