The Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security Between the United States and Japan, what many perceive to be the cornerstone document of the US-Japan Alliance, was inked on January 19, 1960 – exactly 50 years ago, yesterday. This anniversary comes at time when some analysts, both American and Japanese, point to the modern nadir of […]
The New York Times reported yesterday that the Chinese government has unexpectedly decided to pull James Cameron’s new blockbuster “Avatar” from theaters, an unusual move considering the tremendous excitement (and revenue) the film has generated among Chinese audiences. While the Times quotes experts who say this was “a purely commercial” move undertaken to make room for homegrown […]
Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh is planning a mass protest movement against the Awami League’s signed agreements with India. Claiming that the agreements are bound to diminish Bangladeshi sovereignty, the leader of Jamaat, Maulana Matiur Rahman Nizami claimed that he would persuade Islamic leaders, students and intellectuals that their claims to Bangladesh as citizens would best be met […]
The Awami League government of Bangladesh will enact civil service legislation that will regulate the appointment and promotion of individuals within the government public service ranks. Though the Constitution of Bangladesh requires the nomination and promotion of individuals within government public service by an regulated institutional instrument, none has ever been devised. In a public […]
“The Canadian military planners expect that Pakistan will collapse by 2016, and the territory will be occupied by India. Sound bizarre? Not so to the security analysts in Ottawa.” Downhill for Pakistan? (Dawn) Tariq Amin-Khan. Tuesday, January 19, 2010 For the record, I want to make clear that I am a staunch supporter and promoter […]
Yesterday marked the 15th anniversary of the Great Hanshin Earthquake, the 7.3 magnitude earthquake that rocked sections of Hyogo Prefecture near Kobe, Japan and claimed 6,434 lives. Ceremonies were held throughout Kobe, as government officials, members of Japan’s imperial family, and bereaved loved ones sat in silent prayer at 5:46 am, the time that the […]
Begum Khaleda Zia has accused the Awami League government of selling out Bangladeshi’s interests in favor of security and India’s regional ascendancy. Insisting that she has not taken a stand against India, per se, she nevertheless claimed that Sheikh Hasina had given away Bangladesh;s national sovereignty during her state visit to India. The Daily Star […]
In China, accurately assessing public opinion on a given issue is more or less a hopelessly difficult task. With China’s huge population, the diversity of Chinese society, regional differences, lack of reliable public polling, etc., it is difficult to estimate with any certitude just how many people hold a certain belief. Anecdotal evidence and the work of a few bloggers […]
There’s been more than passing interest in the documentary on acid violence and abuse in Bangladesh that I flagged a few days ago. There’s also been more than passing confusion about the availability of the documentary on Youtube. So here again, is the documentary. This time I’ve embedded both Parts 1 and 2. See below, […]
Predictably, Sheikh Hasina is defending the agreements she signed in India as steps in the right direction toward solving the manifold political economic problems that plague Bangladesh. This is because, predictably, the BNP is claiming that the agreements signed so far amount to cheap talk and that Sheikh Hasina has failed to protect Bangladesh’s […]
ASEAN and U.S.: As predicted by this blog, the Obama Administration is moving to create a comprehensive political-economic rapprochement with East and Southeast Asia. The economic arm of this policy direction will branch off of the existing Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). So far, the TTP includes a free-trade agreements (FTA) with Brunei, Chile, New Zealand and […]
Let us never forget that this week we have witnessed misery. Haiti is a blanket reminder of all that we are and shall always be. Indeed, we now have reason to celebrate that Bangladesh is no longer immiserated– it is poverty stricken. Bangladeshis suffer from sheer adverse facts on the ground; they do not suffer […]
David Headley and Tahawwur Rana have been indicted by a US grand jury for the terror attacks in Mumbai on November 26, 2008. The two men were arrested in Chicago on 3 October, 2009 and charges were filed against them on 7 December, 2009. The indictment revels that Lashkar e-Taiba provided $28,000 to David Headley […]
Google’s threat to bow out from China is clearly tremendous news. The technology giant has served up for China’s leadership an understated but devastating rebuke of their Internet policies. What amazes is the unabashedly political and moral nature of their declaration; as scores of analysts have already pointed out, besides the potential $600 million in […]
In light of the tragic earthquake in Haiti, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is cutting her trip to Asia short. This is a prudent decision, as the relief effort will require high-level coordination across agencies and in tandem with nations from across the globe. There is indeed much work to be done at the State […]
