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LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL

14th February, 2019

Md. Mosta Gausul Hoque, PMP

Guest Faculty

Institute of Business Administration

University of Dhaka

Subject: Letter of Transmittal for assigned Book Review.

Dear Sir,

It is my honour to present to you my Book Review on the book ‘Discovery of Bangladesh’ for
the Bangladesh Studies course. This report is a constructive depiction of my opinions on the
aforementioned book and what I have learned from it. Making this report was equally
challenging and enlightening. I am grateful to you for providing me the opportunity to
accomplish such a riveting task. I fervently hope that you will find my Book Review worth
reading.

Sincerely,

Md. Rahimul Islam Rihad

Roll: 60

BBA 31st Batch

Institute of Business Administration

University of Dhaka.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to express my gratitude towards my honorable course teacher, Md. Mosta Gausul
Hoque sir, for giving me the opportunity to prepare this report. I am grateful towards eminent
writer and author of the book “Discover of Bangladesh”, Mr. Akbar Ali Khan, for writing such a
scintillating book, without whose work my report wouldn’t exist. I would like to thank my fellow
batchmates and friends for helping me complete this assignment within the limited timeframe.

Sincerely,

Md. Rahimul Islam Rihad

Date: 06-12-20

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Letter of Transmittal 2
Acknowledgement 3
About The Author: 5
Introduction 6
Chapter 1 : Anatomy of Rural Settlement 7
Chapter 2: Dynamics of rural settlement 9
Chapter 3: Dynamics of political Instability 12
Chapter 4: Dynamics of Proselytization 13
Chapter 5: Dynamics of Dichotomy and Confrontation 15
Conclusion 17
Reference 18

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Dr. Akbar Ali Khan was a prominent Bangladeshi economist, educationist, and bureaucrat who
played an active role in the Bangladesh Liberation War and the development of the country. He
was born in 1944 in Nabinagar, Brahmanbaria. He completed his BA and MA in history from
Dhaka University, securing first place in both exams. He then pursued his
MA and PhD in economics from Queen’s University in Canada.
He joined the Civil Service of Pakistan (CSP) in 1967 and was posted as
the sub-divisional officer (SDO) of Habiganj in 1970. During the war, he
supported the independence movement and supplied arms, food, and
money to the freedom fighters. He also established a regional
administration in Agartala to assist the refugees and the Mujibnagar
government. He was tried and sentenced to 14 years of hard labor by the
Pakistani government in absentia.
After the liberation of Bangladesh, he rejoined the civil service and held
various positions, including deputy secretary of the defense ministry, joint secretary of the
planning ministry, director general of the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS),
and secretary of the finance ministry. He reached the highest post of cabinet secretary in 1996
and retired from the service in 2001.
He also served as an adviser to the caretaker government of President Iajuddin Ahmed in 2006,
but resigned along with three others due to dissatisfaction with the political situation. He was the
chairman of the Regulatory Reforms Commission from 2007 to 2011. He also taught at various
universities, including BUET, Dhaka University, North South University, and BRAC University.
He was a prolific writer and researcher who authored several books and articles on economics,
history, politics, and culture. Some of his notable works are Pararthaparotar Arthoniti (The
Economics of Dependency), Bangladesher Arthoniti: Unnayan O Songkot (The Economy of
Bangladesh: Development and Constraints), and Bangladesher Itihash: Bish Shataker Shesh
Bikale (The History of Bangladesh: The End of the Twentieth Century).
He received several awards and honors for his contributions, such as the Justice Md. Ibrahim
Gold Medal, the Moulana Akram Khan Gold Medal, the Mercantile Bank Gold Medal, and the
honorary fellowship by Bangla Academy. He was also a member of various national and
international organizations, such as the Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, the Bangladesh Economic
Association, the International Economic Association, and the Royal Economic Society.
He passed away on 8 September 2022 at the age of 78. He was survived by his brother Kabir
Uddin Khan and his daughter Nehreen Khan. His wife Hamim Khan had died earlier. He was
widely respected and admired by his colleagues, students, and admirers for his intellect,
integrity, and patriotism.

