Bangladesh has witnessed a rash of Islamist attacks against government institutions, security forces, secular bloggers and other civilian soft targets in recent months. And, on their part, the police, continuing their drive, on July 28, arrested several members of outlawed jihadist outfit Jamaat al Mujahideen.
Bangladesh has witnessed a rash of Islamist attacks against government institutions, security forces, secular bloggers and other civilian soft targets in recent months. And, on their part, the police, continuing their drive, on July 28, arrested several members of outlawed jihadist outfit Jamaat al Mujahideen.
Yet, there is no denying however that strikes and protests have slowed as the ruling Awami League stepped up its counter-terrorism measures. An interesting corollary is that in the face of a resolute Awami League, the opposition’s protest movement has lost steam.
Speaking on July 26, BNP leader Khaleda Zia announced that the party was dropping its demands for a caretaker government to oversee fresh elections — though the BNP still wants new elections overall. The BNP is unable to apply enough economic or social pressure through its protests to weaken the ruling party and its resolve to impose order.
Zia’s concession is expected to result in a quiet, behind-the-scenes restart of talks. Earlier attempts stalled in mid-2014, when the BNP intensified its social unrest movement against what it described as an intransigent Awami League.
Observers hold the view that intensifying Islamist violence could force Zia and other BNP leaders to join the government’s security initiatives notwithstanding their primary tactic of opposing Sheik Hasina through strikes and protests.
Jamaat-e-Islami is the largest Islamist political party; it is also a long-time ally of the BNP. But since June, the BNP has begun to distance itself from its traditional Islamist partner. Protests called by Jamaat-e-Islami opposing the sentencing of its leaders have seen little public support from BNP leaders and their associated cadres.
Stratfor experts therefore aver that the BNP could well be ready to uncouple itself from Jamaat-e-Islami and support the Awami League’s efforts to contain extremism.
“If this is the case, the BNP may find its legitimate attempts to re-enter the political system more fruitful than by continuing to pursue a campaign of social disruption that risks giving cover to extremist activities”, a recent Stratfor commentary said.
On its part the Awami League will be eager to broadcast its pursuit of a solution to the country’s political impasse, and the BNP’s concession on a caretaker government is a significant one. Reductions in public unrest and violence will also assuage the doubts of would-be investors, highlighting a key concern of Hasina’s economic agenda.
– rama rao