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Mir Aftabuddin Ahmed

Mir Aftabuddin Ahmed is policy development officer at the City of Toronto.

Bangabhaban.jpg

What kind of president does Bangladesh need?

2 August 2026
Mohammed Shahabuddin’s less-than-ceremonious exit from the presidency allows the ruling BNP to draw a line under months of ambiguity over two issues.
2 August 2026
OP_1__Why_a_benevolent.jpg

Why a benevolent dictatorship will not succeed in Bangladesh

13 April 2026
The tendency to argue that Bangladesh needs an authoritarian leader—provided that leader is benevolent—remains a middle ground to which many retreat, especially when they believe voters lack sufficient literacy to make informed choices
13 April 2026
mark carney wins Canadian election

Canada bets on the political centre and an economist

3 May 2025
Mark Carney faces an assignment that will stretch even his crisis-tested resume.
3 May 2025
482022853_2405651233127911_1559717988614204218_n.jpg

The role of state and society in sustaining gendered violence

24 April 2025
Rape persists in Bangladesh at the scale it does because too many men believe they are superior beings and that women exist to be controlled.
24 April 2025
A reminder of the nearly unwinnable hand Yunus was dealt

A reminder of the nearly unwinnable hand Yunus was dealt

26 January 2025
A sentiment has taken root in Bangladesh: Yunus is an honest man with good intentions.
26 January 2025
The BPL anthem: A rhythm of change

The BPL anthem: A rhythm of change

5 December 2024
Bangladesh's youth rise up, fueling a cultural movement of protest and hope.
5 December 2024
op_2_7.jpg

Sustainable policy reforms demand a cultural change

5 September 2024
Dr Yunus outlined five strategic arenas for reform: the Election Commission (EC), judiciary, civil administration, security forces, and media.
5 September 2024
Bangladesh student protests and government crackdown

When rule of (no) law reigns supreme

3 August 2024
A narrative from both the government and some mass media outlets promotes a version of events that is far detached from the reality experienced
3 August 2024
women-access-financial-services.jpg

Enhancing financial literacy through inclusion and education

Financial literacy is defined as the ability to recognise and effectively use diversified financial skills, tools and services, especially with reference to personal banking management, investment strategies and budgeting.
23 November 2020
Capture web.jpg

Niloufer Manzur – An Unparalleled Nation Builder

Mrs Manzur was a nation-builder in the truest sense of the word -- and this too while being surrounded by a plethora of notable personalities in her own family.
26 May 2020
covid-19-green.jpg

Mobilising the spirit of Ramadan in the fight against Covid-19

From a religious perspective, Ramadan has always been a time of self-reflection, restraint and altruism—and given the struggles being faced by daily wage earners and, in reality, a majority of Bangladeshis today, we have a unique opportunity to invest in our faith to collectively tackle the challenges posed by Covid-19.
5 May 2020
OP 2.JPG

Disengaged voters in a declining democracy

As Bangladesh celebrates the centennial birth anniversary of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman via the commemoration of 2020-2021 as the “Mujib Year”, it is important if not necessary for citizens to reflect on the symbolic achievements of Bangabandhu, in addition to partaking in celebratory events throughout the year.
6 February 2020
op1.jpg

The dominance of business elites in the political economy

The term “neopatrimonialism” is defined by political scientist Christopher Clapham as a system in which “relationships of a broadly patrimonial type pervade a political and administrative system, which is formally constructed on rational-legal lines”.
28 January 2020
Trudeau

Reasons behind Trudeau’s slim victory

A second term in office awaits the incumbent Canadian prime minister, as the centre-left Liberal Party managed to secure enough parliamentary seats to ensure that a
4 November 2019
rmg worker.jpg

A story less told: Bangladesh’s success in green RMG production

Earlier this month, Made in Bangladesh, a film that brings to light the predicament of workers in Bangladesh’s readymade garments (RMG) industry, was screened amidst much anticipation at the prestigious Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). The film features a
23 September 2019
India tour of Australia.jpg

Cricket World Cup and a policy of exclusivity

Since the commencement of the tournament in 1975, the one-day international World Cup has traditionally been the flagship event of the International Cricket Council (ICC) whilst both the Test and T20 formats of the game have their own unique features.
11 June 2019
blind eye.jpg

Turning a blind eye?

Nusrat Jahan Rafi’s murder is a gruesome tale of the systematic violation of basic fundamental rights of children and, particularly, young girls in Bangladesh.
24 April 2019
It was the community which made history

'It was the community which made history'

In June 2018, at the age of 29, Doly Begum became the first member of the Bangladeshi expatriate community in Canada to be elected
12 April 2019
B&W ED 1.jpg

Why criminal justice reform is a must

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has recently directed prison authorities to engage inmates in commercial production as a means of rehabilitation; her words were echoed by Iqbal Hasan, an additional Inspector General of prisons,
30 January 2019
Good governance

Good governance, a prerequisite for solving youth unemployment

The "Asia-Pacific Employment and Social Outlook Report 2018" published by the International Labour Organization (ILO) suggested that the youth unemployment rate in Bangladesh had increased from 6.32 percent in 2000 to 12.8 percent in 2018.
23 January 2019
Education Minister Dipu Moni

Key challenges for the education minister

President Abdul Hamid appointed 47 members to the new cabinet of Bangladesh this month with Dr Dipu Moni taking over the reins of
12 January 2019
community clinic.jpg

Increasing the capacity of Community Clinics

Ever since the early 1990s, Bangladesh has witnessed visible strides in several human development indicators, especially with relation
22 December 2018
climate change

Looking at climate change from the lens of international security

A milestone report by the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has warned the global community of the expository risks our planet faces, if international stakeholders fail to portray environmental protectionism front and centre in their policy programmes.
14 October 2018
RMG sector

The need for equitability

The Bangladesh government proudly promotes the notion that the country is going through a rapid spell of socio-economic development—encapsulated by real GDP growth rates of over seven percent since 2016.
4 October 2018
amazon.jpg

A case for cautious optimism

Recent reports in the media have suggested that retail giant Walmart and e-commerce heavyweight Amazon are expected to enter the Bangladeshi market in the next couple of years.
13 September 2018
diversity and progressive thought

Addressing mental health: Lessons from Toronto

Toronto is a city which wholeheartedly accepts inclusivity, diversity and progressive thought as the foundational norms of its everyday journey. This Canadian cosmopolitan city posits a wide array of multicultural settings—from the famous Danforth-Victoria Park region which houses a high number of Bangladeshi immigrants, to the globally acclaimed financial district in Downtown Toronto.
26 July 2018
private universities

Making private universities more affordable

Education remains the cornerstone of success for societies around the world—with the recent quota movement in Bangladesh showcasing some of the ensuing tensions between various stakeholders within our growing economy.
15 May 2018
Taking a step back

Taking a step back to move forward

Bangladesh celebrated its 48th Independence Day recently, and today we stand proud to be able to call ourselves a sovereign and independent nation. Yet, one questions whether we successfully practise the spirit of our liberation movement, imbued in the ideals of Mujibism as it was called. Socialism, secularism, nationalism and democracy are, in reality, big words which most have no idea about.
30 March 2018

Pagination

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