David Bergman

Bangladesh’s governing party officials are threatening people with the loss of state benefits if they do not show up at the polling centres in the country’s uncontested election.

In October 2022, the French president shook the hand of Adilur Rahman Khan and celebrated his fight “against impunity”. This week during his Bangladesh visit Macron ignored human rights issues, including Khan’s likely impending imprisonment.

The author explains that he is leaving his editorial position at Netra News, proud of what it is achieving.

The prime minister’s international affairs adviser claims the government is democratic and is addressing the country’s weak institutions.

Chowdhury Mueen-Uddin, convicted of war crimes in Bangladesh, appeals against decision to strike down libel case involving UK government report stating that he was “guilty of crimes against humanity”.

Ruling party's action towards the opposition Dhaka rally indicates free and fair elections are off the table.

The concerted campaign in Bangladesh to undermine the UN’s work on enforced disappearances is ill-informed and entirely misplaced.

With no evidence to support its initial claims against Grameen Telecom, ACC is now investigating dozens of other not-for-profit entities linked to the Grameen Bank founder.

The success of Bachelet’s visit to Bangladesh depends on her not mincing her words, and not accommodating the country’s authoritarian government.

Signing the OECD Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters could be a game changer — so why is the government not doing it?

Bangladesh government’s extraordinary campaign to deny the Padma bridge corruption conspiracy ignores an admission by SNC Lavalin that it sought to bribe government officials.

Bangladesh government’s decision to shut down a leading human rights organisation involves considerable self-harm.

Free and fair elections in Bangladesh will depend on the extent of pressure exerted by the democratic West.

Tonmoy Ahmed, a key propagandist for the ruling party, resigned after refusing to issue a public apology over his disinformation campaign against Netra News.

British MP Tulip Siddiq, a member of Bangladesh’s ruling family continues to say nothing about the country’s enforced disappearances – while campaigning for release of Nazanin.

A new draft regulation attempts to severely restrict what Bangladeshis can post on social media websites.

Does the Awami League government face the risk of new targeted sanctions if it rigs the upcoming 2023 national elections?

We cannot expect Bangladeshi politicians to conduct proper investigations into crimes they ordered, facilitated or to which they earlier turned a blind eye.

Comparing Bangladesh’s serious human rights violations with the situation in Western liberal democracies is both inaccurate and dangerous.

The ongoing prosecution in Bangladesh of two leading human rights activists is a threat to all independent human rights work in the country.

The politics of Khaleda Zia’s medical care.

More arrests of opposition activists in Bangladesh suggest the government plans another fake vote next year.

The violence that erupted after a video was posted on Facebook which incited violence against the Hindu community in Bangladesh does not justify the Digital Security Act.

The arrest of the sister of an outspoken US-based dissident journalist is a blatant attempt by the Bangladesh government to silence a government critic.

A new survey provides further evidence of popular support for the Awami League. So why does the party reject free and fair elections?

Only international sanctions against senior Bangladeshi politicians and security czars will stop enforced disappearances.

At the centre of the attacks on Netra News and other government critics is an organisation run by members of the Bangladeshi prime minister’s family.

An attempt to use the French courts to silence criticism of the Bangladeshi prime minister will not succeed.

Should CNN broadcast commercials promoting Bangladesh, considering the free fall in the government’s human rights and democratic record?

As international media watchdog brands Sheikh Hasina a “predator of press freedom” — Bangladeshi media remains silent.

What happens when Bangladesh’s energy, real estate and financial interests take over the media in the country.

Most people in Bangladesh get their news from television, not print media. So who owns the country’s private television stations?

Rozina Islam has been arrested for a standard journalistic practice in Bangladesh — she should be applauded, not prosecuted.

The pandemic is now hitting India hard. Bangladesh could be next.

How Bangladesh’s prime minister dealt with the fallout of “All the prime minister’s men” — by not changing anything.

Two narratives compete to dominate descriptions of the country — one positive, one negative. Both are right.

How Bangladesh government agencies are suspected of taking down websites and Youtube channels of dissident Bangladeshis abroad.

Has the Bangladesh government secretly remitted the sentences of two fugitive convicted murderers, the brothers of the country’s Chief of Army Staff?

Another picture emerges showing the unholy alliances in Bangladesh between criminals, police and politicians.

A British university’s collaboration with the Bangladesh government on a meeting about Sheikh Mujib raises important issues.

How the Awami League helped Tulip Siddiq MP win the last UK election.

The Brussels-based South Asia Democratic Forum praised the controversial 2018 Bangladesh election as being “free and fair”.

The Daily Star stands against corruption, so why criticise the World Bank for its investigation into the alleged criminal conspiracy?

Undercover UK cop reveals to public inquiry he infiltrated a pro-Bangladesh humanitarian group in London.

Why the Bangladesh government dismissed crucial Covid-19 research undertaken by a leading global health research institute.

How a marriage separation within Bangladesh prime minister’s family helps explain why Awami League leaders in Faridpur are now in jail.

The Awami League is a family business — who in the family will succeed Sheikh Hasina?

The Bangladesh government is likely to brand the retired military officer a criminal and traitor.

The initial projections seem overblown, but whether they remain so depends on how the government deals with the lockdown.

The prosecution in Bangladesh of 11 individuals is not only a serious infringement of freedom of speech, but a travesty in the use of the criminal law.

The recent disappearance and arrest of a Bangladesh photojournalist mirrors experiences of many other secretly detained men.

Bangladesh’s closed case death rate is over 4 times that of India and 10 times higher than Sri Lanka — but how concerned should we be?

Study shows other mitigation strategies far less effective in Bangladesh.

As the number of projected and officially reported deaths increasingly diverge, it is worth asking if politics is trumping a proper count.

Bangladesh government’s “National Preparedness and Response Plan for Covid-19” obtained by Netra News — is the government following its own plan?

A look at the abnormally high Covid-19 death rate in Bangladesh suggests that there are likely to be far more cases of infected people than the government admits.

Is Bangladesh a “rogue” state?

Is an influential pro-government businessman behind the recent troubles faced by bdnews24.com and its Editor-in-Chief Toufique Imrose Khalidi?

The Dhaka City Corporation elections may have been relatively unrigged, but it was far from free or fair, and the government directly intervened to stop observers.

When will the media in Bangladesh cover the ICSID decision on Niko corruption claims and how will the courts respond?

Severe restrictions on freedom of expression in Bangladesh do not mean that the Awami League government is unpopular.

Did the alleged vendetta campaign of a Bangladeshi security czar against his erstwhile business partner result in the death of a retired army captain?