ABSTRACT

This paper analyzes the Republic of Bangladesh and its history of liberation and the war of 1971. The paper also discusses the different ideologies Bangladesh stood on and how its journey was molded out of military mutinies and political upheavals that caused extreme stress on the people of Bangladesh politically and socially. The paper further elaborates on how Bangladesh overcame its historic traumas through a series of democratic transitions and protests, and ultimately leading to Dhaka’s rise as a prominent player on the global stage. This paper discussed how and what policy changes have brought 50 million people out of poverty, tripled its income per capita, and exponentially increased GDP from $71 billion to $470 billion in a span of two. Further, what crises troubled Bangladesh, and what were the reasons? Finally, this paper discusses the recent bilaterals between India and Bangladesh, and why this country is so significant for Indian neighborhood policy, ending with a case analysis of potential outcomes, including events unfolding as it is begin written, where the present government is not in power, this real-time scenario reflects the unprecedented ousting of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on 5th August 2024, ending her 15-year long rule, she was the only female head of state to serve such an extended period in the history of world.

Keywords: Bangladesh, Liberations, Ideologies, Mutiny, Bilaterals 

INTRODUCTION 

2.1 Overview of Bangladesh 

People’s Republic of Bangladesh or the “land of Bengal“, is a south asian country with a history of liberation through war, a history of military coup and rule, and a constant to and fro motion from democracy to dictatorship, now follows a Parliamentary system of Governance. Bangladesh is a low-lying, mainly riverine country on the Bay of Bengal.

As of December 2023, Bangladesh’s total government debt was $166.65 billion, with an external debt of $74 billion. According to World Economics, Bangladesh’s debt-to-GDP ratio is 37.2% Bangladesh’s trade deficit in the first 11 months of the fiscal year 2023-24 (July 2023 to June 2024) was $20 billion, a decrease of $6 billion from the previous year. This was due to a 15.42% decrease in import payments to $45.62 billion, and a 3.99% increase in export earnings to $40.88 billion. Remittances also helped to cushion the impact of the trade deficit, with $17.07 billion received in the first nine months of the fiscal year. However, the garment (RMG) sector has become the largest foreign exchange earner.

Bangladesh also has a decent ranking in the global competitive index, 105th among 140 countries, and 168th among 190 countries regarding ease of doing business. Bangladesh is one of the world’s emerging and fastest-growing economies. The country has cut extreme poverty in half and achieved lower-middle-income status. The economy is largely dependent on agriculture, especially rice. 

A BRIEF HISTORY 

3.1 Bangladesh Liberation War  

Bangladesh wakes up with 31 gun statues on the dates of both 16th December (victor’s day) and 26th March (Bangladesh’s Independence Day) which marks a tribute to martyrs and freedom fighters of the Bangladesh liberation war of 1971. 

Bangladesh was once part of Pakistan which was liberated in 1971. Since the partition of two dominions, India and Pakistan, Pakistan had two separate land masses called East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) and West Pakistan (now Pakistan). East Pakistan had a majority of Bengali-speaking Muslims (55%) and the West had the majority of Urdu-speaking Muslims (7%). The power was concentrated in the hands of West Pakistan, while East Pakistan was often ill-treated and discriminated against, and Urdu was forcefully imposed on them. This made the public angry and they revolted against the Western powers which led to the language revolution, which demanded Bangla, along with Urdu, to be recognized as a national language, this cause was led by the then-local political parties, a coalition between Awami League and others called the United Front, headed by a person called Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The language protest reached its peak when numerous protests were killed on 21st February, a day now commemorated as International Mother Language Day. 

Since the provincial elections of 1954 where the United Front won a majority, there was a series of political turmoils and setbacks in both parts of Pakistan that led to a military coup under the then General Ayub Khan who was succeeded by General Yahya Khan in 1969.   

Click Here To Download The Paper