I suddenly got the news that our beloved teacher Professor Anisur Rahman had left this world at an advanced age. For the last ten to fifteen years, he had vowed that he would remain anonymous. He would not come to the public space again. I heard this from his mouth ten years ago from today.

I truly believed in Sir's self-confidence that we would never see him in public again. In reality, that is what happened. Akash and Dr. Kazi Khalikuzzaman Ahmed went to his Segunbagicha flat one evening. I went to convince Sir to accept the Bangladesh Bank Award. In the meantime, we were able to give the Bangladesh Bank Award to Professor Nurul Islam, Rehman Sobhan and Mosharraf Hossain Sir.

Among the four famous professors, Anis Sir could not be given this award. I told Akash that let's try together to see if we can convince him. I also requested Khalik Bhai to come to Sir's house that evening. I finished my office from Motijheel and reached Sir's house in the evening. A very simple house. Not even a working person.

I was afraid to ask Sir to accept the award. Sir said, “You know I like you very much. But I cannot accept this award. I do not want to go in public anymore.” After that, he showed me two books and said that I am busy with this. The two books were about how to prepare for death. After that, all three of us left without saying anything else, inspiring Sir to continue living his life as he did.

After that, I did not have the courage to meet Sir again. I must have felt bad not being able to give the award to Sir. The sadness of not being able to add one of the four star economists to the list remains even today. However, that year, I was able to jointly give the award to Professor Muzaffar Ahmed (posthumously) and Dr. Swadesh Bose, so the sadness decreased a little. After that, I left Bangladesh Bank. That was how our Anis Sir was. He was unparalleled in philosophical knowledge as well as a pioneer in providing life-oriented education.

I got Sir as a microeconomics teacher in the seventies. He taught us limits and derivatives for about a month. He used to say that if you understand these two concepts, you will not have any difficulty in understanding modern economics. Before that, he established the Department of Economics at the University of Islamabad and served as the mentor of many famous economists in their early years.

He started teaching at Dhaka University. He wrote the shortest PhD thesis (probably 65 pages) from Harvard within three years and returned to the country. But due to a lack of rapport with the then Vice Chancellor Ayub-Monayem close, he left his job and went to the East-West Center in Honolulu. He returned to Dhaka University via Islamabad.

The Vice Chancellor at that time was Justice Abu Sayeed Chowdhury. Earlier, when he was at Dhaka University, East Pakistan was a victim of great discrimination. So Professor Nurul Islam, Rehman Sobhan, Mazharul Haque, Dr. Sadeq and Dr. Habibur Rahman he was very active in analyzing the foundations of the two economies with his colleagues. His PhD thesis was also on the economics of inequality.

As economists on the panel formed to prepare the Fourth Five-Year Plan document in Pakistan, they created such a fuss that they had to submit their reports separately in the end. There was no consensus with the West Pakistani economists. The entire politicians, student community and intellectual community of East Pakistan were so excited by their ideas that in the end almost everyone responded to Sheikh Mujib's six-point appeal.

The minds of Bengalis began to be absorbed in the thought of their homeland separately. So when Operation Searchlight began on March 25, Anis Sir was attacked. He crawled out of the campus and crossed the valley of death. With the help of Moidul Hasan and Mukhlesur Rahman Sidhu Bhai, he and Rehman Sobhan somehow crossed the border and reached Agartala.

Some people raised questions on the way, saying they were non-Bengali, but with the intervention of Dhaka University students, they were able to cross over with their lives. From Agartala to Delhi to Professor Amartya Sen's house. Through him, they met another economist, Ashok Mitra. He was in the government at the time. Through him, they spoke to Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's Principal Secretary, PN Haksar. After talking to these two famous economists of Bangladesh, Indira Gandhi had a meeting with Tajuddin and M Amirul Islam. And thus began the Mujibnagar government.

On April 17, 1971, the essence of our declaration of independence was declared. After that, our Anis Sir and Rehman Sir went to the United States as special envoys of the Mujibnagar government. There, they, Professor Nurul Islam and other expatriate intellectuals and economists, created public opinion in favor of Bangladesh in Congress and Senate. As part of that, they were able to stop the World Bank's financial aid to Pakistan.

