Geostrategic importance of Bangladesh for the USA.

M A Hossain, 

The geostrategic significance of Bangladesh derives from its strategic location at the crossroads of South and Southeast Asia, endowing it with a pivotal role in the region. The country's possession of abundant natural resources and a demographic dividend has made it a magnet for major global powers such as the United States, who are keen on expanding their sphere of influence in the area. Bangladesh's independence from Pakistan in 1971 and its extraordinary strides in socio-economic development have further amplified its importance.

The purpose of this analytical topic is to offer a comprehensive comprehension of Bangladesh's strategic value for the USA, delving into the factors, history, and prospects for cooperation. The analysis will highlight the multifaceted aspects of bilateral relations, encompassing political, economic, and military cooperation. It will also address the challenges and opportunities facing the USA in ensuring Bangladesh's stability and development.

Bangladesh occupies a vital position in South Asia, sharing borders with India to the north, east, and west, and Myanmar to the southeast. Its strategic location at the nexus of South and Southeast Asia grants it access to two major regions. The country's extensive coastline along the Bay of Bengal constitutes a vital maritime gateway to the Indian Ocean, with its maritime boundaries defined by international treaties, including those with India and Myanmar. This has increased the significance of Bangladesh, which is currently receiving considerable attention from world powers, because of China's and India's emergence as superpowers, as well as Japan's economic progress.

Over time, China has emerged not just as a dominant force in Asia, but as a competitor of the United States across several fronts. China's economic progress has led to its various initiatives being perceived as a threat by the West, including the "One Belt One Road" initiative. As a result, there is now mutual competition and rivalry between China, India, and Japan, which extends to their diplomatic relations. Given its foreign policy stance, Bangladesh occupies a strategic position in this context.

The geopolitical and geographical positioning of Bangladesh is a pivotal aspect that confers upon it a strategic edge in both regional politics and trade. Acting as a vital connector between South and Southeast Asia, Bangladesh plays a vital role in regional forums such as the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC). The country's location also bears significant security implications, with mounting apprehensions over border security, cross-border terrorism, and maritime security.

Bangladesh's diplomatic ties with the United States have been illustrated by cordiality and cooperation ever since its independence in 1971. The United States, being one of the earliest nations to recognise Bangladesh as a sovereign state, has emerged as a crucial partner in its developmental pursuits, providing aid and technical assistance to foster socio-economic growth. Over the years, the relationship has evolved to encompass a broader spectrum of engagement, spanning political, economic, and military domains.

Considering their shared interests in regional stability and security, the United States has proactively assisted Bangladesh in its counter-terrorism and counter-extremism efforts. Moreover, the United States constitutes a pivotal trading partner for Bangladesh, with bilateral trade figures almost reaching $10.64 billion in 2021. In addition, the two nations have witnessed a surge in military cooperation, as manifested by their collaborative military exercises and training programs.

The significance of the bilateral ties between Bangladesh and the United States emanates from their shared commitment to promoting democracy, safeguarding human rights, and driving socio-economic development. Acknowledging Bangladesh's potential as a regional leader, the United States has actively supported its endeavours to secure sustainable development and political stability. Furthermore, the relationship bears implications for regional politics, with the United States striving to augment its influence in the region by forging partnerships with key stakeholders such as Bangladesh.

One of the foremost factors is Bangladesh's geographical location, which provides the United States with access to critical sea lanes and trade routes in the region. In addition, Bangladesh's burgeoning economy and vast market potential render it an alluring destination for foreign investment, including from the United States.

Bangladesh has strengthened its position due to economic growth, local markets, the contribution of expatriates, strong agriculture etc. Bangladesh's role as a pivotal player in regional security and counterterrorism efforts also renders it an indispensable partner for the United States. Furthermore, the country's escalating political and economic stability, under the aegis of the present government, has bolstered its appeal as a partner for the United States.

Bangladesh's strategic importance for the USA lies in its potential to promote regional stability, security, and economic growth, as well as its significant natural resources and role in regional counterterrorism efforts. The USA's interest in Bangladesh is driven by a desire to expand its influence in South and Southeast Asia and build strong partnerships with key players in the region.

The USA has formulated policies and strategies to strengthen political and economic ties, promote sustainable development and political stability, and increase military cooperation. These efforts demonstrate the USA's commitment to building a strong and enduring partnership with Bangladesh, a crucial player in regional politics and trade.

Prospective initiatives for cooperation between the United States of America and Bangladesh comprise of enhancing trade and investment, intensifying joint counterterrorism endeavours, and advancing governance and human rights. Nonetheless, the partnership confronts significant impediments, such as political turbulence, corruption, and religious extremism. These challenges must be tackled to ensure the endurance and advancement of the alliance.

To surmount these challenges, the USA must adopt a multi-faceted strategy that emphasises building long-term partnerships and fostering regional stability. This approach may involve increasing investment in Bangladesh, providing technical assistance, and supporting education and training programs.

