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Generational Dynamics Web Log for 20-Aug-05
Spectacular Islamist terrorist attack in Bangladesh throws country into panic

Web Log - August, 2005

Spectacular Islamist terrorist attack in Bangladesh throws country into panic

On Wednesday at 11-11:30 am, hundreds of bombs exploded almost simultaneously in major cities across the country.

A banned Islamist group, Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen, took credit for the bombings, according to leaflets left at the bomb sites.

“It is time to implement Islamic law… there is no future with man-made law,” the leaflets said. “We are warning Bush and Blair to abandon occupation of Muslim countries. NGOs are warned to stop anti-Islamic activities… else they will be completely uprooted.” Bangladesh is the third-largest Muslim-majority nation in the world.

India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Kashmir. <font size=-2>(Source: Peter N. Stearns)</font>

India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Kashmir. (Source: Peter N. Stearns)

Two people were killed, and 140 were injured. But the meticulous preparation that was required and the involvement of so many people, while still catching the government by surprise, has raised concerns about the stability of the country, and has spread fear among the population. A one-day general strike has been called across Bangladesh, and there are fears of additional violence.

A tumultuous history has gotten the country to this point.

One of the most brutal, genocidal wars of World War II was the war between Muslims and Hindus on the Indian subcontinent.

Hoping to prevent such a war from ever occurring again, the United Nations partitioned the Indian sub-continent following World War II into separate countries for Hindus and Muslims, India and Pakistan, respectively. What we now call Bangladesh was the eastern region of Pakistan. However, East Pakistan's mostly Bengal population (language: Bengali) was in constant friction with West Pakistan's more multiethnic population (language: Urdu). As a result, East Pakistan broke off as the People's Republic of Bangladesh ("Bengal nation") in 1971.

The partitioning of the Indian subcontinent did not resolve all the border issues. One of the most dangerous regions in the world is Kashmir, which was the ancestral home of the July 7 suicide bombers on the London subways.

The bombings across Bangladesh this week have highlighted disagreements over another border area, the one separating India from Bangladesh. The bombing has reopened mutual rifle firing along this border.

Conflict risk level for next 6-12 months as of: 30-May-2005

W. Europe 1 Arab Israeli 2

Russia Caucasus 2 Kashmir 1

China 2 North Korea 3

Financial 3 Bird flu 3

Key: 1=green 1=Low risk 2=yellow 2=Med 3=red 3=High 4=black 4=Active

Bangladesh and America have had excellent relations with one another, thanks especially to the $100+ million annual economic aid from America. However, the country is 90% Muslim, and it's in a generational crisis period, like most other countries that fought in World War II. Thus, it's possible that the current skirmish could spiral out of control into a larger war, including a nuclear war between Pakistan and India over Kashmir. (20-Aug-05) Permanent Link
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Generational Dynamics Web Log for 20-Aug-05 Spectacular Islamist terrorist attack in Bangladesh throws country into panic

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Generational Dynamics Web Log for 20-Aug-05
Spectacular Islamist terrorist attack in Bangladesh throws country into panic