NEWS & EVENTS

Anwar starts by sharing an overview of the remarkable economic success and trajectory Bangladesh has experienced, despite challenges of wealth inequality and navigating a new geopolitical dilemma between two of Asia’s largest countries: China and India. Anwar argues that Bangladesh’s self-interests and future will be determined by how it leverages and carefully balances relations with its growing economic partner China and its close historical and strategic neighbor, India. Choosing between the two though, as Anwar writes, would be detrimental to Bangladeshi national interests. Moving forward, to develop more strategic options vis-a-vis both countries and other regional powers (i.e. the U.S. and Japan), Anwar pointedly notes that Bangladesh must focus on addressing domestic issues first, such as rising inequality and radicalism. By having a “foresighted strategy” that devotes significant attention to mending internal divisions while also building smart diplomatic and economic relations, Anwar concludes that Bangladesh can strengthen its international presence and future strategic autonomy for another fifty years.