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                        <id>http://www.presstoday.news/feed/opinion</id>
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                                <title><![CDATA[The Press Today opinion Feed]]></title>
                                <description>The Press Today Latest opinion News Feeds</description>
                                <language>bn-BD</language>
                                <updated>Sun, 19 Apr 2026 12:58:57 +0000</updated>
                        <entry>
            <title><![CDATA[Iran &#039;victorious&#039; in war with US: Iranian Speaker]]></title>
            <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.presstoday.news/news/article/opinion/374" />
            <id>http://www.presstoday.news/news/article/opinion/374</id>
            <author>
                <name> <![CDATA[The Press Today Admin]]></name>
            </author>
            <summary type="html">
                <![CDATA[Iran had been &quot;victorious in the field&quot; during weeks of war and had only agreed to a temporary truce with the United States because its demands had been met, the Iranian parliamentary speaker said on Saturday.

The two-week ceasefire is set to end Wednesday unless it is renewed, with a permanent deal that mediators including Pakistan are pushing to get over the line still not finalised and progress on key sticking points uncertain.

&quot;We were victorious in the field,&quot; Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said in a national televised address, adding the United States had not achieved its goals and Iran controlled the strategic Strait of Hormuz maritime transit route.

&quot;If we accepted the ceasefire, it was because they accepted our demands,&quot; he said, referring to the United States.

&quot;The enemy&#39;s every effort was to impose its demands on us and it is important that we register our rights, so this is where negotiation is a method of struggle.&quot;

Ghalibaf and his delegation held closed door talks in Islamabad with US Vice President JD Vance on April 11, in the highest level Iran-US contacts since before the 1979 Islamic revolution.

The talks did not result in a final deal and officials have signalled mediations are continuing, though Iran&#39;s deputy foreign minister said on Saturday no date had been set for a new round of talks.

PT/ra]]>
            </summary>
            
            
            <updated>Sun, 19 Apr 2026 12:58:57 +0000</updated>
        </entry>
            <entry>
            <title><![CDATA[Extortion will undermine zero tolerance policy on corruption: TIB]]></title>
            <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.presstoday.news/news/article/opinion/317" />
            <id>http://www.presstoday.news/news/article/opinion/317</id>
            <author>
                <name> <![CDATA[The Press Today Admin]]></name>
            </author>
            <summary type="html">
                <![CDATA[Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB), has warned that describing extortion in the road transport sector as a mutual settlement could pave the way for justifying similar practices in other areas, undermining the government&rsquo;s stated zero tolerance policy on corruption.

In a statement issued on Friday, the anti corruption watchdog said attempts to reframe extortion as a negotiated transaction contradict the government&rsquo;s declared stance against corruption and risk legitimizing unethical practices.

TIB cautioned that such interpretations could embolden corrupt activities not only in the transport sector but also across state services and development administration.

The statement comes shortly after the newly formed government reiterated its commitment to a zero tolerance approach to corruption. TIB said that recharacterizing widely discussed extortion practices in the transport sector as a settlement within 48 hours of that pledge raises serious concerns about the administration&rsquo;s position.

TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman said the definition of extortion put forward by the transport minister runs counter to the government&rsquo;s anti corruption commitments outlined in its election manifesto and the prime minister&rsquo;s address to the nation. Presenting an unethical and collusive crime in a positive light so soon after such pledges is deeply disappointing, he said.

He added that efforts to justify longstanding extortion practices in the road and transport sector under the pretext of owner and worker welfare are misleading. Rather than resolving systemic problems, such reasoning could entrench disorder and impunity. The financial burden of extortion, he noted, ultimately falls on ordinary passengers and transport workers.

Dr Iftekharuzzaman further warned that if road extortion is accepted as a settlement, the same logic could be extended to other sectors. These include the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority, healthcare, education, social protection, law enforcement, the judiciary, passport services, land administration and other public services, as well as government procurement, development projects, banking and the power sector. Such a trend, he said, would severely damage governance and accountability structures.

TIB urged the government to immediately reject the transport minister&rsquo;s remarks at the highest level and ensure accountability through proper procedures if it is sincere about combating corruption. The organization also called for visible progress in internal party reforms and disciplinary measures.

Appealing directly to the prime minister, TIB said effective steps are needed to prevent what it described as self defeating actions by sections of party leaders and activists. Failure to act could erode public confidence and pose risks to the democratic process, the statement said.