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INTRODUCTION

The author Mr Akbar Ali Khan has, undoubtedly, fathered one of the most concise yet almost
flawless books on the history of our nation and its people. He has, in my opinion, embodied his
patriotism and nationalism in this literary work that has allowed both Bangalees and foreigners to
view this ancient, land in all its glory, in a whole new light.

Aim of the Author

The author intended to explore the historical roots of this apparently enigmatic nation and to
introduce the new generation to our magnificent past.

Objective:
The author has sought to add a new dimension to our glorious and sometimes horrible past, while
keeping it relevant and concise enough for people can read and understand.

Methodology:
Methodologically, this book breaks new ground in the study of Bangladesh in two ways. First, it
explains the theories that underpin the historical framework that explains the historical
development of this hidden nation. Second, it explores the microfoundations of political and
social institutions in this area.

Limitations:
Although still concise, the author did not have the opportunity to accurately highlight many of
the important historical event. Furthermore, the reviewer could not verify all the data and
statistics mentioned in the book.

Overall, I enjoyed reading this book. This is a perfect read for those who want to learn more
about this country and its past.

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CHAPTER 1 : ANATOMY OF RURAL SETTLEMENT

The fact that most of Bangladesh have historically lived in villages makes the understanding of
rural settlements a prerequisite to understanding the lives of people in this country. So it can be
said that the real history of Bangladesh begins from these rural settlements rather than in
glittering palaces. The author Mr. Akbar Ali Khan has depicted this aspect quite clearly in his
book. The over simplified view has two primary limitations, namely:

1) Villages where not the same throughout the sub-continent.

2) Dogmatist opinions regarding the existence of these villages.

The history and culture of Bengal have been shaped by the villages that have been home to most
of its people since ancient times. Villages are the core of the country’s economic system. They
are also important social units, although their boundaries and features are not always clear. Some
Western scholars have noted that villages act as a kind of local government that is self-sufficient
and autonomous.However, there are debates about whether a village can be seen as a collective
entity or a useful unit for analysis.

Again, The concept of villages can be divided into 3

distinct classes:

1)Survey Village

2) Local Village

3) Census Village

Some inconsistencies are observed when analyzing

the history of conventional representation of Indian
villages. These incongruities are: Dissimilitude of
villages was observed throughout the Indian
subcontinent. In actuality, prominent topographical
variances in the composition of rural settlements
could be noticed. Doubts have been casted upon the
concept of idealistic village communities of our
region. In fact, the existence of village communities was restricted to a minuscule area lying
between Delhi and Agra, which needed a defense organization in order to protect itself against
potential raiders from neighboring states in the twilight of the Mughal empire.

The author also described the main differences between the two types of classifications are how
they are led and how they own the unused land of a village. Also, the key difference between the
two kinds of joint villages is how they divide the land. The Pattidari share the land based on the
inherited portion, while the Bhaiachara have a more fair view based on the size of the workforce.

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At this part, the author also mentioned the
principle administrative functions of village
that includes collection of land revenue,
obtaining own machinery for maintenance of
law and order and finally undertaking public
works .

In conclusion, the villages in the Bangladesh region had some characteristics of a social group
even if they did not have a clear administrative unit or a separate economic system. The villages
were different from each other in their social roles and religious practices.6 Villages have been
an important part of our country’s history and culture. As a social group and a source of diversity
and identity, villages will continue to influence the society in many ways.

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CHAPTER 2: DYNAMICS OF RURAL SETTLEMENT

In this chapter, writer talks about the structure of rural settlements in the Bengal delta and the
factors that influence it. He compares the villages in Bangladesh with those in other parts of
South Asia and the world. He also discusses different theories and models that explain the
behavior and choices of the villagers.

The author says that the villages in Bangladesh are usually spread out and separate, unlike the
clustered villages in the current West Bengal. A village in Bangladesh is mostly open. But, the
typical village in other regions of South Asia is closed. This means that the villagers have more
or less the same rights and obligations. The author also admits that some villages may not follow
the general pattern, but it is possible to simplify the rural settlements based on their structure.

