Review of 133 Ordinances Nears Completion, Says Salahuddin Ahmed
The review process of 133 ordinances issued during the tenure of Bangladesh’s interim government has reached its final stage, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said on Wednesday.
Former Adviser M Sakhawat Hossain Alleges Key Decisions Were Made Outside Interim Government Council
Former adviser M Sakhawat Hossain has spoken out about the activities of the recently departed interim government. He said that key policy decisions and major moves of the government were not taken in meetings of the advisory council, but rather decided outside the council. He made these remarks in a special interview broadcast in the media on Thursday (February 26).
Massive Cost Overrun: Tk 79,834 Crore Added to 65 Projects
During the one-and-a-half-year tenure of the interim government, the cost of 65 development projects was increased by Tk 79,834 crore, which many economists consider the result of “wasteful” and questionable re-evaluations. The initial combined cost of these projects was Tk 2,24,000 crore; after revision, the expenditure increased by 35.67 percent to Tk 3,04,000 crore.
Debapriya Urges Review of Interim Government’s Foreign Agreements
CPD Distinguished Fellow Debapriya Bhattacharya has urged a review of the foreign agreements signed during the tenure of the interim government.
‘Yes’ Wins in Referendum, but Major Discrepancies in EC Statistics; 244% Vote Casting in One Constituency
In the recently held referendum, approximately 62.47 percent voted in favor of “Yes” and 29.32 percent voted in favor of “No.” Although “Yes” won nationwide with more than double the votes, The Business Standard (TBS) has identified major discrepancies in the referendum results and calculations published by the Election Commission (EC). Although “Yes” won in most constituencies, “No” secured victory in 11 constituencies.
Yes, No and Different Layers of Legal and Constitutional Righteousness
Generally, a referendum or plebiscite calls upon the electorate of a country to cast direct votes on any proposal, law, economic or political issue. For example, in a referendum staged on June 23, 2016, around 52 percent of the British voters who did took part in it, decided to come out of the European Union (EU). Or, I have seen the news headlines of Pakistan’s call to India for a referendum in Kashmir since my childhood.
Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Slams Upcoming Bangladesh Elections, Questions Legitimacy of Interim Government
As Bangladesh moves forward with its national elections, the country’s political landscape remains deeply contested. In an exclusive interview published by The Pioneer, the former Prime Minister delivered a strong and comprehensive critique of the current electoral process, describing it as fundamentally lacking democratic legitimacy and warning of long-term consequences for the nation’s constitutional order.
No Real Improvement in Bangladesh’s Corruption Ranking Due to Reform Inaction: TIB
Bangladesh ranks 13th among the world’s most corrupt countries. With a score of 24 out of 100, Bangladesh stands at 13th position among 182 countries. In terms of overall ranking, Bangladesh is placed 150th. Last year, Bangladesh was ranked 14th.
Economy at Risk: Foreign Debt Surges Despite Lack of Focus on Development
Despite lower spending on development projects, foreign debt in Bangladesh is increasing rapidly. To meet the budget deficit and protect foreign exchange reserves, the government is relying on quickly disbursable budget support loans instead of project loans. The depreciation of the taka has further compounded the situation. As a result, the country’s foreign debt has nearly doubled in just three years.
Interim Government Has Turned Minorities into Second-Class Citizens: Robayet Ferdous
The interim government has turned religious and ethnic minorities into “second-class citizens” over the past one and a half years, commented Robayet Ferdous, a professor of the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism at the University of Dhaka.