PT/ra]]>
            </summary>
            
            
            <updated>Sat, 21 Feb 2026 05:30:57 +0000</updated>
        </entry>
            <entry>
            <title><![CDATA[Surprising and embarrassing : Shashi Tharoor]]></title>
            <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.presstoday.news/news/article/opinion/252" />
            <id>http://www.presstoday.news/news/article/opinion/252</id>
            <author>
                <name> <![CDATA[The Press Today Admin]]></name>
            </author>
            <summary type="html">
                <![CDATA[India and Bangladesh are once again at the centre of a cricket and political row. This time, it involves the T20 World Cup and the Indian Premier League. Bangladesh has asked that their matches at next month&rsquo;s T20 World Cup not be played in India. Instead, they want the games moved to Sri Lanka. The request came after Bangladeshi fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman was released from his IPL team following advice from the BCCI.

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor reacted sharply to the development. He took to social media and criticised India&rsquo;s role in the situation. &quot;Hardly surprising. We have brought this embarrassment upon ourselves,&quot; Shashi Tharoor wrote on X.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) held an emergency meeting on Sunday. After the meeting, the board said it had &ldquo;formally requested&rdquo; the ICC to shift their World Cup matches out of India.&quot; The Board of Directors resolved that the Bangladesh National Team will not travel to India for the tournament under the current conditions,&quot; the BCB said in a statement.

The board explained that the decision was taken because of &ldquo;growing concerns regarding the safety and security&rdquo; of its players. It also said the move was based on advice from the Bangladeshi government. The issue escalated after Mustafizur Rahman was released by the Kolkata Knight Riders.

The IPL franchise was &ldquo;advised&rdquo; by the BCCI to do so amid rising tensions between the two countries.

Bangladesh&rsquo;s Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Nazrul reacted strongly. He said the country would not tolerate any disrespect. &quot;will not accept any insult to Bangladeshi cricket, cricketers and Bangladesh under any circumstances.&quot; &quot;The days of slavery are over,&quot;. &quot;Where a Bangladeshi cricketer cannot play in India despite being contracted, the entire Bangladeshi cricket team cannot feel safe going to play in the World Cup,&quot; he wrote.

The T20 World Cup begins on February 7 and is co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka. Bangladesh were scheduled to play all four of their group matches in India. Pakistan, meanwhile, will play their matches in Sri Lanka as part of a neutral-venue agreement.

Bangladesh Cricket Board president Aminul Islam Bulbul said that &ldquo;the dignity and security of our cricketers are our top priorities&rdquo;.

Mustafizur had been bought by Kolkata Knight Riders for over $1 million at the IPL auction in December. But BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said that &ldquo;considering recent developments&rdquo; the franchise had been &ldquo;advised to release&rdquo; him. &quot;I have requested the Information and Broadcasting Adviser to stop the broadcasting of the IPL tournament in Bangladesh,&quot; he said.Kolkata Knight Riders later said Mustafizur&rsquo;s &ldquo;release has been carried out following due process and consultations&rdquo;.

The controversy comes at a sensitive time. Political relations between India and Bangladesh have been strained since a mass uprising in 2024 removed Sheikh Hasina from power. Bangladesh will also hold elections on February 12.

PT/ra]]>
            </summary>
            
            
            <updated>Mon, 05 Jan 2026 10:54:07 +0000</updated>
        </entry>
            <entry>
            <title><![CDATA[What next ?]]></title>
            <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.presstoday.news/news/article/opinion/225" />
            <id>http://www.presstoday.news/news/article/opinion/225</id>
            <author>
                <name> <![CDATA[The Press Today Admin]]></name>
            </author>
            <summary type="html">
                <![CDATA[We beside the nation isshell-shocked to have witnessed how, Sharif Osman Hadi, an independent MP aspirant for Dhaka-8 and spokesperson for Inqilab Moncho, was shot from pointblank range by two assailants from a running motorcyclein the capital&#39;s Paltan area on Friday noon, leaving him critically injured.

The victim yet remains in a critical state with severe brain and lung injury as his life is hanging on a thread. Another dream has been visibly cut short by violence, leaving behind grief, unanswered questions, and a renewed sense of urgency to confront the causes that allow such tragedies to occur.

