V-Dem’s funders: Canada, Denmark, Europe, Facebook, Germany, International Republican Institute, National Science Foundation, Norway, Sweden, USAID, Volkswagen Foundation, Bank of Sweden Tercentenary Foundation, University of Notre Dame, Wallenberg Foundations, World Bank, Mo Ibrahim Foundation, Open Society Foundations, Peace Research Institute Oslo, Fundação Francisco Manuel dos Santos, International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, Open Government Partnership, German Institute of Development and Sustainability, Millennium Nucleus for the Study of Stateness and Democracy in Latin America, etc.
The American Institute of Bangladesh Studies (AIBS) was established in 1989 as a result of an initiative undertaken by Professor Craig Baxter of Juniata College, and joined by faculty members from Columbia University, University of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania State University, University of Chicago, Glassboro State College (now Rowan University), and the University of Wisconsin at Oshkosh. In 1989, AIBS signed an agreement with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), Government of Bangladesh (GOB), for a financial contribution to fund fellowships for U.S scholars to conduct research in Bangladesh. The first fellowship award was made in 1990.
In 1991-92 AIBS connected with the United States Information Agency (USIA) to obtain additional funding for educational exchanges between the United States and Bangladesh. AIBS received funding from USIA to establish four additional programs. These included the Extension Bangladesh Lecture Series, the Research and Development Seminars, the Undergraduate Research Fellowship Grant, and the Faculty Support Funds.
Bangladesh eyes ‘reset, reform, restart’ after U.S. delegation visit
During the high-level talks this weekend, Yunus outlined the myriad challenges ahead, including revitalizing the stumbling economy and a push to reform key institutions including the electoral system, judiciary and police.
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The U.S. delegation said Sunday it would support Bangladesh’s inclusive economic growth and institutional reforms, pledging an additional $202 million in aid through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
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At the same time as the U.S. delegation’s visit, the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank announced on Sunday that they would provide Bangladesh with $2.5 billion in loans to support reforms in the banking and financial sectors.
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The U.S. embassy in Dhaka emphasized the significant presence of American companies in Bangladesh, a major clothing exporter, that it said on social media could unlock the country’s “growth potential through trade and investment,” given “the right economic reforms in place.”
[09-26-2024] Dr Yunus introduces Mahfuz Alam as mastermind of student movement +
Council on Foreign Relations: Can Bangladesh Really Reform?
But now, several months after the caretaker government assumed power and announced plans to reform state institutions and call new elections at some time in the future—elections that could lead to a broader swath of political parties than the two giants that have dominated Bangladeshi politics—Yunus’ government is struggling to maintain even basic stability. The caretaker government has plans to reform the security forces, the civil service, the judiciary, the police, financial institutions, and the election commission, among other institutions.All of these reforms—if successful—could go a long way toward reducing the often-violent polarization that has characterized Bangladeshi politics for decades and the patronage politics that have destroyed democratic institutions.
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Yunus may also try to reform some of the patronage-ridden economy, which would open the door to greater foreign investment outside of the already prosperous garment sector. The United States, recognizing this possibility, has dangled the chance of greater aid to Bangladesh’s interim government. But Bangladesh needs far more than reform plans, which it cannot fund itself. It could desperately use something akin to a donor conference, say, organized by Japan (which has led many other such conferences), through which a sizable amount of aid would flow into the country for the caretaker government to use for rebuilding state institutions, preparing the way for elections, reforming the economy, and achieving many other goals.
Fear In The Air? 5 Reasons Now Is The Time To Invest In Bangladesh
Poverty levels have fallen dramatically: Bangladesh has made significant strides in reducing poverty, improving healthcare, and raising literacy rates. Between 2000 and 2020, the country halved its poverty rate, and extreme poverty now affects less than 10% of the population. On social development indicators, Bangladesh outperforms every country in the region, thanks to progress in education and healthcare.
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Bangladesh is resilient and capable of thriving in our polycrisis future — just look at what it’s accomplished in the last 12 months as well as the last 30 years. It has transformed before and it is doing it again now. The fundamental factors that drove Bangladesh’s evolution from a low-income, agrarian economy to a thriving industrial and digital powerhouse are still intact. Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, despite her tarnished legacy, deserves credit for fostering this growth.
