Despite women’s prominent role in last year’s pro-democracy uprising, Bangladesh’s political transition is failing to deliver meaningful representation for half the population. As the country prepares for its next general election, proposals for even a minimal 5 percent direct quota for women candidates are facing fierce pushback — particularly from Islamist parties. The final draft of the July Charter, drawn up by the National Consensus Commission, calls on political parties to nominate at least 5 percent female candidates for the 300 directly elected parliamentary seats. But Islamist groups — including Islami Andolan Bangladesh, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis, and Nizam-e-Islami Party — have opposed even this token measure, despite women making up 51 percent of the population. The original recommendation was far more ambitious: a 33 percent nomination quota, matching long-standing demands from women’s rights groups and earlier reform commissions. But during months of negotiations, the proposal was steadily watered down, reflecting the political weight of conservative parties and the reluctance of mainstream actors to expend capital on gender reforms. Badiul Alam Majumdar, a member of both the Electoral Reform and Consensus Commissions, admitted frustration. “There’s not much more we can do,” he said after the talks closed in July — a candid sign that reformers have run up against entrenched political resistance. Even among parties that support increased participation, consensus is fractured. Leftist groups such as CPB and BaSaD want all 100 reserved women’s seats to be filled through direct election rather than party nomination, while other parties have resisted any structural overhaul. Proposals such as rotating reserved constituencies were dismissed. The current draft sets out a phased approach: 5 percent women candidates in the next election, 10 percent in the following one, and a gradual rise until the 33 percent target is reached — eventually to be enshrined in the Constitution. Islamist parties argue that mandatory quotas could “hinder women’s empowerment,” insisting that women should advance “on merit” within a proportional representation system — an argument critics say simply preserves male-dominated patronage politics. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), now the country’s main political party, has endorsed the 5 percent quota, claiming credit for the idea. “It came from us, not any other party,” said BNP leader Salahuddin Ahmed. But this endorsement has done little to sway Islamist resistance. Women’s rights campaigners say the compromise is a betrayal of the spirit of the July Uprising, where women stood shoulder to shoulder with men to topple the Awami League government. “Women make up 51 percent of the population, yet we still don’t have fair political representation,” said Fauzia Moslem, president of Bangladesh Mahila Parishad. “Even 33 percent was the minimum demand — and we didn’t get that.” Dhaka University sociologist Prof Samina Luthfa Nitra added: “Bangladeshi women are politically aware. They vote. There’s no justification for limiting their presence in parliament to token reserved seats.” Analysts warn that the failure to deliver meaningful inclusion risks alienating a key constituency and undermining the legitimacy of the transitional reform process. For many activists, the episode underscores a recurring theme in Bangladesh’s political history: women’s leadership is celebrated in moments of crisis — only to be sidelined once the struggle is won.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has filed a major corruption case against 43 individuals — including S. Alam Group owner Saiful Alam, Nabil Group Managing Director Aminul Islam, and a former chairman of Islami Bank — over the alleged embezzlement of Tk 363 crore from Islami Bank’s Gulshan branch through a shell company. ACC Director General Md Akhter Hossain confirmed that the case was lodged Wednesday at the ACC’s Integrated District Office, Dhaka-1. According to the case statement, the accused conspired to abuse their positions, falsify documents, and irregularly approve a loan facility worth Tk 670 crore in favour of the newly-formed Naba Agro Trade International. Of this amount, Tk 363 crore was disbursed and later siphoned off, investigators allege. Those named in the case include Saiful Alam of S. Alam Group, Aminul Islam of Nabil Group, Mamunur Rashid (Managing Director of Naba Agro Trade International), Harunur Rashid (Chairman of the same company), and several directors of affiliated trading and milling companies. The case marks a significant escalation in the ACC’s scrutiny of alleged large-scale loan scams involving Islami Bank and its connected business groups. A large number of Islami Bank officials, including former top executives, board members, and branch managers, have also been implicated. Among them are former Board Chairman Prof. Md Nazmul Hassan, former Executive Committee Chairman Prof. Dr. Md Selim Uddin, ex-MD Mohammad Munirul Haque, CEO Mohammad Ali, and several former deputy managing directors, SEVPs, and branch managers. The case has been filed under sections 409/460/60/7/498/40/477/7/106 of the Penal Code 1860, section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1947, and sections 4(2) and 5(3) of the Money Laundering Prevention Act 2012.

ndia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and China are among 23 countries the United States has identified as major drug transit or illicit drug-producing nations. The list was released by the US Department of State on Monday as part of its Presidential Determination on Major Drug Transit or Major Illicit Drug Producing Countries for 2026. It highlights both key trafficking routes and global production hotspots. Other countries on the list include the Bahamas, Belize, Bolivia, Myanmar, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Laos, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, and Venezuela. While countries in the Americas dominate the list, the inclusion of India and Pakistan alongside countries such as China, Laos, and Afghanistan has drawn particular attention. The US State Department said a country’s presence on the list does not reflect its government’s level of anti-drug cooperation or enforcement. Instead, the selection is based on "the combination of geographic, commercial, and economic factors that allow drugs or precursor chemicals to be transited or produced" regardless of governmental enforcement measures. Afghanistan, Bolivia, Myanmar, Colombia, and Venezuela were singled out as having “failed demonstrably” in the past year to meet their international drug control obligations. The department cited President Donald Trump as making this determination, Hong Kong-based news outlet The Standard reported. Trump also urged China’s leadership to take stronger, sustained action against the spread of synthetic drugs such as nitazenes and methamphetamine, and to prosecute those involved in trafficking, it said. The report warned that criminal groups across several countries continue to traffic fentanyl and other illicit substances into the US, fuelling what it called a national emergency. These drugs are now the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18 to 44, it added. In Afghanistan, the Taliban has formally banned drug production, including methamphetamine, but international shipments continue. The US said the proceeds benefit both international terror groups and local Taliban figures. The report also accused Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro of leading the world’s largest cocaine trafficking network. It said efforts would continue to hold him and his associates accountable, while targeting gangs such as Tren de Aragua.