The objective and approach of the collaboration between the United States of America and Bangladesh are aimed at fostering economic and political stability, strengthening security, and augmenting trade and investment. Assistant Secretary Bureau Of South And Central Asian Affairs, Donald Lu's visit has played a positive role in moving the Bangladesh-US relationship forward from whatever unpleasant incidents have taken place.  Tackling the challenges and grabbing the opportunities presented by this partnership will necessitate a concerted and comprehensive effort that involves joint action between the United States and Bangladesh.

M A Hossain, political and defence analyst based in Bangladesh. 

Email: writetomahossain@gmail.com

This article published at :

1. Daily Asian Age, BD:03Mar23

2. South Asia Journal, NJ,USA :03Mar23

3. The New Nation, BD: 05Mar23

Suicidal tendency of youth in Bangladesh.

M A Hossain, 

Suicide is a complex and multifaceted phenomenon that has serious consequences for individuals, families, and societies. Bangladesh as an emerging developing country has also been witnessing an increased rate of suicide over the past decade, particularly among youth. The suicide death rate among young people in Bangladesh is higher than the global average. Suicide is a preventable public health problem, and it is crucial to develop effective strategies to prevent suicidal tendencies among young people in Bangladesh. 

There are many factors that contribute to committing suicide among a particular age group. Some of the most substantial factors include poverty, social inequality, family crisis, unemployment, financial issues, social insecurity, hopelessness, love affairs, and lack of access to mental health services. These challenges can be overwhelming and can lead to a feeling of desperation and anguish. Additionally, social stigma can contribute to a lack of understanding and awareness of mental health issues, which can make it difficult for young people to seek help.

One NGO has researched suicidal death in Chittagong and Khulna divisions. To the utter surprise, the study found that 47% of deaths were from the 16 to 25 years age group. And, the data showed that 54.08% of males and 45.16% of females committed suicide.

To prevent suicidal tendencies among youth in Bangladesh, it is essential to develop a comprehensive strategy that addresses the root cause of the issue. This strategy should include approaches to promote mental health, reduce social stigma, awareness build among social and family members, and incorporate a syllabus on morals and values from the primary to tertiary level. It is also essential to provide young people with the mechanisms and resources they need to cope with stress and difficult life troubles.

One of the most effective ways to prevent suicidal tendencies among young people is to promote mental health and wellness. This can be achieved through education and awareness campaigns. These campaigns must aim to make young people understand that mental health is just as important as physical health and that seeking help is a gesture of strength, not weakness.

Reducing stigma related to mental health is also a significant step to prevent suicidal tendencies among young people in Bangladesh. Stigma can stem young people from seeking help and can exacerbate the feeling of isolation and anguish. So, it is essential to increase awareness and understanding of mental health issues and to promote a positive attitude towards speaking up. This can be achieved through targeted education campaigns, public awareness events and community outreach programs.

Increasing access to mental health services is another critical strategy for preventing suicidal tendencies. Needless to say, mental health services are often inaccessible or unavailable in many parts of the country, particularly in rural areas. To address this issue, developing innovative solutions, such as telemedicine, and mobile clinics can be a way to access friendly.

In Bangladesh, the suicide rates are relatively higher in men than women, exhibiting a male-to-female ratio of approximately 3:1. According to a 2019 report by the World Health Organization, suicide is the second leading cause of death after road traffic accidents among the youth aged 15-29, with a rate of 8.7 per 100,000 population. The study highlights the alarming rate of self-inflicted deaths among the younger populace of Bangladesh, bringing the gravity of the issue to the fore.

Moreover, the same report indicates a lack of community-based mental health services in Bangladesh. The bulk of the available mental health facilities is concentrated in urban areas, which makes it arduous for the rural population to access these services. This centralization of mental health services poses a significant challenge to addressing the country's mental health issues. 

A study published in the Journal of Affective Disorders revealed a high prevalence of depression and anxiety among university students in Bangladesh, with rates standing at 29.5% and 20.5%, respectively. Another study published in the same journal in 2018 indicated a high level of stigma towards mental illness within the general population of Bangladesh, which poses a considerable obstacle to accessing mental health care. These statistics serve to stress the pressing need for augmenting investment in mental health services and preventive measures across Bangladesh.

Society and government must take a collaborative mechanism to prevent our future generations. This young generation must be provided with the tools and resources they need to cope with stress and difficult life situations. This can be achieved through programs that promote life skills and resilience, such as mindfulness training, problem-solving skills, and emotional regulation techniques. Our education institutes also need to facilitate social support networks, such as peer support groups and mentorship programs, to help them build healthy relationships and foster a sense of belonging.

Suicide is a significant public health issue in Bangladesh, particularly among young people. With a concerted effort and a commitment to mental health and well-being, it is possible to prevent suicide and help young people in Bangladesh lead healthy and fulfilling lives. Finally, we all must embed them that suicide is no way the solution.  

M A Hossain, political and defence analyst based in Bangladesh. 