After the liberation war, they joined the Planning Commission of independent Bangladesh. There, Anis Sir also spoke in favor of the government's cost-saving programs, land reforms, and various works of building the country through voluntary labor to establish socialism. At one point, he returned to Dhaka University and started working as the chairman of the economics department. At this time, he tried to implement the work that he could not do while in the government with his students. He started working with his students in the village of Jirabo in Ashulia, near Dhaka, to cultivate rice as a volunteer. To deal with the famine he took the initiative to distribute relief in the village of Brahmanbaria in a model manner with students. He introduced us to the humanitarian initiatives that Nur Mohammad Mondal had taken around education and development through a cooperative program in Kunjipukur village of Rangpur.

He has been struggling all his life to see how it is possible to improve the common people by standing next to the people and participating in them. Under the ILO's participatory planning program, he took various initiatives in various countries in Asia and Africa. He inspected the desired land reforms in India through the 'Land Army' program. In the light of that experience, he also played a role in the formation of the Research Initiative in Bangladesh or RIB. He also sat in on our meetings.

He sincerely supported the participatory research through which we were trying to give an alternative human definition of poverty. He also wrote an article on our work in the holiday. At that time, he asked me to think about the environment and nature with all my heart. Fritz Capra's two books gave us a new perspective on the environment (Fritz Capra is an Austrian-born American writer, physicist, systems theorist, and deep environmentalist. One of his books is 'The Web of Life: A New Scientific Understanding of Living Systems', 'Hidden Connections', 'Green Politics'). We have tried to look at nature and the environment from a human perspective. I am very grateful to Sir for giving me this perspective.

At one time, he practiced mainstream economics. He used to write about capitalism, inequality, and technology preferences in the world's best economics journals. But gradually he gave up traditional economics. Rabindranath's songs and rural development ideas started attracting him more. He practiced Rabindra Sangeet with great attention, just like him.

In the mid-eighties, I went to Silaidah in Kushtia for the Rabindra Sangeet Sammilan Parishad conference. Sir also went. I read a long article titled Rabindranath Tagore's Rural Development Philosophy. Sir listened very attentively. Sir preferred to listen more. He did not want to talk. Later, however, he asked me to continue working on Rabindranath Tagore's development philosophy.

I tried, sir...you have left the light and air of this world. Who else will encourage us in these creative works?

However, he has sown many seeds of his creative thoughts in various writings. He was truly a multi-dimensional genius. Who can be called a Renaissance personality. A little stubborn. A rebel. But a humanist in his heart and soul. He was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. But he remained dedicated to the welfare of the underprivileged throughout his life.

He wrote not only in theory but also in practice how to work for the betterment of this backward community. Just by mentioning the names of some of the books he wrote, it is understood that he thought deeply about the marginalized. We can see the reflection of all those thoughts in the books he wrote.

For example, he has left behind for the development of our mental world - 'Development Enquiry', 'Abducted Bangladesh', 'People's Self Development', 'The Infinite Pulse - Rabindra Sangeet Understanding and Pursuit', 'The Fire That Lit - Spontaneous Expression of the Spirit of the Liberation War', 'Songs of Tagore, Philosophy, Selected Translations, Paintings', 'Participation of the Rural Poor in Development', 'My Story of 1971', 'Ekushey and Independence: The Economy and Social Reality of Bangladesh', 'What I Found on the Way-1', 'What I Found on the Way-2', 'The Lost Moment: Dreams with a Nation Born Through Fire' etc. These books are not only valuable for students of sociology and economics and Rabindra devotees. These books will touch the hearts of any reader. I don't know how much it will be possible for the young generation who are immersed in social media to find these books. But our Anis Sir will live on in these books.

I was very lucky that he and Mirza Nurul Huda Sir interviewed me in the seventies for admission to the Economics Department. Since I was among the top ten in the SSC and HSC examinations in the Science Department of Dhaka Board, Huda Sir asked me why I was trying to come to Economics instead of Physics or Chemistry. I was young. Still, I said that I hope to do well in Economics because it has a scientific basis.

