University Of Chittagong
Department of Banking & Insurance
Course title: Bangladesh Studies & Economic
Development [BCC-210]
Assignment #1
Topic: a) Physical and Natural Resources of Bangladesh.
b) Political, Administrative, and Legal Structure of BD.
Submitted to: Professor Rubayet Hassan
Submitted by: Mohammad Mokarram
Id: 22306019
Batch- Ninth, Fourth semester
Submission date: 20th January 2025
PART - A
i.) Development planning in BD can't be separated from
planning for river administration.
● Introduction:
Bangladesh is a riverine country with over 700 rivers
that significantly influence its economy, agriculture,
transportation, and ecology.
●Key Points:
○Agricultural Dependency: Rivers support irrigation
systems vital for crop production.
○Transportation and Trade: Rivers provide cheap and
eco-friendly routes for domestic and international
trade.
○Flood Management: Planning must mitigate flood
risks that disrupt development.
○Water Disputes: Transboundary rivers like the
Ganges and Brahmaputra require bilateral
agreements (e.g., Ganges Water Treaty).
○Environmental Impact: Poor river management
leads to erosion, siltation, and biodiversity loss.
● Conclusion:
Integrated river administration ensures sustainable
economic growth and disaster resilience in Bangladesh.
ii.) Explanation of the geopolitical importance of BD.
●Introduction:
Bangladesh’s location makes it a critical player in
South Asian and global geopolitics.
●Key Points:
○Bay of Bengal: Gateway for maritime trade and
energy resources.
○Bridge Between Regions: Links South Asia
(India) with Southeast Asia (Myanmar, ASEAN).
○Neighboring India and China: A strategic
partner in balancing their influence.
○Global Trade Routes: Proximity to major sea
lanes like the Malacca Strait.
○Role in Organizations: Active member of
SAARC, BIMSTEC, and the Belt and Road
Initiative.
●Conclusion:
Bangladesh’s geopolitical position is crucial for regional
stability, trade, and energy security.
iii.) Evaluation of the contribution of forest and agriculture
in the BD economy.
●Introduction: Agriculture and forests are fundamental
pillars of Bangladesh’s economy,
contributing to employment, food security, and
environmental sustainability.
●Key Points:
○Agriculture:
■Contributes about 12% of GDP (as of recent
data).
■Employs ~40% of the labor force.
■Produces rice, jute, and vegetables, ensuring
food security and exports.
○Forests:
■Cover ~14.5% of the land.
■Source of timber, fuelwood, and non-timber
products.
■Mitigate climate change and protect against
cyclones.
○Challenges: Climate change, land degradation,
deforestation, and overpopulation pressure.
●Conclusion:
Strengthening agricultural productivity and forest
conservation is essential for sustainable development.
iv.) Priorities as Chief Advisor considering Physical and
Natural Resources.
●Introduction:
Bangladesh is rich in natural resources but faces
sustainability challenges.
●Priorities:
○Water Resource Management: Build water
reservoirs, modernize irrigation, and address
water-sharing disputes.
○Energy Development: Invest in renewable energy
(solar, wind) and optimize gas and coal reserves.
○Forest Conservation: Implement afforestation
programs and enforce anti-deforestation laws.
○Disaster Resilience: Improve early warning
systems and build embankments.
○Modernizing Agriculture: Introduce tech-driven
farming and high-yield crop varieties.
●Strategies:
○Collaboration with neighboring countries for shared
river systems.
○Policies promoting green technology and
eco-friendly industries.
●Conclusion:
A balance between economic development and resource
conservation ensures long-term prosperity.
PART - B
i.) Importance of separation and independence for Executive,
Legislative, and Judiciary bodies.
●Introduction:
Separation of powers is vital for democracy and
accountability.
●Key Points:
○Executive: Implements laws; its independence
ensures administrative efficiency.
○Legislative: Makes laws; should represent public
interest without external influence.
○Judiciary: Interprets laws; independence ensures
impartial justice.
○Checks and Balances: Prevent abuse of power and
ensure fair governance.
○Bangladesh Context: Lack of separation often
leads to corruption and misuse of power.
●Conclusion:
Strengthening institutional independence promotes good
governance and democracy.
ii.) Amendments of the constitution went against justice and
fairness in the history of Bangladesh.
●Introduction:
The Constitution is meant to uphold justice, but some
amendments deviated from this goal.
●Examples:
○4th Amendment (1975): Centralized power,
undermining democracy.
○8th Amendment (1988): Declared Islam as the state
religion, raising concerns over secularism.
○15th Amendment (2011): Abolished caretaker
government, sparking political unrest.
●Analysis:
While amendments aim to address contemporary issues,
some lead to bias and inequality.
●Conclusion:
Historical evidence shows that amendments often
favored political agendas over justice.
iii.) Political ideologies converge towards the free will
agent inside people.
●Introduction:
Political ideologies aim to empower individuals and
enhance societal freedom.
●Key Points:
○Democratic Ideals: Emphasize individual
freedom and equality.
○Socialist Ideals: Focus on collective welfare but
rely on individual contributions.
○Capitalism: Relies on individuals’
entrepreneurial spirit.
○Bangladesh Context: Political movements
often aim to address people’s aspirations for
freedom and dignity.
●Conclusion:
Political ideologies, despite differences, ultimately
converge on the individual’s agency.
iii.) People can't help other than being a political
agent.
●Introduction:
Politics influences all aspects of life, making
individuals political by default.
●Agree:
○People vote, protest, and participate in societal
decisions, directly or indirectly.
○Economic and social activities are tied to
political policies.
●Disagree:
○Some people remain apolitical due to
disinterest or lack of awareness.
●Bangladesh Context:
Political engagement is high due to economic and
societal impacts of governance.
●Conclusion:
While political engagement varies, societal
structures make people inherently political agents.
