Afsan Chowdhury – Page 12

The decline of conventional politics as Hefazat rises

Editorial

- Afsan Chowdhury - March 31, 2021April 2, 2021

The tally sheet of confrontation and violence between the Government and the AL on one side and the Hefazat-e-Islam on the other may be the sign of things to come. Hefazat certainly was not cowed down by the muscle of Chatra League or the police and BGFB. In their strong

Hefazat hartal and political realities

Editorial

- Afsan Chowdhury - March 29, 2021April 2, 2021

Hefazat’s hartal call had caused anxiety among many as an angry hartal hadn’t been seen for long and people feared mayhem. A group that torched government property, attacked the police and died while doing so were not to be taken lightly. However, the hartal is not seen in observance. The

Modi, Hefazat and Hasina

Editorial

- Afsan Chowdhury - March 28, 2021April 2, 2021

The rather low key public celebration of the 50 the anniversary of Bangladesh’s independence and birth centenary of Sk. Mujibur Rahman turned into a rampaging battle field as Hefazat-e-Islam and other Islamists took to the streets and created mayhem. Chatra League activists attacked media workers and activists of the Left

New horizons in history research in a new Bangladesh?

Article

- Afsan Chowdhury - March 26, 2021March 27, 2021

I take the liberty of writing a personal piece based on my personal experience linked to doing research on the history of 1971. Apart from the fact that we lived through 1971, I have been involved in this work since 1977. Almost 44 years later, I have seen phases and

Genocide: How many miles to trial?

Editorial

- Afsan Chowdhury - March 26, 2021March 27, 2021

As we celebrate 50 years of Bangladesh we also are observing 50 years of genocide in Bangladesh. The two realities are intrinsically linked and one can’t have one without the other. If the formal independence is an issue of the institutions, the informal world, remembers the genocide more. However, it’s

23rd March 1940 to 23rd March 1971

Editorial

- Afsan Chowdhury - March 24, 2021March 27, 2021

On this date in 1940, the Lahore Resolution was proposed and accepted by the top leaders of future Pakistan. It stated without any ambiguity that two independent states were to be formed, one on the Western and the other on the Eastern part of India. It didn’t spell out the

Corona: Inviting the devil inside

Editorial

- Afsan Chowdhury - March 23, 2021March 27, 2021

Covid -19 is returning with a vengeance in many parts of the world including South Asia. Europe is reeling under its impact, its vaccine roll out in a mess though the UK seems to be doing better though cases have risen again. The US is stable but will face trouble

Sunamganj is about the powerless in Bangladesh

Editorial

- Afsan Chowdhury - March 21, 2021March 27, 2021

The rampage in Sunamganj has been coloured in faith identity lines, common in Bangladesh and as expected. It’s not about the general state of social and political intolerance but the traditional Hindu-Muslim divide and conflict. Thanks to Facebook this confusion will grow and the scenario will remain as they have

The vaccine war and us

Editorial

- Afsan Chowdhury - March 19, 2021March 27, 2021

For a while the world was under a serious stress wondering when a vaccine against Covid-19 could be developed. But in a remarkably short time several vaccines were developed and hit the market. Many companies and institutions have come forward with their products and given the global scene there is

On this day, 100 years ago

Editorial

- Afsan Chowdhury - March 18, 2021March 27, 2021

As Bangladesh celebrates the centenary of Sk. MujiburRahman’s birth, it’s time to reflect how a small town in the distant part of verdant East Bengal now Bangladesh became the birthplace of a man’s political life which created state making history. It’s from here that the journey of a man who