Rifle Squad

In Bangladesh’s political culture, a persistent pattern has emerged: whoever holds power prioritizes announcing and inaugurating grand mega projects. These are presented as visionary achievements funded by the party’s own ingenuity and benevolence. The reality is more prosaic—these projects often serve as vehicles for building personal and political empires through commissions, contracts, and kickbacks.

This trend intensified during the long Awami League rule but reflects a deeper incentive structure in Bangladeshi politics that transcends any single party. [Read more…]

The Awami League, one of Bangladesh’s largest and most historically significant political parties, should be permitted to resume open political activities under clear and reasonable restrictions. This approach would protect democratic rights for millions of its innocent supporters while ensuring accountability for those involved in alleged crimes.

Any Awami League politician facing active legal cases or wanted by the police must be barred from participating in political activities until those matters are resolved through due process. Political programmes, campaigns, or public materials must not promote, display the names, or use images of politicians who are currently wanted by law enforcement or have been released on bail. [Read more…]

In my previous post right after Bangladesh’s long-delayed general election, I wrote about Khalilur Rahman and his alleged connections to the CIA. Today, with his election as UN President, it’s worth revisiting those points more clearly.

Khalilur Rahman, a Bangladeshi-American, has a habit of appearing out of nowhere and stepping into key positions in Bangladesh’s government whenever there is major chaos or a leadership vacuum. This pattern, combined with his reported ties to intelligence circles, raises serious questions. [Read more…]