Bangladesh and its Neighbours/Kamal Uddin Ahmed. Dhaka, Asiatic
Society of Bangladesh, 2008, x, 212 p., ISBN 984-300-002375-1.
Bangladesh and its Neighbours/Kamal Uddin Ahmed. Dhaka, Asiatic
Society of Bangladesh, 2008, x, 212 p., ISBN 984-300-002375-1.
Contents: Preface. 1. Bangladesh: fashioning of its neighbourhood policy. 2. Bangladesh-India relations: from co-operation to conflict. 3. Bangladesh-Pakistan relations: from animosity to engagement. 4. Bangladesh-Myanmar relations: politico-economic dimensions. 5. Bangladesh-Nepal relations: friendly and co-operative. 6. Prospects of Bangladesh - Bhutan relations. 7. The future of Bangladesh's regional relations: challenges and prospects. Appendices. Bibliography. Index.
"Maintaining friendly and accommodating relations with its neighbours is central to Bangladesh's Foreign Policy. Every government in Bangladesh since independence has given high priority to cordial relations with neighbouring countries. Yet, such positive objectives tell us little about the practical issues facing Bangladesh in conducting its regional foreign policy. How successful has the country's neighbourhood policy been? In which areas have Bangladesh and its neighbours experienced conflict, and in which co-operation? What specific issues do the countries of South Asia face, and what role has Bangladesh played in the region? What have Bangladesh's goals been concerning each of its neighbours, and how has it gone about achieving its ends? These questions have engaged not only foreign policy planners but academics as well. Nevertheless, during the past three decades, there has been surprisingly little analytical study of Bangladesh's bilateral relations with its neighbours, although political and economic interactions have increased considerably in recent years. The present study attempts to fill the gap, in whatever small way it can. Inevitably, the relationship between Bangladesh and its neighbours has been generally determined by geopolitical and economic imperatives, as well as significant domestic factors relating to Bangladesh's government and society.
The study has been organized to present evidence for appraising existing theories on inter-state relations. The case of Bangladesh is especially germane for evaluating explanations that emphasize the policies of less-developed, less militarily powerful countries." (jacket)