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This issue sheds light on the journey of policies that Bangladesh adopted since its independence. A holistic approach of major challenges, policy responses and their impacts are crucial to understand the reform agenda. As Bangladesh crosses its 50th year of independence, it is imperative to understand the reform strategy. It must also introspect and look to the future. The issue critically approaches policy decisions. It sheds light onto areas such as gender, legal framework, and infrastructure.
Go boldly into the future, but don’t forget the past
50 eventful years have passed since a new country called Bangladesh forced its way onto the world map. The transformation from impoverished, war-torn state to one of the fastest growing economies in the world has garnered major interest in the country’s development journey. Bangladesh may…
On behalf of rights and political cohesion in a ’newly’ liberated Bangladesh
In this era of covid-19, it is proving difficult to make sensible predictions of the future trajectory of events and trends in Bangladesh, as for any country. Nevertheless, in this 50th anniversary year of the liberation of Bangladesh, there remains an imperative to try. Many…
The women, peace and security agenda in contemporary Bangladesh
Many countries are witnessing political turmoil, which has led to situations of conflict that are endangering peace and security both domestically and across regions. The impacts of these conflicts have generated concern, which has been reflected in the discourse of global agencies such as those…
The transition in electricity generation in Bangladesh
Today’s global energy use is 10 times greater than that in the early 1900s, when wood, coal and animal power dominated. The world has found a much more efficient fuel in oil. The rapid transformation from coal to oil post-World War II did not happen…
Bangladesh and 50 years of international law
In 1971, when Bangladesh won its war of liberation, the fledgling state’s key foreign policy aim was to obtain legal recognition under international law. Having successfully achieved that recognition from most United Nations member states within the span of a few months of its independence,…
The story of women in politics in Bangladesh
Women in politics have a long history on the Indian subcontinent. On the territory of what is today Bangladesh, women organising to claim their rights has deep historical roots. This can be traced back to the Mughal period of the 17th and 18th century, the…
How can Bangladesh lead in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution?
The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) sits apart from previous industrial revolutions. Whereas steam power, electricity and information technology created the first three industrial revolutions, 4IR is characterised by parallel technological breakthroughs within and across the digital, biological and physical spheres. It is unprecedented in its…
Secularism and its journey in Bangladesh
The road to secularism in Bangladesh was never expected to be a smooth one. The Indian subcontinent was divided in 1947 based on religion, whereby Muslim interest groups led by the Muslim League capitalised on the Hindu–Muslim socio-political schisms in colonial India. The partition reinforced…
The question of sexual violence laws in Bangladesh
Since independence, mandated by its international and constitutional obligation, Bangladesh has enacted various legislations to safeguard women and children from violence. As a signatory to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), and having endorsed the Beijing Declaration, Bangladesh…
Local innovations to restore the primacy of Bangladeshi waterways
Many noteworthy civilisations through the pages of history have used waterways as the lifeline to prosperity. Both the broader Bengal region and subsequently Bangladesh are no exception. Merchants from faraway continents such as Europe and America have been able to amass a fortune on Bengali…
Timeline of selected policy streams
On macro-economy Bangladesh conducts its macroeconomic growth and development policy through a method of mid- and long-term planning over designated periods. These plans act as the backbone for all sectoral policies and all government agencies. The most continuous among them are the mid-term Five Year…