A report by Jefferies says President Donald Trump’s decision to impose 50 percent tariffs on India stemmed from two main reasons: personal pique and agriculture. The investment bank noted the tariffs were largely the result of Trump’s frustration after India rejected his repeated offers to mediate in the long-running conflict with Pakistan, a role New […]
Bangladesh’s Election Commission has unveiled its roadmap for the 13th National Parliamentary election, with voting expected in the first half of February. Akhtar Ahmed, the commission’s senior secretary, announced the plan Thursday at a press conference in Dhaka. The roadmap outlines 207 steps covering 24 key areas, including updates to voter lists, election law reviews, […]
India’s recent export restrictions, particularly on key commodities, have raised serious concerns about its regional trade strategy, especially in relation to Bangladesh, one of its largest trading partners. Bangladesh is a major buyer of Indian goods, importing billions of dollars’ worth of food grains, consumer products, industrial inputs and raw materials annually. This cross-border trade […]
Air pollution is shaving 5.5 years off the average Bangladeshi’s life, making it the country’s greatest external health threat, according to the 2025 Air Quality Life Index released Thursday by the University of Chicago’s Energy Policy Institute. In Dhaka, residents could gain 6.9 years if air quality met World Health Organization guidelines, while Chittagong residents […]
Bangladesh’s army chief is being urged to take a more direct and strategic role in addressing the ongoing genocide in neighboring Myanmar, amid growing frustration over the failure of diplomatic efforts to repatriate nearly a million Rohingya refugees who have taken shelter in Bangladesh.
The recent joint operations involving the Bangladesh Army and law enforcement agencies that led to the arrest of 91 individuals from August 21 to 28 have raised important questions about the proper role of the military in domestic law enforcement. While the removal of dangerous criminals from communities is a welcome development, the responsibility for […]
President Donald Trump has dealt Prime Minister Narendra Modi a double blow, humiliating India on both trade and security fronts. On August 27, Trump imposed a 25% surcharge on top of the existing 25% tariffs on Indian goods, singling out India despite its compliance with Western oil price caps. Adding insult, Trump embraced Pakistan, dining […]
Bangladesh’s Election Commission has launched a nationwide programme to train nearly one million people for the 13th parliamentary polls set for February, before Ramadan. Running from September to December at a cost of about Tk 1 billion (USD 9 million), the programme covers election officials, magistrates, law enforcement, polling agents, journalists, and observers. Training includes […]
The idea of a caretaker government in Bangladesh emerged from a political consensus in the mid-1990s, when distrust between parties made it impossible to hold credible elections under a ruling government. Advocates point to its achievements: the system temporarily restored public faith in democracy, ensured opposition participation in elections, and created a sense of neutrality […]
A year after Bangladesh formed a commission to investigate enforced disappearances, victims and families are calling for justice and reparations. The interim government launched the inquiry on August 27, 2024, following the ousting of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Mir Ahmad Bin Quasem, held in secret detention for nearly nine years, told Fortify Rights: “In […]
