Introduction

Abstract

Bangladesh, against all odds, has come of age. International pessimism surrounding the future of Bangladesh in 1971 was clearly misplaced. This book attempts to assess the development of Bangladesh historically, starting with a rationale for the independence of this South Asian country. In order to achieve these objectives we gathered a number of well-known scholars on Bangladesh, as well as scholars who are perhaps better known in their scholarly communities than they are in their original homeland. Some of them played a direct role in sha** the history of the country; others are eminent scholars of international repute. We owe a great debt to them for sharing their thoughts and ideas with the students of Bangladesh studies both at home and abroad. For the students of Bangladesh studies it is very important to hear from the makers and shapers of Bangladesh’s history. One of the aims of the book was to introduce Bangladeshi students to the preeminent scholars of Bangladeshis in the diaspora. We have gathered scholars from both home and abroad who have distinguished themselves as specialists in the fields of politics, economics, and society.