TOB Archives - The Oniket Bulletin

The Verdict on the Fifteenth Constitutional Amendment: Public Interest, Constitutional Reform and Bangladesh’s Political Future

July 23, 2026July 23, 2026 editor No Comments

The verdict on Bangladesh’s Fifteenth Constitutional Amendment marks an important milestone in the country’s constitutional history. The issues raised through this judgment, including the caretaker government system, the restoration of the constitutional provision for referendums, and the future of Article 7B of the Constitution, extend far beyond legal interpretation. They are closely connected to democratic…

Politics, Democracy & Citizen Rights

UGC’s Research Budget: Strategy, Symbolism, or Systemic Reform?

July 23, 2026July 23, 2026 editor No Comments

Beyond the Headlines: What Does the New Research Allocation Really Mean? The recent announcement by the University Grants Commission (UGC) of Bangladesh that it will allocate Tk 226 crore for research in public universities during FY2026–27 has reignited debate about the state of higher education and research financing in the country. Officially presented as a…

Education

Prospect of Blue Cities in Bangladesh

July 23, 2026July 23, 2026 editor No Comments

Bangladesh is a nation defined by water. More than seven hundred rivers thread across its territory, the Bay of Bengal borders its south, and the world’s largest river delta shapes its very geography. Yet for decades, the cities built atop this vast water network have treated water as a threat to be managed away rather…

Sustainability & Urban Planning

Comilla’s Handicrafts and the Missing Global Brand: Lessons from Europe and India

July 23, 2026July 23, 2026 editor No Comments

Following on from “Comilla’s Handicrafts: Weaving Modernity into a Canvas of Tradition”, an article published in the Oniket Bulletin, this article examines why Comilla’s centuries old handicraft traditions, terracotta and pottery from Mainamati and Bijoypur, and khadi weaving from Chandina, have not achieved the international brand recognition that comparable craft traditions enjoy elsewhere in the…

Art, Literature, History & National Heritage

Online Illicit Relationships in Bangladesh: Implications for Mental Health, Social Harmony, and Human Dignity

July 23, 2026July 23, 2026 editor No Comments

The purpose of this article is to examine how the growing prevalence of online illicit relationships in Bangladesh affects mental health, family stability, social harmony, and individual dignity, while exploring practical ways to promote personal responsibility, ethical digital behaviour, and community well-being. In summary, the article finds that these relationships are not driven by a…

Humanity, Social Welfare, Human Rights & Happiness

Bangladesh EU Strategic Relation and its Future

July 23, 2026July 23, 2026 editor No Comments

Bangladesh and the European Union stand at a decisive turning point. The initialing of the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) in April 2026 formally launches a relationship that aspires to be more than transactional. But aspiration and achievement remain separated by a wide gap, one built from structural asymmetries, institutional deficits, and political uncertainties that…

Economy & Policy Governance

PulseTech and Bangladesh’s Public Health Industry: Opportunities, Challenges and Policy Realities

July 23, 2026July 23, 2026 editor No Comments

The emergence of PulseTech in Bangladesh’s HealthTech sector represents a significant development in the country’s efforts to improve public health, medicine supply systems, and digital healthcare services. This article aims to provide a clear and comprehensive understanding of how PulseTech’s technology-driven initiatives are creating new possibilities in healthcare management. The discussion particularly focuses on the…

Health

Alcohol Law in Bangladesh

July 23, 2026July 23, 2026 editor No Comments

Bangladesh, home to the world’s fourth-largest Muslim population, enforces some of the strictest alcohol controls in Asia. Its legal framework governing alcohol sale and consumption reflects a delicate balance between Islamic religious values, indigenous cultural traditions, and the practical demands of a modernising economy. Understanding how this framework operates and where it falls short is…

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Law & Local Governance

The Meat Industry Deserves more Meat in Government’s Decision.

July 23, 2026July 23, 2026 editor No Comments

The announcement by the state minister for Fisheries and Livestock that a modern meat processing center will be established in Rajshahi follows a depressingly familiar script in Bangladeshi policymaking: grand in ambition, evasive on detail, and conspicuously silent on precisely the questions that separate genuine reform from press-release theatre. The proposed center checks every box…

Agriculture

Is the 2026 Agricultural Budget Practical?

July 23, 2026July 23, 2026 editor No Comments

At first glance, the proposed FY2026-27 agriculture budget of Tk 28,881 crore looks like good news. It represents a Tk 1,657 crore increase over last year’s allocation, and this framing has largely gone unchallenged. At a recent roundtable hosted by LightCastle Partners and SAF Bangladesh, experts broadly welcomed the rise, reading it as evidence of…

Agriculture