Bangladesh: The perception outside
Post war Pakistan started off well, replacing a military government with a democratic one and having better indicators of progress. Political pundits, particularly the US, therefore, hedged their bets on Pakistan. Bangladesh, on the other hand, not only inherited a shattered economy but had to start off in a state of deep shock and nerve shattering trauma, and naturally was branded a bottomless basket. Its leaning towards a socialistic system was not also acceptable to the western democracies.
India, because of its strong ties with the erstwhile USSR was not a darling of the western world either. Moreover, Pakistan was a strong component of the defence corridor around the communist block. Naturally, its dismemberment could not be a welcome reality to the anticommunist alliance. While the west took Pakistan as an ally against communism, Pakistan joined them for its defence against what it thought its only enemy -- India, although Pakistan maintained some kind of relationship with both USSR and China. The whole Muslim world was also leaning towards the west during that period.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. Thirty-five years later, however, the dynamics are completely different now. Pakistan had to endure several military governments, its economic prospects did not come to fruition, and now it is unable to handle its ethnic diversity, rise of militancy and economic realities. Soviet block vanished in 1991 and communist China is vigorously pursuing capitalistic dreams.
Bangladesh succeeded in mending the tattered bottom, of its basket, establishing democracy, developing a conscious and active civil society, sustaining vibrant private entrepreneurship, and in making economic headway. Despite short term and intermittent instability, over a long tem, Bangladesh progressed satisfactorily in economic, social, political and international arenas.
Come nine-eleven and our 20-20 vision suffered a twist. In the post cold war world there was harmony, trust and a mutually warm relationship among nations. Nine-eleven changed all that. The seed for this inevitable but tragic consequence was sown much before 1991 though. The Russian invasion of Afghanistan, covert funding of anti-Russian Islamite Talibans by the US and later US invasion of Afghanistan are all a chain of events that may be called natural consequences of myopic political conventional wisdom.
During the middle of the last century (1950-1970) most young people from this region used to go to the west mostly for higher studies, and may be in some cases jobs. They used to bring back western culture and values to our society. This phenomenon, to a limited extent, materialised the aim of those who wanted to push us towards greater Islamisation. In the post independent period also this trend persisted.
During this period another phenomenon was developing and that was the huge need for cheap labor for the booming middle-eastern countries following the abnormal rise of oil prices. Many Bangladeshis, mostly of working class, found jobs in those countries.
Although the educated class from India and Pakistan also took jobs in the middle-east, Bangladeshi educated class was still looking west. Socialistic policy of the then government and the decreasing opportunity for the educated class to go to the west for higher studies started breeding frustration in the middle educated class. The working class on the other hand started importing middle-eastern culture home. Through their acquaintances funds started coming in for mosques and madrasas. Although not significantly overwhelming, this societal change made an infinitely small number of people ambitious otherwise.
Some of them, who even participated in some kind of wars abroad, thought that they might as well try to establish their brand of social philosophy -- call it in whatever name. The nine-eleven events gave a boost to this class. It might be quite possible that those elements who want a weaker Bangladesh covertly helped these groups with materials and otherwise. Although initially these activities were by and large overlooked at home, the sad thing is that these incidents got external publicity in an out-of-proportion fashion. Bangladesh, slowly but steadily, started getting the label of 'Islamic Extremism'.
Books like, "Bangladesh -- the next Afghanistan?" and "God willing", etc. and articles of some scholars helped spread these perception globally. Neither our government, nor the media realized the gravity and the seriousness of the situation and did nothing about it. Milam's complaint was while above books and writings are painting a negative picture of Bangladesh abroad, the Bangladeshi intelligentsia is doing nothing. There is no rebuttal based on well researched books or publications. Mere lip service or meek rejoinders would not wipe-off the perception that is building up around the globe about Bangladesh. Where are the hard facts to disprove the attempt to brand Bangladesh as a breeding ground for extremism and terrorism of whatever brand?
All these developments have also to be looked at from the perspective of the rise of conservatism globally. BJP came to power in India riding the 'Hindutva' band wagon, The Democratic Party in the US shed some of its welfare oriented stand-points, the policy difference between the Conservative Party and the Labour Party in the UK became blurred, governments in many other countries moved to the right, and of course there came 'reverend' George W Bush -- the savior. Theoretically therefore it could be possible that the extreme rightists in Bangladesh too saw the situation ripe to try at it. Fortunately the enlightened citizens of Bangladesh are always a step ahead in their wisdom and hence could foil whatever evil that came their way in the past and will do so in future as well.
We may argue, and rightly so, that Ambassador Milam's view about the global perception of Bangladesh as a country breeding extremism is a betrayal of reality. But we cannot ignore his challenge to prove him wrong (and others too) with hard facts and well researched materials.
History proved time and again that extremism of any kind has always been a temporary phenomenon in this part of the world. These are transient happenings and vanish as quickly as they flourish. But over time it has always been moderation, saner thoughts and principles and philosophies that bring good to the vast majority of mankind that prevailed. The sooner we can pass over the present transient phenomenon the quicker will we be able to prove ourselves to the world.