HRM Rokan Uddin Bangladesh stands at a defining moment in its history. More than five decades after the Liberation War of 1971 secured territorial independence, the events of 2024 have reopened a deeper national conversation about political freedom, sovereignty, and the direction of foreign policy. The fall of Sheikh Hasina’s long rule, following a powerful … More Bangladesh First: A New Doctrine of Foreign Policy
HRM Rokan Uddin Probably for the first time in the political history of Bangladesh, we have witnessed something that many thought was unlikely—a courtesy visit by Mr. Tarek Rahman to Dr. Shafiqur Rahman and Mr. Nahid Islam following the announcement of the election results. In a political culture long dominated by confrontation, mistrust, and zero-sum … More Beginning of a new positive political culture
HRM Rokan Uddin The nation stands today at a critical juncture. In just one week, the people will walk to polling centers to exercise their most powerful democratic rights, the right to choose their representatives and shape the future of the country. Elections are not merely a political event; they are a test of national … More Accept the Election Results and Unite the Nation
HRM Rokan Uddin When Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Dhaka in June 2015, one of the most consequential—yet insufficiently debated—outcome was the proposal to establish a dedicated Indian Economic Zone (IEZ) inside Bangladesh. Framed as an economic confidence-building measure, the proposal aimed to facilitate Indian investment and deepen bilateral economic integration. Then Prime Minister Sheikh … More Rethinking of Defense Industry Zone at Mirsarai
Brig Gen HRM Rokan Uddin (Retd) Bangladesh’s experience with elections has never unfolded in isolation. From the very birth of the state, external forces—regional powers, global actors, donors, and international institutions—have interacted with domestic politics in ways that shaped not only election stability but also the deeper character of governance. These influences have rarely operated … More A Free Fair Election without External Influence
Brig Gen HRM Rokan Uddin (Retd) For decades, the people of this country have lived under the shadow of elections that were elections in name only. Votes were cast, but ownership of those votes never truly rested with the people. Sometimes manipulation was crude and blatant—open administrative bias, security-backed takeover of polling centers, ballot boxes … More The Return of Election Engineering in a Post-Revolution Nation
Brig Gen HRM Rokan Uddin (Retd) The Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) have long been one of Bangladesh’s most fragile frontiers. Rugged hills, dense forests, and a border touching both India and Myanmar make the region strategically vital. Whoever controls the CHT holds a gateway to the Bay of Bengal and a corridor to India’s vulnerable … More Blood on the Hills: The Making of a Crisis
Brig Gen (Retd) HRM Rokan Uddin In Bangladesh, the recent formation of charge sheets and summons issued by the International Crimes Tribunal against several army officers has sparked an intense legal, constitutional, and institutional debate. This is not merely a matter of one case, it raises profound questions about the balance between the country’s constitutional … More Trial of Army Officers Before the ICT: Law, Policy, and Institutional Crisis
HRM Rokon Uddin The fall of Sheikh Hasina’s 16-year regime on 5 August 2024 marked one of the most dramatic political upheavals in Bangladesh’s history since independence. The ensuing appointment of Nobel Laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus as Chief Adviser of an interim administration created a fragile but hopeful opening. A year on, Bangladesh stands at … More Bangladesh’s Democratic Crossroads: Challenges, Opportunities, and the Road Ahead
HRM Rokan Uddin The Arakan region (today’s Rakhine State of Myanmar) has been deeply connected with Bengal for centuries. There were strong bonds of trade, culture, and migration between the coastal belts of Chittagong and Arakan. During the medieval period, the Sultans of Bengal maintained close ties with the Arakanese kingdom. Sufi saints, traders, and … More Arakan Army’s Provocations: Resolution Lies in Firm Stance
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