Counterpoint

What Governments Misread Before They Fall

Dismiss early grievances, personalize criticism, stigmatize opponents, mistake force for authority, answer old questions, control information instead of rebuilding trust and confuse institutional power with public legitimacy. These are not uniquely Bangladeshi mistakes. They are universal governmental temptations.

Can Bangladesh Afford to Wait?

History rarely remembers institutions that made difficult decisions. It remembers institutions that made the right decisions at the right time. Bangladesh is currently going through a grand transformation in the banking sector where five scheduled Islamic banks are on the verge of being merged by the Government of Bangladesh.

Foreign Currency Bond: A Cart Before The Horse

Without serious commitment to implement reform in financial sector, revenue collection and governance, the initiative of issuing foreign currency bond seems like cart-before-the-horse case.

Why Bangladesh Needs a Dedicated Enforced Disappearance Law

An enforced disappearance can be prosecuted under the ICT Act only when it forms part of a widespread or systematic attack directed against a civilian population. Standalone cases of enforced disappearance committed by state officials fall outside this framework.

The Future of Work is Already Here

The future of work is arriving faster than many expected. The future of Bangladesh will depend on how effectively its youth are prepared to meet it.

When the Body Becomes the Last Ballot

Democracy is ultimately sustained not merely by constitutions or institutions but by public trust. Once that trust begins to starve, feeding the body alone is never enough. The institutions themselves must learn to nourish hope before protest becomes the only language left.

What Governments Misread Before They Fall

Dismiss early grievances, personalize criticism, stigmatize opponents, mistake force for authority, answer old questions, control information instead of rebuilding trust and confuse institutional power with public legitimacy. These are not uniquely Bangladeshi mistakes. They are universal governmental temptations.

When Two Wars Collide

None of this is really new, only newly visible. The Caspian has functioned as a sealed smuggling corridor between Moscow and Tehran since the summer of 2022.

‘Now Modi should go’: Jantar Mantar Erupted in Celebration After Pradhan’s Resignation

The BJP might be on the backfoot now but the protesting students are aware of how long their struggle to reform education might take.

Can Bangladesh Afford to Wait?

History rarely remembers institutions that made difficult decisions. It remembers institutions that made the right decisions at the right time. Bangladesh is currently going through a grand transformation in the banking sector where five scheduled Islamic banks are on the verge of being merged by the Government of Bangladesh.

Foreign Currency Bond: A Cart Before The Horse

Without serious commitment to implement reform in financial sector, revenue collection and governance, the initiative of issuing foreign currency bond seems like cart-before-the-horse case.

The Coordination Crisis of Geoeconomic Strategy

Nothing currently in place would produce a different result this time, and a mechanism, not a further calendar date, is what the Korean and Japanese examples both actually supply.

The Unseen Line: On Andrzej Bargiel, Everest, and the Geography of Ambition

The Western adventurer, armed with a historically cultivated obsession and corporate capital, comes to a land where the mountains are woven into the spiritual and daily life. He relies on the unparalleled skill and strength of the Sherpas, whose names are too often relegated to the fine print of history, to achieve a personal zenith.

Kulsum’s Disconnected Island

In Bangladesh, we nonstop speak of institutional reform, a tech-forward future, and human potential, but willingly deprive the people in char areas entirely of essential infrastructure.

Women and Girls Must Still Fight the Beauty Wars

Mental health is significantly affected by the media's ideas given towards women's beauty, especially for younger girls. Research shows that exposure of media images of unachievable beauty standards can lead to body dissatisfaction, low self-esteem and eating disorders.

It Was Finished. It Just Wasn’t Finished Out Loud.

The same discipline runs in reverse. “Got it.” “Saw it, on it.” Two words, and the loop closes from both ends instead of hanging open on one.

Did Washington Project Power or Cede the Strait?

The US-–Iran memorandum ended a war on American terms. But the fine print on the Strait of Hormuz, like the rise of the mediators who brokered it, tells a more complicated story.

Communication is No Longer Optional

The simple rule is this: If something can be misunderstood, it probably will be. And if it can be said in a simpler way, it should be. Because people do not expect perfect speeches. They just want clear ones.

When the Army Enters the Classroom

When an institution that possesses the legitimate instruments of force also begins accumulating authority over the definition of morality, citizenship and national identity, the balance can become fragile.

