Bangladesh in Focus
 

In a region undergoing major political shifts and security challenges, Bangladesh remains a strategic country geographically, economically, and politically. Despite a dubious election earlier this year, the government appears to have consolidated power and shut down the kind of political instability plaguing its neighbors. The country’s economy doubled in size since 2006 and poverty has decreased since 2009. Yet a major overhaul of the country’s biggest industries, garment and labor, has progressed slowly and strained Bangladesh’s foreign investment and trade relations with the United States. The country seeks better relations and connectivity with its neighbors, with which is shares many mutual interests and a common threat of growing extremism. What are the political and economic realities in Bangladesh and what challenges remain? What does the growth of militancy in South Asia, and the emergence of the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), mean for Bangladesh? The speakers will address Bangladesh’s current political, economic, and security situation, and outline the implications for the region and the United States. 

Agenda

9:00 a.m. – Welcome Remarks 
 

Director, South Asia Center
Atlantic Council

9:10 a.m. – Perspective from Bangladesh 
 

President
Bangladesh Institute of Peace and Security Studies

9:30 – 10:30 Bangladesh – A New Political and Economic Order
 

The Hon. William Milam
 Senior Scholar, Asia Program
Wilson Center

The Hon. Teresita Schaffer 
Nonresident Senior Fellow, Foreign Policy
The India Project, Brookings Institution

Major Gen. (Retd.) Muniruzzaman
President
Bangladesh Institute of Peace and Security Studies

10:30 – 10:45 a.m. Coffee Break

10:45 – 12:00 p.m. – Bangladesh’s Role in Regional and Global Security
 

Dr. Robert Boggs
Professor
NESA Center

Mr. Shafqat Munir
Associate Research Fellow
Bangladesh Institute of Peace and Security Studies

Dr. Stephen Tankel
Assistant Professor
American University

DATE:           Wednesday, October 1, 2014                

LOCATION:   Atlantic Council
                    1030 15th St. NW, 12th Floor
                    Washington, DC 20005 

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