Maj Gen (retd) Abdur Rashid, Security Analyst : Bangladesh is predominantly a Sunni Muslim country. That is why all take it for granted that the country is a fertile breeding ground for militancy. Against this backdrop, one can brand the whole country as a militant state like Pakistan and Afghanistan when one can carry out militant…
Dr. Muhammad Abdul Mazid, Former Chairman, National Board of Revenue : Immediately after independence, Bangladesh repaired a devastated economy, developed infrastructure and implemented various reforms to drive the wheel of the major sectors using foreign aid and loans. It is undeniable that sector-based needs and utilities were assessed while accepting this aid. But now, one of…
Dr Mamtazuddin Patwari, Professor of History, BOU : Sudden deluge, flood and other natural disasters caused colossal damage to crops last year. Floodwaters inundated crops on vast tracts of land. The pathetic scene of submerged croplands in the northern region and haor (a type of wetland) areas in Sylhet hurt all of us. The preceding year…
Professor Abu Sayeed, Former State Minister for Information : The statement of those who are clamoring that the upcoming general election is not going to be participatory without the participation of a particular political party is a purposive one. There are certain yardsticks to measure a participatory election. Can the people cast their votes? Can the…
Dr. Syed Anwar Husain, Historian and Political Analyst ; A diplomatic breakthrough, occurred from 16 December 1971 to 8 January 1972, in absence of Indira Gandhi. Ninety-three thousand Pakistani prisoners of war were released after the Shimla Treaty on August 2 of 1972. So if diplomacy was conducted in Gandhi’s absence, Shashank Bandhapaddya’s statement could be…
Dr. Muhammad Abdul Mazid, Former Chairman, National Board of Revenue : If telecom operators’ tax consumers excess of what is determined in the budget, they should be fined. Internet service providers, especially telecom operators, overcharge customers for services. These companies used to charge 15% vat on mobile users, but that rate has been cut to 5%…
A.S.M Riad Arif, SARRC Silver Jubilee Scholar, South Asian University, New Delhi, India : South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation (SAARC) was created as one of the effective platforms, aiming at building better relations on polities and social and cultural issues within the nations of South Asia. But since 1985, SAARC could not prove itself as…
Maj Gen (Retd) Abdur Rashid, security and international affairs analyst : Bangladesh is wishing very reasonably not to deepen the Rohingya crisis further. The South Asian countries are achieving growths consistently and very rapidly due to a peaceful social order. To arrest the fast growths, a conflicting situation has to be spread and many will give…