The crisis unfolding in Myanmar is no longer just a humanitarian tragedy or a civil conflict — it is an urgent strategic threat on Bangladesh’s doorstep. As China entrenches itself as the dominant external force in Myanmar, the window is rapidly closing for democratic and regional actors to shape the outcome. Bangladesh, more than any […]
The interim government of Bangladesh has launched an ambitious initiative to overhaul the Chittagong Port, country’s principal seaport, by bringing in world-renowned foreign operators in an effort to address chronic inefficiencies that have long plagued its operations and stifled the national economy. Once dubbed one of the least efficient ports in the world, Chittagong Port […]
The announcement by interim leader Muhammad Yunus that Bangladesh will hold its next national election in the first half of April 2026 brings clarity after months of uncertainty. With nearly 11 months to prepare, political parties now have a firm timeline to organize and engage voters, while the Election Commission can develop a transparent roadmap […]
A national commission investigating enforced disappearances in Bangladesh has reported widespread torture and secret detentions carried out during the 15-year rule of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, revealing what it describes as a state-enabled system of abuse and impunity. The Commission on Enforced Disappearances, chaired by retired High Court Justice Mainul Islam Chowdhury, submitted its […]
A special tribunal in Bangladesh opened proceedings Sunday against the country’s deposed prime minister, who is facing charges of crimes against humanity tied to a mass uprising in 2024 that left hundreds of students dead. Sheikh Hasina was formally charged alongside former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan and former police chief Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun. Hasina […]
As Bangladesh recalls its ambassador from Myanmar and flirts with backchannel talks with the Arakan Army, a rebel group fighting the Myanmar junta, an old geopolitical question gains new relevance: Should Bangladesh consider formally absorbing Arakan — historically known as Arakan and now called Rakhine State — and integrate it as a province? It’s not […]
India once held a commanding presence in South Asia: economically, politically and culturally. But in recent years, it has watched its influence erode across the region. From Bangladesh and Nepal to the Maldives and Sri Lanka, the neighborhood is tilting steadily toward China. In response, India must act decisively and strategically. It must stop taking […]
The proposed humanitarian corridor from Bangladesh into Myanmar’s Rakhine State may appear noble in intention, but beneath its humanitarian gloss lies a perilous path that threatens Bangladesh’s security, sovereignty and long-term national interest. Despite well-meaning international appeals, Dhaka must abandon this plan unequivocally and without delay. At its core, the corridor risks dragging Bangladesh into […]
During a high-level gathering held at Dhaka cantonment, Chief of Army Staff Gen. Waker-Uz-Zaman delivered a comprehensive address covering the timing of national elections, the constitutional role of the military, national sovereignty, and several matters of public concern. The following summarizes the main points, as reported by sources who spoke to The Daily Star. Although […]
The political impasse unfolding in Bangladesh between Army Chief General Waker Uz Zaman and interim Chief Adviser Prof. Muhammad Yunus reveals a troubling lack of cohesion at the highest levels of leadership. At a time when the country needs a unified front to guide it toward elections and stability, personal agendas and institutional friction threaten […]