Diplomacy Alone is not Sufficient

Deep political involvement is necessary to set policies, which bureaucracies can then execute, not vice versa, the whole nation, regardless of political leanings, prefers its leader to be bold yet pragmatic

The Politics of Sweetness

Behind every woman labelled "too harsh" may be years of swallowed humiliation. Years of carefully choosing politeness over dignity. Years of emotional labour performed for everyone except herself.

When the Army Enters the Classroom

When an institution that possesses the legitimate instruments of force also begins accumulating authority over the definition of morality, citizenship and national identity, the balance can become fragile.

The Unfinished Promise of Police Reform

Abu Sayed's killing -- and the statement later made by the police officer convicted of his murder -- did not simply expose failures in the conduct of individual officers. Together, they illuminated deeper structural weaknesses within policing and compelled the nation to confront fundamental questions about accountability, professionalism, and the relationship between the police and the public.

Let's Get Real on Taxes

Taxation is not simply about extracting more money from society. It is about defining the relationship between the state and its citizens. Countries do not become middle-income merely because they collect more taxes. They succeed when taxation strengthens the social contract rather than weakens it.

The Role of Collagen

Collagen, a fibrous protein composed primarily of glycine, proline, and hydroxyproline, is particularly important during the proliferative and remodeling phases. Without sufficient collagen synthesis, wounds may heal slowly, remain fragile, or become susceptible to infection and reopening.

The Assassination of Ziaur Rahman and its Echoes

Ziaur Rahman deserves to be remembered not as a symbol of one side of a political divide, but as a leader who, in a period of genuine national crisis, demonstrated that Bangladesh was capable of stability, economic progress, diplomatic sophistication, and democratic aspiration.

Rewriting the Narrative? RAB’s Conduct in a Nation on Edge

In July 2024, when the entire country erupted in protest, when over 1,400 lives were lost, and when Dhaka became a city under siege, RAB did not revert to familiar patterns. They did not conduct midnight raids. They did not trigger mass disappearances. Instead, they acted as a containment force. That contrast is not just noteworthy, it is historic.

Diplomacy Alone is not Sufficient

Deep political involvement is necessary to set policies, which bureaucracies can then execute, not vice versa, the whole nation, regardless of political leanings, prefers its leader to be bold yet pragmatic

How the BBC’s Red Chair Erases a War Crime

The decolonization of our newsfeeds is not an abstract intellectual exercise; it is a matter of life and death. When a mother in Tehran, a father in Gaza, or a child in the Congo is bombed into oblivion, we owe it to them to bypass the filters of London and New York.

Sheikh Hasina’s Last Dance?

Hasina has nudged New Delhi to define its position on her extradition and forced the BNP to confront, sooner than it may wish, whether it truly wants her back and, if so, on what terms.

Bangladesh Bank Needs to Establish Policy Credibility. This is not How.

The Monetary Policy Statement was announced in the last week of June, and was almost immediately hemmed in by the circular announcing the spread cap -- a sequencing that signals incoherence. And that incoherence matters more than the actual policy. Macroeconomic policy cannot be effective in supporting growth or curbing inflation unless it is credible.

Looking Beyond LCs

Bangladesh Bank’s circular issued on June 11 represents a timely, strategic, and forward-looking shift toward the development and facilitation of alternative trade finance mechanisms.

Banking Crisis and Private Power

This piece talks about how bad loans, political patronage, and cosmetic accounting turned Bangladesh’s banks into a public crisis.

The Politics of Sweetness

Behind every woman labelled "too harsh" may be years of swallowed humiliation. Years of carefully choosing politeness over dignity. Years of emotional labour performed for everyone except herself.

Life of a Paiki in Dhaka

For those unfamiliar with the cultural tapestry of Dhaka, your obligation as a paiki is to run as a spiritual messenger from one local shrine to another during the 7th to 10th day of Moharram -- entirely barefoot, enduring the burning asphalt and the direct heat.

Sugar in the Daal

History’s most captivating chapters are often lived in tranquil drawing rooms or in the kitchen of minorities who refuse to blend in completely. When we examine the 1947 Partition, most stories are about violent fractures and Hindus in thousands fleeing to India due to communal riots.

Special

Culture

The J-Z Show | Episode 26 |The Search for Bangladesh's Next President |One-Year Anniversary Special

Marking the one-year anniversary of The J-Z Show, Jon Danilowicz and Zafar Sobhan are joined by Dr. Rumi Ahmed Khan to assess the first six months of Bangladesh's elected government and discuss the qualities needed in the country's next President.