However, the gruesome shooting incident took place just after a day the election schedule was announced last Thursday.It has not only shaken the conscience by sending shockwaves to the society, but it has also placed the burning question over precarious state of safety &amp; security of our politicians and MP candidates.

While the killer has been reportedly identified, it is obvious that another key reason behind the shooting is to jeopardize the run-up to the election days, instill fear among people and politicians, and ultimately block it from taking place in safe and peaceful manner.

Such a brutal and painful occurrence demands more than just condemnation and condolences. It calls for transparency, accountability and a prompt thorough investigation, so to restore public trust. We demand for clear answers on what happened, and justice must follow facts wherever they lead. Silence, delay or ambiguity would not only fuel mistrust, but may well empower a dark fascist force to target and attack country&#39;s democratic transition and free-speech.

At the same time, the shooting of Osman Hadi compels us to confront broader questions.

How come gun violence continue to claim lives with such alarming regularity? Why is the state repeatedly failing to ensure safety and security of its people? And who is next after Hadi?

These are disturbing questions for sure, but avoiding them only confirms recurrence of the same tragedy.

The Interim Government, law enforcement agencies and policymakers must respond not just with statements, but with action. And this includes stand beside Hadi&#39;s grieving family, protectintegrity of the investigation and address systemic issues that make violence feel inevitable rather than preventable.

We call on the government to ensure speedy justice for Hadi&#39;s assailants, since we honour his promising life combatting with death. That said - honouringHadi means refusing to give up, refuse to normalize violenceand insist that justice, transparency and reform are not optional in today&#39;s Bangladesh - they are indispensable.

Courtesy: Bangladesh Observer]]>
            </summary>
            
            
            <updated>Mon, 15 Dec 2025 04:33:05 +0000</updated>
        </entry>
            <entry>
            <title><![CDATA[Regime change by USA had ended: Tulshi]]></title>
            <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.presstoday.news/news/article/international/153" />
            <id>http://www.presstoday.news/news/article/international/153</id>
            <author>
                <name> <![CDATA[The Press Today Admin]]></name>
            </author>
            <summary type="html">
                <![CDATA[The U.S. national intelligence director told officials Friday in the Mideast that America&rsquo;s former strategy of &ldquo;regime change or nation building&rdquo; had ended under President Donald Trump.

Tulsi Gabbard &rsquo;s comments before the Manama Dialogue, an annual security summit in Bahrain put on by the International Institute for Security Studies, underlines remarks Trump offered on a trip earlier this year to the Middle East, reports AP.

In Trump&rsquo;s second term, previous American goals of fostering human rights and democracy promotion in the region have been replaced by an emphasis on economic prosperity and regional stability. That includes securing a ceasefire that has halted the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip, as well as forcing an end to Israel&rsquo;s 12-day war on Iran after sending American bombers to attack Iranian nuclear sites.

&ldquo;For decades, our foreign policy has been trapped in a counterproductive and endless cycle of regime change or nation building,&rdquo; said Gabbard, a former Congresswoman from Hawaii and U.S. Army National Guard veteran.

&ldquo;It was a one-size-fits-all approach, of toppling regimes, trying to impose our system of governance on others, intervene in conflicts that were barely understood and walk away with more enemies than allies.&rdquo;

She added: &ldquo;The results: Trillions spent, countless lives lost and in many cases, the creation of greater security threats.&rdquo;

That assessment mirrors Trump&rsquo;s own thinking about the wars that followed the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks on New York and Washington. He reached a deal in his first term to withdraw from Afghanistan, which in the Biden administration became a chaotic departure in 2021. Meanwhile, he&rsquo;s embraced Syria&rsquo;s interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa, a former al-Qaida fighter once held in an American prison in Iraq.

Unmentioned by Gabbard was Trump&rsquo;s deployment of warships off South America, fatal strikes targeting alleged drug-running boats and his ordering of the CIA to run covert operations targeting Venezuela, which has stoked fears of invasion and speculation that Trump could try to topple its authoritarian president.

Serious challenges remain from Trump in the Middle East, however. Gabbard noted in her brief remarks that the ceasefire in Gaza remained &ldquo;fragile.&rdquo; She also acknowledged Iran remained a concern as the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency said renewed movement has been detected recently at the country&rsquo;s nuclear sites.

