Perspective on Indo-Pacific diplomacy and regional affairs
The Indo-Pacific Wire
Weekly Edition - February-05, 2026-Week -1
New York: February, 4, 2026. Bangladesh’s upcoming election will decide more than who governs next; it will shape how the country manages its foreign relations at a time of regional tension and global realignment.
Bay of Bengal's Naval Diplomacy and the Indo-Pacific Narrative: Partnership or Power Politics?
By Tanvir Rusmat, Dhaka, February 2, 2026
A recent meeting between Bangladesh’s Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral M Nazmul Hassan
IPW Desk, New York, February-2, 2026.
The Committee to Protect Journalists has urged Bangladesh’s
By Sadik Sagar, Dhaka, February 3, 2026
Bangladesh is facing renewed economic and trade challenges as former US President Donald
By Tanvir Rusmat, Dhaka, February 3, 2026
Bangladesh’s move to establish a defence industrial zone in the port city of Chattogram is increasingly being viewed as a strategic test of its long-standing diplomatic balancing policy, as geopolitical competition intensifies across the Indo-Pacific, analysts say.
By Sadik Sagar, Dhaka, January 2, 2026
A subtle but significant shift is taking shape in global diplomacy as the United Kingdom follows Canada in seeking closer engagement with China, signalling a broader trend among U.S.
⌛Current⏰January-29, 2026, Week-5
NEW YORK: Bangladesh is at a tense critical point, with political, social, and diplomatic currents colliding just a week before the elections. Recent reports, including one by The Washington Post, have stirred controversy after a diplomat reportedly spoke to a couple of female journalists about potential cooperation with Jamaat Islami if the party swing in election and comes to power.
By Sadik Sagar, Dhaka, January 26, 2026
With Bangladesh heading toward a pivotal national election on February 12, international attention has increasingly shifted from domestic political contestation to the country’s place in a widening global rivalry.
IPW Commentary, New York, January 27, 2026
As Bangladesh approaches its upcoming elections, the United States and the United Kingdom have issued travel advisories
Will Work With Whoever Wins Election, Says US Ambassador
By Sadik Sagar, Dhaka, January 25, 2026
US Ambassador to Bangladesh Brent T. Christensen has said that Washington does not support any particular political party in Bangladesh and is committed to working with whichever government is elected in the February 12 general elections.
Diplomatic Exchange Follows U.S. Ambassador’s China Remarks in Dhaka
IPW Report: New York, January 28, 2026
During his first interaction with the Bangladeshi press, newly appointed U.S. Ambassador Brent T. Christensen outlined Washington’s position on Bangladesh’s upcoming national election while also commenting on wider regional dynamics, including China’s role in South Asia.
By Tanvir Rusmat, Dhaka, Jan 27, 2026
Bangladesh’s foreign policy adviser, Md Touhid Hossain, has delivered an unusually blunt assessment of relations with India, saying bilateral ties are “not at the desired level” following New Delhi’s decision to withdraw families of some Indian diplomats from Dhaka, a move that has stirred diplomatic and strategic unease.
By Tanvir Rusmat, Dhaka, Jan 27, 2026
Bangladesh’s participation in the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup has ended in controversy after a decisive vote at the International Cricket Council (ICC) effectively excluded the team from the tournament. The decision has triggered sharp debate across the global cricket community, with analysts arguing it reflects not sporting considerations but the growing dominance of politics, power and diplomacy in international cricket.
Bangladesh Raises Concerns Over Cyber Job Trafficking to Myanmar
IPW Desk, Dhaka, 27 January, 2026, Bangladesh has reported that several of its citizens were trafficked to Myanmar after being lured by fraudulent overseas job offers in cyber and IT-related fields. According to returnees, they were recruited online, travelled through Thailand, and were later taken into Myanmar, where they were allegedly forced to work in cyber scam operations under pressure.
New York: Hamnet is a film that evokes the emotional depth and human sensitivity once associated with the cinema of Satyajit Ray—particularly his attention to family life, shared suffering, and the quiet dignity of ordinary people. Few contemporary filmmakers work within this restrained, emotionally honest space, and Chloé Zhao does so with remarkable care. What makes Hamnet especially compelling is that it transforms a well-known British literary world into something intimate and universal, focusing not on legacy but on lived experience.
