Australia's most decorated living soldier, Ben Roberts-Smith, has been released from jail after being granted bail over alleged war crimes. The Victoria Cross recipient and former corporal in Australia's Special Air Service (SAS) Regiment was taken into custody last week
India's smartphone shipments fell 3% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2026, marking their weakest quarterly performance in six years as cost pressures, price hikes and soft demand weighed on sales, said on Friday.Over 80 smartphone models saw average price hikes of 15%
Charlie Kirk murder accused pushes to ban cameras from court, says live broadcasts violate his right to fair trialTyler Robinson is due in court Friday as his attorneys press their claims that biased coverage is tainting potential jurors in his aggravated murder case. Published on: Apr 17
SpiceJet flight clips Akasa plane at Delhi airport; probe orderedThe incident occurred around 2.15pm near Terminal 1 in IGI. Updated on: Apr 17, 2026 1:52 PM IST By Jasjeev Gandhiok Share via Copy link Two aircraft — operated by SpiceJet and Akasa — clipped wings while taxiing at Delhi’s
Theegala gets off to a good start at RBC HeritageTheegala gets off to a good start at RBC Heritage Published on: Apr 17, 2026 12:46 PM IST PTI Share via Copy link Hilton Head Island , Sahith Theegala started his week at the RBC Heritage with an opening round of 2-under 69 and was placed T-27 on the
The Supreme Court on Friday declined Congress leader Pawan Khera’s petition to vacate a stay on a Telangana High Court order granting him transit anticipatory bail in a case registered by the Assam Police, Live Law reported. A bench comprising Justices JK Maheshwari and Atul S Chandurkar also
The Centre’s proposal to expand the Lok Sabha and carry out a fresh delimitation exercise has triggered an intense political and constitutional debate, particularly around its potential impact on southern states. At the centre of the discussion is whether the proposed expansion will maintain the
A heartwarming video of a father intently reading his son’s job offer letter from Amazon has gone viral on social media, touching thousands with its simple display of pride and sacrifice. The now viral video, which has been widely shared and praised for its authenticity
Bangladesh: When will citizen rights matter as much as the majority’s ‘hurt religious sentiments’?
A state's legitimacy rests on a simple promise: to protect rights, deliver justice, and shield citizens from tangible harm. It is meant to be a neutral guarantor of liberty and an impartial enforcer of objective law, not a guardian of comfort, a censor of offense, or a therapist for emotional distress.
Yet in Bangladesh, from the Awami League years to the present interim government, one toxic idea has persisted: That the state must prioritise protecting citizens' religious sentiments over protecting citizens' rights.
Whenever someone's feelings are supposedly bruised, a chorus rises led by groups now branding themselves as Tawhidi Janata, alongside Islamic religious political parties, their supporters, sympathizers, and opportunistic allies, demanding prosecution, imprisonment, mob justice, or worse. And too often, the state bends.
Who gets accused in these waves of alleged emotional injury? Ordinary citizens. You, me, our nephews and nieces, our neighbor. A teacher sharing a history lesson, a student posting a meme, a writer questioning dogma, a Hindu celebrating Durga Puja, an Ahmadiyya praying quietly, a woman refusing the veil, a blogger defending secularism, or a singer performing folk songs.
In short, anyone who thinks, speaks, worships, dresses, or simply exists outside the narrow lines drawn by the self-appointed guardians of faith. Yet when the mob demands blood, it is always everyday people, never the powerful clerics or politicians who proclaim their party as Islam's only saviour, who face arrest, exile, or death.
This shift from rights to emotional appeasement is not only unsustainable, it is dangerous. More than 150 Sufi shrines and syncretic cultural sites have been attacked or destroyed in the name of protecting religious feelings. Women face renewed demands for veiling in public, gender segregation, the removal of music and art from school curricula, and moral policing on the streets, all justified as safeguarding the sentiments of Islamists.
Minorities live in fear. Free expression withers. And here is the cruel asymmetry that exposes the game. Hurt religious sentiment is always, unfailingly, something felt by the majority or by those who claim to speak in its name.
No minority, no freethinker, no ordinary citizen can ever demand accountability for the trampling of their own emotions.
When leaders of Islamic political parties declare that Islam can only be saved by voting for them, and promise a ticket to Heaven with the implied claim that their political party alone embodies Islam, no case is filed, no mob is restrained, no apology is extracted.
Their blasphemy against pluralism goes unchallenged because the state polices emotional injury in only one direction. Just a couple of weeks ago, Baul singer Abul Sarkar was arrested and jailed in Manikganj for alleged derogatory remarks during a folk performance at the Khala Pagli fair. This arrest sparked mob violence by supporters of Tawhidi Janata who besieged the court and assaulted his followers.
Feelings cannot be legislated. What offends one person leaves another completely unmoved. No government can fairly or consistently define emotional harm. When it attempts to do so, it abandons objective law and enters a realm where the loudest, most mobilized, or most violent set the boundaries of public life.
