The shipbreaking industry started its cruel journey in 1960 when most environmentalists, NGOs and news organisations had no clue to understand the fathom of the brutal impact on the environment, human health, agriculture and the burden on healthcare management. In addition to its human impact, the shipbreaking industry in Chattogram is
Author: Saleem Samad
Extrajudicial deaths fall in Bangladesh, deaths in custody rise
International human rights organisations have been intermittently blaming Bangladesh authorities for appalling human rights abuses and the culture of impunity the perpetrators enjoy for their political clouts. The perpetrators usually do not have to listen to the music of justice, because of their political links, rubbing shoulders in the corridors with
Who will bell the cat of City Corporation?
In 1978, the Bangladesh capital gained status as Dhaka Municipality Corporation, and in 1990, it became Dhaka City Corporation. The first elected chairman was Ananda Chandra Roy. Before that, a Committee for the Improvement of Dacca (now Dhaka) was formed in 1823. Since the 19th century, the crowded city has never stopped
Cyber Security Act won’t stop criminalise freedom of expression
Bangladesh authority has announced to replace the controversial Digital Security Act (DSA) of 2018 with Cyber Security Act (CSA) 2023, which is expected to be passed in the parliament in the September session. The CSA is going to be passed in the parliament which has an overwhelming majority of the ruling
Israel switches to ‘illiberal democracy’ after darkness fell
On 25th July, the Israel parliament Knesset passed a controversial law to clip the wings of the “interventionist” Supreme Court, the mainstream newspaper published a full “black” front page with a small white print at the bottom: "A Black Day for Israeli Democracy". Immediately, the Ethiopian Jews and residents of Israel
Imran Khan’s ‘Vandana’ for Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib
For more than a decade there was a simmering debate spearheaded by the netizens, academicians, journalists, researchers, social justice activists and civil society in Pakistan on war crimes, genocide and rape as a weapon of war by marauding Pakistan military during the brutal birth of Bangladesh in 1971. Long before the
Power import from Adani begins under a controversial deal
The much-talked-about electricity import from Indian energy giant Adani Power Limited from its coal-fired power plant in Jharkhand, India to Bangladesh has caused trepidation over the country’s ties with the conglomerate and triggered consternation among the opposition and civil society. To the surprise of many, the officials of the power ministry
“Doctor of the Poor” gave new hope to Bangladesh
My mindset was first awakened after reading the cover story Dr Zafarullah Chowdhury (popularly known as Zafar Bhai) and his dream hospital Gonoshastya Kendra in a defunct weekly Bichitra on 25 January 1974. Later, on the first-page news photo in a defunct Dainik Bangla newspaper, dozens of women health workers of
Marking Half Century Of An Unacknowledged Genocide
In 1971 Pakistan’s military hawks sitting in Rawalpindi’s General Head Quarters (GHQ) planned a genocidal campaign on East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) in which was supposed to be executed immediately. The brutal campaign was launched exactly 52 years ago – on the night of 25 March with full ferocity and is believed
Why Talibans are afraid of purple?
The radicalised Taliban after recapturing Afghanistan in August 2021, the regime has promulgated a series of misogynist decrees which targeted women only. Women are barred from higher education, jobs and business. The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan issued nearly 20 decrees against women during the last one and a half years inviting