&ldquo;The road ahead will not be simple or easy but the president is very committed down this road,&rdquo; said Gabbard, who attended the event as a government shutdown grinds on back home.

An Associated Press journalist had been accredited and issued a visa to cover the summit, but the Bahraini government late Wednesday said it had been rescinded as it was conducting a &ldquo;post-approval review&rdquo; of that permission. The government did not elaborate on why the visa was revoked. Earlier that day, the AP published a story on long-detained activist Abdulhadi al-Khawaja beginning an &ldquo;open-ended&rdquo; hunger strike in Bahrain over his internationally criticized imprisonment.

Al-Khawaja late Friday halted his hunger strike after receiving letters from the European Union and Denmark regarding his case, his daughter Maryam al-Khawaja said.The US national intelligence director told officials Friday in the Mideast that America&rsquo;s former strategy of &ldquo;regime change or nation building&rdquo; had ended under President Donald Trump.

Tulsi Gabbard&rsquo;s comments before the Manama Dialogue, an annual security summit in Bahrain put on by the International Institute for Security Studies, underlines remarks Trump offered on a trip earlier this year to the Middle East, reports AP.

In Trump&rsquo;s second term, previous American goals of fostering human rights and democracy promotion in the region have been replaced by an emphasis on economic prosperity and regional stability. That includes securing a ceasefire that has halted the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip, as well as forcing an end to Israel&rsquo;s 12-day war on Iran after sending American bombers to attack Iranian nuclear sites.

&ldquo;For decades, our foreign policy has been trapped in a counterproductive and endless cycle of regime change or nation building,&rdquo; said Gabbard, a former congresswoman from Hawaii and US Army National Guard veteran.

&ldquo;It was a one-size-fits-all approach, of toppling regimes, trying to impose our system of governance on others, intervene in conflicts that were barely understood and walk away with more enemies than allies.&rdquo;

She added, &ldquo;The results- trillions spent, countless lives lost and in many cases, the creation of greater security threats.&rdquo;

That assessment mirrors Trump&rsquo;s own thinking about the wars that followed the 11 September 2001 terror attacks on New York and Washington. He reached a deal in his first term to withdraw from Afghanistan, which in the Biden administration became a chaotic departure in 2021. Meanwhile, he&rsquo;s embraced Syria&rsquo;s interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa, a former al-Qaida fighter once held in an American prison in Iraq.

Unmentioned by Gabbard was Trump&rsquo;s deployment of warships off South America, fatal strikes targeting alleged drug-running boats and his ordering of the CIA to run covert operations targeting Venezuela, which has stoked fears of invasion and speculation that Trump could try to topple its authoritarian president.

Serious challenges remain from Trump in the Middle East, however. Gabbard noted in her brief remarks that the ceasefire in Gaza remained &ldquo;fragile.&rdquo; She also acknowledged Iran remained a concern as the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency said renewed movement has been detected recently at the country&rsquo;s nuclear sites.

&ldquo;The road ahead will not be simple or easy but the president is very committed down this road,&rdquo; said Gabbard, who attended the event as a government shutdown grinds on back home.

An Associated Press journalist had been accredited and issued a visa to cover the summit, but the Bahraini government late Wednesday (29 October) said it had been rescinded as it was conducting a &ldquo;post-approval review&rdquo; of that permission. The government did not elaborate on why the visa was revoked. Earlier that day, the AP published a story on long-detained activist Abdulhadi al-Khawaja beginning an &ldquo;open-ended&rdquo; hunger strike in Bahrain over his internationally criticised imprisonment.

Al-Khawaja late Friday halted his hunger strike after receiving letters from the European Union and Denmark regarding his case, his daughter Maryam al-Khawaja said.

Courtsy: Daily Observer

PT/ra]]>
            </summary>
            
            
            <updated>Mon, 03 Nov 2025 08:47:52 +0000</updated>
        </entry>
            <entry>
            <title><![CDATA[No Need another powerless rights body: Debapriya]]></title>
            <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.presstoday.news/news/article/opinion/79" />
            <id>http://www.presstoday.news/news/article/opinion/79</id>
            <author>
                <name> <![CDATA[The Press Today Admin]]></name>
            </author>
            <summary type="html">
                <![CDATA[Dr. Debapriya Bhattacharya, distinguished fellow at Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), has said that Bangladesh does not need another weak and ineffective human rights commission, calling for a stronger, more authoritative institution capable of addressing real issues of rights and justice.

