In recent months, a surge in global activism has emerged, challenging alleged Israeli genocide and impunity in Gaza and the West Bank, and calling into account the international supporters of Zionist genocide. The U.S.-based human rights organization Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN) has formally requested the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate former President Joe Biden, along with ex-Secretary of State Antony Blinken and former Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, for their complicity in Israeli war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. The 172-page submission urges the ICC to investigate these officials and their publicly documented role in providing military, political, and diplomatic support to Israel, facilitating severe offenses, including arms transfers and diplomatic protection, despite awareness of an ongoing genocide in contradiction to international law.

While public opinion within Israel has largely been supportive of Israeli genocidal actions, diaspora Jewish organizations have taken the lead in protesting against Israel’s actions in Palestine. Among the latest of such activities is a full-page ad in The New York Times titled, “Jewish People Say No to Ethnic Cleansing!” by a group called Jews for Shared Safety, where well-known Jewish figures, including actor Joaquin Phoenix, playwright Tony Kushner, and comedian Ilana Glazer, joined 350 rabbis on Thursday to call for an end to US President Donald Trump's plan to expel Palestinians from Gaza. On the other hand, the documentary titled "No Other Land," co-directed by Palestinian activist Basel Adra and Israeli journalist Yuval Abraham, recently won the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature. The film chronicles settler violence and the Israeli demolitions of Palestinian homes in the occupied West Bank.

In another instance, the BBC has come under heavy criticism for pulling a documentary titled Gaza: How to Survive a War Zone from its online streaming platform, after caving in to Zionist pressure. The documentary was a nine-month depiction of life in Gaza under siege through the eyes and experiences of Palestinian children. The primary objection of the Zionists was that Abdullah, the main child narrator, was the son of Ayman Alyazouri, the deputy minister of agriculture in Gaza’s Hamas-run government. Although the BBC had amended the programme to acknowledge this, further accusations led to it being dropped. A petition to restore the documentary has included prominent actors and TV personalities. These developments underscore a growing cultural and global political movement challenging Israeli genocide and the complicity of international actors in it.

References: British celebrities call on BBC to restore Gaza documentary. (2025, February 26). Middle East Eye. By pulling Gaza film, BBC shows it cannot stand up to Israel. (2025, February 24). Middle East Eye. Staff, A. J. (2025, March 3). What Oscar-winning no other land is about and where you can watch it. Al Jazeera. US rights group urges ICC to probe Biden for aiding Israeli war crimes in Gaza. (2025, February 24). Middle East Eye. ‘Jews say no to ethnic cleansing’: Hundreds of rabbis and artists reject Trump's Gaza plan. (2025, February 13). Middle East Eye.

President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had convened this February at the White House to discuss strengthening bilateral ties, focusing on trade, defense, and regional stability. However, experts opined that despite public displays of camaraderie, the meeting yielded limited substantive progress, particularly concerning defence, trade disputes and tariffs. President Trump criticized India's high tariffs, labeling them "unfair" and restrictive to US market access. He emphasized the need for a "level playing field," reiterated plans to implement reciprocal tariffs on countries imposing duties on US imports, and called India the biggest tariff abuser. In response, Prime Minister Modi announced India's intention to reduce tariffs on select US products, including lowering duties on certain motorcycles from 50% to 40%, although the move appeared appeasing rather than well-thought out. There were also talks to strengthen defense ties, with the U.S. proposing increased military sales to India, including advanced aircraft such as the F-35 stealth fighter jet. They also discussed establishing a new 10-year framework for the U.S.-India Major Defense Partnership, aiming to enhance military cooperation across air, land, sea, space, and cyberspace domains. This is seen by many as another backfoot move by India, which has traditionally sought Russian and European assistance in this regard, but is now almost being forced by the Trump administration to rely more on the US and buy US weaponry.

Another interesting aspect was Trump’s comments on Bangladesh. During the joint press conference, President Trump was questioned about the United States' stance on the political crisis in Bangladesh, especially the role of the American deep state. He denied any role for the American deep state and deflected the question, stating, "I'll leave Bangladesh to the Prime Minister," thereby sidestepping direct involvement. According to some, this indicated deference to India's regional leadership, while others were of the opinion that this indicated a failure of the Indian and Awami League lobbying that they could not elicit a strong critical statement on Bangladesh from the US President. Despite the leaders' effervescent expressions of camaraderie and talk of strategic partnership, the meeting concluded without significant breakthroughs. The United States maintained its stance on implementing reciprocal tariffs, and while India offered some concessions, substantial disagreements on trade policies persisted.

References: Former US diplomat explains Trump's 'I'll leave Bangladesh to Modi' comment. (2025, February 14). The Business Standard. How Narendra Modi quietly relented to Trump’s tariff demands. (2025, February 12). The Times and The Sunday Times. Modi-Trump deal exposes India's strategic dilemma. (2025, February). MSN - Express Tribune. Trump denies US deep state role in Bangladesh regime change, passes question to Modi. (2025, February 14). The Business Standard.

