Publication

This background report analyzes the world's third most populous Muslim country, Bangladesh. It emphasizes that the country has made significant progress on development goals and is stabilized by many factors, such as a free media, a vibrant civil society, and a liberal and secular electorate. However, Bangladesh suffers from dysfunctional politics, popular discontent and, increasingly, militant Islamist extremism. In light of the upcoming elections in January 2007, the report points to the need for the international community to accept the South Asian nation as an important partner rather than simply as an aid recipient, and provide it with more active political engagement.