The writer then talks about two main schools of thought on what determines the structure of
rural settlements: psychological and economic. The psychological school believes that the
structure of a village reflects the villagers’ attitude towards life. The economic school argues that
villagers value security over everything else. The basic idea is that "all should have a place, a
living, not that all should be equal." The anthropologist George Foster suggested another view
called “Image of Limited Good” or “peasant-pie” approach. It means that villagers think that
their good fortune is limited. The writer also mentions three different economic models that
economists have proposed and that is given below

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In the next part of the chapter,The author explains that some people used to think that all the
villages were the same, but they actually had their own characteristics. The author also compares
the villages in Bangladesh, which are usually open and separate, with the villages in other parts
of South Asia, which are usually closed and clustered.

The psychological and economic determinants of the structure of rural settlements. The author
describes two main schools of thought that explain how the villagers choose to live and
cooperate. The psychological school believes that the villagers’ attitude towards life shapes the
village, while the economic school believes that the villagers value security over everything else.

The peasants’ role and beliefs in the rural settlement. The author cites George Foster, an
anthropologist, who proposed the “Image of Limited Good” or “peasant-pie” approach. This
approach suggests that the villagers think that their good fortune is scarce and that they lose
when others gain. The author also mentions two important types of villages: loosely structured
and tightly structured.

The economic benefits and costs of corporate institutions in rural settlements. The author argues
that the corporate nature of the villages in Bangladesh was limited and that the villagers were
self-sufficient in terms of water supply. The author also claims that the historical evidence shows
that the villages in Bengal were less corporate than those in north and south India. The author
also points out that the foreign invasions were more frequent in the western areas than in the
eastern areas, which reduced the need for a strong corporate presence.

The aim and challenges of developing harmony among the villages. The author notes that the
main goal was to create peace and unity among the villages, but there were also problems such as
ostracism, which denied access to water sources. The author also criticizes the ideological
propaganda that obscured the economic realities behind the corporate villages. The author gives
an example of the Brahmadeya village, which was a gift to the Brahmans and which
discriminated against certain Hindu castes.

The population and land issues of ancient Bengal. The author suggests that the population of
ancient Bengal was so high that the people faced a shortage of cultivable lands. The author
acknowledges that there were forests and new lands in the outskirts of the settled areas, but the
author doubts that most people in Bangladesh lived in those areas. The author implies that most
people lived in the previously settled areas.

A scrutiny of rural settlements in Bangladesh reveals three major compulsions for a sturdy
corporate life in villages, namely:

1. Protection against foreign invaders.

2. Protection against wild animals.

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3. Provision of public services such as irrigation.

Finally, studies also emphasize on the fact that village leadership was more prominent in
nucleated villages than in linear settlements.13 The parallel patterns in the villages of Bengal can
be attributed to the fact that villages in west Bengal were bigger than those in east Bengal. To
sum up, villages in Bengal were generally loosely structured whereas those in north and south
India were corporate. Local dissimilarities denoted that villages were looser in the eastern areas
of Bengal.

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CHAPTER 3: DYNAMICS OF POLITICAL INSTABILITY

The author has rightfully brought into light the fact that states maintain a monopoly over the
legitimate use of force within a certain sovereign territory. The inception of a state can be
explained through two theories. These are the contractual theory and the exploitive or predatory
theory. The contractual theory states that the state is an agency for provision of necessary
services like security and justice in exchange of certain obligations that are to be performed by
its residents. On the other hand, the exploitive theory states that the state in an instrument of
vested interest groups and a tool for manipulation.

The contractual theory is deeply rooted in South

Asia’s past. Exploitation paradigms on states of South Asia can be drawn in two particular ways,
centralized and decentralized exploitations. The intellectual origins of the theory of centralized
exploitations can be traced back to classical economists like Adam Smith and JS Mill who
emphasized the despotic nature of Asian regimes. Decentralized exploitations include the
pyramidal segmentation od states and feudal systems.