From its opening moments, the film draws the viewer into a deeply felt emotional landscape. Zhao achieves a rare level of engagement by allowing the story to unfold naturally, without haste or excess. The film’s strength lies not in spectacle or dramatic display, but in its trust—trust in silence, in stillness, and in the audience’s ability to feel rather than be told. Time seems to dissolve as the narrative gently moves forward, guided by emotion rather than convention.
At the heart of Hamnet is its profound attention to family and human connection. The film brings together every element of filmmaking—direction, performance, rhythm, and atmosphere—in seamless harmony. Each scene feels purposeful yet unforced, contributing to a larger emotional flow that resonates long after the film ends. This careful balance explains why the film has connected so strongly with viewers and critics alike.
One of the film’s most affecting qualities is its re-centering of perspective. Instead of presenting Shakespeare as a distant cultural figure, Hamnet portrays him within the intimate space of family life—as a husband and a father shaped by love and loss. By shifting focus toward Agnes and the domestic world, the film offers a quietly powerful reimagining of history, one that honors human vulnerability as much as creative genius.
The natural world plays a vital role in shaping the film’s emotional tone. Landscape, light, wind, and water function almost as a language of their own, expressing feelings that words cannot fully capture. This elemental presence gives Hamnet a timeless quality, allowing it to transcend its historical setting and speak to universal experiences of grief and resilience.
Rather than offering easy answers, the film approaches healing with honesty and grace. Grief is shown not as something to overcome, but as something that reshapes life and deepens understanding. This thoughtful approach gives the film its enduring emotional power.
Ultimately, Hamnet stands as a rare and beautiful work—one that values quiet strength, emotional truth, and human connection. It is a film that does not demand attention but earns it, leaving behind a lasting impression of tenderness, reflection, and shared humanity.
Hamnet
JAN-22, 2026 UPDATE
Defense Talks JF-17 New Turn in Asia
The Elected Cabinets Of Khlaeda And Hasina Failed
⌛Current⏰January-22, 2026, Week-4
Bangladesh, for its part, would do well to avoid reflexive responses driven by short-term optics NewYork: January 21, 2026: Recent media reports have highlighted a precautionary advisory issued by India’s Ministry of External Affairs, asking the families and dependents of certain Indian officials
Rohingya crisis: from humanitarian responsibility to security risk for Bangladesh
By Tanvir Rusmat, Dhaka, Jan 20, 2026
The Rohingya crisis in Bangladesh is increasingly moving beyond the bounds of a humanitarian issue and emerging as a national security and regional geopolitical challenge.
U.S. Ambassador Christensen Sends Strategic Signals on U.S. Priorities in South Asia from Dhaka
IPW Report, Dhaka, New York, January 21, 2026.
As Bangladesh approaches a national election, recent remarks by United States Ambassador Brent T. Christensen offer insight into Washington’s intentions for Bangladesh and its broader regional strategy.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dhaka Declaration: Higher Education as South Asia’s New Platform
By Tanvir Rusmat,Dhaka, Jan 20, 2026
The Dhaka Declaration, adopted at a recently concluded South Asian higher education conference, has drawn attention not only for its academic ambitions but also for its wider political and international implications for the region.
By Sadik Sagar, Dhaka, January 19, 2026
Canada’s recent efforts to stabilize relations with China, underscored by the Canadian prime minister’s visit to Beijing, mark a notable recalibration of Ottawa’s foreign policy at a time when long-standing global certainties are being challenged. As tensions with the United States intensify under President Donald Trump’s renewed and more transactional approach, Canada appears to be reassessing how it balances values, security interests, and economic realities in an increasingly fluid international landscape.
By Sadik Sagar, Dhaka, 19 January 2025
The United States’ decision to indefinitely suspend immigrant visa processing for nationals of 75 countries, including Bangladesh, is expected to have far-reaching social and economic consequences for thousands of Bangladeshi families. The policy, announced by the U.S. State Department, takes
Jan-15, 2026 UPDATE
Defense Talks JF-17 New Turn in Asia
The Elected Cabinets Of Khlaeda And Hasina Failed
⌛Current⏰January-15, 2026, Week-3
By Tanvir Rusmat, Dhaka, Jan 13, 2026
Bangladesh is navigating a delicate path in defense diplomacy, balancing deepening cooperation with the United States while maintaining long-standing military ties with China.
