In 2021, over 193 million people in 53 countries/territories faced acute food insecurity (IPC/CH Phase 3-5; see Chart 1), according to the Global Report on Food Crises (GRFC 2022). In comparison to the already record numbers of 2020, this is an almost 40 million increase. Over half a million people (570,000) in Ethiopia, southern Madagascar, South Sudan, and Yemen were identified as being in the most critical phase of acute food insecurity (IPC/CH Phase 5; see Chart 1) and required immediate assistance to avoid widespread livelihood collapse, famine, and death. The number of people encountering crisis or worse (IPC/CH Phase 3 or higher; see Chart 1) approximately doubled between 2016 and 2021 when looking at the same 39 countries/territories represented in all editions of the report, with persistent increases each year since 2017.
Read moreCategory: Indo-Pacific regions
News and analyses of events in the Indo-Pacific region
Sri Lanka: how a South Asian country came under chaos
There is little doubt that a combination of internal and external forces contributed to Sri Lanka’s growth from a middle-to-high income country in South Asia to where it is today in just a few short years. For many years, Sri Lanka’s government has struggled with recurring budget deficits that have forced it to borrow frequently from both local and international markets, adding to the nation’s public debt. According to the breakdown of Sri Lanka’s foreign debt as of April 2021 is provided by the Sri Lankan Department of Foreign Resources, Sri Lanka’s international borrowing made up of 47% from the capital markets, 13% from the Asian Development Bank, 10% from China, 10% from Japan, 9% from the World Bank, 2% from India, and 9% from others. Sri Lanka’s foreign debt is owed to multilateral financial organizations and commercial creditors from Western nations. They sold the loan to ‘vulture funds,’ who actually took advantage of Sri Lanka’s every cent.
Read moreA US-induced cold war ploy hurts Bangladeshi sourcing of cotton from China
The Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) estimates that Bangladesh’s expanding garment industry needs close to 9 million bales of cotton. Less than 2% of them can be supplied locally, forcing Bangladesh to purchase 8.5 million cotton bales at a cost of around $3 billion.
Read moreBRICS can enable Bangladesh to explore greater business and geopolitical opportunities
Closer collaboration with BRICS under BRICS+ mechanism will open doors for Bangladesh to explore new markets and help to bridge the gap between two regional rivals China and India for its own benefits. India’s motivation for remaining in BRICS is not to support China’s global dominance. New Delhi believes it is more advantageous to stay in the BRICS alliance in order to restrain Chinese expansionism by securing multilateral agreements with Beijing. It will also embolden to skirt Western sanctions when it comes to do trading with Russia.
Read moreDhaka creates an enabling environment for its Big Neighbours
China’s multifaceted participation in Bangladesh is now a simple reality, and any attempt by India to challenge it will be ineffective. In Bangladesh, meaningful engagement with China will be critical for India’s security and regional stability in the northeastern states. Despite Western criticism of Bangladesh’s 2018 elections, China and India backed the current Dhaka administration.
Read moreHow the world obsessed with Ukraine forgot the Rohingyas
Long-term uncertainty about repatriation may incentivize Rohingya refugees to commit crimes. As a result of the extended ambiguity surrounding their repatriation, many Rohingya are becoming frustrated. Human trafficking, prostitution, and illegal drug trade will become victims of the Rohingya when they realize there is little support for them. As a result, the entire region’s equilibrium may be jeopardized.
Read moreDelicate balance in a critical time: careful steps with regional sync will favor Bangladesh
The Ukraine-Russia military conflict has brazenly pitted the West against Russia, and a new Cold War like situation will impose new challenges for Bangladesh. Bangladeshi imports from Russia include cereals, minerals, chemical products, plastic products, metal, machinery and mechanical equipment.
Read moreTime for Dhaka to boldly exert its soft power on Myanmar for Rohingya repatriation
Since the military coup in Myanmar in February, an umbrella opposition organisation called the National Unity Government has emerged, attempting to bring together Burmese and non-Burmese civilians in a formal challenge to the coup. This organization would be easily recognized as Myanmar’s legitimate government, save for one thing: it now lacks any representation from the…
Read moreWith the Covid-19 vaccine, Bangladesh is reversing course to begin soft power diplomacy
The sourcing of Covid-19 vaccine has pushed Bangladesh into a place of tight diplomatic manoeuvre, where the vaccine has become an insignia of different poles. Vaccines have emerged as the new emblem of soft war on the global stage, which is witnessing the emergence of newly defined paradigms and a colder war. The race for…
Read moreTo avoid being caught in the crossfire of the Titans, Bangladesh should develop a Bay of Bengal strategy
On 10 May 2021, Li Jiming, the Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh, spoke at a virtual event with representatives of the Diplomatic Correspondents Association of Bangladesh (DCAB). While speaking about the bilateral relationship between Bangladesh and China, the Chinese Ambassador said that Bangladesh should not join the “Quad,” a US-led initiative and that joining it would…
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