Bangladesh is sleepwalking toward a shadow blasphemy regime, one not yet written into law but enforced through fear, selective prosecution, and state capitulation. The region offers a stark warning.
Pakistan's descent into blasphemy madness did not begin with a single statute. It began with appeasement, with courts, leaders, and institutions too timid to confront mobs waving the banner of hurt feelings. Over decades, those feelings hardened into legal weapons wielded by the intolerant.
When governments protect emotional sensitivities, they inevitably empower those most willing to weaponize them. Minorities become permanent suspects. Women's autonomy is curtailed. Writers, artists, and journalists self censor. Public debate shrinks. The rule of law becomes selective.
Accusation replaces evidence. Outrage substitutes for due process. A democratic society demands resilience. Citizens must learn to encounter ideas, beliefs, art, and speech they find objectionable.
The remedy for speech we dislike is more speech, not state censorship dressed up as compassion for emotional harm. Bangladesh's future hinges on drawing a clear line inspired by the deep green of the national flag.
The state must protect rights, not feelings. It must defend the right to worship without granting anyone the right to silence others. It must safeguard free expression rather than punish disagreement. It must protect every minority, including the small but often persecuted Ahmadiyya community. It must guarantee the rights of women instead of sacrificing them to Islamist outrage. And it must enforce the law uniformly, without cowering before groups that believe their emotions deserve the force of public policy.
A nation that polices emotions cannot protect liberty. If Bangladesh continues down this path, it will not only endanger its minorities, it will forfeit its own democratic soul. The choice is stark.
The state must reaffirm that its purpose is the protection of rights, not the soothing of the easily offended or the surrender of the republic to those who believe their feelings should govern everyone else's liberties.
I can only hope that Bangladesh chooses liberty. My hope rests on the legacy of a once in a generation visionary, Dr Muhammad Yunus, and the values he has championed throughout his life: Equality, women's empowerment, the elimination of poverty, and a commitment that earned him the Nobel Peace Prize.
My hope rests on a future where peace prevails for all of us.
The alternative is grim. The green of the national flag, a symbol of the land's richness and vitality, could fade into an Islamic green, becoming a daily reminder that a single interpretation of a single religion has claimed the authority to dictate the lives of an entire people.
Mirza Ahmad is an independent writer with a strong interest in politics, religion, and human rights.
This article was first published on Counterpoint.
Source: Scroll
Related Posts: Iran's rulers face legitimacy crisis amid spreading unrest Nvidia CEO Pushes Back On AI Fears Over Software Firms As Nvidia Delivers Blockbuster Forecast Patanjali launches official online store with discounts and home delivery A State-To-State Culinary Feast State, non-state actors cannot denigrate any community through speeches or art Are you not encroaching on state’s rights Recognition for Palestine state harms the rights of stateless Palestinians Constitution a shield to protect people's rights Salman Khan Moves Delhi High Court To Protect His Personality Rights We Will Protect Our Rights
Gold rate today: Prices fall amid US war on Iran, 24K at ₹1.53 lakh; check latest rates in your cityOver the past week, 24-carat gold has eased by 0.41%, while it is down 5.74% over the past month. Updated on: Apr 17, 2026 12:29 PM IST By HT News Desk Share via Copy link Gold prices declined on
8 hours ago
A 10-day ceasefire deal agreed between Lebanon and Israel took effect on Thursday (April 16, 2026), as U.S. President Donald Trump said he was trying to set up the first-ever meeting between the leaders of the two countries. The truce, which Mr
8 hours ago
Vivo Y600 Pro has been officially teased in China, with the brand revealing key details about its design and positioning. The most interesting aspect of this phone is that it will pack the largest battery ever seen on a Vivo phone. Here’s a look at what to expect from it
8 hours ago
China is using social media platforms like Douyin to spread messages from Taiwanese opposition figures. These clips are then shared on platforms popular in Taiwan, aiming to discredit President Lai Ching-te's government. The campaign seeks to weaken Taiwan's resolve and discourage defense spending
8 hours ago
Nearly 20% of the 1,478 candidates contesting the first phase of the West Bengal polls are crorepatis, with a significant share belonging to the Trinamool Congress (TMC), while the poorest candidate has declared assets of just ₹500, according to an analysis of poll affidavits
8 hours ago
The round of job losses, the biggest at the BBC since 2011, is being set in motion before the former top Google executive Matt Brittin takes over as director general next month. BBC Layoffs: UK media giant British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) on Wednesday announced that it has planned to axe as
8 hours ago
A new space race is unfolding as the United States and China compete for lunar dominance. Both nations are pushing for crewed Moon landings, with the US Artemis program and China's 2030 goal. They are also vying to set the rules for future lunar governance
8 hours ago