By Sadik Sagar, Dhaka, January 12, 2026
Pakistan’s exploration of a defense pact with Bangladesh, including the potential sale of JF-17 Thunder fighter jets, marks a significant development in South Asian security dynamics, with implications extending well beyond bilateral ties to regional rival India.
Despite Public Rhetoric Trump and Mamdani Trade Friendly Texts
IPW Desk, New York & Washington, D.C. Jan. 14, 2026 —
In an unexpected development,
Asia on Edge as Trump Backs Punitive Tariffs Over Russian Oil
By Sadik Sagar, Dhaka, January 12, 2026.
United States President Donald Trump has backed a bipartisan bill that would impose sweeping sanctions on countries continuing to buy Russian oil, a move that could significantly
IPW Desk, Washington DC. January 13, 2026.
The U.S. has
By Tanvir Rusmat, Dhaka, Jan 13, 2026
Bangladesh’s foreign policy is increasingly being reshaped by economic necessity rather than traditional
Ex-New York Governor Andrew Cuomo Aims to Stay Engaged with New York Public Through Talk Show
IPW Desk, New York, January 14, 2026.
Former New York Governor Andrew
The Elected Cabinets Of Khlaeda And Hasina Failed
⌛Current⏰January-08, 2026, Week-2
For a short time, South Asia’s specific tensions between India and Bangladesh appeared to soften.
Boeing Wins Biman Aircraft Deal as European Diplomatic Push Falls Short
By Sadik Sagar, Dhaka, 5 January 2026. Bangladesh has decided in principle to procure 14 aircraft from US aerospace giant Boeing.
By Sadik Sagar, Dhaka, December 6, 2026. US President Donald Trump has reignited debate over immigration and welfare after publishing a list showing the proportion of immigrant households receiving government
By Tanvir Rusmat, Dhaka, Jan 6, 2026
Bangladesh is set to officially graduate from the United Nations’ Least Developed Country (LDC) category on 24 November 2026.
By Sadik Sagar, By Tanvir Rusmat, Dhaka, January 6, 2026
Recent developments surrounding Bangladeshi fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman’s removal from the Indian Premier League (IPL) have revealed how deeply cricket in South Asia is entangled with
⌛Current⏰December-31, 2025, Week-5
Washington’s Calculated Choice: Brent Christensen and U.S. Strategy in Bangladesh
Anwar Shahadat, New York, 30, 2025
The appointment of Brent T. Christensen as the United States Ambassador to Bangladesh comes at a politically sensitive and strategically significant moment.
IPW Report, New York, Dec. 31-2025,
Journalism in Bangladesh has long-faced pressure.
Bangladesh Under Persistent Strain: Political Turbulence and the Hard Reality of Diplomacy in 2025
By Tanvir Rusmat, Dhaka | Dec 31, 2025
Bangladesh entered 2025 facing one of the most difficult political periods in its recent history, a crisis that has gone beyond domestic unrest and begun to affect the country’s international standing.
TBy Tanvir Rusmat, Dhaka, Dec 24, 2025
Renewed security tensions in the Indochina region are drawing international attention as clashes along the Thailand–Cambodia border.
Technology War over Semiconductors: Strategic Challenges- South Asia- Bangladesh
By Tanvir Rusmat, Dhaka, Dec 24, 2025
The global contest over leadership in the Fourth Industrial Revolution has increasingly centered on semiconductors
By Sadik Sagar, Dhaka, December 30, 2025
The Afghan Taliban government has been actively pursuing what it describes as an “economic diplomacy” strategy, seeking to expand relations with a wide range of countries to gain international legitimacy and attract trade and investment.
🎬 Cinemas 🎞️
Vision in Restraint: Shih-Ching Tsou’s The Left-Handed Girl and the Power of Subtle Storytelling
New York, 27 Dec. 2025. - I watched The Left-Handed Girl twice—first on the big screen and later on Netflix.
⌛Current ⏰ December 25, 2025, Week-4
Indian Parliamentary Standing Committee On External Affairs Has Identified
India–Bangladesh Relations In Serious Strategic Challenge Since 1971
Anwar Shahadat, New York, Dec. 24, 2025 The recent report of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs has identified India–Bangladesh relations.
