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 […]
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 […]
Bangladesh has reiterated its call for Pakistan to issue a formal apology for atrocities committed during the 1971 Liberation War, stressing that genuine reconciliation cannot take place without addressing historical injustices. Foreign Affairs Adviser Md. Touhid Hossain delivered the message during a meeting Sunday with Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar in […]
Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus is signaling a strategic shift in Bangladesh’s regional diplomacy, placing renewed emphasis on cooperation within South Asia through the revival of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, or SAARC. His recent talks with Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar in Dhaka reflect a broader effort to rebuild ties across the region […]
The recent abduction of 12 Bangladeshi fishermen from the Naf River marks yet another escalation in a troubling series of cross-border aggressions that demand a decisive and coordinated response from the Bangladeshi state. The incident, which occurred Saturday afternoon near Naikkhongdia in Teknaf, involved armed members of the Arakan Army taking control of a fishing […]
Pakistan’s deputy prime minister and foreign minister arrived in Dhaka on Saturday in a visit that marks the highest-level contact between the two countries since 2012, signaling a potential thaw in historically tense relations. Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar is in Bangladesh for a two-day visit at the invitation of the Bangladeshi government. He was received […]
The Bangladesh interim government on Friday warned media outlets against broadcasting or publishing statements by deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, calling her remarks “false and provocative” and citing national security laws. Sheikh Hasina was ousted during a military-backed uprising in July and has since been in hiding. The government’s statement follows the airing of an […]