Speaking at a discussion titled &quot;Draft Human Rights Commission Act 2025&quot;, organized by Citizens&rsquo; Platform on Saturday, Debapriya criticized past efforts, pointing out that the existing frameworks have failed to deliver justice or accountability. &quot;The people of Bangladesh don&rsquo;t want another powerless human rights commission with no authority or efficiency,&quot; he said, adding that the initiative to establish a commission first emerged during the 2007 caretaker government under Fakhruddin Ahmed, with a draft law prepared by 2009.

However, he noted that when Awami League government came to power, it significantly altered the draft and passed a version through parliament that ultimately lacked independence and effectiveness. &ldquo;A spineless good man was appointed to lead the commission. No matter how well-meaning a person may be, if they lack backbone, they cannot lead a human rights commission,&rdquo; Debapriya remarked bluntly. He further criticized the interim government for failing to offer a viable alternative after abolishing the previous commission in November 2024. &ldquo;Nearly a year has passed and what we have now is a draft law riddled with ambiguity and loopholes,&rdquo; he said.

Highlighting the legal flaws, Supreme Court lawyer Barrister Jyotirmoy Barua pointed out that the draft contains many of the same issues as the previous law. &ldquo;There&rsquo;s no specific timeframe for complaint resolution, no clarity on whether dual citizens can serve on the commission and serious ambiguity around funding sources,&rdquo; he said. Barua also raised concerns about the inclusion of bureaucrats in the commission, which creates an inherent conflict of interest. &ldquo;The draft doesn&rsquo;t say whether this problematic practice will be continued or abolished,&rdquo; he added.

Sanjida Islam, coordinator of Mayer Daak, a platform of families of victims of enforced disappearances, shared her disappointment with past commissions. &ldquo;Each time we approached the commission, they would simply send a letter to Home Ministry and consider their duty done. No real action followed,&rdquo; she said. Echoing her frustration, Debapriya criticized the commission&rsquo;s annual reports that claimed 100 percent task completion. &ldquo;In reality, their work amounted to little more than writing letters,&rdquo; he said.

The discussion was attended by human rights activists from various sectors, along with representatives from United Nations and several foreign missions, who also shared their perspectives on strengthening the proposed law and ensuring accountability in human rights governance.

PT/ra]]>
            </summary>
            
            
            <updated>Sat, 27 Sep 2025 08:35:29 +0000</updated>
        </entry>
            <entry>
            <title><![CDATA[Why the happiest couples don&#039;t post everything !]]></title>
            <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.presstoday.news/news/article/opinion/51" />
            <id>http://www.presstoday.news/news/article/opinion/51</id>
            <author>
                <name> <![CDATA[The Press Today Admin]]></name>
            </author>
            <summary type="html">
                <![CDATA[Mehek Malhotra*: If you&#39;re worried that you and your partner don&#39;t post enough about your relationship on social media, it might actually be a good thing and a healthy approach to love.

In Short


	People in happy relationships post less online because they&rsquo;re busy enjoying real life
	Sharing intimate details on social media is tied to relationship satisfaction
	Oversharing your intimate life may signal a need for outside reassurance


From the quiet soft launch, a mystery hand in the photo or two drinks on a table, to posting cuddled-up photos for the world to see, many people feel a relationship isn&#39;t real unless it&#39;s on social media. After all, your followers need to see your &#39;perfect person&#39;, along with every romantic milestone, anniversary caption, and romantic getaway update.

But studies suggest something different. Couples who are truly happy in real life often post less about their relationship online. They don&#39;t feel the need to prove anything or share every detail. Instead, they focus on enjoying time together without thinking about likes and comments.

Courtsy: Mehak Malhotra*, mehak.malhotra@aajtak.com

*An iced coffee addict, Mehak Malhotra is a Senior Sub-Editor with India Today Digital. With an experience of over 6 years in writing about lifestyle and entertainment, she loves expressing her thoughts through her words. A foodie at heart, she&rsquo;s a handbag and makeup hoarder, who enjoys cooking and tries to be the perfect host. Finding beauty in the broken world.

