Road to Elections 2023-24
Political parties need to behave more responsibly towards the electorate
The people have to be more alert, assertive, and vocal.
One more vote, one vote fewer: Why people will and won't go to polls
The Daily Star asked two young voters to explain their decisions as the 12th parliamentary election rolls out.
What's the civil society's stake in strengthening democracy?
Our civil society leaders must step forward to address the prevailing political impasse in the country.
The price we pay with each deleted word
With each new term of the ruling regime, and each new provision or law, we have learnt a bit more of self-censorship.
The AL cannot validate this farce of an election with intimidation
Since voters are reluctant to take part in this election, the ruling party has resorted to such measures.
‘All that matters to AL is acquiring power.’
This election will push the whole country towards further uncertainty and close the door to constructive politics in Bangladesh.
A ‘dummy-cratic’ election in democratic Bangladesh?
After the election is over, the meaning of democracy will change to mean coercion.
‘Even before the election, there is no question as to who the elected will be.’
By now, it is clear that the election this time around will be a one-sided affair.
Will the political deadlock discourage first-time voters?
Another election is in the offing, and even though I want to feel excited again, I simply cannot.
How to make dissenters out of citizens
Awami League has always found justification in the Nietzschean theory of cultivating or “inventing” enemies
Separation of judiciary still a far-off dream
The independence of the judiciary in Bangladesh has not yet been realised.
Human rights enjoyment in a red zone?
In almost all cases involving opposition activists, they were found guilty
Column by Mahfuz Anam: Has BNP served its supporters well?
The BNP failed to reap anything effective from the huge public support that it was able to garner late last year.
Expediency triumphs over principle in electoral politics
It appears that all of the ruling party’s efforts revolve around the next election, not considering longer-term ramifications for itself.
Placing dummies as alternatives disenfranchises voters
We are witnessing an engineered intra-party contest as most of the independents belong to the ruling party.
The flipside of the democracy carnival
Bereft of the basic rights to assemble and express, let alone protest, the people of Bangladesh are currently bearing the brunt of the coercive apparatuses of the state.
Another managed election will be disastrous
Continued denial of voting and other political and democratic rights is bound to become a very serious threat in the future.