Bangladesh on the Brink, Bleeding Boundaries

Rev. Dr. Robert B. Lancia is a teacher, pastor, retired United States Navy chaplain, former State legislator, and former candidate for Congress, who is currently working as a Hospice Chaplain to veterans. As the first Exchange United States Navy Chaplain with the Canadian Forces, Dr. Lancia had the opportunity, while stationed in Canada, to attend a seven-and-a-half-week course at the Pearson Peacekeeping Centre, which taught and trained those who served in conflict zones. They also offered peacekeeping courses and military exercises to audiences all over the world. He was fortunate to be able to travel with them to witness, first hand, the situation in Haiti at the time. This experience helped prepare him for his ongoing interest in world affairs.

Chris Blackburn is a strategist and writer with over two decades of experience in international relations, economic development, and strategic communications. He has advised NGOs, law firms, political campaigns, think tanks, and private organisations, and has briefed U.S. Senators and Congressmen on key economic and security issues.

Chris contributes to publications including The Global Order and Firstpost, where his commentary explores South Asian politics, international security, and global economic trends. His writing builds on a career spent working with policymakers in South Asia and Europe to advance human rights and cross-regional cooperation.

He previously co-led the U.S. Intelligence Conference and subsequent Intelligence Summits, major forums that influenced debate and reforms in the U.S. intelligence community. Chris also co-founded Global Friends of Afghanistan (GFA) and served as Communications Director of the Swiss Inter Strategy Group (Swiss ISG), where he advised leading firms across Europe.

In recognition of his contributions, he has received the ‘Friend of Bangladesh’ award from the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs and a letter of appreciation from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Priyajit Debsarkar is an author and geopolitical analyst based in London. He has published multiple books focusing predominantly on international relations and current affairs with special reference to East Pakistan and the 1999 Kargil war. He is best known for his book The Last Raja of West Pakistan, which explores the life and political choices of Raja Tridiv Roy—the Chakma monarch who remained loyal to Pakistan during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War.

He is also a regular columnist a contributor to leading English and Bengali newspapers, focusing on evolving global situations, which are published from Canada, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, India, Bangladesh, and Hong Kong.

"This book is both a chronicle and a cautionary tale. It combines historical memory, contemporary analysis, and geopolitical foresight to argue that Bangladesh stands at a dangerous crossroads. The writing is at times raw, often unsettling, but always thought-provoking. What makes this book stand out is its breadth and accessibility. It blends historical depth with sharp analysis of current issues-mob violence, minority persecution, corruption, and economic uncertainty while also highlighting Bangladesh's significance on the global stage." -ANURAG SHARMA, Entrepreneur, Founder, CRE & Angel Investor, Boston USA

"This is a very informative and critically analyzed book on the current situation in Bangladesh. It offers a wider perspective." -BIRO DIVARA, Secretary General, Interfaith International, Geneva, Switzerland

"We congratulate all the authors for this collective collaboration and painstaking examination of Bangladesh and beyond." -STÉPHANE MICHOTT, President, The Ideal Foundation, Paris, France

"Bangladesh on the Brink is a welcome addition to the literature on the Monsoon Uprising of 2024, the aftershocks of which are still being felt. It captures a pivotal moment in the life of a nation that sought a violent break from its past in the hope of a better tomorrow. A must-read for anyone interested in navigating South Asia's changing geopolitical landscape." -Deep Halder, Journalist, The Print, and Author of 'Being Hindu in Bangladesh'