The tenacity of hope
Dec 30th 2008 DHAKA From The Economist print edition
Bangladesh enjoys a pretty clean election and a decisive result AFP
IT WENT better than anyone dared hope. On December 29th Bangladesh held its first general election for seven years. It was well-attended, with a 70% turnout, well-organised, largely peaceful and, despite some vote-buying and other malpractice, far cleaner than its predecessors. It produced an astonishing, massive landslide for the alliance led by the Awami League of Sheikh Hasina Wajed (pictured above), prime minister from 1996-2001, and daughter of the country’s murdered independence leader........................
Thursday, January 08, 2009
Unguided democracy
Unguided democracy
Jan 7th 2009 From Economist.com
Hardy political perennials in Thailand and Bangladesh
THE swearing-in this week of Sheikh Hasina Wajed as Bangladesh’s prime minister has brought national celebration. There is much to cheer: the return of democratic rule after two years of army-installed technocracy; a successful election, largely free of the violence, intimidation and massive vote-buying that marked its predecessors; the toppling of the unpopular regime of Khaleda Zia’s Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), which preceded the army’s interregnum; and the rout of Mrs Zia’s Islamist allies, and hence, it is hoped, of the political wings of Islamist extremism..................
Jan 7th 2009 From Economist.com
Hardy political perennials in Thailand and Bangladesh
THE swearing-in this week of Sheikh Hasina Wajed as Bangladesh’s prime minister has brought national celebration. There is much to cheer: the return of democratic rule after two years of army-installed technocracy; a successful election, largely free of the violence, intimidation and massive vote-buying that marked its predecessors; the toppling of the unpopular regime of Khaleda Zia’s Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), which preceded the army’s interregnum; and the rout of Mrs Zia’s Islamist allies, and hence, it is hoped, of the political wings of Islamist extremism..................
Friday, December 19, 2008
Helping to write History
Helping to Write History
By Eli SaslowWashington Post Staff WriterThursday,
The job requires him to work unnoticed, even in plain view, so Jon Favreau settles into a wooden chair at a busy Starbucks in the center of Penn Quarter. Deadline looms, and he needs to write at least half a page by the end of the day. As the espresso machines whir, Favreau opens his laptop, calls up a document titled "rough draft of inaugural" and goes to work on the most anticipated speech of Barack Obama's life.......................
By Eli SaslowWashington Post Staff WriterThursday,
The job requires him to work unnoticed, even in plain view, so Jon Favreau settles into a wooden chair at a busy Starbucks in the center of Penn Quarter. Deadline looms, and he needs to write at least half a page by the end of the day. As the espresso machines whir, Favreau opens his laptop, calls up a document titled "rough draft of inaugural" and goes to work on the most anticipated speech of Barack Obama's life.......................
Thursday, October 02, 2008
US Superpower status is shaken
US superpower status is shaken
By Paul Reynolds World affairs correspondent, BBC News website
Will Uncle Sam still bestride the world in future?The financial crisis is likely to diminish the status of the United States as the world's only superpower. On the practical level, the US is already stretched militarily, in Afghanistan and Iraq, and is now stretched financially. On the philosophical level, it will be harder for it to argue in favour of its free market ideas, if its own markets have collapsed....................................
By Paul Reynolds World affairs correspondent, BBC News website
Will Uncle Sam still bestride the world in future?The financial crisis is likely to diminish the status of the United States as the world's only superpower. On the practical level, the US is already stretched militarily, in Afghanistan and Iraq, and is now stretched financially. On the philosophical level, it will be harder for it to argue in favour of its free market ideas, if its own markets have collapsed....................................
US Superpower status is shaken
US superpower status is shaken
By Paul Reynolds World affairs correspondent, BBC News website
The financial crisis is likely to diminish the status of the United States as the world's only superpower. On the practical level, the US is already stretched militarily, in Afghanistan and Iraq, and is now stretched financially. On the philosophical level, it will be harder for it to argue in favour of its free market ideas, if its own markets have collapsed........................
Monday, September 29, 2008
Pakistan: the New Frontline
Pakistan: the new frontline
Washington's military strategy in the Afghanistan-Pakistan border region is expanding its range of enemies,
writes Paul Rogers
BY THE end of August 2008 it was clear that Afghanistan was becoming the principal focus of the George W Bush administration's war on terror. Iraq was believed to be making a transition to some sort of peace after more than five years of war; but as the violence there at last showed some signs of diminishing, so the problems in Afghanistan were escalating.......................