Email: writetomahossain@gmail.com

This article published : 

1. The New Nation, BD: 28Feb23

 

Thinning out of Indian forces from Jammu & Kashmir.

M A Hossain, 

The withdrawal plan of Indian armed forces from Jammu and Kashmir has been extensively discussed in the transnational community as a positive development towards restoring normalcy in the region. Still, the move has also raised questions about the government's motives and the future of the disputed territory. 

The history of Jammu and Kashmir is complex, and the conflict between India and Pakistan over the region has been ongoing for more than seven decades. In 1947, when British India was partitioned into India and Pakistan, Jammu and Kashmir were one of the disputed territories. The Maharajah of the region initially wanted to remain independent, but eventually acceded to India. Since then, the Indian government has maintained that Jammu and Kashmir are an integral part of India, while Pakistan claims it as its own. 

Under Article 370 of the Indian Constitution, Jammu and Kashmir were granted special status, including its constitution and flag, and the power to make laws on all matters except foreign affairs, defence, and communications. However, on August 5, 2019, the Indian government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi revoked Article 370, arguing that it was a barrier to the region's development and integration with the rest of India. 

The repeal of Article 370 was accompanied by a massive deployment of troops in the region, leading to a strict military lockdown, a curfew, and restrictions on communication and movement. The move was extensively criticized by the international community and human rights organizations, who condemned the Indian government's human rights abuses, including extrajudicial killings, torture, and enforced disappearances. 

The withdrawal of Indian troops from Jammu and Kashmir isn't a sudden decision which needs to be precisely planned and coordinated. We hope, the Indian government will conduct a thorough review of the situation in the region, including the security situation and the concerns of the local population. The government needs to consult with various stakeholders, including the military, the police, the local administration, and political parties. 

The government also has to engage in dialogue with representatives of the Kashmiri people to address their concerns and aspirations. The Indian government's careful planning and collaboration helped to ensure a smooth and orderly withdrawal of troops from the region. 

The withdrawal of Indian troops from Jammu and Kashmir isn't a one-time event, but an ongoing process that requires a monitoring and evaluation framework. The Indian government has to set up a robust monitoring and evaluation framework to track the situation in the region and ensure that the pullout of troops doesn't lead to a resurgence of violence or insurgency. 

The framework includes the deployment of Central Reserve Police Forces(CRPF) to monitor the situation, but should also enhance the use of technology to monitor social media and communication networks, and regular consultations with local stakeholders. The Indian government must set up a mechanism to address grievances and complaints from the local population and ensure that their rights are defended. 

The implementation of the phased withdrawal of Indian troops from Jammu and Kashmir is a complex and challenging process. The Indian government has to ensure that the withdrawal doesn't compromise the security of the region or lead to a resurgence of violence. The government has to precisely plan the redeployment of forces to ensure that there are no security gaps. 

The Indian government also has to ensure that the pullout of troops doesn't compromise the rights of the local population, including their right to life, liberty, and freedom of movement. The government has to ensure that the local population have access to essential services and that their day-to-day lives aren't disrupted by the pullout of troops.

The withdrawal of Indian troops from Jammu and Kashmir raises concerns about the future insurgency threats in the region. The Indian government has been keeping a close eye on the situation and has put in place measures to prevent the resurgence of violence. However, there's still a threat of militants taking advantage of the circumstances and launching attacks. 

The Indian government needs to be observant and visionary in dealing with any potential threats. It needs to continue engaging with the local population and addressing their concerns to prevent them from joining the genus of the militants. The government also needs to ensure that the security forces are well-equipped and well-trained to deal with any eventualities. 

India can follow Bangladesh with a similar approach in Jammu and Kashmir, by engaging in dialogue with the local population and addressing their grievances. The government can initiate a process of rehabilitation and development to address the economic and social challenges faced by the people in the region. By taking a lesson from Chittagong Hill Tracks of Bangladesh, India can bring a sustainable and peaceful fortune to Jammu and Kashmir. 

The withdrawal of Indian troops from Jammu and Kashmir will be a considerable development in the ongoing conflict over the disputed region. While the move has raised questions about the government's motives and the future of the region. But, the careful planning and collaboration, monitoring and evaluation framework and visionary measures taken by the Indian government will be the way in the right direction towards restoring normalcy in the region.

This article published at :

1. Asian Age, Bangladesh : 26Feb23

Ekushey February: International Mother Language Day

 M A Hossain & Sobrato Mehedi Sagor, 

'Joy Bangla' is the ever-increasing crescendo of the strongest slogan. It is a symbol of commitment, national spirit, and patriotism on and after the Birth of this nation. To be able to chant the most harmonious and zealous slogan in Bangla, the People of this Country had to undergo years of struggle and protest. The language movement did not only ignite the freedom movement of Bangladesh but also paved the way for linguistic freedom in the Indian subcontinent. Ekushey February (21st February) is observed as the International Mother Language Day, a day of pride and glory. Lest we forget that it has a history of struggle and profound sacrifices for protesting linguistic and cultural annihilation, which is remembered with reverence and veneration by the Nation.