PT/ra]]>
            </summary>
            
            
            <updated>Wed, 20 Aug 2025 10:26:34 +0000</updated>
        </entry>
            <entry>
            <title><![CDATA[From Nazism to Zionism: How Ideologies Affected Palestine !]]></title>
            <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.presstoday.news/news/article/opinion/4" />
            <id>http://www.presstoday.news/news/article/opinion/4</id>
            <author>
                <name> <![CDATA[The Press Today Admin]]></name>
            </author>
            <summary type="html">
                <![CDATA[Juhi Jahan: The proceedings and subsequently, the onset of the relocation began in 1933 with narratives presented by Leopold von Mildenstein; incharge of the Jewish Desk within the SS Security Service who was also recognized for his journalistic writing and supported by Joseph Goebbels; the Reich&#39;s minister of propaganda. The series of articles titled as &ldquo;A Nazi travels to Palestine.&rdquo; written by Mildenstein, was regarded as Goebbels flagship project as he used it as a means of advertising. This included the visions of establishment in Palestine by Jewish population. In addition, it was stressed and backed by the Nazis that Jews should be encouraged to leave Germany to prevent their extermination. Hence, the mass deportation and emigration from Germany to glorify the Zionist development in Palestine by the jewish settlers based on the concept and beliefs surrounding &ldquo;Promised Land&rdquo;.

Consequently the occupation of Israel started in 1967 in Gaza, way before the Hamas attack on 7th October 2023 which is often overshadowed in attempts to legitimize violence carried by the Israeli army. Extreme normalization of occupation and violence towards civilians are evident. Despite the propaganda, those who dare to break free from supporting the government of inhumane brutality, face imminent consequences of the powerful regime. Jewish American activist Simone Rimmon Zimmerman, who was raised with Jewish beliefs surrounding the emphasis of unconditional love for the state of Israel, speaks out about her awakening to the &ldquo;Palestinian reality&rdquo; and the profound reevaluation of the worldview she grew up with. In the recent documentary Israelism, Zimmerman discusses her journey in challenging the Zionist narrative she was once taught to embrace.

While the irony remains as the condemnation of the anti-semitic remarks may not manifest in the same scale of violence the Palestinians are experiencing in the present, the use of systematic collective punishment is just as alarming; disregarding the history that the Jewish community once went through.

What causes visceral racism towards a certain group of people? Well it starts from a very early age with normalization of apartheid and dehumanization while desensitizing the children to mass killings. In the Israeli education structure, Palestinians are not only labelled broadly as Arabs, but they are also systematically dehumanized and are often depicted as terrorists. This reinforces negative stereotypes and shapes public perception from a young age. Kan, an Israeli public broadcaster, released a video of children singing and glorifying IDF soldiers chanting &ldquo;there will be nothing&rdquo; after they &ldquo;eliminate them all&rdquo;, indicating execution and taking over the land of Palestine. To &ldquo;annihilate&rdquo; the Palestinians since they are being identified as the &ldquo;bearers of the swastika&rdquo; which is to equate the citizens of Palestine as Nazis; inciting hostility among the public.

Including the history of Holocaust in the textbooks that promote mindsets through phrases like &ldquo;Not to let the fire of vengeance die out&rdquo; serves to fuel hatred rather than amplify empathy. Fundamentally, the hatred is directed towards the Palestinians rather than the Germans who are closely associated with Holocaust. In the end the prolonged victimization shifts into aggression where the victim takes on the role of the assailant, continuing a cycle of recurrent brutality.

Rather than recognized as Palestine&rsquo;s resistance force, the incident on 7th October carried by Hamas is perceived differently. A common interpretation of Palestine&#39;s resistance is that it promotes war and acts of violence against people. However, little attention is paid to the disturbing and continuous violence that has continued for years. An accurate comprehension of the motivations for such actions requires recognition of the historical and ongoing violations that have caused desperation in many Palestinians.

Juhi Rubaba Jurana Jahan

juhi.jahan@gmail.com]]>
            </summary>
            
            
            <updated>Fri, 08 Aug 2025 03:35:21 +0000</updated>
        </entry>
            <entry>
            <title><![CDATA[Remembering the 2024 uprising in Bangladesh!]]></title>
            <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.presstoday.news/news/article/opinion/40" />
            <id>http://www.presstoday.news/news/article/opinion/40</id>
            <author>
                <name> <![CDATA[The Press Today Admin]]></name>
            </author>
            <summary type="html">
                <![CDATA[Exactly one year ago, Bangladesh witnessed a historic wave of public unrest. While many pointed fingers at the quota reform movement or certain individuals like Nahid or Asif as the catalysts, the truth runs deeper. The fall of the government was not triggered by any political faction or organized demand; it was the result of simmering public frustration, unheeded grievances, and a long-overdue emotional eruption.