Japan’s Nuclear Debate Sends Ripples Across Asia
By Sadik Sagar,, Dhaka, December 23, 2025. Japan has long been viewed as a pillar of global nuclear restraint, shaped by its historical experience as the only country to suffer atomic bombings and by its post-war pacifist principles. However, recent remarks by senior Japanese officials have reignited international attention.
US SENATE CONFIRMS BRENT CHRISTENSEN AS AMBASSADOR TO BANGLADESH
IPW Desk, Dhaka, New York, December 20, 2025. The United States Senate has approved the appointment of Brent Christensen.
REPORT SAYS POST-ELECTION PERIOD OFFERS CHANCE FOR DAMAGE CONTROL AND RESET
Anwar Shahadat, New York, 24, 2025.
The International Crisis Group has expressed concern in its latest report, published on 23 December in Brussels, over the state of relations between India and Bangladesh. The report says ties between the two countries have come under strain following political upheaval in Dhaka, warning that years of close cooperation were heavily dependent on personal political alignment rather than broad public consensus.
Grace Meng Challenged in Democratic Primary Race in New York’s 6th District
IPW Desk: Dec. 21 2025. New YorkU.S. Representative Grace Meng is facing a primary challenge in New York’s 6th Congressional District, which covers several neighborhoods in Queens.
Rising Political Tensions Test India–Bangladesh Relations
By Sadik Sagar, Dhaka, December 23, 2025
India-Bangladesh relations have come under renewed strain as sharp political rhetoric and diplomatic exchanges heighten tensions between the two neighbors, raising concerns about regional stability and the future of security cooperation.
⌛Current⏰December 18, 2025, Week-3
By Sadik Sagar, Dhaka, December 15, 2025
The recent summon and counter-summon of envoys by Bangladesh and India has cast a fresh shadow over Dhaka–New Delhi relations, underscoring the fragility of bilateral ties during a sensitive political transition in Bangladesh.
By Tanvir Rusmat, Dhaka, Dec 17, 2025
As great-power competition intensifies across the Indo-Pacific, the Bay of Bengal is rapidly transforming from a commercial maritime corridor into a strategic arena shaping South Asia’s security and development trajectory.
By Tanvir Rusmat, Dhaka, Dec 17, 2025
Global economic growth has stabilised in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic, but at a pace markedly slower than the pre-pandemic decade.
By Sadik Sagar, Dhaka, December 16, 2025
Concerns are growing in migrant communities as reports by The Middle East Eye highlight policy debates in the United Kingdom that could potentially place millions of people at risk of losing British citizenship.
--Anwar Shahadat-- New York. Dec.13, 2025
Representative Dan Goldman, the incumbent Democrat from New York’s 10th Congressional District, may soon face a primary challenge
⌛ Current Pace ⏰December 11, 2025, Week-2
As Pakistan Pitches New Alliance, Bangladesh Faces Fresh Geopolitical Calculus
By Sadik Sagar, Dhaka, December 11, 2025
Bangladesh has emerged as one of the most strategically affected countries in South Asia following Pakistan’s push for a new regional bloc that would exclude India. For Dhaka — which is navigating strained ties with New Delhi, cautiously improving
US NSS 2025: A New Strategic Reality for Bangladesh Amid Intensifying US–China Rivalry
By Tanvir Rusmat, Dhaka, December 11, 2025
The U.S. National Security Strategy (NSS) 2025 sharpens Washington’s focus on the Indo-Pacific,
Tariff Warning on Indian Rice Set to Disrupt Trade, Heighten South Asian Strategic Friction
By Sadik Sagar, Dhaka, December 9, 2025
U.S. President Donald Trump has signaled the possibility of imposing new tariffs on Indian rice imports, a move analysts say could reshape agricultural trade flows and inject fresh geopolitical tension into South Asia.
IPW Report, Washington DC. December 08, 2025.In a joint statement published by US Department of State Relased a Joint Statement of the 21st Meeting of the India-USA Joint Working Group on Counter Terrorism (JWG-CT)
Delhi Recalibrates: Modi’s Gesture Toward Khaleda Zia Sparks Diplomatic Repositioning in Bangladesh
By Sadik Sagar, Dhaka, December 4, 2025
The tone in Dhaka has also softened. Last week, Bangladeshi foreign affairs adviser Mohammad Touhid Hossain remarked that bilateral relations would not be stalled because of a few unresolved issues, including the Hasina affair.
