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Tarique Rahman

Tarique Rahman's Past Will Shadow His Nation's Future: Is Bangladesh Headed For Post-Election Conflict?

Keen observers of international and regional politics will not have missed the tacit presence of the invisible hand of the US in determining the democratic transition in Bangladesh.  Obviously, TarIque had been tutored by the Americans about the best way forward for the transition towards democratic rule and delivering on the promises of cooperation on regional security. The intelligentsia inside the country could have hoped for Tarique referring to ‘’historical’’ figures from the Indian subcontinent, the Muslim world, and Bangladesh’s past.

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Nepal's Use Of Lethal Force And South Asia's Enforcement Vacuum

The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation's (SAARC) Charter, by contrast, establishes no regional human rights treaty, monitoring body, or court. Scholars emphasize that governments in the subregion demonstrate a lack of deep commitment to human rights and remain unwilling to acknowledge subregional solutions. Victims of systemic violations have no forum for binding adjudication.

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Donald Trump and Narendra Modi

Trumpian Caprice Has India In A Bind: Will Need Foreign Policy Recalibration

This fully unfettered approach to everything Trump does also has serious consequences for India. At least through the duration of the Trump administration until 2028, the Modi government will have to spread around its geostrategic and geoeconomic needs among various countries such as Japan, Australia, Germany, France and the United Kingdom or collectives such as the European Union, even as it deals with America with some judicious leveraging.

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Representational Photo

Bangladesh: Where Blasphemy Is A Trigger To Weaponize Religion

The ruling governments in Bangladesh often seek to use these laws in various ways. Critical expression, especially criticism of the government or raising questions about religion, can be met with swift arrest and harassment through laws such as the Digital Security Act (DSA). In addition, allegations of religious blasphemy are used to pressure and marginalize political opponents, opposition parties, and dissenting voices. Religious extremist groups use these laws to promote their ideology or to intimidate people of different faiths or those who hold non-religious views.

Podcast featuring Ashok Sawhny "Sahil"

In this exclusive conversation, Mehran Shah sits down with Ashok Sawhny Sahil, a renowned businessman and celebrated poet.

The One Big Beautiful Bill is Bountiful and Beastly

On July 4, President Donald J Trump signed his signature piece of domestic legislation, the so-called One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB).