Security in the Twenty First Century A Bangladesh Perspective

Written at the turn of the millennium, this volume redefines Bangladesh’s security agenda for the twenty-first century by integrating classic state-centric concerns with human-centred priorities. Contributors map external dynamics—India–China competition, the Bay of Bengal’s emerging salience, energy corridors, migration and the global rules architecture—before turning inward to governance, justice delivery, urbanization, and disaster risk. The book argues that deterrence and diplomacy cannot substitute for competent institutions close to citizens: police professionalism, municipal services, food and fuel buffers, and resilient health systems. It reviews lessons from cyclones and floods, showing how preparedness, early warning and community capacity convert existential threats into manageable risks. Economic chapters link trade policy, standards and logistics to national security by demonstrating how export dependency and supply shocks transmit to household welfare and public confidence. The authors champion strategic autonomy through diversified partnerships while insisting on the domestic reforms that make autonomy credible. Methodologically, the text blends scenario planning, comparative indicators and field observation, offering policymakers a dashboard rather than a single theory. The outcome is a pragmatic synthesis: protect borders and coastlines, guard the economy’s arteries, and expand the freedoms that let people plan their lives.