The book presents a forward-looking exercise in the light of 50 years of journey of Bangladesh amidst the centenary celebration of Dhaka University since both are intertwined with shared history. The country has travelled and traversed a chequered path - from the infamous ‘Basket Case’ to an export-oriented and semi-industrial society – offering a curious case of ‘development surprise’ to the world. Major challenges still loom large, deserving careful academic enquiry alongside comprehension on the notable achievements in nation building.
The volume critically reviews and examines the genesis, trends and features of Bangladesh’s experience on selected fronts – notably politics, economy, society, and ecology - comprehended through the lens of political economy, provoking thinking for academia and providing a useful tool for policy makers. More specifically, it aims to provide readers with an insight into different strands of, and lessons from, the country’s diverse experiments and experiences of the nation building pathway.