A civil alternative for property transfers is a citizen’s right
13 September 2026
The debate over the recently passed Property Transfer (Amendment) Act, 2026—particularly the provision recognising a distinct form of property transfer that allows donors to retain lifetime usufruct rights—has again raised questions about the place of religious norms in the making of civil law. Some Islamist politicians and commentators have claimed that it violates Shariah provisions on property transfer and inheritance.
13 September 2026
When can political rivals in Bangladesh safely distrust each other?
7 September 2026
Over the past two years, one word has repeatedly come to my mind as I explored politics in Bangladesh: “trust”.
7 September 2026
From the Carter Doctrine to the Mecca Pact: A changing Gulf security order
2 September 2026
Saudi Arabia’s new defence pact with Pakistan and Türkiye signals a broader shift towards strategic diversification in an uncertain Middle East.
2 September 2026
The July lesson: Restore the contract that allows democracy to self-correct
5 August 2026
We need a new social contract in which political conflict remains, even intense conflict.
5 August 2026
The Rucsu model cannot be the future of post-uprising student politics
3 August 2026
Retaliation is not justice. A student union is not a mobile court. Its elected representatives are not police officers, prosecutors, or executioners.
3 August 2026
Rule cannot survive on fear alone: Foucault, Althusser, and our mob culture
12 June 2026
The work of French philosophers Michel Foucault and Louis Althusser remains useful to understand how the modern state governs.
12 June 2026
100 days of the BNP government / Trust has returned, but has the state changed?
29 May 2026
A review of the BNP government’s first hundred days, examining early gains, challenges, and reform uncertainties.
29 May 2026
Fighting terrorism without losing the republic
30 April 2026
Recently, the Police Headquarters issued a nationwide alert about possible militant attacks.
30 April 2026
Decoding Pakistan’s diplomatic win in Iran-US ceasefire
On April 8, Pakistan pulled off something few thought it could do: it helped bring the United States and Iran into a temporary ceasefire, more than a month after the US and Israel attacked Iran on February 28, pushing the region towards a wider catastrophe.
10 April 2026
How East Pakistan became Bangladesh in global media
The Liberation War of 1971 remains one of the most consequential and painful chapters in the history of Bangladesh as well as South Asia.
27 March 2026
Without media integrity, elections mean little for democracy
The 2026 election in Bangladesh was the first big political test after the July uprising, and it reminded us of something very basic: elections are not decided only inside polling booths.
11 March 2026
Khamenei’s death and the uncertain future of the Islamic republic
Within hours of the Tehran strikes, Iran launched waves of missiles and drones at Israel as well as US bases in Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, and the UAE.
2 March 2026
Imperial maps, Pak-Afghan war, and a way forward
Pakistan knows that invading Afghanistan would be a nightmare: the terrain is unforgiving, the Taliban are experienced guerrilla fighters, and any occupation would trigger wider regional reactions.
1 March 2026
From boycotts to balance: Rethinking the opposition’s role in parliament
Both the Awami League and BNP have treated parliament like a stage that can be deserted whenever negotiations stall, criminal cases are filed, or street pressure seems more useful than parliamentary debate.
13 February 2026
After 2026 election, Dhaka must set out clear India, China, and US policies
Bangladesh often seems to treat foreign policy as subject to seasonal political moods.
21 January 2026
Three competing nationalisms and the battle for Bangladesh
When we speak about Bangladesh today, we often pretend as if there is one clear national story.
8 January 2026
2026: A year of repair, not miracles
A new year often starts with personal reflection.
1 January 2026
When mobs decide who can speak, what happens to democracy?
The night The Daily Star building was set on fire by mobs incited by known right-wing political figures and social media influencers, at least 28 journalists and staff were trapped on the rooftop.
24 December 2025
What does it mean to honour the legacy of Bangladesh’s martyred intellectuals?
Occupying powers often follow the same old playbook. They fight not only armed opponents, but also the social conditions that make resistance possible—education, free speech, professional integrity, and the willingness to question authority.
14 December 2025
Breaking down the new populist playbook in Bangladesh
Many people think that the old authoritarian chapter is over and a new era has begun.
7 December 2025
How victimhood distorts our sense of history
Many Bangladeshi historians and intellectuals have reinforced this habit of seeing ourselves only as victims.
23 November 2025
In which direction is South Asian University headed?
The South Asian University, established in New Delhi in 2010, is a remarkable institution in terms of what it envisaged. SAARC-watchers are generally of the view that the university is perhaps ahead of its times, and is the best functioning SAARC institution despite its many problems.
23 October 2019