-Anwar Shahadat- New York, Dec, 5, 2025 A Tehran court sentenced globally famous filmmaker Jafar Panahi to one year in prison in absentia.
World Bank, IMF Signal Stronger Engagement with Bangladesh After Formation of New Government
By Tanvir Rusmat, Dhaka, December 04, 2025
Following the formation of Bangladesh’s new government, both the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have indicated a renewed willingness to deepen financial and policy cooperation, particularly as the country navigates economic pressures stemming from global inflation, foreign exchange volatility, and structural reform demands.
EU-Bangladesh: A New Era of Strategic Investment
By Tanvir Rusmat, Dhaka, December04, 2025
The European Union and the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) held a high-level meeting in Dhaka on 1 December 2025, aiming to strengthen economic cooperation and explore new opportunities for European investment in Bangladesh. The dialogue, attended by EU ambassadors, senior Bangladeshi officials
Indo-Pacific Dynamics in Focus as Putin Paying Key Visit to India
By Sadik Saga, Dhaka, December 4, 2025
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s trip to India (December 4-5) is set to be one of the most closely watched diplomatic developments of the year.
Rohingya Crisis Poised to Continue Amid International Skepticism of Myanmar’s Election
By Sadik Sagar, Dhaka, December 4, 2025
With Myanmar’s national election set to begin on December 28, 2025, concerns are mounting among international organizations and regional powers about the credibility of the upcoming polls. These doubts have reinforced fears that the long-running Rohingya crisis—already one of the world’s most protracted humanitarian tragedies—will continue without a viable path toward justice, repatriation or citizenship.
IPW Desk: Washington DC, December 3, 2025
In a press note Department of State announced that, in response to the severe impact of Tropical Cyclone Ditwah.
World Bank, IMF Signal Stronger Engagement with Bangladesh After Formation of New Government
By Tanvir Rusmat, Dhaka, December 04, 2025
Following the formation of Bangladesh’s new government, both the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have indicated a renewed willingness to deepen financial and policy cooperation, particularly as the country navigates economic pressures stemming from global inflation, foreign exchange volatility, and structural reform demands.
⌛Current⏰November-27, 2025, Week-4
As both governments trade accusations and threats, the risk of miscalculation grows
By Sadik Sagar, Dhaka, November 27, 2025
Tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have
CPJ: Authorities must clearly explain the legal basis for raid on the Kashmir Times
PW Desk, New York Nov.21, 2025
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has reported, police in the Indian-administered territory of Jammu and Kashmir must return any
By Sadik Sagar, Dhaka, November 27, 2025
Canada is close to finalizing a US$2.8 billion uranium export deal with India.
Weekly Edition - November 20, 2025-Week -3
India–Bangladesh Ties at a Crossroads as Dhaka Seeks Hasina’s Extradition After Verdict
By Sadik Sagar, Dhaka, November 20, 2025
India–Bangladesh relations, one of South Asia’s most strategically crucial bilateral partnerships, have entered their most fragile period in decades following the conviction and death sentence handed down to former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
By Tanvir Rusmat, Dhaka, November 18, 2025
Tensions between China and Japan have intensified sharply following Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s remarks in parliament.
US Tariffs and their impact on Bangladesh's Ready-Made garments sector
by Toufiq Jayad, Dhaka, November 19, 2025.
The United States continues to be the largest export destination for Bangladesh’s ready-made garment (RMG) products.
Sanctioning Burma Armed Group and Firms Linked to Organized Crime Scamming Americans
IPW Report- Washing DC, Nov 20, 2025
US Department or States in a press statement said that they are "Sanctioning Burma Armed Group and Firms Linked to Organized Crime.
Weekly Edition - November 20, 2025-Week -3
Bangladesh NSA Khalilur Rahman’s India Visit: Will It Help Ease Frosty Bilateral Relations?
By Sadik Sagar, Dhaka, November 20, 2025
Bangladesh’s National Security Adviser (NSA) Khalilur Rahman arrives in New Delhi on November 19 at the invitation of Indian NSA Ajit Doval.