Anis Sir was smiling. In the end, I studied Economics with them all my life. Anis Sir used to tell me to look at Economics and Development from a humanitarian perspective. I don't know how much I have been able to fulfill his expectations. However, I have tried my best to make development a friend to the marginalized through the eyes of Rabindranath Tagore all my life. The huge void that Anis Sir's departure has created in my mind cannot be filled immediately. May his soul rest in peace, I pray to God.

Author: Emeritus Professor, Dhaka University and former Governor, Bangladesh Bank 

There has never been a female president in the 248-year history of the United States. However, several women have run for president. In 2016, Hillary Clinton ran for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination, but she lost to Donald Trump. This year, in the November 5, 2024 election, Kamala Harris lost to President Donald Trump as the Democratic Party's candidate. Out of the 538 seats in the Electoral College, Kamala Harris won 223 votes and Donald Trump won 279. Donald Trump has the good fortune of becoming president for a second time.

According to the custom of that country, he will be sworn in as the 47th US president in January. Congratulations to him in advance.

Before this vote, Kamala Harris was ahead in various polls. Kamala Harris is serving as the Vice President of the United States, and she is the first woman, the first black person, and the first person of Asian descent to run for this position. Kamala Harris's vice presidency and the election of many women to the Senate and Congress suggested that the American public was interested in female leadership. But her experience and poll results have been distorted by Donald Trump's victory.

It is not yet time to analyze the reasons for Kamala Harris' defeat in the election. However, some things can be said now. Harris is a woman and the first black South Asian American vice president. Some voters in the country are still more comfortable with white male leadership. This cultural bias may have influenced her campaign. While Kamala Harris' political experience seems sufficient to many, she is relatively new. Many voters have already raised various questions about her national and international leadership experience.

In addition, some of her policy positions and statements have caused confusion among voters. For example, there are differences of opinion within the Democratic Party regarding her positions on immigration, health care, and crime. This policy position has made her somewhat controversial to a section of voters. US politics is currently deeply divided, and many Republicans or moderate voters may not have supported her as the Democratic nominee.

In addition, there are several ideological divisions within the Democratic Party, which may have been an obstacle to her support. Harris has been the subject of negative media coverage at various times. Her personality, statements, and decisions have often been exaggerated, which may have damaged her image. Many believe that her popularity has been limited in various states of the United States, especially in rural areas. There are some significant challenges to the election of a woman as president in the United States. These challenges come from cultural, political, and social perspectives and affect the candidates' campaigns and the attitudes of voters. In Kamala's case, they may have had an impact. Some people still believe that women would not be able to handle the challenging responsibilities of the presidency while balancing family and personal lives.

The long dominance of male candidates in the US presidential race has led to some skepticism about the political competence of women. Many voters questioned the political and diplomatic capabilities of female candidates. Especially some immigrant voters from Africa and the subcontinent. In some parts of the United States itself, religious and cultural traditions still bias women's political power. Voters in these regions may be averse to female leadership, which may act as a major obstacle in the election. As a result, the survey results have been reversed in those regions. This seems to be largely responsible for Kamala's lagging behind, especially in swing states.

In addition, the United States has never had a female president elected, so becoming the first female president will be seen as a big change. Many voters may find this change contrary to tradition and may hesitate to accept this innovation. However, in recent years, women have reached the highest levels of US politics and are constantly removing these obstacles. As a result, it is expected that such obstacles will decrease for female candidates in the future, and the possibility of a positive change is created. On the other hand, how Trump won the hearts of immigrants despite talking about stopping immigrants is a big concern at the moment.

Donald Trump won the 2016 presidential election largely on the promise of a tough immigration policy, which played a major role in his victory. He campaigned on promises to build a wall on the southern border of the United States with Mexico and to stop illegal immigration. These promises appealed to concerns about security, the economy, and job security in some parts of the United States. As a result, a tough stance on immigration control became popular with many of his supporters and is likely to have helped him win the election on November 5, 2024.

