Two years on from Bangladesh’s August rebellion

In theory, last February’s national election has restored Bangladesh’s democracy after a period of authoritarian rule was ended by the July-August 2024 protest. In practice polling has restored the once powerful Bangladesh Nationalist Party, founded by former president Ziaur Rahman, and now led by Tarique Rahman. Long-time Bangladesh watcher Nicholas Nugent considers to what extent democracy has been restored.

Alia’s story – it’s hard being a woman in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan

Understanding life in Afghanistan has been difficult since the Taliban came to power – for the second time – in August 2021. One of the few international journalists to have gained access to the country is BBC correspondent Yogita Limaye. Here she tells Alia’s story.

Tension in Prabowo’s Indonesia

The head of the country’s controversial and wildly expensive ‘free’ school meals programme is dismissed. Then the country’s chief prosecutor resigned after gold bars were found in his home, amid suggestions of large-scale corruption. What is going on in South East Asia’s largest economy? Joseph Rachman reports.

Myanmar: state of control

Throughout Asia, Myanmar is the country whose government controls the least of its terrain, probably barely more than 60 per cent. Yet neighbouring governments of India, China and Thailand, tired of waiting for peace to break out, are negotiating with the newly civilianised government to establish crucial trade routes across Myanmar’s territory. Nyein Chan Aye questions whether this approach can succeed.

Myanmar A trading crossroads

India’s cockroach swarm: youth anger and democracy’s warning signal

In May an unexpected political emblem emerged in India’s increasingly restless democratic landscape: the cockroach. An insect commonly associated with filth, nuisance and extermination was transformed into a symbol of resistance after the Chief Justice of India likened unemployed young activists and online critics to ‘cockroaches’ and ‘parasites’. What might have passed as an insensitive remark sparked an extraordinary act of political reclamation. Within hours, the insult was transformed into a rallying cry. Madhavi Ravikumar reports.

Bangladesh’s Rohingya community: a crisis without an exit

When Bangladesh’s new BNP-led government assumed office, Rohingya refugees once again found themselves listening closely to the language of power in Dhaka. The familiar words had returned: repatriation, shortage of funds, national security, and international cooperation. Sushmita S Preetha reports from Dhaka.

Kyrgyzstan’s ruling tandem breaks amid new sanctions scrutiny

Kyrgyzstan kickstarted summer with a diplomatic triumph, becoming the second Central Asian state after Kazakhstan to win a non-permanent UN Security Council seat. But new European Union sanctions over trade with Russia and the collapse of the republic’s ruling ‘tandem’ have added a fresh dose of risk for a country where trouble is never far away, as Chris Rickleton reports.

The China-fication of Vietnam

From the history archives to the state media to the presidency, something is happening in Vietnam. New rules, new restrictions and new structures all point to a change in the political system, as Bill Hayton reports.

Cambodia cracks down, but scam networks move on

Cambodia wants to show the world it is finally cleaning up its multibillion-dollar scam economy. But locals and experts warn that the syndicates’ roots remain deep, and that the business is dispersing across Southeast Asia rather than disappearing. Nyein Chan Aye reports.

Remembering Tiananmen

In China, June 4th is a sensitive date. As the anniversary approaches, an old ritual unfolds: censors spring into action, social media posts disappear and searches for ‘Tiananmen’, ‘June Fourth’, ‘1989’ are scrubbed from the internet. Activists are placed under surveillance, while foreign journalists mark an event that officially never happened. For the writer and former factory worker Lijia Zhang, the date holds special significance.

Signals from Shangri-La 2026

US allies in Asia, as in Europe, are increasing their military spending in response to President Trump’s new doctrine. But three years of signals from Asia’s premier security forum tell a more unsettled story than Washington may be prepared to acknowledge. Howard Zhang reports.