[antiwar-van] Nov 26: Political situation in Bangladesh

[harsha at resist.ca]

Dear friends,
We remind you of this important SANSAD forum taking place this Saturday.
SANSAD

************

Rise of Militancy in Bangladesh: A Forum for Community Dialogue
November 26, 2005 Saturday from 2-5pm
SFU Harbour Center (515 West Hastings)

Keynote Speaker:
Professor. Anu Muhammad, Department of Economics, Jahangirnagar
University, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Discussants:
Taj Hashmi, Simon Fraser University
Mr. Mahbubul Islam, Community Organizer, Vancouver

Chair: Saydia Gulrukh Kamal, Board member, SANSAD

==========================================================================

On 17 August 2005, more than 500 explosions took place simultaneously in
63 cities and towns across Bangladesh including the capital Dhaka by an
outlawed Islamic group, Jamatul Mujahideen Bangladesh. During the past
five years 22 incidents of bomb and grenade attacks have killed over 149
persons and injured many others. These attacks have targeted political
meetings, cultural spaces such as theatre or song performances, cinemas,
circuses, and religious places of worship (Ahmadiya mosques, churches,
mazars). In the recent attack, bombers spread leaflets with appeals for
establishing Islamic rule and declaring its counter offensive against all
who oppose this. The prevailing threat from the Islamic militant groups
heightened the insecurity of religious and ethnic minorities as well as
for those who are fighting for democracy and basic human rights.

The political situation has been tremendously aggravated and confused by
the US led "war on terrorism"; it has given a stimulus and a false
legitimacy to Islamist militants. International development politics is
also feeding the current situation.

In this context, the South Asian Network for Secularism and Democracy
invites you to a public forum on the current political situation in
Bangladesh.

====================================================================


SANSAD South Asian Network for Secularism and Democracy
For more information, call 778 688 9014, email: sansad at sansad.org