Al Helal Voice

Reader's Question : Can a justice system rooted in colonial legacy truly serve a free nation? In Bangladesh, the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) remains largely unchanged from the one inherited during British colonial rule in 1898. While justice systems around the world have embraced modernity, transparency, and technology, Bangladesh’s legal procedures still reflect outdated practices, often enabling delay, corruption, and misuse. In this blog, we explore how the CrPC is misapplied in Bangladesh, why urgent reforms are needed, and how other nations—like the UK, Canada, Germany, and Japan—have restructured their criminal justice systems for speed, fairness, and accountability.        "Eleven years, one verdict still missing." The Criminal Procedure Code in Bangladesh: Misuse, Reform Needs, and Global Comparisons. 1. Introduction:  A System Trapped in the Past Bangladesh’s Criminal Procedure Code, 1898 (CrPC) is one of the oldest pieces of legislation still in act...

Imagine a young child falling into an uncovered open manhole in the heart of a bustling city—and nobody rescues them for over thirty‑six hours. When the body is finally found, the public asks: will anyone accept responsibility, or is this just part of a tragic script within our urban landscape? In this post, we will explore incidents in Bangladesh that raise uncomfortable questions: are these disasters genuine accidents—or orchestrated political narratives that shield authorities from blame? We’ll examine chilling cases like the prolonged rescue of a child trapped in Dhaka and the dramatic, widely publicized survival of a girl under Zernt Plaza rubble. We’ll contrast these with global precedents—Japan’s transparent handling of Fukushima, France’s management of the Notre‑Dame fire, and the UK’s response to the Grenfell Tower tragedy. Finally, we’ll propose what Bangladesh could learn—and implement—to break this cycle: from modern urban infrastructure to immediate accountability, fair co...

“What happens when a dictatorship falls? Does the nation truly rise from the ashes, or does history repeat itself in endless cycles? For Bangladesh, a country repeatedly caught in the whirlwind of authoritarian rule, these questions are not just academic—they are existential.” Introduction Bangladesh’s political history over the past five decades reads like a tumultuous saga of hope and heartbreak, power and protest, dictatorship and democracy. From the early days after independence to the multiple military takeovers and the long shadows of autocratic rule, Bangladesh has struggled to establish a truly democratic, inclusive state. Most recently, the departure of Sheikh Hasina in 2024—after over 15 years of what many have called an authoritarian grip—has once again raised the question: what next? This article explores the genesis of dictatorship in Bangladesh, its inevitable downfall, the repeated challenges in restructuring the state, and what global experiences tell us about sustainab...

Reader’s Question: Have you ever witnessed a moment in your country's history when opposing sides came together not out of agreement—but out of urgency? Can such unity lead to lasting change, or is it just a pause before more conflict? Introduction: A Turning Point or a Temporary Truce? On a rain-swept July afternoon in 2025, Bangladesh bore witness to what may become a watershed moment—or a fleeting symbol of wishful unity. The July Declaration—a rare consensus between major opposition parties, civil society organizations, student leaders, progressive scholars, and some faith-based groups—emerged as a document of democratic aspiration. It calls for sweeping reforms in governance, elections, and justice. But declarations alone don’t create revolutions. Can this joint call to action pierce through decades of mistrust, political vengeance, and institutional erosion? Or will it, like so many noble statements before it, fade into the archives of unmet potential? To grasp its significan...

Subtitle: "Exploring Bangladesh’s Human Rights Journey through Global Insights and Local Realities" "What happens when a nation’s pursuit of sovereignty collides with global calls for human rights? Bangladesh now stands at this historic crossroad." "As debates intensify over the United Nations Human Rights Office (OHCHR) in Dhaka, this article delves into the fears, hopes, and lessons that define Bangladesh’s journey. Can global collaboration strengthen our local values without undermining them?" Introduction: The proposal to establish the United Nations Human Rights Office (OHCHR) in Dhaka has sparked extensive debate across Bangladesh. Many see it as a critical step toward strengthening human rights protections, transparency, and international cooperation. However, concerns rooted in political sovereignty, cultural values, and religious beliefs have led to substantial opposition. This article explores these controversies, the potential benefits of OHCHR...