Although he has taken some steps as president to build a wall on the border and implement a tough immigration policy, these initiatives have been met with much controversy and     She was also a hindrance. Yet her strategy kept her in the spotlight during the campaign and played a significant role in her victory that year, and it may well have done so again. President Donald Trump, like in the 2016 election, promised in the November 5, 2024 election that he would not start new wars and would try to end ongoing ones. During his presidency, he has partially fulfilled this promise. He has taken steps to withdraw U.S. troops from several war zones, such as Afghanistan and Syria, and to reduce the military presence in the Middle East. In addition, tensions with Iran and North Korea have increased during Trump's first term, although they have not escalated into full-scale war.

Many American voters support female leadership, but there are still some psychological and cultural barriers to electing a woman president. Although support for women has been growing in recent years. The United States has a long history of electing only men to the presidency. This departure from this tradition is a major change for many voters, and some voters believe that men are traditionally suited to leadership roles.

In addition, Donald Trump has used inflation, unemployment, illegal immigration, and the cost of the war in Ukraine and the Middle East during President Biden's election campaign to motivate voters by using it negatively. Kamala Harris has tried to win the hearts of voters by smiling at every public meeting - something that Russian President Putin also mentioned in one of his speeches.

But nowadays, voters in any country do not want to forget just a smile on their face. They want to ensure sustainable economic, social, and human welfare for everyone. There is a section of some Americans who think that women are too emotional and incapable of dealing with war or critical situations. Although this idea is largely wrong. Still, it can repeatedly become an obstacle in the way of American women rising to the presidency. In this view, many analysts believe that female leadership in the US presidency may remain elusive for many more years to come.

The author is a Professor in the Department of Social Work and former Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Rajshahi University. E-mail: [email protected] 

Dhaka: More than 15 lakhs Rohingyas who have taken refuge in Cox's Bazar are frustrated because they cannot return to their homeland in Myanmar. Terrorism and deprivation surround them. Moreover, this refugee and homeless population is struggling with a crisis of identity and citizenship. Meanwhile, some Rohingya refugees are coming to Bangladesh every day by water and land after being attacked by rebel armed groups in the Arakan or Rakhine state of Myanmar. In this situation, a new political dream has been seen centered on refugee life.

The refugee camps in Ukhia and Teknaf in Cox's Bazar are said to be the largest refugee camps in the world. After visiting the camp and adjacent areas for a few days in mid-October, no one saw a ray of hope in their eyes or faces. The locals are just as frustrated as the Rohingyas. No one knows when people will be able to return to their homeland. Many are thinking about a new course of action.

The young man Abdus Salam knows a little Bengali. Describing the inhumane conditions inside the camp, he said, "I am somehow surviving. The situation is deteriorating day by day. How long will I stay like this?"

Rohingya researcher Shafiullah believes, "As new crises arise in the world, the international focus is gradually shifting away from the Rohingya. As the Rohingya crisis continues and the international community's attention shifts elsewhere, financial support for the Rohingya has decreased and those concerned are facing financial difficulties to continue the programs they are running."

He said, "The number of health centers in the Rohingya camps has decreased from 160 to 120, and the current health centers have also been forced to significantly reduce their services due to the financial crisis. The amount allocated for the Rohingya has also decreased significantly."

Locals believe, "Due to poverty, deprivation and despair, the Rohingya are getting involved in criminal activities. Many of them are being forced to participate in drug, arms and human trafficking. Many are also being linked to terrorism. Alternative measures need to be taken to end this situation immediately."

These statements are largely true. Inter-group armed clashes often take place in the camps. On Monday (October 21) morning, 3 members of the same family were shot dead after entering a house in Ukhiya's Rohingya camp No. 17. Often, 15-20 unidentified miscreants raid the camp from the S-4 and B-7 block areas adjacent to Lal Pahar of the extended camp-20 under the Walapalong police camp. Local people are also scared and terrified because of this.

Although several Rohingya organizations are interested in repatriating the Rohingya, they have given some conditions. One of which is granting Myanmar citizenship to the Rohingyas and repatriating them safely to their respective homes. According to them, 'Why go to the place where we fled with our lives if we do not get security for our lives?'

Elderly Rohingya Shakur Mahmud said, 'We cannot knowingly return to the face of death unless we get security assurance through international assistance.'