CPJ Condemns Myanmar’s Charges Against AAMIJ News and Ongoing Suppression of Journalists
IPW Report- New York, Nov 20, 2025
According to a statement released by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) on November 12, 2025, Myanmar’s authorities must immediately drop the charges.
-Sabir Mustafa
London: Nov. 10, 2025. London-based former BBC Bengali-British journalist Sabir Mustafa weighed in after the resignation of a BBC executive amid controversy.
Journalists are often accused of exaggeration and use of hyperboles to make their stories
India–US Defense Pact: A Strategic Shift with Regional and Global Ripples
By Sadik Sagar, November 13, Dhaka.
India and the United States have signed a landmark defense pact aimed at deepening strategic cooperation, military interoperability, and technology sharing.
Tanvir Rusmat Dhaka, November 11, 2025
As China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) turns ten, the world remains divided over whether it is a pathway to shared growth or a tool of strategic influence.
Weekly Edition - November 06 2025-Week -3
South Asia’s Subtle Shift: From Accusations to Accountability
IPW New York: Nov. 13, 2025. India and Pakistan’s careful handling of recent attacks shows a quiet evolution in crisis management — and a potential opening for diplomacy.
IPW Analysis: Nov. 13, 2025. Bangladesh has climbed 16 places in the Reporters Without Borders (RSF) World..
After Delhi’s Tragedy: Bangladesh–India Relations in Focus
IPW Report: Dhaka- Nov 10, 2025.
The Red Fort attack could become a turning point- either deepening security collaboration or highlighting the limits of regional trust.
Bangladesh’s RCEP Ambition: Balancing Opportunities and Challenges in a Shifting Global Order
Sadik Sagar Dhaka November 6, 2025
The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), the world’s largest trading block, has become a cornerstone of modern global trade and geopolitics. Comprising 15 nations — including China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, and the ASEAN countries
Anwar Shahadat
New York, November 6, 2025
The final outcome of the high-level meeting held at the United Nations General Assembly.
Oscar Dreams from Asia: The 2026 Submissions for Best International Feature
Toufiq Jayad Dhaka, November 2, 2025
The Academy Awards, widely known as the Oscars, are among the most prestigious events in the global film industry.
Taliban Minister’s Visit to India Marks a Groundbreaking Shift in South Asian Diplomacy
Sadik Sagar, October 22, Dhaka.
Afghan Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi’s week-long visit to India has been described as one of the most significant diplomatic breakthroughs in South Asia since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021.
As Bangladesh Warms to Pakistan India Watches a Regional Realignment Unfold
By Sadik Sagar October 8, 2025
South Asia is entering a subtle but significant phase of diplomatic realignment.
U.S. Department of State to Host five Central Asian countries 10th Anniversary
Washington, D.C.
The U.S. Department of State announced it will host the C5+1 Tenth Anniversary Business Conference in partnership with the Kennedy Center, marking a decade of collaboration between the United States and the five Central Asian nations.
Pakistan–Saudi Defence Pact Sparks Talk of a “Southern NATO” Amid Shifting Asian Power Balance
Tanvir Rusmat: Dhaka, October 11,2025
A landmark Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement (SMDA) between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia has sent ripples across South Asia and the Middle East..”
IPW US Desk: October 14, 2025
The European Union (EU) is expected to send 150 election observers for the upcoming national election in Bangladesh, scheduled for February 26, according to sources within the Dhaka Election Commission (EC).
India–Bangladesh Border Dispute: Resolution, Political Shifts & Emerging Challenges
By Tanvir Rusmat: October 11, 2025
The India–Bangladesh border dispute is widely seen as one of South Asia’s rare success stories in resolving complex territorial issues peacefully.
U.S. Tariffs and Their Impact on Bangladesh’s Ready‑Made Garments Sector
U.S. Tariffs and Their Impact on Bangladesh’s Ready‑Made Garments Sector Short‑term pain looks likely: reduced orders, squeezed margins, possible factory closures if tariffs persist.
Saint Martin’s Island: Tiny Coral Isle Turns into Geopolitical Hotspot
Tanvir Rusmat: Dhaka, October 5, 2025
Saint Martin’s Island, Bangladesh’s only coral island, is fast turning into a sensitive node in Bay of Bengal geopolitics. Once known mainly as a pristine tourist destination, it is now at the heart of concerns over sovereignty, regional rivalries, and national security.