In case of pyramidal segmented states, the authority of the centre has the highest authority at
only the centre. Its authority is lower in intermediate zones very negligible in peripheral zones.
Sovereignty is limited in such states. The King holds a concentrated ritual authority while the
segments may exercise political authority. Local units are designed in a pyramidal way based on
the central authority. This posits that the smallest units of authority are linked with the central
power in an ascending order. There are a number of factors that set Bangladesh apart from the
Indian political scenario. One of them is high enforcement costs for which establishment of rural
governments are difficult. Another is the poor vi communication system. Manoeuvring armed
forced was especially difficult in this region due to the peculiar conditions of the deltaic Bengal.

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CHAPTER 4: DYNAMICS OF PROSELYTIZATION

The fourth chapter, titled “The Dynamics of Evangelization” discusses the birth of many
doctrines and beliefs in this region, but its main focus is on the propagation of Islam in this
region . The lack of proper literature on Islam and the religion makes this give rise to many
theories and justifications.

Bangladesh is a country which does not possess the characteristics of the classic Muslim country.
Though she contains one out of every eight Muslims in the world, she is a delta filed with rivers
and a monsoon climate, in contrast to the arid zones of the Middle East. Islam in Bengal was the
religion of farmers and fishermen who resided in pastoral areas. Historians are puzzled by the
fact that Islam failed to gain a stronghold in the subcontinent as opposed to Hinduism. Only in
China has Islam accomplished so little in proportion to the population. This can be attributed to
the fact that majority thought the Muslims of Bengal were a “handful of foreigners” like the
British rulers.

The below chart indicates the number of Muslims in Bengal as well as their representation in
total population from 1881 to 1941.

The Brahmins were labelled as “a priest by appearance, but a butcher at heart”.29 The
domination of the Brahmins was a main reason behind the conversion to Islam by numerous
lower caste Hindus. Though Muslim saints were not unique to Bengal, it is unanimously agreed
upon that conversions to Islam in the subcontinent were conducted by these saints. Many have
pondered why the saints failed in South Asia despite their success in Bengal.The Population of
India and Pakistan success of Islam in Bengal to the institution of “Pirism”. He suggests that pirs

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in Bengal were different from their counterparts in other regions. Although there are some
boundaries, his theory is logical. Eaton also proposed various arguments regarding the
introduction of pirs in Bengal and their subsequent influence.

There are two types of conversions: up conversions (group conversions) and down conversions
(individual conversions). The spread of Islam in Bengal is an example of conversion from below.
Many Hindus in South Asian villages cannot accept Islam for fear of being ostracized. Some
regions witnessed mass conversions, many Hindus worshiped Muslim saints but did not convert.
The power of the Muslim rulers of Bengal was limited over the Hindus of Bengal due to the local
influence of the Hindus and their occupation of more administrative positions. Muslims have
always courted Hindus because for them the relationship between Hindus and Muslims is
important to their rule. The process of conversion to Islam lasted over 400 years and succeeded
in areas where Christian missionary efforts had failed and lasted less than 150 years. Muslim
missionaries introduced Islam to every corner of Bengal. And just as the author points out earlier
in the book, despite the missionaryism in the country, Muslim rule in Bengal led to an important
paradigm shift. This later shaped the history and foundation of the nation we know today as
Bangladesh.

Finally , Muslim missionaries and Pirs spread Islam to every corner of Bengal for four hundred
years. This prolonged proselytization was the main reason for the supremacy of Islam in this
region. However, the unsuccessful approach of missionaries in South Asia is also a matter worth
pondering. Individual adaptation coupled with an underlying spiritual drive eventually caused a
sudden increase in the Muslim population in Bengal.

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CHAPTER 5: DYNAMICS OF DICHOTOMY AND CONFRONTATION

The fifth chapter describes the conflict of territorial and extraterritorial loyalties among the
Bengal Muslims resulting from the spread of Islam. It also narrates how this dichotomy(division)
of faith and habitat was compounded by the conflicts among the newly emerging middle classes.
It offers a broad explanation of recent twists and turns of nationhood in this region. Historical
evidence indicates that nationhood in Bangladesh cannot be explained merely as a fabrication of
the elites, it was in fact shaped by a blend of primordial( ancient/earliest) and instrumental
factors.

