Bangladesh may have ended its India-China tightrope game, but it must continue to tread carefully

Freedom and Prosperity Around the World Jan 28, 2025

After the Monsoon Revolution, Bangladesh’s economy and government need major reforms

By Ahmed Mushfiq Mobarak

In 2024, Bangladesh’s student-led “Monsoon Revolution” ousted an entrenched autocratic regime, marking a historic shift. Yet, with deep systemic corruption and political resistance, the road to stability remains uncertain.
Bangladesh Corruption
Bangladesh may have ended its India-China tightrope game, but it must continue to tread carefully

New Atlanticist Aug 7, 2024

Hasina is out. Yunus is in. Here are the three biggest factors to watch in Bangladesh.

By Ali Riaz

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has fled Bangladesh, and Nobel Prize–winner Muhammad Yunus will lead an interim government. But several important questions remain unanswered.
Bangladesh India
Bangladesh may have ended its India-China tightrope game, but it must continue to tread carefully

New Atlanticist Aug 2, 2024

A violent crackdown has put Bangladesh at a crossroads

By Ali Riaz

At least two hundred people have been killed and thousands more injured in protests that included law enforcement firing on protestors.
Bangladesh Conflict

The South Asia Center is the hub for the Atlantic Council’s analysis of the political, social, geographical, and cultural diversity of the region. ​At the intersection of South Asia and its geopolitics, SAC cultivates dialogue to shape policy and forge ties between the region and the global community.

Learn more

Content

New Atlanticist

May 23, 2025

Bangladesh may have ended its India-China tightrope game, but it must continue to tread carefully

By Wahiduzzaman Noor and Samantha Wong

With Bangladesh outgrowing its small-power past, the stakes of the country's geopolitical choices have never been higher.

Bangladesh China

New Atlanticist

May 15, 2025

How South Asia’s ‘swing states’ navigate India-Pakistan tensions

By Rudabeh Shahid and Nazmus Sakib

Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, and the Maldives are quiet strategists in South Asia—but ignoring their roles risks destabilizing the region's fragile geopolitical balance.

Bangladesh Crisis Management

Freedom and Prosperity Around the World

Jan 28, 2025

After the Monsoon Revolution, Bangladesh’s economy and government need major reforms

By Ahmed Mushfiq Mobarak

In 2024, Bangladesh’s student-led “Monsoon Revolution” ousted an entrenched autocratic regime, marking a historic shift. Yet, with deep systemic corruption and political resistance, the road to stability remains uncertain.

Bangladesh Corruption

Issue Brief

Nov 14, 2024

Mapping South Asia’s digital landscape

By Mark Linscott, Gopal Nadadur

Data protection regulations are becoming critical for South Asia, where some countries are increasingly driven by digital economies.

Bangladesh Digital Policy

New Atlanticist

Aug 7, 2024

Hasina is out. Yunus is in. Here are the three biggest factors to watch in Bangladesh.

By Ali Riaz

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has fled Bangladesh, and Nobel Prize–winner Muhammad Yunus will lead an interim government. But several important questions remain unanswered.

Bangladesh India

New Atlanticist

Aug 2, 2024

A violent crackdown has put Bangladesh at a crossroads

By Ali Riaz

At least two hundred people have been killed and thousands more injured in protests that included law enforcement firing on protestors.

Bangladesh Conflict

EnergySource

Jun 25, 2024

Bangladesh’s air quality is among the world’s worst. What can be done?

By Joseph Webster, Natalie Sinha, and Sarah Meadows

Bangladesh's severe air pollution takes an enormous toll on its people, economy, and environment. While anti-pollution measures can be costly, adopting cleaner fuels, introducing new regulations, and strengthening regional energy integration may benefit the country in the long run.

Bangladesh Energy & Environment

New Atlanticist

May 2, 2024

Is the Bangladesh success story unraveling?

By Ali Riaz

As the Bangladesh’s system of governance has become more autocratic, social development has received less attention from the government.

Bangladesh Fiscal and Structural Reform

Issue Brief

Apr 15, 2024

How Bangladesh can achieve its vision of prosperity

By Nina Dannaoui-Johnson, Joseph Lemoine, Annie (Yu-Lin) Lee

Bangladesh is forging ahead with its Vision 2041, aiming to transform into a developed and prosperous country by 2041.

Bangladesh Freedom and Prosperity

New Atlanticist

Apr 8, 2024

Bangladesh’s election: Widely boycotted or widely accepted?

By Gautam Lahiri

The official voter turnout reached 41.8 percent—a lower figure than in Bangladesh’s last contested election, albeit not an unprecedented low.

Bangladesh Elections
Load More

Experts

Fellow

Ali Riaz

Nonresident Senior Fellow

South Asia Center

Media Non-Traditional Threats

Millennium fellow

Sohara Mehroze Shachi

Team Lead - Research Facility, UNDP

Millennium Leadership Program

Bangladesh Civil Society

Fellow

Rudabeh Shahid

Nonresident Senior Fellow

South Asia Center

Human Rights Civil Society