Whenever I am asked to write about how I feel about Bangladesh and its development, I find that I have so many feelings going back to the very painful birth of the country, that it is very difficult to write everything down. When I came to Dhaka overland from Calcutta in January 1972, I saw… Read more »
- Comment 3
A brief history of political irony
Posted by Syed Badrul Ahsan & filed under Comment.
The war of words between some leading lights of the Awami League and the Jatiyo Samajtantrik Dal (Inu), both of which are part of the government at this point in time, is a perfect reason why one needs to delve into the history, somewhat, of political irony in Bangladesh. These days, as a minister, JSD… Read more »
- Comment 32
Remembering Edward Kennedy
Posted by Julian Francis & filed under Comment.
August is the month when Bangabandhu, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, is remembered with great solemnity for in 1975 he was brutally assassinated together with many family members. August 1971 is the month which holds other memories for me. It was when I met the mercurial and compassionate Senator Edward Kennedy and on this day, August 11th,… Read more »
- Comment 3
10th Srabon, Shohagpur massacre: Why we must remember
Posted by Afsan Chowdhury & filed under Comment.
When I first visited Shohagpur 15 years ago, few knew its name. I stayed the night in a windowless room in Sherpur. I felt I had a date with history. It had become known due to the efforts of Farida Akhter of UBINIG who had organised the first congregation of women freedom fighters. She had… Read more »
- Comment 4
The glory and the agony
Posted by Syed Badrul Ahsan & filed under Comment.
Sometime at the end of July 1975, Tajuddin Ahmad came by ominous news. Elements in the army were busy conspiring to remove the government of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Worse, they planned to assassinate the Father of the Nation. Tajuddin, at that point outside government, having resigned in October of the previous year, rushed to… Read more »
- Comment 11
Mojaheed to walk the gallows for the killing of intellectuals in ’71
Posted by Rupak Bhattacharjee & filed under Comment.
The ongoing war crimes trials have occupied considerable space of Bangladesh’s political discourse for obvious reasons. Unlike other South Asian nations, Bangladesh was born through a bloody Liberation War fought over a period of nine months. In 1971, South Asia witnessed the worst human suffering and state-sponsored violence in the post-colonial era.