The 2026 Yamaha Fascino 125 Fi Hybrid has been launched at Rs 76,500 for the base model(drum), and the top variant(disc) will set you back by Rs 95,200. The new updates include newly sculpted tail section, redesigned taillights, flashers, and distinctive V‑iconic taillight design
8 hours ago
A viral video showing Donald Trump handing a $100 tip to a DoorDash delivery worker inside the White House has taken over social media, but even he now admits it didn’t quite land the way it was meant to. Speaking at a roundtable in Las Vegas, Trump addressed the moment directly
8 hours ago
'The camel dreams of cottonseed...': Iran mocks Trump's peace deal claimsThe Iran state media also shared a Persian proverb: "The camel dreams of cottonseed; sometimes gulping it down, sometimes eating it grain by grain" Updated on: Apr 17, 2026 12:29 PM IST By Karishma Ayaldasani Share via Copy
8 hours ago
Chinese carmaker Seres has been granted a patent for what it calls an "in-vehicle toilet" that slides under a passenger's seat for visits to the loo while on the road. The feature is meant to "satisfy users' toilet needs on long journeys, while camping or while staying in the car"
8 hours ago
Chennai's Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni constituency sees a key contest between Udhayanidhi Stalin and Adhi Rajaram. Stalin seeks re-election from this DMK stronghold. Rajaram aims to end the DMK's dominance and promises development. Other candidates are also in the fray
8 hours ago
Clashes erupted between police personnel and protesters in Manipur’s Imphal West district after thousands defied orders prohibiting public gatherings to take out a torch rally against a recent attack that killed two children, India Today NE reported
8 hours ago
The Supreme Court on Friday (April 17, 2026) cautioned the Madhya Pradesh government that it would order the deployment of paramilitary forces to curb rampant illegal sand mining in the ecologically fragile and protected National Chambal Gharial Sanctuary if the State failed to initiate prosecution
8 hours ago
India has entered summer, and some parts of the country are already facing harsh weather conditions. The heat of the summer season is slowly but surely getting unbearable. When the mercury crosses 40°C, which has been predicted to happen this month
8 hours ago
World Athletics on Thursday rejected applications from 11 elite athletes seeking to transfer their allegiance to Turkey, dealing a major blow to the country’s medal prospects at the 2028 Olympics. Four leading Jamaicans, including 2024 Olympic men’s discus gold medallist Roje Stona
8 hours ago
The Indian rupee gains against the US dollar in early trade on Friday, supported by easing geopolitical tensions, positive domestic equity markets and fresh foreign fund inflows. The Indian rupee strengthened by 39 paise to 92.75 against the US dollar in early trade on Friday
8 hours ago
India has slipped from the world’s fifth-largest economy to sixth place in 2025, according to the latest International Monetary Fund estimates, even as it continues to remain the fastest-growing major economy globally. The decline in ranking is not because India’s economy shrank in real terms
8 hours ago
Viral video shows Hyderabad security guard working under mosquito net at night, raises questions on dignity of labourA Hyderabad security guard was seen sitting under a mosquito net on night duty, sparking debate over poor working conditions and lack of basic facilities. Published on: Apr 17
8 hours ago
Alia Bhatt's sister Shaheen Bhatt gets engaged to boyfriend Ishaan Mehra, actor says she is ‘currently weeping’Shaheen Bhatt announced her engagement to her boyfriend, Ishaan Mehra, on Instagram. Check out how Alia Bhatt reacted. Apr 17, 2026
8 hours ago
As India’s AI ecosystem moves from experimentation to execution, the need to recognise real, measurable innovation has become critical. The ET Most Innovative AI Product Awards 2026 is designed to evaluate AI products based on architecture, deployment, and business impact across startups, SMEs
8 hours ago
Google Gemini now uses Photos to understand your taste and create custom imagesGoogle adds Personal Intelligence to Gemini, letting it auto-use Google Photos to create personalised AI images without manual uploads or detailed prompts. Updated on: Apr 17
8 hours ago
Shruti Haasan looks stunning in a crimson cocktail saree as she poses with a suited Kamal Haasan at INCA Awards 2026The father and daughter turned heads on the red carpet as they posed in dapper outfits. Here's a closer look at what Shruti Haasan and Kamal Haasan wore. Updated on: Apr 17
8 hours ago
, India’s fourth-largest software services exporter, reported a decline in attrition to 13.8% from 14.2% in the fourth quarter on Thursday.After a net addition of 6,529 employees in the December quarter, the company added only 136 staff between January and March, taking its total headcount to 242
8 hours ago
IGPL South Africa: Red-hot Mane fires flawless 64 to take six-shot leadIGPL South Africa: Red-hot Mane fires flawless 64 to take six-shot lead Updated on: Apr 17, 2026 1:58 PM IST PTI Share via Copy link Johannesburg, Continuing his red-hot form
8 hours ago
In 2025, Alia Bhatt’s sister, Shaheen Bhatt, made her relationship with fitness coach Ishaan Mehra Instagram official. Since then, the duo has been giving major couples on social media. Interestingly, the couple is now engaged. On April 17, Shaheen took to social media and shared a series of
8 hours ago
Brent crude slipped toward $98 a barrel, while West Texas Intermediate hovered near $93, partially reversing previous session’s sharp gains Oil prices eased after US President Donald Trump struck a more optimistic tone on the prospects of a lasting ceasefire with Iran
8 hours ago
