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Democracy and the Politics of Islamism in Bangladesh
Organizer & Chair: Nazli Kibria, Boston University
Discussant: Habibul H. Khondker, Zayed University
Bangladesh is in the midst of what many see to be a crucial political crisis, one that threatens the democratic future of the country. A series of unresolved questions surround the upcoming national elections that are scheduled for January 2007. The proposed panel brings together some of the leading analysts of contemporary politics in Bangladesh to explore the nature and roots of the crisis, and the possible routes to its resolution. While broadly focused on the topic of democratic process, the panel will pay particular attention to the politics of Islamism in the country, and specifically to the rise of radical Islamist groups in the country.
Countdown to Elections: High Stakes for Bangladesh
Maneeza Hossain, Hudson Institute
In January 2007, Bangladesh will undergo its most sensitive and crucial election in decades. Since the democratic process was restored in 1991, Bangladesh has experienced a peaceful, albeit chaotic transfer of power in three elections that should have anchored democratic practice. However, corruption, lack of transparency and lack of responsiveness to widely held grievances have created an atmosphere in which radical Islamist ideologies are able to recruit and act. This paper identifies three crucial issues that require urgent consideration by stakeholders, both Bangladeshis and others to improve the political climate in Bangladesh in the countdown to the elections: the ignored socio-economic base, strong arms politics, and unfettered radicalization. The stakes for Bangladesh and beyond are indeed high: if the elections are credible, a confirmation of democracy will ensue. If the elections are perceived as being corrupt, the radical Islamist agenda will further be strengthened, and democracy itself may be in jeopardy.
The Dynamics of Islamist Militancy in Bangladesh
Ali Riaz, Illinois State University
In recent years, militant Islamist groups have appeared in the political landscape of Bangladesh. Although their menacing acts attracted the attention of international media, the government denied the existence of any such groups until early 2005. In an unprecedented show of force, organization and skills, two banned militant Islamist organizations exploded more than 450 bombs within a span of an hour throughout Bangladesh on 17 August 2005 sending a strong message that they were a force to be reckoned with. Subsequently, the government of Bangladesh initiated a crackdown on them and arrested the key militant leaders. The arrests and speedy trials of the militant leaders have been described by some analysts as the end of the militancy in Bangladesh. But many questions remain unanswered: why has militant Islamism emerged in Bangladesh? Did regional and international factors play part in the rise of militancy? What are the future trajectories of militant Islamism in Bangladesh? It is the contention of this paper that the emergence and proliferation of militancy is a result of a combination of factors stemming from domestic, regional and international dynamics. This paper examines these dynamics and argues that despite the success of the government in pursuing key leaders of the militant organizations, the threat of militancy is far from over.
Revivalist Islam and Labor Migration from Bangladesh to the Middle East
Nazli Kibria, Boston University
International migration is widely understood to be an important force behind the contemporary global resurgence of Islam. With a focus on migration to North America and Western Europe, scholars have noted how migration increases the significance of religious identity for Muslims and draws them into movements of revivalist Islam. In this paper I look at the experience of migration for Bangladeshi workers in the Gulf states of the Middle East as recalled by them after their return to Bangladesh. My findings highlight the variable and uneven impact of the migration episode on understandings of Muslim identity and practice. For some of the migrants, their experience abroad had given them a commitment to the ideologies and organizations of Wahabi’ism and other schools of revivalist Islam. For Bangladeshi labor migrants to the Gulf states, the emergence of a modern, globally located national consciousness is a key feature of the migration experience.