Afsan Chowdhury – Page 6

Helena Jahangir and the perils of crony capitalism

Editorial

- Afsan Chowdhury - August 2, 2021August 2, 2021

Helen Jahangir was one of the many hangers on of the ruling party whom people knew because of her media connections. There are many such stalwarts who are taking advantage of the current situation to make a few extra bucks or get some shine. She had been in and out

India’s Taliban problem

Editorial

- Afsan Chowdhury - August 1, 2021August 1, 2021

India had waited as wished by the US –its principal ally - before making a move in Afghanistan when Russia, China and of course helpless Pakistan were getting knee deep. Now that the US is departing in a disorderly manner none are exactly keen to stand by Ghani’s government. Current Afghan

Why is Pakistan keen about peace in Afghanistan?

Editorial

- Afsan Chowdhury - July 30, 2021July 30, 2021

Pakistan’s Imran Khan has said that the US "really messed it up in Afghanistan" and the only solution to the situation is through a political settlement that was “inclusive” and involved all factions, including the Taliban.” Khan was talking on the PBS NewHour. He added that there was “no military

What will the alternative Facebook do in Bangladesh?

Editorial

- Afsan Chowdhury - July 26, 2021July 26, 2021

Bangladesh’s ICT State Minister Junaid Polok has said that Bangladesh will soon be able to deliver an indigenous version of Facebook on people’s digital door steps. This should be an exciting situation. Various versions of the FB exist but FB stands taller than others because it’s a technical achievement that

Can Pakistan’s economic prioritization be realized?

Editorial

- Afsan Chowdhury - July 24, 2021July 24, 2021

South Asian leaders are slowly learning to accept the fact that the world has shifted from politics to economics and thus policies need a mind shift. The smaller non militarized South Asian states like Bangladesh, Nepal, etc are already rapidly moving towards that goal but all suffer from internal management

Will Blacks and Browns ever be full British?

Editorial

- Afsan Chowdhury - July 14, 2021July 14, 2021

What unites the world may also be what divides them. Sports is such an item. There is nothing like rousing cheers to ignite fires of patriotism when victory comes the way. The adrenalin sweeps all away in a rush of pleasure and thrill. And there is nothing as starkly true

Digital Security Act cases don’t increase efficiency

Editorial

- Afsan Chowdhury - July 12, 2021July 12, 2021

To many politicians and amla, few are more welcome than the DSA. If they do anything amiss and its reported in the media- social or pro, they can be sued under the DSA, followed by arrest, remand and jail till bail is given. Of course it’s good to have the

Can conventional electoral politics survive Corona?

Article

- Afsan Chowdhury - July 10, 2021July 10, 2021

Indian PM Modi sacked 12 ministers including the health, the information and the information technology minister in what seemed a tough way to divert blame from himself for the Covid mess. 43 new faces are in but portfolio and minister changing isn’t really the best way to handle a worsening

Farewell Mr. Dream

Editorial

- Afsan Chowdhury - July 9, 2021July 9, 2021

Ah Mr. Dilip Kumar, breeder of dreams and fantasies, master of absurd and extreme examples of love and hate, nobility and grandeur , right and wrong, you are now past all this. How shall we remember you and who shall remember you is not easy. You were almost a century

Covid in villages a seriously troubling news

Editorial

- Afsan Chowdhury - July 7, 2021July 7, 2021

It was thought for a while that Covid-19 was largely an exclusive urban disease. There was this myth that it spared the poor, the villagers and the pious. Social media is full of such declarations and people go on air explaining the strange and “noble” discrimination of this virus. The first