AL consolidated power through sustained harassment of opposition: Report

AL consolidated power through sustained harassment of opposition: Report The ruling Awami League (AL) has consolidated political power through sustained harassment of the opposition and those perceived to be allied with it, as well as of critical media and voices in civil society. Corruption is a serious problem, and anticorruption efforts have been weakened by […]
Anger in Bangladesh over dissident writer’s death in prison

Protests erupt over death of Mushtaq Ahmed, arrested last year on charges of violating the stringent Digital Security Act. There is widespread anger in Bangladesh over the death in prison of a dissident writer arrested last year under the Digital Security Act (DSA), which critics say stifles freedom of speech. Mushtaq Ahmed, 53, died on […]
Democratic backsliding and the information battle

Democratic backsliding and the information battle Continued backsliding of democracy for more than a decade, globally and domestically, has raised the question—where are we heading? The question, for some, is an innocuous query, while for others it is the first step towards devising a strategy to halt the downward spiral. The democratic backsliding, which began […]
UN: Grave Allegations Involving Visiting Bangladesh Army Chief

(New York) – The United Nations should use its meetings with senior Bangladeshi military officials next week to protest attempts to use the UN as cover for abuses at home, seven human rights groups said today. The UN should announce a comprehensive review of UN relations with Bangladeshi armed forces, the top troop contributor to […]
Alarming offensive by Bangladesh’s ruling party against journalists based abroad

Alarming offensive by Bangladesh’s ruling party against journalists based abroad Reporters Without Borders (RSF) calls on the leaders of the Awami League, the party that has ruled Bangladesh since 2009, to end all intimidation of journalists who dare to continue criticising Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s policies after fleeing the country.Pressure on family members, judicial harassment […]
Bangladesh’s Economic ‘Recovery’ in the COVID-19 Era: A Paradox, a Puzzle or a Mirage

Reports in late August and early September suggest that the Bangladeshi economy is making a comeback from the COVID-19 induced downturn. Bangladesh entered the seventh month of the pandemic in September with a death toll of at least 4,500 and more than 338,000 cases. Conflicting information about the economy, the state of public health and […]
Bangladesh: Silencing Voices With The Digital Security Act

“If all mankind minus one were of one opinion, mankind would be no more justified in silencing that one person than he, if he had the power, would be justified in silencing mankind.” ~John Stuart Mill, Philosopher According to Reporters Without Borders (RSF), Bangladesh ranks 151 in 2020 out of 180 countries, thus falling five […]
A Tale Of Misplaced Priorities

It’s mind-boggling to think of a situation where there is an urgency, poor people are in dire need, and money is in the hands of the government allocated to help those in need, but the money is not being distributed properly. This is what is happening with the Bangladesh government’s cash transfer programme for the […]
The United States: Cherry Picking Human Rights Issues

“To deny people their human rights is to challenge their very humanity”. ~Nelson Mandela In June, President Donald Trump signed legislation calling for sanctions against those responsible for the repression and oppression of Uighur Muslims in the far western regions of Xinjiang, China. The bill passed the U.S. Congress almost unanimously and is meant to […]
As The Sino-Indian Rivalry Heats Up, Watch Bangladesh Carefully

The ongoing tensions and stalemate between India and China in Ladakh along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) has brought not only the Sino-Indian rivalry into the spotlight, but also India’s relationships with its neighbors. Unlike previous instances, when India used to enjoy unqualified support from all its neighbors save Pakistan, the clash with Beijing has […]