Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses
मनोहर पर्रिकर रक्षा अध्ययन एवं विश्लेषण संस्थान

Anand Kumar

Dr. Anand Kumar is an Associate Fellow at the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (MP-IDSA), New Delhi. After completing his PhD from the School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) on “Germany and UN Peacekeeping Operations in the post-Cold War Era”, he joined MP-IDSA in 2007. Over the years, Dr. Kumar has worked on strategic issues gaining reputation as a leading security expert. His areas of specialization at MP-IDSA are Counter-terrorism, South Asian politics, Bangladesh, Maldives, Proliferation of Small Arms and Low intensity conflicts. He has completed three projects at MP-IDSA: “Emerging Challenges and Opportunities in Indo-Bangladesh Relations”, “Terrorism Challenges in Bangladesh”, “Bangladesh and Its Security Relationship with External Powers” and is currently engaged in studying “China as a Factor in the US Engagement with South Asia.” Before joining MP-IDSA, he worked at the South Asia Analysis Group on similar themes. He has also been with the Institute for Conflict Management which specializes on counter-terrorism. Dr. Kumar also has a good understanding of European and North American politics.

Dr. Kumar was a visiting professor and ICCR Chair (Indian Ocean Studies) in the University of Dar-Es-Salaam (UDSM) from November 2017 to November 2019. He worked in the department of political science and public administration. In UDSM he taught Counter-terrorism, regional integration, peacemaking and conflict resolution. He also closely followed issues related to African politics, economics and security.

Dr. Kumar has authored three books and has an edited volume. His latest book Bangladesh and Its Security Relationship with External Powers was published by K W Publishers Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi in 2021. His book on the Maldives entitled “Multi-party Democracy in the Maldives and the Emerging Security Environment in the Indian Ocean Region” was published by Pentagon Press, New Delhi in 2016. His first book Return from the Precipice: Bangladesh’s Fight against Terrorism, and the edited volume The Terror Challenge in South Asia and Prospect of Regional Cooperation were also published by Pentagon Security International, New Delhi. He has published over 30 research papers in reputed journals and edited books. He has delivered lectures on security issues both in India and abroad. He has participated and presented papers in national and international conferences. His article “Shaikh Hasina’s Visit to India and the future of Indo-Bangladesh Relations” was published by the Royal Society for Asia Affairs, London in their official journal Asian Affairs. He has published hundreds of articles in leading newspapers and magazines, including “Insurgency in South Asia muted by war on terror,” The Washington Times, January 16, 2004, and “The Jihadi Next Door,” The Washington Times, May 20, 2010.

Associate Fellow

  • Email: anand_rai@hotmail.com, anandkmrai@gmail.com
  • Phone: +91 11 2671 7983

Publication

HUJI as a Political Party: Where is Political Reform in Bangladesh Headed?

The caretaker government in Bangladesh had assumed power with the objective of bringing about a new political culture in the country. This aim had made them decide upon a crackdown against corruption and the introduction of a slew of political reforms. One such reform was the need for all parties to abide by the constitution the non-registration of religion based parties.

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Surging Energy and Food Prices will Accelerate Economic Downtrend in Bangladesh

Rising food and oil prices worldwide have increased the misery of people in Bangladesh who have already been suffering the effects of near double digit inflation. The military backed caretaker government has been forced to increase the prices of oil products by 33 to 67 per cent with effect from July 1, 2008. Diesel and kerosene prices have been hiked by 37.5 per cent to 55 taka a litre (0.26 gallons) and petrol prices by 34 per cent to 87 taka a litre.

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Flexibility in Political Dialogue Needed to Avert Chaos in Bangladesh

In the ongoing mass arrests in Bangladesh, nearly 20,000 people have been put behind bars. These arrests started on May 28, 2008 after the ban on political activity was lifted. It was expected that after allowing political activity, the government will facilitate the electoral process leading to the holding of elections which were postponed in January 2007. But the mass arrests in the name of deteriorating law and order condition have made the political situation fluid.

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The Politics of Disaster Relief

Muslim countries and Islamic relief organisations along with the rest of the world have shown unprecedented solidarity with the people of Bangladesh after the devastating impact of cyclone Sidr in mid-November. Ironically, many of these Islamic charitable organizations have been involved in fuelling fundamentalism in Bangladesh. The extremist forces, and not surprisingly, are once again trying to capitalize on the miseries of the people and the inadequacies of the state machinery.

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TAR brings benefits for Bangladesh

After dilly-dallying for a long period Bangladesh finally signed the Trans-Asian Railway (TAR) network agreement on November 9, 2007 at the UN headquarters in New York. With this 20 of the 28 countries under the network have joined the agreement. India signed the agreement on June 29, 2007. The remaining eight countries have yet to sign citing "procedural" and "technical" reasons, rather than disagreement about the project. Bangladesh failed to sign the agreement earlier as the previous BNP-Jamaat alliance government was undecided on the issue.

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A Blow to Dynastic Politics in Bangladesh

The struggle for control over the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) took a new turn after the reformist faction appointed former finance minister Saifur Rahman as the acting chairman. This decision was taken by the highest policy making standing committee in a five hour meeting on October 29. The committee also made former water resource minister and dissident leader Hafizuddin Ahmed the new Secretary General. However, the meeting allowed Khaleda Zia to remain as the party's chairperson.

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Bangladesh’s Quest for Nuclear Energy

Bangladesh faces a shortage of electric power and is planning to meet the shortfall by setting up nuclear power plants. Significantly, this development has occurred at a time when the country is being ruled by a caretaker government with the backing of the military. The military in Bangladesh is trying to carve out a permanent place for itself in governance by creating a National Security Council.

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Bangladesh and Its Security Relationship with External Powers

  • Publisher: KW Publishers
A state’s security is heavily dependent upon its geopolitical environment. The geopolitical setting of South Asia changed in 1971 with the birth of Bangladesh as a new, independent nation. India already faces a hostile neighbour on its western border. In the north, China is a major threat. In this geopolitical setting the kind of relationship India has developed with Bangladesh becomes important.

The military coup of August 1975 in Bangladesh marked a major shift in the way the country perceived its foreign and defence policies. India, its supporter in the liberation war, was now presented as the main threat to national security. A country’s defence policy and defence-related procurements depend on the threat perception of that country. Bangladesh, despite being a poor country, has tried to acquire significant defence capability mainly due to its perceived sense of insecurity and to some extent to participate in the United Nations peacekeeping operations. Some of the steps taken by Bangladesh purportedly to enhance its own security have meant that the security environment in the region has actually deteriorated. In this context Bangladesh’s security relationship with other major powers has significant implications for Indian security, and the book tries to throw light on it.

  • ISBN: 978 93 91490 15 7 ,
  • Price: ₹ 980/-
  • E-copy available

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