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”Mr. Butler (Sturgeon) noted, “While Sheikh Hasina’s government had done an excellent job in building out the infrastructure in Bangladesh and the RMG sector, the pace of change and innovation had become stifled by their length of time in power.”
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Thought leaders and active investors share the view that the time to invest in Bangladesh is now. According to Saif ul Islam, President, Dhaka Stock Exchange Brokers Association, “Many investors believe that the current interim government will create an investment-friendly environment in the country. … It is also expected that the cost of doing business will come down if the present government can successfully address corruption at all levels.”
[06-06-2023] What the new US visa policy for Bangladesh means (by Ali Riaz)
Warnings made, warnings ignored
US concerns regarding the deteriorating human rights situation in Bangladesh and overall democratic regression are not new. The United States had taken punitive actions against the elite police force Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and seven current and former officials in December 2021. It also refrained from inviting Bangladesh to two Democracy Summits, held in December 2021 and in March 2023. These measures were followed by repeated calls and warnings that political development is on the radar of the US establishment. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister A.K. Abdul Momen in April 2023 that the world is watching Bangladesh’s upcoming election. In February 2023, US State Department Counsellor Derek Chollet said that erosion of democracy in any country, including Bangladesh, limits Washington’s ability to cooperate with that country. In March 2022, US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland, while visiting Dhaka, underscored the issue of democracy as a key point in the relationship between these two countries. The United States also insisted that RAB reform remain a precondition for rescinding the sanctions.
Unfortunately, these calls and warnings fell on deaf ears. The Bangladeshi government continues to ignore US pressure, instead showing defiance. These calls were riddled with anti-American populist rhetoric such as by Prime Minister Hasina’s son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, describing the US State department as a ”bunch of hypocrites” and Hasina alleging that the United States is trying to topple her.
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Geopolitics at play
Besides buying two submarines from China in 2016, Bangladesh joined Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in the same year. The BRI is not only a framework for infrastructure development and cooperation in different countries but is also a tool to expand China’s sphere of influence. Bangladesh-China cooperation is thus not limited to economic realms. Then-Chinese Ambassador to Dhaka Li Jiming’s warning in 2021 that Bangladesh’s relations with Beijing would be severely harmed if the country joins the US-led Quadrilateral Security Dialogue showed the expectation of China.
In the past six months, three top Chinese foreign affairs officials have visited Bangladesh. Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang made a surprise stopover in Dhaka in the middle of the night just before Assistant Secretary Donald Lu’s visit to Bangladesh in January. Chinese Special Envoy to Myanmar Deng Xijun arrived in Dhaka in April just a day before Foreign Minister Momen was to visit Washington.
Further, amid the current tension in US-Bangladesh relations, Chinese Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Sun Weidong visited Dhaka for three days beginning May 26, 2023. Bangladesh is considering joining China’s Global Development Initiative. On the contrary, Dhaka’s response to the Indo-Pacific Strategy initiated by the United States did not seem encouraging and Bangladesh’s Indo-Pacific Outlook falls short of Western expectations.
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Ali Riaz is a non-resident senior fellow with the Atlantic Council’s South Asia Center.
[2010] WikiLeaks cables: Bangladeshi ‘death squad’ trained by UK government
Constitution of Bangladesh 1972 (reinst. 1986, rev. 2014)
10. Socialism and freedom from exploitation
A socialist economic system shall be established with a view to ensuring the attainment of a just and egalitarian society, free from the exploitation of man by man.
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13. Principles of ownership
The people shall own or control the instruments and means of production and distribution, and with this end in view ownership shall assume the following forms-
- state ownership, that is ownership by the State on behalf of the people through the creation of an efficient and dynamic nationalised public sector embracing the key sectors of the economy;
- co-operative ownership, that is ownership by co-operatives on behalf of their members within such limits as may be prescribed by law; and
- private ownership, that is ownership by individuals within such limits as may be prescribed by law.
PART XI. MISCELLANEOUS
- Property of the Republic
There shall vest in the Republic, in addition to any other land or property lawfully vested-
all minerals and other things of value underlying any land of Bangladesh;
all lands, minerals and other things of value underlying the ocean within the territorial waters, or the ocean over the continental shelf, of Bangladesh; and
any property located in Bangladesh that has no rightful owner.
What’s Behind Regime Change in Bangladesh
Ms. Cat’s Chronicles 