In 1786, William Jones first discovered the interrelation of language and culture between Greek-Latin and Germans Gothic -Persian, which created comparative linguistics. During the pax Britannica (1815-1915) era, the research of comparative linguistics reached the epitome of its level.  The research of comparative Indo-European linguistic families and non-Indo-European, Dravidian linguistic families started in Kolkata and Madras respectively. In 1853, the Scottish “home rule” movement was started against British colonialism and the research of the Dravidian linguistic family became part of anti-British colonisation. The Irish “home rule” movement(1870-1914) had an impact on British -India. Irish Annie Besant and Indian Bal Gangadhar Tilak started the “home rule” movement in India and also formed a home rule league with a view to establishing democracy and language-based provinces within British India.

In 1911, Sayed Nawab Ali first outlined the importance of the recognition of the Bangla language in provincial education seminars in Rangpur. In 1917, Tilak demanded the re-demarcation of states based on language in the Kolkata Congressional session. That time, Annie Besant was elected as the chairman of the National Congress and established its local ramifications considering languages in 1921. Dr Muhammad Shahidullah demanded the recognition of Bangla as a provincial state language at Vishwa Bharati in 1918. In 1937, Maulana Akram Khan demanded Bangla as one of the state languages of British -India in the Bengal literary council (Bongio Shahitya porisad).

During 1942-47, the demand for Bangla as a state language was gaining momentum amongst the Bangla-speaking people. On 29 July 1947, Dr Ziauddin Ahmed, VC, Aligarh University proposed “Urdu” as the only state language in Pakistan, but Dr Muhammad Shahidullah starkly opposed that proposal and outwitted and trumped over Dr Ahmed by presenting cogent logic in favour of establishing Bangla as one of the state languages. 

Post-partition in 1947, there was an uproar demanding Bangla as a provincial state language. Prof. Abdul Kashem organized a movement named 'Tamaddun Majlish', which afterwards converged all the movements into an 'All party-state language action committee'. In 1948, Dhirendra Nath Dutto, MLA of East Bengal, raised a point of order in the Pakistan General Assembly for Bangla as one of the state languages, but it was turned down by the erstwhile Premier Liakat Ali Khan. This incident profoundly agitated the populace of East Bengal (Bangladesh) and a strong protest was demonstrated before the Governor-General M A Jinnah and Khwaja Nazimuddin. 

Similarly, in 1948, Chakravarti Gopalachari,  the central Governor-General of India formed two commissions to demarcate provinces. One was the linguistic Provincial Commission and another one was Jawaharlal-Ballav Vai-Pattabhi Sitaramayya(JVP) commission. These commissions were asked to submit a feasibility report of provincial border demarcation based on language. In 1950, the central government of Pakistan, all of a sudden, attempted to exert force to accomplish the use of Urdu in East Bengal. In India, the central government rejected the language-based provincial demarcation and created the constitution with four classes of rules. In 1951-52, there was an incipient agitation for state language in East Bengal. Similar agitation was also exhibited in India for languages-based provinces. In 1952, Mr Nehru visited Madras for the Lok Sabha election, where he faced a black flag demonstration supporting the demand of language-based Andhra Pradesh. In East Bengal, there was a violent movement for Bangla, and Andhra Pradesh started a non-violent movement.

On 21st February 1952, police fired indiscriminately on a protest March for language, where some embraced martyrdom. Martyrs' identities on that day are testimony to the fact that the entire nation was united behind the language movement. The list of martyrs on that day was - Rafiq and Barkat, who were University students; Salam and Shafiur were professionals. The martyrs included a common man like Jabbar or a rickshaw puller like Awal or a minor boy Ohiduzzaman. This incident instilled the trepidation of impending oppression into the minds of the populace of East Bengal; and they were anything but petrified, and possibly more resolved on fighting for their mother langage.

In 1953, the “Joint front” came to power, and in 1956, Joint-Front led by Abu Hossain declared the 21st of February as the 'Martyrs' day' and a general holiday and also recognised Bangla as 2nd state language. In the same year, India brought the 7th amendment to the constitution and reformed the border demarcation of provinces based on languages, repealing the 1950s state formation. Consequently, in 1960, Bombay split into Maharashtra and Gujarat. Gujarat, Haryana, Assam, West Bengal, Odisha, Madras, Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh were formed based on Gujarati, Hindi, Asomya, Bangla, Oriya, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada and Telugu languages. 

So, Bangla is the only language, which is allowed to be spoken by its native speakers at the cost of lives. West Pakistan tried to subjugate East Pakistan by imposing 'Urdu' as the State language, with the nefarious scheme of converting the educated Bangalees into illiterate and incompetent for Government Executive jobs overnight. Their ploy was imbued greatly by the British colonists, who, in the similar fashion, proselytised Muslims into an incompetent ethnicity by declaring  English as the State language instead of Farsi during the mid-nineteenth century.