Washington's military strategy in the Afghanistan-Pakistan border region is expanding its range of enemies,
writes Paul Rogers
BY THE end of August 2008 it was clear that Afghanistan was becoming the principal focus of the George W Bush administration's war on terror. Iraq was believed to be making a transition to some sort of peace after more than five years of war; but as the violence there at last showed some signs of diminishing, so the problems in Afghanistan were escalating.......................
BNP to Continue Good Steps: Khaleda
Let JS review bad ones.... Khaleda Zia
tells New Age in an exclusive interview Staff Correspondent
Former prime minister and chairperson of Bangladesh Nationalist Party, Khaleda Zia, has said that her party, if voted to power again, ‘may have to accept some irregularities’ of the present regime ‘which has set its own course, tenure, jurisdiction and agenda’................
Former prime minister and chairperson of Bangladesh Nationalist Party, Khaleda Zia, has said that her party, if voted to power again, ‘may have to accept some irregularities’ of the present regime ‘which has set its own course, tenure, jurisdiction and agenda’................
Pakistan On The Brink
Pakistan On The Brink
is at the center of a gathering fire storm engulfing south and central Asia in the most volatile confrontation since 9/11. Pakistan, Afghanistan, the US and NATO all bear heavy responsibility for the crisis. AHMED RASHID
For the past seven years the Bush administration studiously ignored the Afghan Taliban and Al Qaeda leadership gathering in the tribal areas of Pakistan, and now scrambles to make up for lost time. US elections are looming, and facing the humiliating prospect of Osama bin Laden outlasting a two-term presidency and even expanding his reach, Bush has pushed the Pentagon into a do-or die-hunt for bin Laden. Whether the search for an "October surprise" for the election succeeds or not, the radical threat is now beyond easy military solution........
is at the center of a gathering fire storm engulfing south and central Asia in the most volatile confrontation since 9/11. Pakistan, Afghanistan, the US and NATO all bear heavy responsibility for the crisis. AHMED RASHID
For the past seven years the Bush administration studiously ignored the Afghan Taliban and Al Qaeda leadership gathering in the tribal areas of Pakistan, and now scrambles to make up for lost time. US elections are looming, and facing the humiliating prospect of Osama bin Laden outlasting a two-term presidency and even expanding his reach, Bush has pushed the Pentagon into a do-or die-hunt for bin Laden. Whether the search for an "October surprise" for the election succeeds or not, the radical threat is now beyond easy military solution........
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Sea of Poppies
'The Ghazipur And Patna Opium Factories Together Produced The Wealth Of Britain'
At an age when other writers begin to worry about running out of words, the author of Sea of Poppies has just embarked on his biggest writing project. It's a labour of love, he says.
SHEELA REDDY
At 52, life couldn't get any better for Amitav Ghosh. At an age when other writers begin to worry about running out of words, he has just embarked on his biggest writing project. It's a labour of love, he says in an interview with Sheela Reddy, that will perhaps keep him busy for the rest of his writing life. The first of his serial magnum opus, The Sea of Poppies, will hit the bookstores on June 1...............................
Thursday, May 08, 2008
CTG is in a state of Redundancy
FAKHRUDDIN GOVERNMENT IS IN A STATE OF REDUNDANCY
Can the political leadership regain initiative?
NM Harun
There was or is nothing unavoidable or inevitable about whatever has happened during the periods of the BNP-Jamaat government, the caretaker government of Iajuddin Ahmed or the current Fakhruddin Ahmed government or whatever will happen at the demise of this government. Everything happens because of decisions – be they right or wrong – the actors in politics or the power game take in their wisdom or stupidity.......................
Can the political leadership regain initiative?
NM Harun
There was or is nothing unavoidable or inevitable about whatever has happened during the periods of the BNP-Jamaat government, the caretaker government of Iajuddin Ahmed or the current Fakhruddin Ahmed government or whatever will happen at the demise of this government. Everything happens because of decisions – be they right or wrong – the actors in politics or the power game take in their wisdom or stupidity.......................
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