Manufactured Freedom and the Myth of Choice

Founder & CEO of Stars and Rights, Shakil Ahmad, shares his op-ed in New Age Bangladesh on how freedom and choice are often manufactured to sustain inequality.

I am honored to share that my opinion piece, “Manufactured Freedom and the Myth of Choice,” has been published in New Age, a national daily in Bangladesh.

In this article, I explore how modern society often presents us with an illusion of freedom — choices that appear personal but are in fact shaped and constrained by larger systems. From markets that dictate consumer behavior to institutions that frame our options, what we call “freedom” can be a manufactured narrative that sustains inequality and systemic control.

This theme is deeply connected to my work as Founder & CEO of Stars and Rights, where we are building exam preparation tools, courses, and discussions that challenge how people learn, think, and navigate the world. The heart of our mission is simple: to make knowledge accessible and to question the systems that decide who gets access to opportunity.

👉 Read the full article here: Manufactured Freedom and the Myth of Choice — New Age Bangladesh

Why This Matters

The myth of choice isn’t just abstract philosophy — it influences education, economics, and everyday decisions. By examining how belief is manufactured, we can better understand what true freedom might look like, and why building fairer systems of knowledge and opportunity matters.

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