In Bangladesh’s 50th year, there are many positive things to say about the country, but on three issues the situation is dire.

As Bangladesh reaches 50, its cinema is finally moving onto a global stage.

50 years of the country’s nation building have not always gone well for its religious and ethnic minorities.

NGOs played a crucial role in the development of Bangladesh, but their role is now declining.

In two short periods in Bangladesh’s 50 year history the media was free — but for most of the half century, governments have restricted press freedom.

In the first of our “Bangladesh at 50” series, Jyoti Rahman looks at how successive finance ministers managed the country’s economy over five decades