Afsan Chowdhury – Page 2

The dancing dollar and the Bangladesh Bank

National

- Afsan Chowdhury - August 19, 2022August 19, 2022

The dollar to taka conversion rate has become an indicator of the state of the economy. It has been roughed up by the economic weather both global and local. One had almost gotten used to a dollar-taka rate of around 85 for a long while but that "stability " didn't

1971- 2022: Conflict and alliance in ruling class formation

Article

- Afsan Chowdhury - August 15, 2022August 15, 2022

The events of August 1975 that stretched on till Nov 1975 and beyond were not simply products of isolated conspiracies. They were a continuation of the historical conflicts that were at work for long, intensified in 1971 and exploded in 1975. The actors were limited in action to mostly ruling

Farewell Dr. Enamul Haque: Of music, museums and 1971

National

- Afsan Chowdhury - July 12, 2022July 13, 2022

He was a man of ancient history and museums but was also a major player in the liberation war as it played out in the European theatre in 1971. On the 10th of July he passed away leaving behind a lifetime of promises kept and achievements. As a man who

A brutal summer of fire and heat: Sitakundu, load shedding…

National

- Afsan Chowdhury - July 7, 2022July 8, 2022

At least one can blame load shedding due to shortage of fuel etc. caused by the Russo-Ukrainian war but not the many others that ail us. The media is full of reports, gossip and accusations about the blazes, deaths and suffering and the bottom line remains the same. We are

Mohiuddin Ahmed: The diplomat in history

Article

- Afsan Chowdhury - June 21, 2022June 22, 2022

"There is a difference between deciding to join and joining when it's safe. I joined the 1971 cause because I believed in it," Mohiuddin Ahmed said. We were at a TV show on ETV a few years back when he said the above. The discussion was on the 1971 war and

The oily confession and our ministers

Article

- Afsan Chowdhury - May 11, 2022May 12, 2022

The statement by the commerce minister that his big mistake was to trust oil traders around Eid on hoarding and price fixing was hilarious and scary at the same time. It showed anything can be done and blamed on the upbringing. In the West, rapists do it commonly and even murderers

Challenges of Bangladesh media in transition

1st Anniversary Part-1

- Afsan Chowdhury - March 9, 2022March 9, 2022

Afsan Chowdhury Bangladesh media continues to live in semi-denial as it goes through transition and the so-called professional media faces increasing pressure from many forces particularly social media. This shift of focus from the professional to the individual/social space is historically significant. For the first time, the media has become a

1971 history: Leaving people out…

- Afsan Chowdhury - December 16, 2021December 17, 2021

There are several terms to describe what happened in 1971 that led to the birth of Bangladesh. It’s called “Muktijuddho”, “Shadhinota juddho”, “Jonojuddho” etc. There could be more. But they carry slightly different meanings. One part is common to all that is the Juddho (war) part but the others differ.

Puja mandap violence should have been prevented

Editorial

- Afsan Chowdhury - October 17, 2021October 18, 2021

The ugly incidents around Puja mandaps on Bijoya have scarred Bangladesh. It’s not something that people would like to see in their own land. Such violence is always manufactured by a group because violence around religious identities has no social basis in peasant societies which is basically what we are