The recent elections have reshaped Germany's political landscape. The conservative Christian Democratic Union/Christian Social Union (CDU/CSU) alliance, led by Friedrich Merz, came in first, securing 28.5% of the vote, which translated to 208 seats in the Bundestag. The second largest party turned out to be the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, which garnered 20.8% of the vote, increasing its parliamentary representation from 83 to 152 seats. The AfD's ascent from the fringes marks a significant shift in German politics. It has capitalized on growing public discontent over issues such as immigration, economic policies, and environmental regulations. Their success was particularly pronounced in the eastern states, where they emerged as the dominant political force. Conversely, the Social Democratic Party (SPD), led by outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz, experienced a significant decline as they came in third, securing only 16.4% of the vote and 120 seats, down from 206 in the previous election.

The CDU/CSU have ruled out a coalition with the far-right AfD, and coalition talks have commenced between the CDU/CSU and the SPD. Collectively, they hold 328 of the 630 Bundestag seats, sufficient for a majority. Initial discussions have been described as promising, focusing on reconciling differing views on border control, migration, citizenship laws, unemployment benefits, and corporate taxation. An interesting aspect pertaining to the German elections has been Elon Musk's controversial involvement in favour of the far-right AfD. Utilizing his social media platform, X, Musk openly endorsed the AfD, asserting that "only the AfD can save Germany." He also participated in a livestream with Alice Weidel, praising her as "very reasonable" and urging Germans to support the AfD. Musk's engagement extended to a virtual appearance at an AfD rally, where he controversially suggested that Germany should move beyond its historical guilt, a statement that drew widespread criticism, especially given its timing near Holocaust Remembrance Day.

References: Conservative opposition wins German election and the far right is 2nd with strongest postwar result. (2025, February 24). AP News. Germany’s CDU and SPD to start coalition talks Friday. (2025, February 27). POLITICO.

The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has released a comprehensive report detailing severe human rights violations committed by Bangladesh's former government led by Sheikh Hasina during the student-led protests between July and August 2024. The report was welcomed by the Bangladeshi interim government's chief adviser Muhammad Yunus, as well as chief political parties the BNP and Jamaat. According to the investigation, based on over 250 interviews and extensive digital evidence, the report estimated that up to 1,400 individuals were killed, with thousands more injured or detained. The report stated that security forces, including the police, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), and the military, employed disproportionate force against unarmed protesters. This is clear from the fact that approximately 78% of the over 1,000 deaths resulted from gunfire, with many victims shot at close range. Moreover, over 11,700 individuals were detained without due process, facing beatings, torture, and ill-treatment. Many were held incommunicado, denied legal representation, and subjected to enforced disappearances.

Women, children, journalists, and human rights defenders were specifically targeted. Children accounted for approximately 12-13% of the deaths, and numerous reports indicate sexual violence against women by security forces. Journalists faced harassment, injury, and detention, with several media outlets censored or shut down. In order to prevent news from being relayed within the country and to the outside world, the government had imposed internet shutdowns and media censorship to control the narrative and limit public awareness of the ongoing violations. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk reiterated the findings of the OHCHR fact-finding team, calling them an essential tool for justice. Turk criticised the former Bangladeshi government's response to the protests and had been at the forefront of urging it to respect the rights of all citizens, particularly in allowing the freedom to assemble peacefully and express dissent. The report was also backed by Amnesty and Human Rights Watch, who voiced recommendations from the UN report calling on the Bangladeshi government to hold investigations, ensure justice for victims and provide for reparations.

References: OHCHR report on 2024 protests in Bangladesh. (2025, March 1). Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Retrieved March 8, 2025, from UN rights office estimates up to 1,400 killed in crackdown on protests in Bangladesh. (2025, February 12). AP News.

Muslims around the world marked the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan in March, where they will observe the fast by refraining from eating and drinking from dawn to dusk every day for an entire month to achieve greater “taqwa”, or consciousness of God, and purification of the soul. Muslims in Saudi Arabia and other Arab and Muslim countries started fasting the month on Saturday the first of March. This included Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Libya, the Palestinian territories, Sudan, Tunisia, as well as Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim-majority country. Some other nations, such as Bangladesh, India, Malaysia, Pakistan and South Africa, began observing Ramadan on March 2. This year’s Ramadan comes amidst some momentous events – the end of the war in Syria following decades of Assad family rule, a fragile ceasefire in Gaza where the first phase has ended and the next one is yet unsure, following fifteen months of an Israeli-sponsored genocide which has killed more than 40,000 people, as well as the first Ramadan in Bangladesh after the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s autocratic government through a popular revolution.

