Islamist Militancy in Bangladesh

Islamist Militancy in Bangladesh: What’s to be Done?
An analysis about Islamist Militancy posted on The Progressive Bangladesh by Ali Riaz

Ali Riaz quoted as:

“The HuJIB (Harkat-ul Jihad al-Islami Bangladesh) is one of many militant organizations present within the country, but it should be recognized as the fountainhead of the militant groups that have been spawned since HuJIB’s emergence in 1992. Organized by those who participated in the Afghan War as ‘volunteers,’ the HuJIB brought home the long shadow of a distant war. The state’s support to the rebels of neighboring Burma, providing them with a safe haven in the southeast hill tracts had the unforeseen consequence of giving these organizations a free reign.

and patrons are still at large

Official records and press reports show that during the 4-party coalition government (2001-2006) a number of militant leaders were arrested, but released by the local authorities. To my knowledge no investigations, either public or administrative, has been conducted to identify the individuals concerned and the reasons behind the leniency displayed toward the militants. Patrons of the militants – individuals and organizations, domestic and foreign – have escaped justice altogether. This was one of the main topics of discussion immediately after the series of bombings, but over time it disappeared even from public discourse. Let me reiterate the point I made in my book, Islamist Militancy in Bangladesh: A Complex Web: “The importance of identifying, apprehending and trying the patrons of militancy cannot be overstated. Efforts to dismantle the networks of militants without bringing the patrons –- political and financial –- are bound to fail.”

Read the full article here

Ali Riaz is Chair and Associate Professor of Politics and Government at Illinois State University. His most recent book is: Islamist Militancy in Bangladesh: A Complex Web (London: Routledge, 2008). His has published four other books in English, including God Willing: The Politics of Islamism in Bangladesh (Rowman and Littlefield, 2004), and more than a dozen books in Bengali. Earlier in his career, Professor Riaz worked for the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) World Service for five years, as Producer and Senior Broadcast Journalist.

ASSAM 30 Oct 2008: Role of national media and big Guns

Discrimination can be found in here also. (may be main stream more interested in sms votes for “voice of india, indian idol etc or appointing more sales executives in this region)

Monni posted an article about this perspective on her blog  Reflections

pic courtesy :monii
 

Monii wrote as: 

On a more personal level, however, I would also like to say something here. It seems the media, the Centre all care about the big cities and metros only. The bomb blasts that had happened in Assam on one single day did not get as elaborate a coverage as Mumbai did, though the lives lost and damages occurred was no less. Does that mean that the loss of lives in Assam is less important than Mumbai? Why there are no follow ups on that in any news channel? The government of Assam is doing nothing to catch the culprits, simply to protect their win next election. The greed for power is making each and everyone in authority, cheats. Ask any ordinary Assamese and he/she will say who is responsible for the blasts. But the government seems to have no clue. I felt like mentioning this, just as an additional food for thought. 

read the full article here: Terror and India – When Enough Is Enough 

in edit India posted as below”



“Indian media failed to rise to the occasion once again. It was a tragedy that unfolded in Mumbai for 48 hrs but channels didn’t appear sombre and regulated.
Instead, they were over-excited and showing everything as if it was a ‘live war reporting’ though wars aren’t reported in this manner either. There were alerts, flashes, scrawls and breaking new for 50 hrs.
The aim was to grab eyeballs. Ads were not shown as the viewer could switch to other channel in the meantime. The news channels wanted highest TRP in this troubled times, so that they can later demand higher rates for advertisements and stay up on chart.“

read the full article here: Media’s role during Mumbai terrorist attack

more blog post about  30 oct 2008 assam blast here:

Assam Serial Bomb Blasts: Spontaneous Emotions Recollected in Turbulence at Innocence and Anger 

We Have to do Something at  my xofura