🎬 Cinemas 🎞️
Echoes of Satyajit Ray in Chloé Zhao’s Hamnet
New York: Hamnet is a film that evokes the emotional depth and human sensitivity once associated with the cinema of Satyajit Ray—particularly his attention to family life, shared suffering, and the quiet dignity of ordinary people. Few contemporary filmmakers work within this restrained, emotionally honest space, and Chloé Zhao does so with remarkable care. What makes Hamnet especially compelling is that it transforms a well-known British literary world into something intimate and universal, focusing not on legacy but on lived experience.
From its opening moments, the film draws the viewer into a deeply felt emotional landscape. Zhao achieves a rare level of engagement by allowing the story to unfold naturally, without haste or excess. The film’s strength lies not in spectacle or dramatic display, but in its trust—trust in silence, in stillness, and in the audience’s ability to feel rather than be told. Time seems to dissolve as the narrative gently moves forward, guided by emotion rather than convention.
At the heart of Hamnet is its profound attention to family and human connection. The film brings together every element of filmmaking—direction, performance, rhythm, and atmosphere—in seamless harmony. Each scene feels purposeful yet unforced, contributing to a larger emotional flow that resonates long after the film ends. This careful balance explains why the film has connected so strongly with viewers and critics alike.
One of the film’s most affecting qualities is its re-centering of perspective. Instead of presenting Shakespeare as a distant cultural figure, Hamnet portrays him within the intimate space of family life—as a husband and a father shaped by love and loss. By shifting focus toward Agnes and the domestic world, the film offers a quietly powerful reimagining of history, one that honors human vulnerability as much as creative genius.
The natural world plays a vital role in shaping the film’s emotional tone. Landscape, light, wind, and water function almost as a language of their own, expressing feelings that words cannot fully capture. This elemental presence gives Hamnet a timeless quality, allowing it to transcend its historical setting and speak to universal experiences of grief and resilience.
Rather than offering easy answers, the film approaches healing with honesty and grace. Grief is shown not as something to overcome, but as something that reshapes life and deepens understanding. This thoughtful approach gives the film its enduring emotional power.
Ultimately, Hamnet stands as a rare and beautiful work—one that values quiet strength, emotional truth, and human connection. It is a film that does not demand attention but earns it, leaving behind a lasting impression of tenderness, reflection, and shared humanity.
Hamnet
-Anwar Shahadat-
New York, Nov. 23, 2025.
The Japanese film Kokuho, submitted for the Foreign Language Oscar category, is an epic cinematic experience that left a lasting impression on me. It combines music, performing arts, history, tradition, and the psychology of its characters, all within the world of Kabuki. Director Lee Sang-il has created a film that feels both monumental and intimate, guiding the audience through a tradition that is almost 500 years old while keeping the human story at its heart.
Kabuki, the form at the center of the film, is a classical Japanese theatre tradition....
Anwar Shahadat
Train Dreams is a beautifully crafted and emotionally uplifting cinematic experience that celebrates resilience, human connection, and the enduring power of the American frontier spirit. From the first frame, the film creates a warm, poetic atmosphere, blending breathtaking landscapes with heartfelt, human storytelling. Every scene feels lovingly composed, inviting viewers into a world both intimate and expansive.
“Christy” A Personal Reflection: Where truth and storytelling meet in perfect balance
A film that transforms a true story into a moving piece of fiction about strength, identity, and grace
Anwar Shahadat
Before watching Christy, I deliberately avoided reading anything about it. All I knew was that it was based on the life of boxer Christy Martin. I wanted to see the story unfold without any outside influence or expectation.
Oscar Dreams from Asia: The 2026 Submissions for Best International Feature
Toufiq Jayad Dhaka, November 2, 2025
The Academy Awards, widely known as the Oscars, are among the most prestigious events in the global film industry.
--Anwar Shahadat--
The documentary “Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk”, directed by Sepideh Farsi, finds its greatest strength in the luminous presence of its central figure, Fatma Hassona. What begins as a seemingly simple story of a young Palestinian
Editor: Email: New York,
Anwar Shahadat indopacificwire@gmail.com USA