Bangladesh in a Geopolitical Pivot series

Who decides the future of peace and security? Is it only diplomats and political leaders — or should the voices of women and young people also shape those decisions? Across the world, there is a growing realization that sustainable peace cannot be built without including those who are often left out of the conversation. In Bangladesh, this debate is becoming increasingly relevant — from peacekeeping missions abroad to climate diplomacy and global negotiations. So what would it mean for Bangladesh if women and youth were not just present in diplomacy, but truly part of shaping foreign policy?

In episode 1 of the Bangladesh in a Geopolitical Pivot series, Prof. Amena Mohsin joins Prof. Niloy Ranjan Biswas to explore how inclusion can transform Bangladesh’s foreign policy and global engagement.

How does the world really see Bangladesh? For many people abroad, the image of Bangladesh is still shaped by old stories—poverty, disasters, and crisis. But today’s Bangladesh is also a story of resilience, innovation, and global engagement. So why does the country’s reputation not always match its progress? In a world where reputation travels faster than diplomacy, how can Bangladesh tell its story better? And how can the next generation, GenZ and beyond, shape the country’s voice on the global stage?

In episode 2 of the Bangladesh in a Geopolitical Pivot series,  Ambassador Mashfee Binte Shams and Prof. Niloy Ranjan Biswas unpack the challenges behind Bangladesh’s global image—from digital narratives and misinformation to the power of education, culture, and people-to-people conversations.

Every year, millions of Bangladeshis leave home to work, study, or build new lives abroad. Their hard work sends billions of dollars back home — supporting families and powering the economy. But migration is more than just remittances. Could the millions of Bangladeshis living and working around the world become one of the country’s greatest strengths on the global stage? How can Bangladesh ensure better protection and opportunities for its workers overseas? How might students, professionals, and diaspora communities help shape the country’s future connections with the world?

In this episode, Prof. Syeda Rozana Rashid joins Prof. Niloy Ranjan Biswas to explore how migration can move beyond necessity and become a powerful bridge that links Bangladesh to the global economy and international partnerships. 

Bangladesh is preparing for a historic milestone: graduating from the group of Least Developed Countries. But the world Bangladesh is stepping into is very different from the one that helped it grow. Global trade rules are weakening. Big powers are competing more openly. And economic decisions are increasingly shaped by politics. So what does this mean for Bangladesh’s future? Will new trade barriers affect our experts and jobs? Can Bangladesh stay balanced in a world shaped by US-China rivalry? What must the country change at home to remain competitive?

This episode features Dr. Mohammad Abdur Razzaque and Dr. Niloy Ranjan Biswas unpacking the big question of whether Bangladesh can turn global uncertainty into an opportunity for the next stage of its development.

When people think of Bangladesh’s exports, garments usually come to mind. But there’s another quiet success story: its pharmaceutical industry. Medicines made in Bangladesh are reaching patients in over a hundred countries, making life-saving drugs more affordable across the developing world.

Yet a major change is coming. As Bangladesh prepares to graduate from Least Developed Country status, the rules governing generic medicine production will become stricter. What does this mean for Bangladesh’s pharmaceutical sector?

Can the country continue supplying affordable medicines to Africa, Asia, and beyond? Could health cooperation become a new bridge between countries of the Global South? This episode explores how Bangladesh’s medicine industry could shape its global partnerships in the years ahead.

The global economy is changing fast. Trade routes are shifting. Supply chains are being redesigned. And competition between major powers like the United States and China is reshaping the rules of global commerce. For countries like Bangladesh, this creates both risks and opportunities.

How can Bangladesh protect its economic interests in a world where politics increasingly shapes trade? Can stronger partnerships with businesses, diplomats, and regional networks help the country stay competitive? What story should Bangladesh tell the world as it prepares for its next stage of development?

This episode explores how smart economic diplomacy and strategic partnerships could help Bangladesh navigate a rapidly changing global economy.

When climate disasters strike, countries like Bangladesh are often on the frontlines. Floods, cyclones, rising seas — these are not distant threats. They are everyday realities. 

But Bangladesh is no longer speaking only as a victim of climate change. Increasingly, it is becoming a voice for millions of vulnerable people around the world. How did Bangladesh turn vulnerability into global influence? Can it push the world’s biggest polluters to take greater responsibility?

This episode explains how Bangladesh is shaping global climate conversations – from defending fair climate finance to building alliances with other vulnerable nations. 

Today, global competition is not only about military strength or economic power. It is also about influence – the stories, culture, education, and ideas that shape how people see the world. 

From Hollywood films to K-pop, from scholarships abroad to large infrastructure projects, global powers are competing for attention and trust across countries like Bangladesh. But what does this growing influence mean for Bangladesh’s future? Can the country benefit from partnerships with many different powers without becoming dependent on any single one? 

This episode explores how Bangladesh navigates global influence in an increasingly competitive international landscape.