In 1999, Ekushey February (21st February) was awarded the status of International Mother Language Day by the United Nations. A theatre group from Gafargaon (Mymensingh district) named "Gafargaon Theater" first demanded international recognition for 21 February in 1999. In 1999, Gafargaon Theatre brought out a publication named "Orgho(oblation)" on the occasion of 21st  February, where they reverberated their demand for labelling 21st February as International Mother Language Day. In the same year, this organisation brought out a procession with graffiti, leaflets, and posters demanding 'Bishwo matri vasa dibos chai- Ekushey er antorjatic sikriti chai (demand for International Mother Language Day-demand for 21 February's international recognition)". At last,  Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s initiative and her team ex-minister A. S. H. K Sadek, Dr Sadat Hossain, Ambassador Sayed Moazzem Ali, Tozammel Haq(Tony) and Bangladeshi Canadian resident Rafiqul Islam and Abdus Salam made the nation proud by bringing recognition for 21st February as the International Mother Language Day by the UNESCO. 

Ekushey February is the day when our national pride is heightened to the helm. The whole world is now recognising our spirit and zeal for our own culture and heritage. Our sacrifices will be truly appreciated and commemorated when every nation will imbibe the sense to pay proper homage to their linguistic heritage of diversity.

This article published at :

1. The New Nation, BD:21Feb23

2. South Asia Journal, USA :21Feb23

Ideological Warfare: concepts, misperceptions, and blunders.

M A Hossain, 

Of all the burning issues this world is embroiled into, terrorism(Jihadism) is arguably the most important issue at present. In the post-9/11 epoch, the global arena is ensnared in the issue of terrorism under a new dimension, which rapidly was disseminated into all the countries in the world and the Muslim countries were not an exception. At present, 30–40 Countries, with a Muslim majority, are directly or indirectly engaged in the "War on Terror" spearheaded by the US and its allies. Even after two decades of the War on terror, this jihadism is not at all extinct, it rather challenges the status-quo in the Global system. However, owing to the lack of adequate comprehension of the ideology, aim, and procedure of jihadism, the west has failed to perceive this ideological warfare accurately and thus, paved the way for overturning present global systems through the jihadist movement.

There are two Islamic radical forces globally running with unconventional fighters- Al-Qaeda(AQ) and Islamic State. Among them, AQ is emerging as a game changer in the social fabric, political structure, and geo-strategy globally. I will dwell upon AQ only today because day by day, this extremist organisation is getting stronger.

AQ leaders' statements since the mid-90s predominantly allude to three core principles, which are in sharp contrast to secular, democratic, and religious reform ideologies. First, 'The Quran-based authority to govern'-AQ is fighting to create a Sharia-based Islamic Emirates and strongly reprehends the secular, man-made other systems of rule which are deemed contrary to the Islamic faith. Second, 'the Liberation of the Homeland'- they are struggling to oust every aggressor from the Muslim countries. Third, 'the liberation of the human being'- the vision of a contractual-social relationship between Muslims and their rulers that would permit the subjects to choose and be scathing to their leaders, and to raise resistance and overthrow, if need be, should there be an aberration from Islamic laws and principles.

In my opinion, AQ's objective is to demonstrate and characterise its activities as defensive and religiously permitted will garner support from the masses for its broader ideological program. The identification of Limited political objectives and the exposition that they are aiming at resolving broader grievances may generate broader appeal. Overall, AQ's immediate aim is to establish itself as the vanguard of an international Islamic movement, primarily committed to end the propensity of the US's 'intrusiveness' in the affairs of Muslim countries and the ultimate aim is to proselytise Islamic societies with Islamic laws.

For a better exemplification of this ideological warfare, let me compare it with a football match, where the West and Islamic Fundamentalists are two opponents. On one side, the West relies on the Economy, the Rule of Law, and the Judiciary in the defence position; Popular support and Education as two wingers; Secularism, Administration, and others in the midfield, and Democracy as the striker. The West keeps Authoritarianism, Dictatorship, Monarchy, Radical extremism, and Moderate Islam on the side bench. On the other side, in contrast, Islamic Fundamentalists designate 11 players with only one ideology, and that is Islam. Their substitute players are also with Islamic ideology. So, they counter every position of their opponent to instil Islamic ideology. 

In this ideological warfare game, both teams have committed rough charges, which gives the advantage to the opponent. The West played fouls in Iraq, Afghanistan, Somalia, Syria, and Mali. They have also tackled Muslim scholars abrasively in Guantánamo, and the seizure of Lal Masjid(Pakistan).

The West also adopted cheap machinations of substituting democracy with authoritarianism, dictatorship, monarchy, secularism with moderate Islam, and radical extremism. Examples are Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and India. So, the West is rather bafflingly unstable in its ideological position and is predisposed to recant its ideology quite readily. On the other hand, the Islamic Fundamentalist team charged its opponent illegally in the Peshawar School attack (Pakistan), suicide attack in common places (Middle East, Africa) attack on Eidgha, Marketplaces (Bangladesh, Iraq), etc.

