BCS Written International Affairs case studies
BCS Written International Affairs · Put your knowledge to work in context.
The International Affairs paper is one of the optional subjects in Bangladesh's BCS written examination, taken by candidates who have cleared the preliminary screening and the viva stage that follows the written tests. It suits candidates aiming for the foreign service cadre or for administrative posts where diplomacy, trade, and multilateral negotiation dominate the workload. The BCS Written International Affairs case studies are 5 cases and about 2,718 words.
1The Stalled SAARC Summit and the Bypass Option
The foreign secretary of a South Asian state must brief the cabinet on whether to attend a proposed regional connectivity summit. SAARC's last full summit was held in Kathmandu in 2014; since then, scheduled summits in Pakistan (2016) and Pakistan (2019) were cancelled after member states withdrew.
652 words, about 3 min2Peacekeeping Contribution Under Budget Pressure
A troop-contributing country has 5,800 personnel deployed across four UN missions; peacekeeping reimbursements of about USD 1,400 per person per month form a significant share of its defence budget and hard-currency earnings. The UN has delayed reimbursements by up to nine months because of unpaid assessed contributions from major contributors.
537 words, about 3 min3Climate Finance and the Loss-and-Damage Claim
A low-lying coastal state faces saline intrusion across 320,000 hectares, displacing an estimated 40,000 households inland each year. Its annual adaptation need is assessed at USD 900 million; domestic revenue covers USD 120 million and current bilateral grants USD 60 million.
502 words, about 3 min4Sanctions, Secondary Effects, and a Port Project
A South Asian state is negotiating a deep-sea port with a foreign contractor. The contractor's parent company is subject to sanctions imposed by a major Western power; the sanctions target the parent, not the subsidiary, and the subsidiary is incorporated locally.
502 words, about 3 min5Refugee Repatriation and the Non-Refoulement Line
A country hosts 1.1 million refugees from a neighbouring state after a military crackdown eight years ago. Donor funding has fallen by 40 percent; rations were cut to USD 0.27 per person per day.
525 words, about 3 min