Naomi Hossain

Stuart Schrader, historian and author on policing, explains how local police and unions can enable federal crackdowns. Naomi Hossain, SOAS development scholar, unpacks Bangladesh’s 2026 election, family rivalries, and rising Islamist politics. They discuss police political alignment, unions’ culture, and regional power shifts in short, incisive conversations.

Naomi Hossain, Global Research Professor at SOAS and author of The Aid Lab, unpacks Bangladesh’s sudden political upheaval. She traces the protests that toppled a long-serving leader. She examines the 2026 vote, the interim government's limits, BNP’s revival under Tarique Rahman, economic pressures, rising party rivals, and the military’s restrained role.

Naomi Hossain, a Global Research Professor at SOAS, delves into Bangladesh's remarkable rise from a 'basket case' to a development leader. She discusses how traumatic events, like the 1974 famine, shaped robust policies prioritizing food security and disaster preparedness. The conversation highlights significant strides in health, poverty reduction, and women's workforce participation. Hossain also critiques the role of elite consensus and warns of looming challenges posed by inequality and political fragility, offering a nuanced view of progress and ongoing struggles.