In many parts of the world, Muslims are increasingly becoming victims of social and state-sponsored oppression that is actively affecting and inhibiting their ability in safely exercising their religious customs and traditions this Ramadan. In Australia, a major police investigation began following an alleged Christchurch-style shooting threat to a mosque in Edmonson Park, Western Sydney, referring to the 2019 attack on a Christchurch mosque in New Zealand, where Australian-born Brenton Tarrant killed 51 people after storming the building and opening fire, all while live-streaming the heinous act. According to authorities, the treat was being seriously addressed by police authorities and has elicited condemnation from Australian PM Anthony Albanese and NSW Premier Chris Minns. In France, the Coordination Council of Turkish Muslims of France (CCMTF), Ibrahim Alci, sent a letter to the French Interior Ministry to request enhanced security measures for Muslim places of worship in France, amidst Muslim concerns about the rise in hostile acts targeting mosques. Moreover, the French Football Federation (FFF) is under fire after banning Muslim players from fasting during Ramadan while training with the national squad — sparking accusations of discrimination and dividing the team. This is not an isolated incident – French authorities have also slapped a discriminatory hijab ban on French female athletes competing in sports, a move that has faced heavy criticism as well. On the other hand, Muslims in India face hurdles in praying and fasting as the local government in some places asked Muslims to pray indoors for the coming Friday in light of the Hindu Holi celebrations, where paint will be splashed all across buildings and people – several mosques in Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh have been covered by tarpauline sheets ahead of Holi processions to ‘maintain the peace.’

References: 16yo boy arrested after Western Sydney mosque threatened with Christchurch-style shooting. (2025, March 5). Nationwide news. Alami, A. (2025, March 3). France bans Muslim players from fasting during Ramadan. Morocco World News. Chughtai, A. (2025, March 4). A simple illustrated guide to Ramadan, answers to 10 common questions. Al Jazeera. Coordination Council of Turkish Muslims of France urges increased security for mosques. (2025, February 27). Anadolu Ajansı. Mosques In Shahjahanpur Covered Ahead of ‘Laat Sahab’ Holi, Security Tightened. (2025, March). MSN. What is Ramadan and how do Muslims observe the Islamic holy month? (2025, February 28). AP News.

Finally, the much-discussed Bangladesh Citizen Party (BCP) has made its debut through a grand event. In the late afternoon of February 2025, the party leader Nahid’s slogan “People, or power; People, people” resonated along the Manik Mia Avenue Road in front of the National Parliament. This news has been widely covered in all major national and international media outlets. In the international media, BCP has been introduced as “a party formed by students who ousted Hasina.”

The newest party in Bangladesh began its journey with the announcement of a 171-member convening committee. With the July coup, it was only a matter of time before BCP’s emergence came to pass, in line with the political shifting of Bangladesh.

Historically, although the Bangladeshi democratic system has been carried forward by the two main political parties—Awami League and BNP— the coup on July 24 not only ensured the oust of the fascist Awami League but perhaps has buried it for good. The people of Bangladesh seem to have spontaneously rejected the Awami League.

In this context, while it is believed that the remaining two popular parties in Bangladesh, BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami, will struggle for power among themselves, BCP’s emergence has shifted the power struggle into a different dimension altogether. Historically, the combined vote share of BNP, Jamaat, and Awami League in Bangladesh has been 60-70 percent. Outside of that, about 25-30 percent are swing votes. It is preliminarily estimated that after the departure of Awami League from the political scene, BNP may form a government with an absolute majority. On the other hand, considering the influence of the former Shibir within the predecessor of BCP, Jatiyo Nagorik Committee, Jamaat hoped to gain more votes than before. They believed that even if they could not come to power, they would be able to secure a place as a strong opposition party in the National Parliament.

However, before the formation of BCP, its Shibir faction became inactive. At least several influential former Shibir leaders announced that they will not join BCP. While this may not significantly benefit or harm Jamaat, it seems likely that BCP’s popularity will increase as a result. One reason for this is the swing voters. A large portion of swing voters are searching for an alternative party to the Awami League. In the past, BNP has been the default option in such cases, but this time the situation is different. Due to various incorrect decisions, actions, and statements from BNP after August 5, their popularity is declining. As a result, BCP could position itself as a centrist party that swing voters might trust.

From 1979 to 2008, the BNP participated in five national elections, receiving an average of 15 million votes, which accounts for 36% of the total electorate. Their highest vote tally during this period was 23 million. In comparison, the Awami League (AL) took part in eight elections from 1970 to 2008, averaging 16 million votes with a share of 44%. Their peak vote count was 34 million in 2008. During the same timeframe, the BJI participated in five national polls, garnering an average of 2,955,812 votes, which represents 7% of the total.

In 2024, Bangladesh registered approximately 121.7 million r voters. This suggests that around 100 million voters could be considered swing voters, including those who typically support the Awami League. Even if we allocate a portion of Awami votes to the BNP, their estimated support would not exceed 55 million. This leaves about 65 million voters as potential swing voters.

While initial public perceptions suggest that BNP could win the upcoming elections by a huge margin and form the government, the potential of BCP cannot be completely dismissed. This will depend on BCP’s public relations; maintaining the popularity of Nahid, Hasanat, and Sarjis; Akhtar's strategic role, and how well it can connect with the middle class and low-wage communty in the country.

It is not entirely impossible that if swing voters cast their votes for BCP, it could result in a miracle for the party and the future of Bangladesh. However, along with this situation, it may also become clearer in the coming days that Jamaat’s role in Bangladeshi politics is unlikely to remain very strong or decisive. In the upcoming days, we may witness a three-way conflict in Bangladeshi politics with the participation of BNP and Jamaat. However, it would be wise to wait at least another six months to know who will be able to form the government.