The "Jeeps"

The Bangladeshis love SUVs. Huge tires, being able to look at things from above, the prestige and the perception of being able to drive over everything. Like in Romania, they call them Jeeps over here, even though you can hardly find a Wrangler or a Cherokee among them.

There are many things a SUV can do. It has four-wheel drive. It can drive through heavy snow or powerful storms. It can carry a huge haul. It can climb mountains or take on dessert sand dunes. The problem is, there are no mountains or sand dunes in Bangladesh. Everything is as flat as it can be. There is no snow or ice. And bumps prevent any speed record attempts.

But the SUV is a symbol. A class symbol. It screams out that you made it. You are no longer poor. Your parents might have been, but you broke through and now you can look over everybody and drive on.

Citing Borat, an SUV is the perfect vehicle for Bangladesh, NOT!