Counterpoint with Zafar Sobhan | Episode 08 | Dr. Mubashar Hasan

In Episode 8 of Counterpoint with Zafar Sobhan, Zafar Sobhan is joined by Dr. Mubashar Hasan for a candid and deeply personal conversation on regional politics, international affairs, democracy, and the geopolitical challenges shaping South Asia.A powerful conversation on democracy, human rights, political memory, and the lasting impact of authoritarian repression. #Counterpoi

Counterpoint with Zafar Sobhan | Episode 07 | Shahnoor Rabbani

In this episode 07 of Counterpoint With Zafar Sobhan, host Zafar Sobhan is joined by sports commentator and founder of Shahnoor's Shot, Shahnoor Rabbani. The conversation explores the growth of sports media, the evolving football culture in Bangladesh, and the impact of digital platforms on modern sports journalism.

The J-Z Show | Episode 26 |The Search for Bangladesh's Next President |One-Year Anniversary Special

Marking the one-year anniversary of The J-Z Show, Jon Danilowicz and Zafar Sobhan are joined by Dr. Rumi Ahmed Khan to assess the first six months of Bangladesh's elected government and discuss the qualities needed in the country's next President.

The J-Z Show | Episode 25 | USA Turns 250 -- Political Commemorations at Home and Abroad

Jon Danilowicz and Zafar Sobhan discuss the United States' 250th anniversary, exploring how political commemorations shape national identity, historical memory, and international perceptions in an increasingly interconnected world.

The J-Z Show | Episode 24 | The World Cup: Can Football Fever Alleviate International Tensions?

Jon Danilowicz and Zafar Sobhan sit down to ask a question that goes beyond the pitch: Can a shared love of the beautiful game actually ease international tensions — or does the World Cup merely become another arena for political theatre? As always, The J-Z Show brings together informed analysis, historical perspective, and candid discussion on the issues that matter most to Bangladesh.

Counterpoint with Zafar Sobhan | Episode 08 | Dr. Mubashar Hasan

In Episode 8 of Counterpoint with Zafar Sobhan, Zafar Sobhan is joined by Dr. Mubashar Hasan for a candid and deeply personal conversation on regional politics, international affairs, democracy, and the geopolitical challenges shaping South Asia.A powerful conversation on democracy, human rights, political memory, and the lasting impact of authoritarian repression. #Counterpoi

Counterpoint with Zafar Sobhan | Episode 07 | Shahnoor Rabbani

In this episode 07 of Counterpoint With Zafar Sobhan, host Zafar Sobhan is joined by sports commentator and founder of Shahnoor's Shot, Shahnoor Rabbani. The conversation explores the growth of sports media, the evolving football culture in Bangladesh, and the impact of digital platforms on modern sports journalism.

Counterpoint with Zafar Sobhan | Episode 06 | Shayan Khan

In this episode 06 of Counterpoint With Zafar Sobhan, host Zafar Sobhan is joined by Shayan Khan, Acting Editor of UNB and Executive Editor of Dhaka Courier. In this episode Zafar Sobhan, a football enthusiast engages in a discussion with Shayan Khan on the FIFA World Cup. From the selection to 32 teams and the tournament's evolution to the rise of emerging football nations, they explore what makes the World Cup the biggest sporting spectacle on earth. The conversation also covers their favorite teams, dark horses, standout players, and expectations for the tournament as...

Counterpoint Generations | Ep 10

In Episode 10 of Counterpoint Generations, Zafar Sobhan and Professor Rehman Sobhan examine a range of pressing legal and political developments shaping Bangladesh today.

Counterpoint Generations | Ep 9

Episode 9 of Counterpoint Generations reflects on the immediate post-election landscape, examining voter participation, the formation of the new cabinet, and the institutional challenges facing the incoming government as parliament prepares to begin its term.

Counterpoint Generations | Ep 8

In Episode 8 of Counterpoint Generations, the discussion explores Bangladesh’s electoral journey from the 1970 election to the present, examining how voting behaviour, political participation, and institutions have evolved over time. The episode also addresses contemporary questions around minority voting patterns, and why opinion polls often fail to predict real outcomes. A reflective conversation on elections, uncertainty, and democratic change.

Interview

Sponsored Content