In my opinion, AQ has targeted four opposition players to make the west exhausted and abruptly exposed its weakness. Those four players are education, popular support, economy, and democracy. From the last two decades, If we analyse AQ's statements, we find that they have been continuously criticising the Western education system, dollar-based economy, and democracy which failed to exhibit palatable governance. They also expose the bitter truth that Western democracy is not suitable for Muslim countries because if any Islamic party wins the election then obviously Islamic party will not compromise with the West.

According to the International IDEA report 2022, half of the world's democracies are declining, where India and the US are among 7 countries listed as "backsliding"  and 27 countries are seen moving towards authoritarianism. This capitalist democracy has completely failed in the Middle East, and Africa and put South Asia at stake.

AQ is also exploiting the Education system in Muslim countries. There are three systems in every Muslim country, a secular Western-backed general education system, a state-backed moderate Islamic education system (Alia Madrasas), and an orthodox Islamic education system (Deobond). In reality, orthodox Islamic students face tremendous discrimination in every walk of opportunity. And Islamic Fundamentalists are targeting these groups by gravitating them into adopting the ideologies of these Fundamentalists.

From the beginning, AQ was more critical of the monopoly of dollar-based economic systems globally. They termed it as 'Bogus' and urged all Muslim leaders to walk out from such a blunderous Fiat money standard. The Washington-Beijing trade war has exposed the monopoly of the dollar system, and world leaders have been searching for an alternative monetary system. Again, the Russia-Ukraine war has explicitly exposed the necessity of an alternative to the dollar system. Now Economists are forecasting that the West is putting other countries in a debt trap and giving emphasis on lessons learned from the ancient Roman money supply conundrum.

The USA and its allies seem to be stuck in the quicksand of their so-called "War on terror". It was the plan of Bin Laden to bring the USA into a ghost war globally and achieve the asymmetric attrition of war. AQ has tried to convince the Muslims in the Middle East, Africa, Afghanistan, and Pakistan about the "War on terror" as nothing but a conflict between Islam and the West, and it has worked. This organisation takes this war on terror as a golden opportunity not only to garner proponents and popular support, but also to recruit Muslim youths.

In this context, the West is left with only two options. First, to continue this ghost war on terror, and second, to abandon their Muslim allies. In my opinion, the West has chosen option 2 because we saw the result in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Somalia. So, the withdrawal of the USA and its allies is considered a failure of ideology, not power or wealth. I cannot overemphasise the fact that these wars were not evenly matched since those were between the most sophisticated, advanced weaponised military, strongest economy-backed superpower, and with ordinary, unconventional thousands of militants from the poorest, malnutrition-torn nations.

Ideological conflicts have always been at the root of the transition of civilisations in history.  Every nation has its own ideology, traditions, and culture. Whenever one nation engaged in a struggle for superiority over another nation, the nation with the strongest ideology survived, which was conducive to the defeat of the Mongols, Hitler, or Soviet socialism. The bitter reality in the present context is that the governments of Muslim countries have to fight this war alone.  Therefore, the government of a Muslim country should not give the fundamentalists an edge by rough tackling in the game of ideological war, without fully comprehending the ideology, purpose, and procedure of this terrorism.

This article published at :

1. The Asian Age, BD: 15 Jan 23

2. Modern Ghana, Ghana :16Jan23

3. Seoul Times, S.Korea :16Jan23

4. Review Nepal, Kathmandu :15Jan23

5. Pakistan Observer, Pakistan :17Jan23

6. South Asia Journal, NJ,USA: 16Jan23

7. The Jakarta Post, Indonesia :24Jan23

How far is Pakistan to Afghanistan?

M A Hossain, 

Pakistan has been suffering from terrorism for the last three decades. Due to its strategic position, Pakistan became a centre stage of terrorist activities. The menace of terrorism has adversely affected the social fabric, political structures, Institutions and economic growth of Pakistan. Following the Taliban takeover in neighbouring Afghanistan, this incipient Terrorism has destabilized domestic politics and predisposed Pakistan to an imminent Civil War.

Pakistan was created on the basis of the precepts of the Islamic religion in 1947. Oddly enough, Pakistan was eventually not ruled by the fundamental causes of its formation, rather the political power was transgressed into the grip of a bureaucratic class and inevitably, the people became frustrated and changed their territory, shape, and strength in 1971.  During the 1980s, President Zia Ul Haq tried to implement the Rule of Islam and many religious Institutions developed in the society. While this stride of President Haq was unfailingly a people-pleaser, it helped the various extremist groups like the Taliban or Al-Qaeda(AQ) to perpetuate their roots in Pakistan. 

In the era of the Cold War, the Soviet Union intervened in Afghanistan in 1979 predominantly to disseminate communist ideology. The US and her Western allies utilized Pakistan as the supreme logistic channel for the Taliban resistance to counter the ideological conflict. The military aid from Pakistan, the US, and financial backing from Arab countries enabled Afghans to drive the USSR out of Afghanistan in 1989.  AQ and Taliban possess the same ideology.

