Distinguished Professor Ali Riaz has published a new book titled Trials and Tribulations: Politics, Economy and Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh. The book’s essays chronicle the events and trends in politics and the economy since 2019. The book argues that in past years, the politics, economy, and foreign relations of Bangladesh have remained in a state of flux while the country continued to slide toward absolutism. The COVID-19 pandemic, mode of governance, and emerging geo-politics of the region impacted the economic and political landscapes of the country as well as the government’s external alignments.
Riaz said that there are three contexts to the period under review. The first is the complete control of the politics and administration by the ruling Bangladesh Awami League after a “farcical election” in late 2018; the second is the government’s hollow claim of a stellar record of development and economic growth; and the third is the increasing importance of the country due to the geostrategic shift in the region. Written for a wider audience, these essays unpack the complex dynamics of the economy and politics, and the interplay of domestic politics and foreign affairs. The book is published by Prothoma Prokashoni of Dhaka, Bangladesh.
