Islamist Militancy in Bangladesh: A Complex Web (Routledge Contemporary South Asia Series)

In an unprecedented show of force, organization and skill, two proscribed Islamist militant organizations exploded more than 450 bombs within a span of less than an hour throughout Bangladesh on 17 August 2005 sending a strong message that they were a force to be reckoned with. This catastrophic event, followed by a number of suicide attacks, forced the then reluctant Bangladeshi government, a coalition of center-right parties with two Islamists among them, to acknowledge the existence of a network of militants and take action against this threat. Against this backdrop, this book is the first academic study on the growing Islamist militancy in Bangladesh. It examines the relevance, significance and trajectories of militant Islamist groups in Bangladesh, exploring the complex web of domestic, regional and international events and dynamics that have both engendered and strengthened Islamist militancy in Bangladesh. The three factors - domestic, regional and international aspects - are each discussed separately and their connection and links are analyzed. It goes on to consider possible future trajectories of militant Islamism in Bangladesh. This book addresses an issue of great importance for contemporary Bangladeshi politics, and will be of interest to scholars of international politics and security studies, including terrorism and the politics of South Asia. "In an unprecedented show of force, organization and skill, two proscribed Islamist militant organizations exploded more than 450 bombs within a span of less than an hour throughout Bangladesh on 17 August 2005 sending a strong message that they were a force to be reckoned with. This catastrophic event, followed by a number of suicide attacks, forced the then reluctant Bangladeshi government, a coalition of center-right parties with two Islamists among them, to acknowledge the existence of a network of militants and take action against this threat. Against this backdrop, this book is the first academic study on the growing Islamist militancy in Bangladesh. It examines the relevance, significance and trajectories of militant Islamist groups in Bangladesh, exploring the complex web of domestic, regional and international events and dynamics that have both engendered and strengthened Islamist militancy in Bangladesh. The three factors - domestic, regional and international aspects - are each discussed separately and their connection and links are analyzed. It goes on to consider possible future trajectories of militant Islamism in Bangladesh. This book addresses an issue of great importance for contemporary Bangladeshi politics, and will be of interest to scholars of international politics and security studies, including terrorism and the politics of South Asia"--page [i] "This book is the first comprehensive study on the growing Islamist militancy in Bangladesh. It examines the relevance, significance and trajectories of militant Islamist groups in Bangladesh, exploring the complex web of domestic, regional and international events and dynamics that have both engendered and strengthened Islamist militancy in Bangladesh. The three factors - domestic, regional and international aspects - are each discussed separately and their connection and links are analyzed. It goes on to consider possible future trajectories of militant Islamism in Bangladesh." "This book addresses an issue of great importance for contemporary Bangladeshi politics, and will be of interest to scholars of international politics and security studies, including terrorism and the politics of South Asia."--Jacket Dedication Contents List of tables Acknowledgements Abbreviations and acronyms Introduction 1 The political landscape of Bangladesh 2 Islamist politics and the militants: a taxonomy 3 The missing state and the homegrown militants 4 A “friendly” neighborhood and the proxy-wars 5 The long shadow of the distant world 6 Future trajectories of Islamist militancy Appendix 1: Constitutional provisions of the Care Taker Government: Chapter IIA of Bangladesh Constitution Appendix 2: Bomb attacks in Bangladesh 1999–2005 Appendix 3: Militant Islamist organizations in Bangladesh Appendix 4: Profiles of Islamist militant leaders Appendix 5: The JMB pamphlet calls for Islamic rule Appendix 5a: Bengali text of the JMB pamphlet Notes Bibliography Index Introduction The political landscape of Bangladesh Islamist politics and the militants : a taxonomy The missing state and the homegrown militants A "friendly" neighborhood and the proxy-wars The long shadow of the distant world Future trajectories of Islamist militancy in Bangladesh Appendix 1: Constitutional provisions of the caretaker government Appendix 2: Bomb attacks in Bangladesh, 1999-2005 Appendix 3: Militant Islamist organizations in Bangladesh Appendix 4: Profiles of Islamist militant leaders Appendix 5: The JMB leaflet calls for Islamic rule.