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No joy in Dhaka

THERE is a sense of irony in watching tanks and armoured personnel carriers on the streets of Dhaka, defending a government that traces its lineage to the forces that resisted…

Pakistan of 2047

WHAT will Pakistan look like in 2047, a century after it achieved independence? Given its unstable politics, weak economy and fragile law and order, and the rapidly evolving global and…

People’s power in BD

PEOPLE’S power has toppled one more authoritarian regime. Another bloody day in Bangladesh ended in triumph for the uprising in that country. Defying a nationwide curfew, hundreds of thousands of…

The Bangladesh model

IN 2013, the World Bank indicated that Bangladesh could become the ‘next China’. While the bank may have been focusing on the economic and demographic dividends which Bangladesh might have…

Lessons from illusionary revolutions

Amid escalating student-led protests and mounting unrest, Bangladesh’s long-serving Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina Wazed, was compelled to resign and flee the country, highlighting deep dissatisfaction with her administration. The unrest,…

What the Indian election can teach us

The people of India have spoken; Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has won a third term, but this was a much tougher victory as compared to the previous two elections…

How heavy lies Nawaz’s crown?

Former prime minister and PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif has once again been elected as party president unopposed. Nawaz has returned to the party’s coveted position six years after he lost…

Pathways to peace

‘The Challenge of Enlightenment, Conflict Transformation and Peace in Pakistan’ by Moonis Ahmar is a comprehensive analysis of the intricate dynamics of conflict and peacebuilding in Pakistan. Through a meticulous…

Who’s afraid of free speech?

When they are not in power, they want no restrictions on media. But when they take charge, they make efforts to muzzle electronic, print and social media. That is the…

Moving forward after the election

The unexpected results of Pakistan’s twelfth general election, held on February 8, have created both a threat and an opportunity for the country. The threat is one of political deadlock…