After the 9/11 attack, the US accosted AQ of this heinous act of aggression, and in retaliation attacked Afghanistan in 2001.  Taliban are 46% Pashtun of the Afghan 35 million whereas the same tribes are 15% of Pakistani 215 million and formed its offshoot Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan(TTP) in Federally Administered Tribal Area (FATA) in Pakistan. Some of those TTP leaders had previously fought against the USSR in Afghanistan and took control of most of the FATA. TTP wanted to fight against the US in Afghanistan and also asked the Pakistan government to discontinue her support to the US. In response, the Pakistani government allied with the US on the "War on Terror" campaign.

The landscape of terrorism in Pakistan might have been changed after the Siege of Lal Masjid in July 2007.  A total of 154 died, mostly women and children. Immediately, AQ declared war against the Pakistani Government and its security agencies. Before the Lal Masjid incident, AQ and TTP considered Pakistan as a buffer state in this region.

To overcome the threat of terrorism, the Government of Pakistan launched a military operation "Operation Rah-e-Haq" against TTP in the Swat district in 2007. This operation continued in phase -2 and phase 3 consecutively in 2008 and 2009.  Another military operation "Zarb-e-Azb" was launched in its territory near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in June 2014.

Pakistan got itself intertwined in the war in Afghanistan. Besides involvement in this war, Pakistan was also plagued by ethnic and sectarian conflicts among different factions and separatist nationalistic movements as another source of terrorism.

Pakistani newspaper "Dawn News" reported that the Pakistan economy suffered a total loss of USD 126.79 billion since 2001 due to the war on terror. According to the report by Brown University's Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs, 23,372 Pakistani civilians and 8,832 Pakistani security personnel were killed, directly or indirectly, in the war on terror. Ex-Premier Imran Khan lambasted the "War on Terror" as America's war, where Pakistan was dragged into it and paid a high price of losing over 80,000 soldiers and civilians as well as billions of dollars in infrastructural damage. Approximately 150 thousand security personnel are deployed in Swat, Malakand, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa regions for counter-terrorism operations, but it costs billions of dollars from Pakistan's exchequer.

The "War on Terror" has exasperated the different militant and extremist groups in Pakistan. It created difficulties for the Pakistan army and police to manage the law and order situation. Pakistan does not have the luxury of requiring resources available to guard the Pak-Afghan border, which offers a very difficult terrain to control. The unmanned army drone strikes killed and maimed thousands of innocent civilians. Military operations in the name of the "War on Terror" against their own people have infuriated people. Besides this, corruption, injustice, and intervention of the military establishment in politics irk the society in score to go for alternatives.  TTP offered prompt justice and better governance, which gained popularity among the tribal people. Moreover, military operations made approximately 4 million Internally Displaced Persons (IDP).

Terrorism, conflict, and violence are destroying both the physical and human capital of Pakistan. It often resulted in the collapse of health and educational infrastructure. Terrorism and political turmoil affected the inflows of FDI, economic growth, domestic investment, and tourism and increase the unemployment crisis.

The Pakistani rupee is one of the weakest trade currencies in the world. Present rising utility costs, food prices and potential hikes in interest rates have brought an imbroglio in politics.

Moreover, the volatile geopolitical situations and growing convergence between China and Pakistan cast a shadow over Washington's approach towards Islamabad. Now, its somersault policy with superpowers has caused severe detriment to common people that have diverted their support from the government to the Islamic fundamentalist.

Pakistan is already submerged in the quicksand of TTP/AQ the way the USA rolled back from Afghanistan. Survival from the assassination attempt of Imran Khan has saved Pakistan and delayed the civil war. In my opinion, militant groups do not trust the Pakistani government and people do not agree to carry the burden of unsustainable military expenditure in the name of security. The prediction of civil war in Pakistan seems more imminent, and the takeover of Pakistan (or partial territory) by Islamic fundamentalists would be the xerox scenario of Afghanistan 2.0.

This article published at :

1. Daily Asian Age, BD:22Nov22.

2. South Asia Journal, NJ,USA:23Nov22

3. Modern Ghana, Ghana :23Nov22

4. Review Nepal, Kathmandu :23Nov22

5. Daily Observer, BD :26Nov22

Al-Qaeda, Global terrorism and threat to democracy

M A Hossain, 

Long ago, on one fine autumn afternoon, my friends and I were discussing which one of our friends who had escaped the get-together in that café to penalize. An army general sitting next to us was intrigued by our excitement and dragged his chair closer to us, bringing his vaporized coffee mug.

With very friendly interaction he advised us his theory “channelize, canalize and penalize” as a solution. Two decades of my hawkish eye on the Islamic extremist movement, I find the general’s theory appropriate here.

After World War II, the dollar became the strongest and only international trade currency. In the early 1990s, the world started a reorientation that strengthened the dominance of the Western capitalist economic system, supplanted the primacy of the nation-state with transnational corporations and organizations and eroded local cultures and traditions through Western culture.