The main findings of the study are summarized in the conclusion. It suggests that historically
Bangladesh has been a distinct unit in South Asia from the institutional point of view. The
weakness of social institutions and the consequential primacy of the individual in social life,
though detrimental to her political development, enriched her cultural life by encouraging heresy
(unorthodoxy), heterodoxy and the spread of an alien faith. An anatomy of the micro institutions
in this region offers very useful insights to an understanding of her historical evolution. They
shed light not only on the institutions in the past but also on the current policies. Hopefully, an
understanding of her past will make the policy-makers in Bangladesh wiser.

It argues that the weakness of grass-roots institutions in eastern and southern Bengal was both a
blessing and a blessing and handicap. While it promoted robust individualism and enriched
cultural life, it also led to a lack of economic benefits associated with corporate institutions

The rapid expansion of Islam in Bengal created challenges for Hindu and Muslim religious
leaders. Converts to Islam in Bengal faced a dichotomy between faith and environment. On the
other hand, British rule united the Muslims. Various movements led by different leaders spread
orthodox versions of Islam in the 19th century.

The fundamental conflict in the 19th century arose from the struggle for power forces among the
middle classes, stemming from the changes introduced by the imperial leaders. The Bhadralok
(Hindu upper caste) played an important role in the Bengali renaissance of the 19th century.
Isolated from the rest of society, the bhadralok gradually turned from nationalism to
communalism. . The rivalry between the Hindu bhadralok and Ashraf emergedduring the Bengal
Partition Agitation (1905-11).

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The expansion of jute exports in the last decades of the 19th century saw benefited the Muslim
farmers of the East. Bengal. Bengal's jute exports rose from 0.82 (in millions of cwt) per year in
1855 to 15.14 by the end of 1914. The newfound wealth of East Bengal's wealthy farmers
encouraged the popularized Muslim literacy at the turn of the century.

One of the aims of Partition was to weaken emerging Hindu nationalism. Partition ultimately
proved to be a failure for everyone. Communism in Bengal was created by the divide and rule
policy of the British rulers. Two types of conflict between the middle class in Bengal emerged:

1) Direct conflict between the Hindu and Muslim middle classes over economic and employment
opportunities.

2) Conflict between the Muslim middle class because of differences in their interests and
ideological orientation.

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CONCLUSION

The author observes that "the weakness of grassroots organizations and the primacy of
individuals" have led to undermining Bangladesh's political development. In particular, this has
been reflected in the rise of a fragmented political system, with the negative effects of
factionalism, high costs of enforcing the social contract, and widespread parasitism. wide and,
one might add, the fractured politics of hartalotics has important developmental implications.
Policies significantly influence economic performance because they define and enforce
economic rules. Therefore, an essential part of development policy must be "creating policies
that create and enforce property rights effectively.". Yet, as Douglass North reminds us, "we
know very little about how to create such political regimes." The author notes that, "unlike the
failure of institutions large in Bangladesh , small ethnic organizations have demonstrated great
potential .
The average union, the lowest level of local government, has more than “twenty-seven thousand
people”. This makes the task of establishing corporate entities for such a large group
extremely difficult. However, the solution to overcome such weak local government structures is
not less but more decentralization, determined precisely by population size. After all, governance
is about managing people, and with increasing population density, the challenge of good
governance also increases proportionately. It is the insufficient awareness of the need for greater
decentralization and greater financial and administrative autonomy of local governments in the
context of relatively strong population growth that has created the problem of poor governance.
in this country. this area from the beginning. Therefore, the way out of the failure of local
governance lies not in the development of small popular organizations but in achieving effective
decentralized, participatory and democratic governance in local level.

Overall, this book is a worthy collector's item; a place that will educate Bangladeshis for
generations to come. The author was awarded the Justice Mohammad Ibrahim Gold Medal for
his book as it was rated as the best work in the field of arts and humanities by the Bangladesh
Asia Society during the years 1996-1998. I believe it represents our nationalism and is intended
to help us better understand our country.

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REFERENCE

The Book “Discovery of Bangladesh” by Akbar Ali Khan

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