Bangladesh

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Political tensions in Bangladesh escalated as the prominent Anti-Discrimination Student Movement demanded interim President Mohammed Shahabuddin's resignation, giving him a two-day ultimatum to step down, AP news reported on Oct. 23.

Bangladesh: New Tensions Arise as Student Protesters Call for Interim President's Resignation

Ready-made garment workers in Bangladesh's city of Gazipur began protesting and blocking major highways, including the Dhaka-Mymensingh route, while ongoing demonstrations have led to the closure of at least 60 garment factories in Ashulia, Savar and Dhaka, the Daily Prothom Alo reported on Sept. 4. 

Bangladesh: Garment Workers' Protests Block Highways, Shut Down Factories

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Science & Technology

Garment factories in Bangladesh are struggling to meet deadlines due to flooding that has disrupted the cotton supply, exacerbating a backlog already caused by recent political instability, Reuters reported on Aug. 30. 

Bangladesh: Garment Factories Struggle To Meet Deadlines as Flooding Disrupts Cotton Imports

Muhammad Yunus, the chief adviser of Bangladesh's interim government, said on Aug. 25 that the country will hold a free and fair election after the implementation of essential reforms, The Daily Star reported on Aug. 26.

Bangladesh: Elections To Follow 'Necessary' Reforms, Though Timeline Remains Unclear

United States

Bangladesh's Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan, viewed as a loyalist to ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, resigned on Aug. 10 following protests outside the Supreme Court demanding his departure, AP reported on Aug. 11.

Bangladesh: Chief Justice and Judges Resign Amid Anti-Government Protests

Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus was sworn in on Aug. 8 as the chief adviser of Bangladesh, a role equivalent to prime minister, alongside other members of the interim government, Prothom Alo reported the next day.

Bangladesh: Interim Government Members Sworn In

The press secretary for Bangladeshi President Mohammed Shahabuddin announced that Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus will head the country's interim government, Prothom Alo reported on Aug. 7.

Bangladesh: Muhammad Yunus Set To Lead Interim Government

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Bangladesh President Mohammed Shahabuddin dissolved the National Parliament after meeting with stakeholders, including the chiefs of the three armed forces, leaders of various political parties and civil society representatives, the Daily Star reported Aug 6.

Bangladesh: President Dissolves Parliament as India's Foreign Minister Briefs All-Party Meeting on Bangladesh Situation

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U.S. President-elect Donald Trump (R) and India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi (L) arrive for a joint press conference at Hyderabad House in New Delhi, India, on Feb. 25, 2020.

While U.S. President-elect Donald Trump will maintain many of the outgoing Biden administration's overarching policies toward South Asia, bilateral relationships will grow increasingly transactional.

What Trump's Second Term Means for South Asia

A protest in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on Aug. 15.

In Bangladesh, improving security will not eliminate the high risk of additional violence and protests in the coming weeks, while policy uncertainty and severe political tensions in the coming months will continue to threaten the operating environment for businesses.

In Bangladesh, Improving Security Does Not Spell Stability

Bangladesh's military is likely to play a continued role in domestic politics, particularly if the general election is delayed and economic challenges and unrest worsen, and renewed episodes of social unrest are likely if the military takes measures to prevent the Awami League from returning to power.

The Bangladeshi Military's Expanded Role in Politics After Sheikh Hasina

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Nicolas Maduro on Aug. 7, 2024, in Caracas, Venezuela. The presidents of Brazil, Colombia and Mexico, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Gustavo Petro and Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, respectively, are considering a call with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Aug. 12 in a bid to promote negotiations with the opposition to cool the risk of further violent unrest.

Israel-Hamas Conflict

A look at what the coming week will bring -- and a list of recommended RANE articles from the week that was.

The Weekly Rundown: Awaiting Iranian Retaliation, Bangladesh's New Government

Muhammad Yunus (4R) on Aug. 9, 2024, in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Global Elections

While Bangladesh's interim government is unlikely to make drastic changes in foreign policy, the government that emerges after new elections could seek closer ties with China and distance from India. This would delay bilateral projects with India, increase security challenges for India and lead to greater Chinese influence in the region.

After Elections, Bangladeshi Foreign Policy Will Drift in China's Favor

Snapshots

Anti-government protesters display Bangladesh's national flag as they storm Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's palace in Dhaka on Aug. 5, 2024.

