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CG sticks to its roadmap
AL's euphoria over Hasina's
return was premature
Shamsuddin Ahmed
There is no sign, till today, that the Caretaker Government (CG) backed by the armed forces has deviated from its objectives. No doubt, there have been flaws at times in dealing with the burning issues; nevertheless a sizeable number of people and the international community still support the government's objective to cleanse the country of widespread graft, reforms in political parties and election process to ensure polling free from money and muscle power and snags that encumbered good governance... [ FULL STORY ]
Energy security and national interest must jell
India's power play hinders
hydro and nuclear options
M. Shahidul Islam
A cold war is brewing in South Asia and Bangladesh faces a colossal challenge with respect to meeting its immediate energy needs. The government's desperation is conspicuously visible in its recent decision to revive talks with India on Myanmar-Bangladesh-India gas pipeline as well as the simultaneous approaches made to India and Nepal for hydroelectric cooperation. The energy adviser has also talked of the necessity to go for the nuclear option... [ FULL STORY ]
Democracy watchers wake up
to ground realities in Bangladesh
Sadeq Khan
In an interview with BBC World Service, Chief Adviser of the Caretaker Government of Bangladesh Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed staunchly maintained that the present caretaker government was sworn-in as per constitutional provision while the military was working in aid of the civil administration under the prevailing law... [ FULL STORY ]
Spectre of rightwing radicalism feared
Julio Godoy in Paris
Nicolas Sarkozy's triumph in the French presidential elections could open the way for deep political and social changes, not unlike those that began with the era of Margaret Thatcher in Britain in the 1980s... [ FULL STORY ]
Glimpses of the Great
Boris and Condi
K. Z. Islam
Boris Nikolayevich Yeltsin first president of the Russian Federation passed away on 23 April 2007. He served as president from 1991 to 1999 and came to power on a wave of high expectations casting himself as a democrat. But all his reforms backfired devastating the living standards of much of the population leaving a legacy of corruption in the government where a handful of people were able to enrich themselves while stamping out competitors. But Boris lived his personal life on his own terms. President Bill Clinton is reported to have said that he never found Yeltsin sober until his fourth summit. On one occasion Yeltsin was too drunk to leave his plane for a planned meeting with Ireland's Prime Minister. His aides had to slap him to bring his consciousness... [ FULL STORY ]
Tough days ahead for ULFA
Nava Thakuria in Guwahati
The public apathy towards the armed movement and the recent outrage expressed by the victims of insurgency against the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) has left its leadership bewildered. The armed outfit tried to derive mileage by trying to highlight the cases of missing ULFA rebels but seems to have failed. The wives of six missing ULFA rebels went on a 'fast unto death', but they also failed to garner support...
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Sarkozy's win augurs well for US
Maswood Alam Khan
Sarkozy will ceremonially assume French Presidency on May 16 heralding an end of 12-year tenure of Chirac. The change augurs well for France's relation with USA, but not so well with Russia. The warmth of camaraderie Putin, Chirac and Schroeder enjoyed may no more be the same with Sarkozy's entry into their club... [ FULL STORY ]
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