Bangladesh is a majority Muslim nation with a population of some 154 million people. This volume accounts for the political and economic experiences of the Bangladeshi state and its people, identifying the key players among Bangladesh's tiny military, political, and business elite. It also explores the attempt these individuals have made to establish their authority and considers the relative merits of their efforts at nation building. S. Mahmud Ali concludes with an outline of both the remarkable achievements that have taken place in this land of unusual narratives and the elemental challenges that its burgeoning population will face in the years ahead.