Economist and social thinker Hossain Zillur Rahman has described Bangladesh as a critical “battleground of ideas,” urging society to engage in shaping the country’s future amid ongoing political and social shifts.
Speaking at the Bay of Bengal Conversation in Dhaka, Rahman said the past 15 months have seen “ruptures, rivals and realignments,” raising questions about whether recent developments signify true change or an elite-driven illusion.
He identified key areas where competing visions are unfolding: the nature of the state, economic growth, education, empowerment, and global relations. Rahman stressed that the state should be seen as a process exercised in courts, streets, and everyday power dynamics, and warned that growth focused solely on GDP and infrastructure risks eroding economic democracy.
He also highlighted education as a neglected battleground, where institutional expansion has not translated into meaningful human capital. Calling for the formation of a new coalition of youth activists, entrepreneurs, and professionals to ensure sustainable transformation, he argued that meaningful change requires engagement beyond what political leaders alone can deliver.
“The job is much bigger than what the politicians can deliver,” he said, urging society to actively participate in these ongoing debates shaping Bangladesh’s future.