Fellows in the Media: Shafi Md Mostofa’s Latest Pieces in the Diplomat

In his latest op-eds for the Diplomat, an international current affairs magazine for the Asia-Pacific region, our Global Forum Fellow Shafi Md Mostofa tackles the issues of Bangladesh’ attitudes towards the India-Pakistan crisis, the rise of “the Islamist left” in Bangladesh, and the relationship between Bangladesh and China.

The article on Bangladesh-China relations, co-authored with Tamim Muntasir, argues that Bangladesh is in the process of redefining its foreign policy. The future trajectory of Bangladesh-China relations in a rapidly evolving geopolitical landscape will be determined by how well Bangladesh will be able to balance regional and global interests.

The article on “the Islamist left” discusses Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh, the oldest Islamist party in the country, which has recently adopted more inclusive and progressive rhetoric, and this, together with recent political shifts in Bangladesh, has helped to reframe its image. This new orientation reflects an emerging “Islamist Left,” a blend of Islamic values with social and economic equity, inclusivity, and broader citizenship rights, Shafi md Mostofa writes.

The latest article on Bangladesh’ attitude towards the India-Pakistan crisis argues that despite the country traditionally aligning itself with India, the government this time aims for neutrality. At the same time, public reactions seem to signal support for Pakistan in the crisis.

Read the article on Bangladesh-China relations here, the one on Jamaat-e-Islami here, and the one on Bangladesh’ approach to the India-Pakistan crisis here.