Our relationship with Bangladesh is long-standing and unique. We are linked by a shared history, a shared geography, in addition to a common language and culture. We both seek, and value, a relationship based on mutual trust and understanding, and mutual respect. There is broad shared empathy
Dr Muhammad Yunus, the globally renowned Nobel Laureate and the head of Bangladesh’s interim government, recently delivered a historic speech commemorating the first 100 days of his administration. At the heart of his address was the contentious issue of the nation’s election timetable,
Bangladesh recently witnessed a powerful student-led uprising initially aimed at addressing unfair job quotas in the public sector. This movement, which ultimately contributed to the ouster of a government, has highlighted core issues relating to governance, education, and job creation that parti
Name a few of the greatest villains in movies. The current Gen Z, and even those not members of this generation, will name Thanos, Doctor Doom, Magneto, Joker, and many more, which are part of the fantasy series movies of the contemporary entertainment universe. Some may go beyond this genre and
There were contradictions and paradoxes galore in the Indo-Bangladesh relations during the Awami League rule led by Sheikh Hasina between January 2009 and July 2024, which apparently demonstrated a myopic, communal, divisive, and fascistic outlook of the ruling quarters in both countries. Take fo
Books are one of the best means to gain and spread knowledge. We know that but most of us feel intimidated when asked to read a book to understand complex subjects.The fear is heightened when we, adults, are given the task of explaining things,which we ourselves find difficult, to children. We have
Two travel books, one in English titled Travels of My Life by Sajjad Hussain and the other in Bengali named Himalaye Himabahe (In the glaciers of the Himalayas) by Iftekharul Islam came to my hand very recently and must be recommended as gems that would draw readers again and again and would put th
The election of Kemi Badenoch as the leader of Britain's Conservative Party and therefore as Leader of the Opposition in Parliament reflects the sea change which has come over politics in the United Kingdom in the past two decades, if not more. It is today a growing racial mix in Britain, with indi
Discussions about health sector reform have been intense lately. With experts from diverse backgrounds opining on what needs to be fixed, little is on the table about healthcare workers' health, safety, and well-being. Without taking care of the workers who provide patient care services directly an
I have little trust in my memories. For instance, once, I was convinced that a closely related elder brother (not a sibling) of Sukanta first brought a manuscript of poems and later on introduced the teenage poet (Sukanta Bhattacharya) to me. Following the split in the party (Communist Party), Suka
The year 2024 saw three Nobel laureates--Daron Acemoglu, Simon Johnson and James Robinson--receiving the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences for their valuable research regarding the role of institutions in shaping economic prosperity. This seminal work underlined how political and economic institutio
When I met the Honourable Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly in New York in September last, he presented me with a copy of the book The Art of Triumph. This is a collection of street art that popped up all around Bangladesh during the studen
When it comes to making fast and effective decisions, using the right frameworks can save both time and resources, helping you become more efficient and productive. Whether you're an entrepreneur in Dhaka, a garment factory owner in Chittagong, or someone considering a career move, specific decisio