The prime minister's decision to resign amid protests sets the stage for an uncertain interim government that will have to contend with a high risk of social unrest and economic challenges.

In Bangladesh, Hasina's Resignation Portends Greater Political and Economic Uncertainty

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A digital illustration of the Bangladeshi flag.

After weeks of election-related unrest, the situation in Bangladesh has stabilized, which will free the government to focus on securing investment and infrastructure deals with the U.S., India, Japan and China.

As the Dust Settles at Home, Bangladesh Turns Its Attention to Foreign Policy

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An Awami League campaign rally Jan. 4, 2024, in Dhaka, Bangladesh. On Jan. 7, Bangladesh will hold general elections in which the ruling Awami League will seek a fifth term under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's leadership.

The Weekly Rundown: Bangladeshi Elections, Blinken's Latest Middle East Visit

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South Asia Analyst Misha Iqbal discusses the political dynamics leading up to the Jan. 7 general ballot and the potential for continued unrest after the vote.

Essential Geopolitics: Tensions Rise as Elections Approach in Bangladesh

Posters of Bangladesh's election candidates hang over a street in Dhaka on Dec. 26, 2023, ahead of the 2024 general elections.

Bangladesh will likely maintain its nonaligned foreign policy, but protests and economic strife may threaten domestic stability.

Previewing Bangladesh's Upcoming General Election

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In this scorecard, we take a critical look at our successes and slip-ups in forecasting geopolitical events over the past year.

Grading Our 2023 Annual Forecast

Activists march toward Bangladesh's election commission in Dhaka on Nov. 15, 2023, to protest the announcement of the general election's date. 

Growing concerns about vote rigging, rising inflation and state repression risk triggering more political violence and economically disruptive protests ahead of the Jan. 7 ballot.

Bangladesh Braces for Another Turbulent Election

Bangladesh is a democratic republic located in South Asia. India borders it to the north, east and west, while Bangladesh shares a narrow southeastern border with Myanmar. Rivers are the defining geographic feature of Bangladesh. The country is home to the world's largest delta, as two of South Asia's major rivers &mdash; the Ganges, known locally as the Padma, and the Brahmaputra &mdash; converge with the Meghna River to drain into the Bay of Bengal. (Bangladesh has a 580-kilometer, or 360-mile, fractured coastline.) The delta plain covers about 80 percent of the country's 147,570 square kilometers (57,000 square miles), while hilly terrain and highlands comprise the rest. Bangladesh's low-lying elevation and numerous river systems make it prone to frequent flooding. Its tropical monsoon climate aids in the cultivation of rice, the country's main crop. Historically poor, Bangladesh has shown a high and sustained economic growth rate in recent years, even as climate change looms as a long-term threat.    Before achieving independence in 1971 as a result of a war between India and Pakistan, Bangladesh was known as East Pakistan and was carved out during the Partition of 1947 from Bengal, a historical region that also includes the Indian state of West Bengal. Unlike other South Asian countries, Bangladesh is a relatively homogeneous country with 98 percent of the population speaking Bengali. Bangladesh is one of the world's most densely populated countries, and its capital, Dhaka, is among the world's most populous cities.    As a lower riparian state nearly surrounded by India, which thus comprises its most consequential international partnership, Bangladesh's primary geographic challenge is to ensure water security, while breaking out of its poverty and limiting New Delhi's dominating presence. In the long term, Bangladesh also needs help in adapting to the damaging effects of climate change. Weak boundaries have also meant that Bangladeshi migration into West Bengal and India's northeast has been a source of contention. Similarly, Rohingya migration from neighboring Myanmar into eastern Bangladesh historically has been a sore spot between Dhaka and Naypyidaw.

SITUATION REPORTS

Bangladesh: New Tensions Arise as Student Protesters Call for Interim President's Resignation

Bangladesh: Garment Workers' Protests Block Highways, Shut Down Factories

Bangladesh: Garment Factories Struggle To Meet Deadlines as Flooding Disrupts Cotton Imports

Bangladesh: Elections To Follow 'Necessary' Reforms, Though Timeline Remains Unclear

Bangladesh: Chief Justice and Judges Resign Amid Anti-Government Protests

Bangladesh: Interim Government Members Sworn In

Bangladesh: Muhammad Yunus Set To Lead Interim Government

Bangladesh: President Dissolves Parliament as India's Foreign Minister Briefs All-Party Meeting on Bangladesh Situation

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