Eliminating militancy impossible sans separating politics from political Islam
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…
Foreign aid, loans and Bangladesh’s development
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…
Urgent action required to check rice fraud
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…
Propaganda targeting a party’s participation in election aimed
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…
Diplomatic breakthrough in absence of Indira?
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…
Telecos should be fined if they excessively tax consumers
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%…
What is the future of ‘SAARC’?
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…