Riaz in The Daily Star: A Tale of Misplaced Priorities

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
Riaz in The Daily Star: A Tale of Misplaced Priorities

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
Riaz in The Daily Star: A Tale of Misplaced Priorities

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.

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Content

In the News

Jul 12, 2020

Riaz in The Daily Star: A Tale of Misplaced Priorities

By Atlantic Council

Bangladesh Coronavirus

Feature

Jul 2, 2020

South Asia midyear pause: Taking stock of 2020

By South Asia Center

The specific events of the year’s first six months might have taken us by surprise but the political-economic dynamics that have shaped South Asia’s response to these new challenges did not. Across the region democracy and freedom of expression are challenged, and protectionist impulses are indulged in flailing response to calamitous economic strife. And the United States continues its slide into strategic irrelevance, exercising little leadership or interest in building stronger ties to this vital region.

Afghanistan Bangladesh

New Atlanticist

Jul 2, 2020

As the Sino-Indian rivalry heats up, watch Bangladesh carefully

By Ali Riaz

Undoubtedly rivalry between India and China will intensify in South Asia in coming months and years ahead. With its position between the two rivals, Bangladesh will be a primary arena to watch the future competition.

Bangladesh China

In the News

May 27, 2020

Riaz as a panelist at the UC Berkeley Institute for South Asia Studies: Vulnerable Populations and COVID-19: Bangladesh During a Global Pandemic

By Atlantic Council

Bangladesh Coronavirus

New Atlanticist

May 13, 2020

Amid COVID-19, Bangladesh turns its back on Rohingya

By Imrul Islam

Confronted with the need for increased coordination between aid agencies and government entities, Bangladesh has instead chosen to alienate the Rohingya community even further. Food is running out, water is running low, and essential programming to prevent gender-based violence in the camps has ground to a halt.

Bangladesh Coronavirus

In the News

May 12, 2020

Riaz in The Daily Star: Kajol might not be able to speak out, BUT WE MUST

By Atlantic Council

Bangladesh Human Rights

In the News

May 12, 2020

Riaz quoted in Nikkei Asian Review on COVID-19 and poverty in Bangladesh

By Atlantic Council

Bangladesh Coronavirus

New Atlanticist

May 11, 2020

A pandemic of persecution in Bangladesh

By Ali Riaz

Since COVID-19 hit the country in early March, the government has begun to hound journalists and social activists, arresting and throwing them into jail for criticizing the lack of preparedness and theft of relief materials by ruling party leaders allocated for the most vulnerable segments of society. By late March dozens of people, including journalists, academics, opposition activists, a doctor, and students, were arrested by the government for posting content on social media critical of the government.

Bangladesh Civil Society

In the News

Apr 30, 2020

Riaz as a panelist at the Center for International Private Enterprise: Assessing COVID-19 Control Measures & Prospects for Socio-Economic Recovery

By Atlantic Council

Bangladesh Coronavirus

New Atlanticist

Apr 8, 2020

Bangladesh’s COVID-19 stimulus: Leaving the most vulnerable behind

By Ali Riaz

The Bangladeshi government’s $8 billion stimulus package, about 2.5 percent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP), primarily focuses on industries, particularly export-oriented ones. In doing so, the package intended to contain and mitigate the economic fallout of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) left out the most vulnerable sections of the society and the sectors which desperately need support.

Bangladesh Coronavirus
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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