EVENTS

EVENTS

Seminar on “Right to Water: A New Paradigm of Environmental Law”...


Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP)’s Department of Law, Faculty of Security and Strategic Studies, organized a seminar on “Right to Water: A New Paradigm of Environmental Law” on 9 May 2017. Dr. Shirin Sharmin... More

Digital Youth Summit 2017


The Digital Youth Summit 2017 is scheduled to take place in Peshawar, Pakistan,  from May 5, till May 7. DYS 2017 features three days of panel discussions, networking, and a startup pitch competition with cash... More

Neighboring countries must reject India’s ‘backyard’ policy


In a discussion titled “Current context of Bangladesh-India relations,” the participants asserted that South Asian countries desires an equal and respectable relationship with the neighboring India, and do not want to be treated as... More

Pakistan doesn’t want nuclear parity with India: Ambassador Zamir Akram


Pakistan is not seeking to achieve parity with India in terms of nuclear weapons, but is rather pursuing Full Spectrum Deterrence doctrine to ensure that there are no gaps in its deterrence capability. This was... More

Maldives to host hot air balloon festival in May


Maldives has started final preparations for a hot air balloon festival which will be held in May. This is the first such festival to be held in the Indian Ocean archipelago. The festival will be... More

Myanmar Ethnic delegations meet in Chiang Mai


A two-day meeting in Chiang Mai, Thailand, concludes on Thursday between two ethnic negotiating teams – the Delegation for Political Negotiations (DPN), which represents the United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC), and the Coordination Team... More

SA remains fastest growing region in 2017: ADB


Growth is picking up in two-thirds of economies in developing Asia, supported by higher external demand, rebounding global commodity prices, and domestic reforms, making the region the largest single contributor to global growth at... More

Militancy burgeoning in absence of Democracy: Lisa Curtis


In absence of a competitive democratic system Islamic militancy is beginning to thrive, commented Lisa Curtis a senior research fellow of the Heritage Foundation and an expert on South Asian affairs at the Asian... More

Bangladesh hosts IPU conference on 1-5 April


Bangladesh parliament is hosting the 136th assembly of Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), a global organisation of parliaments, on 1-5April. Speakers, deputy speakers, parliament members and representatives from 130 countries are expected to attend the conference.... More

Sri Lanka makes strong case to woo Hong Kong investor interest


Sri Lanka this Friday (17 March) made its strongest effort to woo interest from Hong Kong-based companies, fund managers and investors, highlighting recent macroeconomic progress as well as measures to boost higher inclusive growth... More

First-ever Sri Lanka Investment Summit in Hong Kong kicks off today


Nearly 200 foreign delegates are scheduled to attend the first-ever Finance Asia-organised and multi-stakeholder-supported Sri Lanka Investor Summit in Hong Kong today (16 March) at the iconic Ritz-Carlton Hotel. Organisers said as of Tuesday around... More

Alternative narrative needed to counter violent extremism


It is not a counter narrative, but an alternative narrative that is required to counter violent extremism. The government must formulate polices for counter radicalisation. The law enforcement must understand the communication tools being... More

Experts denounce Indian attempts to hegemonise SAARC


Scholars at a roundtable discussion in Islamabad sharply certified India for their attempts to hegemonise SAARC by isolating Pakistan. This was the unanimous view of the experts at the one-day roundtable on “Regional Implications... More

SAARC conclave on legal issues held


A two-day SAARC Law Conclave session concluded on Sunday evening at the Indian Institute of Legal Studies in Dagapur Siliguri, India. The issues discussed at the session were- improved connectivity between SAARC countries, various... More

13th ECO summit to be held in Islamabad from 26-28 Feb


The 13th summit of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) member countries will be held in Pakistan’s capital Islamabad from 26 to 28 Feb this year. ‘Connectivity for Regional Prosperity’ is the theme for the upcoming... More

Brahmaputra Lit Fest in Guwahati


It was late in the afternoon that we reached Guwahati on 27 January, a beautiful sunny day. The winter chill hadn’t quite set in. It was festive season in Assam, being celebrated with all... More

