The topic for this week’s Hello Wshington is Upcoming Elections in Bangladesh & the Present Situation in the Country.
Callers asked interesting questions about whether free and fair election can be possible in Bangladesh, whether those polititians who are now free on bail after they were arrested during the anti-corruption drive will run for office etcetera?
Our guests were Dr. Mizanur Rahman Shelley, Advocate Sultana Kamal, and Dr. Rounaq Jahan.
Dr. Mizanur Rahman Shelley, formerly served in the Civil Service of Pakistan and worked as the Director in the Department of Social Welfare Government of Bangladesh.
A noted thinker, litterateur, writer and social scientist Dr. Shelley is the founder Chairman of Centre for Development Research, Bangladesh (CDR-B), Overseas Director, American Institute of Bangladesh Studies (AIBS) and Editor of quarterly “Asian Affairs”.
Advocate Sultana Kamal is a former advisor to the caretaker government and Executive Director of Ain o Shalish Kendra.
Ain o Salish Kendro (ASK), is a legal aid and human rights resource centre. It provides free legal aid to the poor- women, workers and child workers.
She also coordinates the Women and Law Program for Women Living Under Muslim Laws, and is a member of Mahila Parishad, a Bangladesh women lawyers' organization.
Dr. Rounaq Jahan joined the faculty of Columbia University in 1990 as a senior research scholar at the Southern Asian Institute and as an adjunct professor of international affairs, School of International and Public Affairs.
Professor Jahan's research is concentrated on gender and development, governance, health, and politics of Bangladesh.
She is also the author of numerous books and articles and has edited books and academic journals.
Masuma Khatun hosted the show.
