The interim government’s ban on Bangladesh’s largest political party undermines democracy, empowers extremists, and threatens the region’s fragile stability As Bangladesh heads towards a national election, political uncertainty and unrest are intensifying. What should have been a routine democratic exercise…
Introduction More than one year on, the initial euphoria of the 2024 Gen-Z students’ apparent vision for a more equitable and just society has given way to a palpable sense of anxiety, particularly among religious minorities and women. The movement…
Bangladesh, a nation born from the secular ideals of its 1971 Liberation War, now finds itself at a precipice. What began as a student-led movement for equitable quota reforms in government jobs has been systematically hijacked by anti-liberation forces—both domestic…
Spotlight Issue 13 arrives at a critical moment in Bangladesh’s political history, documenting an escalating democratic, humanitarian, and constitutional crisis. This issue highlights how the unelected interim government’s ban on the Awami League—Bangladesh’s largest political party—has destabilized the political order,…
Executive Summary Since the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s elected government on August 5, 2024, Bangladesh’s interim regime has initiated a sweeping and unprecedented crackdown on press freedom. This report documents the systematic repression of independent journalism, the hostile takeover of…
Probir Kumar Sarker The rise of Islamist extremism in Bangladesh poses a growing threat to regional stability, particularly for its neighbours India, Myanmar, and Nepal. Over the past three decades, from 1992 to 2024, Bangladesh has witnessed the emergence and…
In this pivotal issue of Spotlight, we dissect the escalating repression of press freedom in Bangladesh following the July–August 2024 uprising and analyze the international geopolitical forces shaping the country's political trajectory. This edition also continues our focus on Gen…
Introduction The transition in Bangladesh after August 5, 2024, provides a stark illustration of how political upheaval can evolve from mass protests to widespread disorder, revealing the deep-seated stresses within the country and the true nature of its new interim…
The October 2025 issue of The Spotlight examines Bangladesh’s political and economic landscape following the August 5, 2024, transition, exploring the aftermath of mass protests, institutional instability, and the emergence of an interim government. This edition opens with a reflective…
P. Zahsan Executive Summary Bangladesh’s progress in fighting terrorism over the last two decades is now in danger under the interim government led by Dr. Muhammad Yunus. While government leaders claim there is “no terrorism” in the country, this view…