E-9 education conference begins in Bangladesh


A high-level conference of E-9, a forum of nine high-population countries, began here Sunday to discuss policies necessary for the member states to achieve the United Nations' education-related "Sustainable Development Goal-4". Prime Minister Sheikh... More

Nepal Investment Summit in March


With a target to attract over $1 billion of foreign direct investment (FDI), the Nepal Investment Summit to be held on March 2-3 in Kathmandu. The Investment Board of Nepal (IBN) and Ministry of Industry... More

China’s modern ‘Silk Road’ plans discussed at Yangon meeting


A recent briefing looking at China’s One Belt One Road strategy and Myanmar opportunities was held at the Rose Garden Hotel in Yangon. The Briefing was well attended, with over 100 attendees from companies representing... More

SL prepares to hold WEF 2018


The 2018 World Economic Forum (WEF) is to be held in Sri Lanka, coinciding with Sri Lanka’s 70th Independence Day Celebration. The WEF brings together the world’s top political leaders and financiers to discuss global,... More

23 BD rivers die due to upstream water withdrawal


A total of 23 rivers in Bangladesh have died due to upstream withdrawal of waters. Water security has further been threatened by the impact of climate change. Ground water levels have fallen drastically and... More

COLUMN

Make-believe democracy

Such is the terror of possible retribution by those in governance that even a man of AD Khawaja’s conscience and inherent integrity finds it impossible as IG Police Sindh to function unless he “unscrupulously” implements “Zardari’s law” in Sindh. Khawaja having neglected to adhere to some of... More

The lady and the generals are learning...

In the last few weeks there has been growing speculation that Myanmar’s military leaders are planning a possible coup if the country’s new democratic government, led by the charismatic democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi, continues to falter. Many Myanmar analysts and commentators are finding fault with... More

Punish the real culprit(s)!

Facing the storm unleashed by the leaking of the Cyril Almeida story, “Act Against Militants or Face International Isolation, Civilians Tell Military,” the Nawaz Sharif government labelled it as being ‘fabricated and planted.” The PM Office’s initial statement about DawnLeaks that “evidence available so far points to... More

Economic migration: Why flee from an emerging...

Bangladesh has been a top performing economy in Asia, averaging a 6 % + growth rate largely driven by exports, particularly the garments sector, for almost a decade.  Problems do remain though and the World Economic Forum has suggested that better infrastructure, less bureaucratic hassle and less... More

Repeal AFSPA in India

The draconian Indian law, Armed Forces Special Powers Act or AFSPA, has wiped out the human face of counter-insurgency in the country’s many conflict zones. Just see the Bollywood film "Haider" and you know how AFSPA is misused in places like Kashmir. Often it leads to “use... More

EDITOR'S CHOICE

No easy refuge from death row for Kulbhushan Jadhav

The movie version of this script, we’re all familiar with: “no, your honour”, shouts the lawyer, the mother tears up, the judge bangs his gavel in approval and the hero walks off death row.... More

Network is the key

Official India has turned its back on China’s celebration of President Xi Jinping’s “Belt and Road Initiative” (BRI) this week in Beijing. Some in Beijing and Delhi have warned India against isolating itself amidst... More

Regional connectivity projects can support India’s ambitions

India's Army Chief General Bipin Rawat has called for an increased defense budget and insists the country should look for new allies to deal with its neighbors along the northern and western borders, according... More

Returning the award

My friends in Bangladesh are insisting that I explain why I am returning the award bestowed upon my father Professor Waris Mir in 2013 by Sheikh Hasina Wazed. There have been many comments about... More

MOST POPULAR

READER'S VIEW

Reaction to “Behind Hasina’s RAW tirade”

David Bergman, British investigative journalist based in Bangladesh, commented on a recently published column of South Asian Monitor titled "SOUTHERN EYE: Behind Hasina’s RAW tirade" in his facebook profile. "This is a fascinating and detailed article... More

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