The Quiet Agony of Urban Life:

For years, citizens, particularly the urban middle class, had been quietly enduring the tightening grip of state control over daily life. Sudden internet blackouts, unexplained curfews, and the paralyzing of livelihoods became commonplace. These weren&rsquo;t just policy failures, they were daily assaults on dignity and survival, quietly accumulating into deep societal scars.

When the quota reform movement dragged on and lost formal leadership, the vacuum was filled by students from private universities and young people with no political affiliations. They weren&rsquo;t activists. They didn&rsquo;t belong to any party. Yet when these students were seen bleeding in the streets, something snapped inside the collective conscience of the public.

They were someone&rsquo;s son, someone&rsquo;s daughter, someone&rsquo;s beloved. And in a moment of raw humanity, ordinary people flooded the streets, not under any political banner, but driven purely by instinct and empathy.

And thus came the chant that defined the moment: &quot;We demand the government&rsquo;s resignation.&rdquo;

This Wasn&rsquo;t a Political Protest&mdash;It Was a Plea to Live With Dignity:

The movement was never about political power. It was about the right to feel safe, to be respected, and to live a decent life. Quota reform, constitutional amendments, or tactical politics&mdash;these were never part of the average citizen&rsquo;s vocabulary. What they sought was simple: dignity and basic rights.

The Geopolitical Undercurrents:

No mass uprising happens in a vacuum, especially in a geopolitically sensitive country like Bangladesh. International players, agencies, and foreign interests often seize the opportunity when domestic tensions boil over.

In this case, the quota issue merely served as the entry point. The underlying societal tension was real, and foreign actors knew how to exploit it. The government, to its credit, did sense the brewing storm. It realized a trap was being laid&mdash;a web of manufactured tension. Yet, instead of protecting the people from this trap, it fell right into it.

The gravest mistake was not in misreading the situation but in choosing to open fire on the very citizens it was sworn to protect.

Where the State Failed:

As the leader of the nation, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina&rsquo;s administration had one primary responsibility: to ensure public safety and prevent mass emotional manipulation. A timely public address, empathetic gestures, or responsible policing might have defused the tension.

But instead, the state responded with bullets. This single miscalculation shattered 16 years of governance and plunged the country into political uncertainty.

Who Reaped the Rewards of the Uprising?

Ironically, those who began as apolitical actors soon emerged as power players. Within a year, many became enforcers, brokers, and wielders of administrative influence. The reintroduction of a modified quota system under new political names like the &ldquo;July Warriors&rdquo; is proof that the movement was, at some point, hijacked and repurposed.

And the very people whose blood catalyzed this moment of change? They quietly returned to their personal struggles, forgotten but used.

The Double-Edged Sword of People&rsquo;s Power:

The people of Bangladesh don&rsquo;t crave politics. They want to walk safely, raise families, and live with dignity. But when these basic expectations are disrupted, they rise not for ideology, but for survival. And when they rise, they recognize no leader, no flag.

This is both the nation&rsquo;s greatest strength and most dangerous vulnerability. Because foreign powers will not hesitate to exploit this latent energy again.

The responsibility to safeguard this vulnerability rests on the state apparatus regardless of which party is in power.

When the State Turns Against Its Own People, History Turns Merciless:

When the very institutions designed to protect citizens stand against them, history does not forgive. And in that history, no one escapes accountability.

Mahmid Hasan Samel is a Freelance Journalist and Political Analyst

PT/ra]]>
            </summary>
            
            
            <updated>Mon, 04 Aug 2025 13:31:29 +0000</updated>
        </entry>
            <entry>
            <title><![CDATA[Caretaker system changes require referendum: Ali Riaz]]></title>
            <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.presstoday.news/news/article/opinion/38" />
            <id>http://www.presstoday.news/news/article/opinion/38</id>
            <author>
                <name> <![CDATA[The Press Today Admin]]></name>
            </author>
            <summary type="html">
                <![CDATA[National Consensus Commission (NCC) Vice-Chair Prof Ali Riaz on Tuesday said any future amendment to the caretaker government system &mdash; once it is reinstated in the constitution &mdash; must be done through a national referendum. &ldquo;There is no disagreement among political parties over restoring the caretaker government system. Therefore, it has been proposed that any future changes to this system should require a referendum,&rdquo; Prof Riaz told reporters at a press briefing following the 14th day of the second round of reform dialogues at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka.

