Distinguished Professor Ali Riaz has published a commentary on Bangladesh’s politics and economy in the past year. Published in the East Asia Forum, the commentary highlights the impacts of the global pandemic on Bangladesh and argues that it has accelerated the authoritarian tendency of the incumbent. The commentary titled, “COVID-19 ails Bangladesh’s health, politics and economy”, contends that “COVID-19 will have long-term health, political and economic impacts. It has laid bare the economy’s structural weaknesses and accelerated the growing authoritarianism of the incumbent Bangladesh Awami League government. It was also coupled with two other pandemics: persecuting government critics and widespread corruption.” It also says, “in 2021 Bangladesh’s government must focus on addressing the health challenges of the pandemic alongside issues of governance, particularly the persecution of critics, the imposing of censorship, and controlling widespread corruption. Improving public healthcare capacity will also be critical to ensuring a successful rollout of any COVID-19 vaccine and spurring an economic recovery.” East Asia Forum is a platform for analysis and research on politics, economics, and law, published by the Australian National University.
Riaz publishes on Bangladesh’s 2020
