The Economist, one of the leading news magazines of the world, has endorsed Distinguished Professor Ali Riaz’s book, More Than Meets the Eye: Essays on Bangladeshi Politics, as a “must read” to understand the country’s politics and current situation. The magazine published a list of five books and a documentary about Bangladesh which explain the country and its trajectories. “The Economist reads: What to read and watch about Bangladesh” was published on January 5. The Economist writes, “Ali Riaz, a political scientist, describes the erosion of Bangladesh’s democracy and the undermining of its social and political institutions over the past 15 years. In nine essays he examines Bangladesh’s tumultuous politics from 1990, when military rule ended, until 2019; the growth of political Islam and religious extremism; and the growing competition between India and China for influence, which is making the country more important geopolitically. Mr Riaz pays particular attention to Bangladesh’s relationship to India, which has become increasingly testy. Indian border guards often kill smugglers and illegal migrants from Bangladesh, which stirs up anti-India sentiment in Bangladesh (and undermines India’s ambition to be better friends with Bangladesh than China is). He does not make firm predictions but hints at what may lie ahead under Sheikh Hasina. As she looks set to embark on her fourth consecutive term as Bangladesh’s prime minister, More Than Meets the Eye is a must read for anyone interested in the country.” The book was published by the University Press Limited (Dhaka, 2022).
