In this new paper [PDF], published under the aegis of the Hudson Institue (a right-wing think tank), Maneeza Hossain draws a very detailed picture of the radicalisation of political Islam in Bangladesh. She argues that Bangladesh could become the major front in the global confrontation with radical Islamism.
If democracy is preserved and enhanced, Bangladesh can […]
I was overjoyed on Friday when Muhammad Yunus was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize and we’ve been on a weekend of wild and debauched celebrations since. Microcredit, Yunus’ brainchild, has been implemented in over 100 countries all over the world, and has empowered millions of poor and poverty stricken people, mostly women.
The Bangladeshi blogosphere has […]
Last week, Ruby Films, the production company behind the film pulled out of filming on location in Brick Lane. The unfortunately named Campaign Against Monica Ali’s Film Brick Lane group have mobilised their masses, convened their protesters who have vowed to continue irrespective of where the film gets made and bussed in their outraged stalwarts […]
The world assembly of civil society organisations, CIVICUS, got underway in Glasgow yesterday. However no Islamic non-government organisations are attending, as reported by IPS. This “invisible dividing line” has been picked up by attendees from a number of Muslim countries.
“The Islamic groups are also civil society, though the groups are not registered, and they […]
Malaysia is a trully multicultural state and remains a model of peaceful coexistence and cultural and religious pluralism in Asia. So the news of fundamentalist Muslims destroying Hindu temples is deeply upsetting.
Hundreds of worshippers watched in horror as the workers, mostly Muslims, brought down the roof, pushed down the walls and smashed the deities that […]
Jiri Rezak is a Czech-born, London-based photographer. When he was 19 he worked as a teacher trainer for a voluntary organisation in rural Bangladesh. Whilst he was out there he picked up a camera and proceeded to change his life. He’s since become a professional photographer and judging from his work that he’s put together […]
It’s both noteworthy and depressing that the only person who has blogged consistently about the garment factory labour riots that are currenty gripping Dhaka is Shafiur at Imperfect World. But thanks and credit are due because he’s doing a mighty fine job of collating the reports. See his posts here and here. In fact I’d […]
There is no such thing as “Structural Engineer’s Day” but if there were, you can be sure that, on the day, they would celebrate the genius of Fazlur R Khan.
I remember working as a graduate structural engineer in Chicago in the 90s and feeling more than a little proud to know that the two most […]
Ever heard of nixiety? Its a neologism for the emotion that drives a well known journalist to post an article on the local election results in Tower Hamlets that draws more attention to his own prejudices than he probably intended.
Once again, we find a slice of the electorate in a poor part of Britain that […]
Kanak Mani Dixit, the brilliant and tireless editor of Himal magazine, writes a dense and intricate synopsis of the events that have brought Nepal to where it stands now.
It is just possible that the Spring of 2006 will bring such a political tsunami of sheer people power. But it is also possible that the chairman-king […]