Don't bet just yet on Bangladesh as South Asia's economic champion

Bangladesh might overtake India this year by per capita income in nominal dollars, but it is not yet close to becoming South Asia's economic powerhouse anytime soon. T N Ninan explains why

The country of the moment is the one that exports “termites”: Bangladesh. On the first of my two visits to that country, in the mid-1990s, the only direct flight from Delhi to Dhaka was one that Biman Bangladesh Airlines originated from London. In business class, one confronted a toilet that was locked. “Reserved for VIPs”, said the plastic panel pasted on the door! Non-VIPs in business class had to use toilets further back in the plane. The city had two good hotels and was over-run with cycle-rickshaws, while the cars were dated Japanese models. They were cheap because Japan’s rules