He expressed optimism that a consensus on appointing the chief of the caretaker government could be reached by next week.
Addressing other constitutional issues, Prof Riaz said it was decided that until an upper house is formed, constitutional amendments would require a majority vote in the existing parliament. However, amendments to certain key constitutional provisions &mdash; including the preamble, the fundamental principles of state policy, Articles 48, 56, 142, and caretaker system-related Articles 58B, 58C, 58D, and 58E &mdash; would mandatorily require a referendum.
Prof Riaz said while most political parties support establishing a bicameral legislature, they remain divided over how the upper house should be formed. Some favour formation based on the proportional share of votes, while others want it based on the proportional share of seats won in the lower house.
&ldquo;As the parties have failed to reach consensus despite several rounds of discussion, they have entrusted the commission to decide on the matter,&rdquo; he said, adding that the NCC hopes to build a position on this through informal consultations by next week.
Tuesday&rsquo;s dialogue was attended by representatives from around 30 political parties and alliances, including the BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, NCP, Gano Odhikar Parishad, Ganasamhati Andolon, CPB, Revolutionary Workers Party, and AB Party. NCC members Justice Md Emdadul Haque, Dr Iftekharuzzaman, Dr Badiul Alam Majumdar, Safar Raj Hossain, and Dr Md Ayub Miah were present at the session, which was moderated by Chief Adviser&rsquo;s Special Assistant Monir Haidar.

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            <updated>Wed, 16 Jul 2025 10:23:08 +0000</updated>
        </entry>
            <entry>
            <title><![CDATA[Its&#039;  time for transparent tax system]]></title>
            <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.presstoday.news/news/article/opinion/27" />
            <id>http://www.presstoday.news/news/article/opinion/27</id>
            <author>
                <name> <![CDATA[The Press Today Admin]]></name>
            </author>
            <summary type="html">
                <![CDATA[Muhammad Abdul Mazid:

Bangladesh&#39;s economy has grown significantly in recent decades, becoming more diversified and less reliant on foreign aid. Tax revenues have also increased, reflecting this growth. Yet, the role and structure of the country&#39;s revenue officials have remained largely unchanged for decades.

Revenue officials have long held dual roles &ndash; both making the rules and enforcing them &mdash; and this has led to excessive discretionary power.

If police officers are allowed to write the rules governing when they can use firearms, they would make rules to suit their interests. It&#39;s no different with revenue officials &ndash; they often misuse their authority.

Another real-world example is: When a taxpayer files their return, a deputy commissioner of taxes might arbitrarily reject the declared expenses. A taxpayer could be told, &quot;I don&#39;t believe you made four trips abroad for business,&quot; and have their claims disallowed. There&#39;s an underlying suspicion toward taxpayers, and officials often act aggressively.

In another case, tax officials simply tell individuals or companies: &quot;You paid Tk50 in tax last year &ndash; this year, you must pay Tk60,&quot; without considering whether the taxpayer&#39;s income has increased.

Such unchecked discretion creates space for under-the-table deals between tax officials and taxpayers, leading to significant informal revenue losses for the government.

The decision to separate tax policy from enforcement is expected to change that. Officials in charge of tax collection will no longer be involved in policymaking, and vice versa. This will empower both tax officials and taxpayers, providing clearer channels for appeal and oversight.

Taxpayers who feel harassed will now have the opportunity to seek redress from the policy division.

While both new divisions will still be staffed mainly by revenue officials, the policy wing is expected to include input from independent experts and representatives from the private sector &ndash; a move aimed at ensuring greater transparency and fairness in the tax system.

Dr. Muhammad Abdul Mazid, Former Secretary &amp; Chairman, NBR

Courtsy: TBS

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            </summary>
            
            
            <updated>Wed, 16 Jul 2025 08:56:39 +0000</updated>
        </entry>
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