Meanwhile, neither the Myanmar government nor the Arakan Army (AA), which occupies Arakan or Rakhine Province, recognizes the Rohingyas as citizens of Myanmar. According to them, the Rohingyas are outsiders. But the Rohingya claim that, 'Historically, they are residents of the Arakan region. They have a fighting contribution to the national history of Myanmar. But due to ethnic hatred, they have been forced to flee the country due to genocide and persecution. They have a birthright in Arakan. Their land, resources, businesses and ancestral graves exist there. They will not give up their claim to nationality and citizenship.'

During a discussion with some Rohingya leaders and local people to learn about the 'future of the Rohingya', their new political dream was revealed. They said, 'Out of extreme despair, the Rohingya are turning to terrorism. Severe deprivation is pushing them on a hard path. This situation must be stopped. The Rohingya community, who has taken refuge in various places around the world, including Bangladesh, must be united and international pressure and campaign must be started for their repatriation. World public opinion must be created against the Rohingya genocide. It will not be enough to just sit in shelter. We must fight systematically for our demands.'

Despite years of genocide and persecution, the Rohingya people, who have been homeless in refugee camps, are suffering from terror and deprivation, but the glimmer of new and positive political dreams among them is giving birth to a hopeful future.

Dr. Mahfuz Parvez: Associate Editor, Barta24.com; Professor and Chairman, Department of Political Science, University of Chattogram and Executive Director, Chattogram Centre for Regional Studies, Bangladesh (CCRSBD). 

Harassment cases are on the rise across the country. Many innocent people are being accused in these cases and are spending their days in extreme anxiety and fear. The daily Khoborer Kagoj published an editorial on Sunday urging the interim government to take effective action. For the readers of Barta24.com, the editorial is published:

Cases are being filed across the country in connection with the anti-discrimination student movement and the killings in the student uprising. Unbelievable but it is true that the people who are at the forefront of this movement have also been charged with murder.

Complaints have been raised; many are being accused of harassment. Women are also among them. The plaintiff in the case does not even know these women accused. A female accused in the case has been identified as male. Even though the capital's Sutrapur area was the scene of the murder, many people outside Dhaka have been accused.

It is alleged that the BNP or party's organs and affiliates and Jamaat leaders of the concerned areas are controlling and determining who will be accused in the case. That is, doing the work of arranging the case. Due to this, many innocent people are accused of murder cases. More than 766 people died during the student uprising and its aftermath.

Cases have been filed in various districts including Dhaka in these incidents. Hundreds of people have been charged in each case. Such cases are still happening. The defendants in these cases are ordinary people including businessmen, journalists, artists, sportsmen and civic activists. There is a mixed reaction among the people of the country.

Other than the political leaders in this case, most of the defendants do not know they are defendants. According to the newspaper investigation, the housewife Shamima is involved in a business owned by her husband! She never went to Sutrapur. Apart from this, she was at the forefront of the march as a guardian in the anti-discrimination student movement in Dhanmondi-Mohammedpur. Despite this, she has been charged with murder. Several such facts have emerged in the search of the newspaper.

A warning notice issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs on Monday said that the law enforcement agencies have been directed to take legal action against those who are doing mischief through false and harassing cases. The anti-discrimination student movement also requested not to harass innocent people with false or fake cases without verification.

According to Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) sources, the case was filed as soon as possible in the post-August 5 situation. Apart from this, it is not possible to know who is being accused due to the case being filed in the court.

Sara Hossain, Honorary executive director of Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST), said that various cases have been seen for two weeks. Some have 30-40 and more than 50 accused. Many may have anger and resentment, but writing such cases will not work, will not last. It can't pass the first step. The cases are of agitation and demonstration.

Commenting on questioning the crop, she said, it must be stopped.

There should be clarity and transparency in the statement of the murder cases surrounding the anti-discrimination movement. If there is ambiguity, the innocent will be punished and the real criminals will go into hiding. There is a lot of video footage from the time of the anti-discrimination movement, which needs to be scrutinized to present the correct information. Government has to play an effective role to stop harassment cases. No injustice to anyone. Due process of law should be followed keeping in place the transparency and accountability of the case. Hopefully, the interim government will consider the matter seriously. -Courtesy of the Khoborer Kagoj.