The Western nations have enjoyed supremacy in the military and economy and they have been ferrying their capitalistic and democratic ideologies around the world, which are consumerist and materialistic in nature.

Now, Western nations have reached the peak of their vertex in terms of lifestyle, consumerism and prosperity. This creates an ideological vacuum and people have become frustrated. We have found widespread cases of suicide and mass shootings in Western societies, which are flagrant examples of this claim. An Islamic ideology is starting to fill the void.

I will dwell upon one jihadist organization, al-Qaeda (AQ) which has spectacularly gained its capabilities in acting as a transnational militant organization. During my research, I find, interestingly, it is the AQ that lays down the gauntlet for the United States on the battlefield.

 AQ founder Abdullah Azzam first accentuated global jihad among all militant organizations. Before that, various Islamic extremist organizations fought for sharia (Islamic rule) sporadically and locally. AQ members around the world gathered in Afghanistan to fight against Soviet occupiers.

In 1989, after the death of Azzam, Osama bin Laden took the helm of AQ. He envisioned his global jihad as “striking the head of the snake” in which the head was America. He wanted to bring the US into a death trap and by compelling US troops to be deployed globally.

AQ carried out a number of attacks on US targets around the world to allure America into war. Laden struck the center of gravity in America on the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, which changed the landscape of global terrorism. After the attack on the Twin Towers, Laden expected US troops in Afghanistan, Somalia, Syria and Libya to achieve an asymmetric war of attrition.

Even the Bush and Obama administrations were unaware that the war on terror was nothing but a booby trap. America lost the war in Somalia, Libya, Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan. That is how the theory “channelize, canalize and penalize” works.

American political scientist Samuel Huntington asserted in his book The Clash of Civilizations that the future holds a series of clashes between “the West and the rest” and envisioned religion as “perhaps the central force that motivates and mobilizes people.”

AQ wanted the US military to use unilateral military action against Muslim countries, which paved the way for recruiting Muslim youths against US atrocities. Successful examples are the invasion of Iraq, Afghanistan and Somalia.

Globally, democracy is declining. The war on terror, patronized by the US, gave opportunities to authoritarian rulers in several democratic countries. Nations in South Asia, the Middle East and Africa have experienced terrorism as a tool of suppression and intimidation against opposition. Terrorism is solely responsible for the world refugee crisis, which has affected the European Union and Western nations the most.

Even US citizens have experienced draconian anti-terrorist laws embodied in the so-called “USA Patriot Act” that have immeasurably increased government power of surveillance, arrest and detention. The construction of military prison camps for suspected terrorists, the abrogation of basic civil liberties and the call for military trials have undermined decades of progress in developing democratic policies.

Islamic extremist movements linked to AQ have achieved their goals in Afghanistan, Somalia, Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger and are strongly emerging in Yemen, Iraq, Syria, Libya, Pakistan, Nigeria and the Caucasus region. AQ in the Indian subcontinent (AQIS) has started a hidden and secretive network in India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Kashmir. AQ in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) is going to capture the important port cities and very soon will take control of the Gulf of Aden.

In my opinion, within the next five years several African countries will announce Islamic rule within their country. AQ in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) has strong bastions in Algeria and the Sahel.

Ideological conflict must be countered by ideology. If this simple equation is miscalculated, then there will be a catastrophic debacle. Some democratic rulers are trying to politicize terrorism and for God’s sake, they are digging the grave for democracy with their own hands.

During my research, I found that AQ started its preparation on global savagery in 2002. AQ, from the beginning, targeted the dollar system as the enemy’s center of gravity. Just think, if America was not involved in the war in Afghanistan, Iraq and Africa, where would they be now? The war on terror was nothing but a waste of money and lives.

The world is shaping into a multipolar world in 2022. America has used and abused the dollar system as a punitive tool and democratic frontliners have failed to exhibit a stable, executive, beatified ideology in the 21st century. We have seen the eccentric Trump in the US, Hindu extremist Modi in India and a pillow passing show in the United Kingdom.

The world is now considering an alternative trade currency system instead of the US dollar. But it is extremely important to be critical of state terrorism when one discusses this complex and sensitive topic. For decades, the US and Israel have been accused of state terrorism.

It is, therefore, neither the time for terrorism nor reckless unilateral military intervention, but for an ideological campaign against ideological conflict. This campaign should not accept militarism, violation of human rights, the establishment of a police or military state nor the undermining of democracy in the name of fighting terrorism.

No doubt, democracy is in the ICU and misjudgment of this ideological conflict will put the last nail in the coffin of democracy.

This article published at :

1. The Jakarta Post, Indonesia :04Nov22

2. The New Nation, BD: 04Nov22

3. South Asia Journal, NJ,USA;04Nov22

4. Review Nepal, Kathmandu :06Nov22

5. The Seoul Times, S, Korea :07Nov22

6. Modern Ghana, Ghana :07Nov22