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Hopelessness threatens to push Rohingya toward militancy

Dr. Azeem Ibrahim:

Last month’s arrest of Ataullah Abu Ammar Jununi, the leader of the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army, was heralded by some as a blow to Rohingya militancy. Yet, far from quelling unrest, this development may be igniting a new wave of radicalization among the Rohingya, a persecuted Muslim minority in Myanmar. As hope dwindles amid worsening conditions — abandonment by former allies, slashed humanitarian aid ...

The lessons of Bangladesh

It’s the middle of the night, and news is breaking around the globe as most of Bloomington-Normal sleeps. A mild-mannered professor from Illinois State University is often awake in these quiet hours. There’s a 12-hour time difference between Bangladesh and Bloomington-Normal, so Dr. Ali Riaz often finds himself monitoring events in his home country deep into the night. The Distinguished Professor in Illinois State’s Department of Politics and Government is a scholar of South Asian politics, especially the political landscape in his native land. Last August, an uprising led mostly by students rejecting the government’s turn to full-blown autocracy caused Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to leave the country after 15 years in office. An interim government, le...

Bangladesh’s Political Struggle: A Nation in Flux

One of the most notable developments in recent weeks in Bangladesh has been the transformation of the country’s student-led protest movement into an organised political force. On 28 February 2025, the leaders of last year’s mass demonstrations formally launched the National Citizens Party (NCP). The party is led by 26-year-old Nahid Islam, who resigned from his post as acting head of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in the interim government to take on the role. At a rally near the national parliament, NCP leaders laid out a platform centred on unity, transparency, good governance and an independent foreign policy rooted in a vision for a “second republic”. Lima Akter, whose brother was killed during the July 2024 uprising, introduced Islam as the party’s convenor. Her promi...

Ziaur Rahman: From Soldier to Statesman

Farrukh Khosru:

Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman (1936-1981) stands as one of the most significant and influential figures in Bangladesh's history. He served as the country's President and Chief of Army Staff, playing a crucial role in the War of Independence.

His most significant contribution came during the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971. Following the military crackdown on 25 March 1971 and the arrest of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the nation was left without clear leadership.

At this critical juncture, Major Zia led the Eighth East Bengal Regiment in revolting against the Pakistan Army. On the night between 26 and 27 March 19...

Minorities caught within political upheaval

Shafi Md Mostofa

In Brief

Following Bangladesh's July 2024 revolution and the fall of Sheikh Hasina's government, minority communities faced complex challenges amidst political chaos. While Indian media portrayed systematic persecution, evidence suggests most incidents were politically motivated rather than religiously targeted.

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