In recent times, there seems to be a big surge in fundamentalist activities everywhere. This phenomenon is not however confined to the underdeveloped countries. The resurgence of religious fundamentalism appears to be creeping up in developed countries as well. It is widely believed that religious fundamentalists in the United States manipulated the presidential election in 2004. This kind of fundamentalism is not setting off any alarm bell yet because it is being done subtly and it is not perceived to be threatening the world order, although some may take exception to such assertion. However, the nature of fundamentalism in Bangladesh is viewed quite differently. There, the fundamentalists have taken up terror and violence to impose their ideas. The investigative report that appeared in the New York Times' magazine section on January 23, 2005 gave the world a glimpse of the extent of fundamentalist activities in Bangladesh. It being the 7th largest country in population, what occurs in Bangladesh is likely to have worldwide repercussions.

Fundamentalism essentially refers to a social order that is structured based on religious wisdom. But religious fundamentalism is nothing new as it has been in existence since the birth of religion itself. Why then is there such a surge in fundamentalism now? The main theme of every religion is to guide people to lead a noble life. But this common message started to lose its appeal as deep divisions within each religion began to set in with different interpretations of fundamental values. While economics has always played a key role in human lives, religious ideas fell short of fulfilling their economic expectations. Besides, instead of achieving peace and harmony, people were being victimized in the name of religion. Great thinkers and philosophers then came up with new ideas of social and political reform. These ideas may have been manifested in the so-called democratic, capitalist or socialist system that people live in today.

But as evidence clearly points out, none of these systems have succeeded in bringing prosperity to mankind nor have they prevented the exploitation of the masses by the privileged few. The disparity that exists between the poor and rich nations is both huge and widening. Many citizens of poor countries still cannot feed themselves, while the rich live in abundance of almost everything. In developing countries, the accumulation of wealth by the privileged few continues at the expense of the masses. Bangladesh is a poor country and its situation bears full testimony to this fact. The country's economy is in such precarious situation that it mostly relies on outside help for survival. But instead of utilizing its foreign aid to uplift the poor, it is clear that the aid is helping the rich get richer. The world would be amazed to learn how many thousands of billionaires this poverty-stricken country has produced over the years! To share misery and grief with others is one thing, but to witness others getting rich while one continues to starve is something else. Economic depression always compels people to desperation, especially when they see that the existing system is both repressive and corrupt. The world is very much aware of the extent of corruption in Bangladesh through Transparency International, which has continuously rated it as the most corrupt nations on earth since 2001. With an unemployment rate of about 40 percent, it is then no wonder that the fundamentalists in Bangladesh are attracting increasing numbers of people to their cause, especially when they are armed with financial help.

From a broader perspective, the concept of fundamentalism never disappeared from society. It was only put on the back burner as society experimented with different political systems. However, the circumstances concerning Islamic fundamentalism in the world must be viewed differently. The world Muslim community always felt that they were being treated indifferently by the affluent west. The Arab-Israeli conflict has kept that feeling alive and very intense. For obvious reasons, the Islamic fundamentalists are quick to interpret every wrong move by the west in respect to a Muslim country as hostile towards the Muslims. Although Bangladesh is a predominantly Muslim state, its people were considered quite moderate compared to others. But this situation started to change after the fundamentalists gained political power there and began to use that power to achieve their far-reaching goal.

Here is the sequence of events that led to the resurgence of fundamentalism in Bangladesh. After Bangladesh gained independence from Pakistan in 1971, the first ruling Awami League (AL) government preaching secularism banned all political activities of Jamaat e Islami Party, a fundamentalist organization, on the ground that it had conspired with Pakistan. However, in the ensuing power struggle, AL soon lost power and an army ruler quickly emerged who later responded by establishing the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). In an effort to establish itself as a viable political organization, the BNP then gave amnesty to the Jamaat e Islami and permitted them to revive their political activities. But in a subsequent upheaval the BNP itself lost power to a military dictator. The Jamaatist nevertheless continued to flourish during the nine years of dictatorial rule that followed. When democracy was supposedly restored in 1990, the BNP narrowly won the election and ruled the country for one term. But in the next term, AL was able to capture government power by successfully aligning with Jamaat e Islami. The current BNP then recaptured power in 2001 by luring the Islamist group to its camp.

During all this haggling, not only did Jamaat e Islami Party regroup and establish itself politically, but also a number of other ultra Islamist groups, such as Islamic Oikya Jote, Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami, and Jamiat Qurania Arabia began to emerge. These and other Islamist groups in Bangladesh flourished with vast financial help from outside. They set up hundreds of madrassas (religious schools) in the country, which they have been using as recruitment centers for fundamentalist ideas. It may be true that Al Qaeda and other international groups have since established links with these Islamist groups as some claim, but their main benefactor still remains Saudi Arabia. Although a few other international organizations also provide financial help, the bulk of the aid money to the fundamentalists in Bangladesh come from Saudi Arabia itself.

In Bangladesh, the fundamentalists seem to have already started their proxy fight. The way they have been using their muscle in the country one would wonder if the government has already lost its power to suppress them. They appear to reign in many areas of the districts of Chittagong, Sylhet and Rajshahi where they have terrorized the community at will with complete impunity. In addition, they are capable of striking other parts of the country including the capital city of Dhaka. The incidence of burning one minority family of eleven alive in Banskhali (Chittagong) has made international headlines. It is obvious that the moderates in the country have lost their voice. Those who dare to speak out against communalism or fundamentalist ideas or actions are being subjected to targeted killings. In fact, the fundamentalists have already succeeded in killing a number of them within the country.

The murder of the country's former Finance Minister in January 2005 may have been the high-flying example of such targeted killings. Earlier, grenades were hurled at other moderate politicians - some were killed and others were injured. They targeted even the leader of the opposition and the British High Commissioner. Two well-known journalists Manik Saha and Humayun Kabir Balu who spoke out were murdered in Khulna. Even the moderate teachers and writers were targeted. The likes of Taslima Nasrin (a physician and a writer), G. Chandra Muhuri (Principal, Nazir Hat College, Chittagong) Humaun Azad (a prominent writer), M.Yunus (Professor Rajshahi University) as well as Samsur Rahman (the late national poet) were targeted. Of them one was forced to leave the country, three had to pay with their lives and the latter had to live under constant police protection.

Until recently, the BNP government not only failed to bring anyone to proper justice for these terrorist acts, it even refused to acknowledge the existence of fundamentalist groups within the country. But the government was put under tremendous pressure to show some actions against the fundamentalists. With the general election looming in early 2007, government strategy has started to change. The government eventually came around to making a couple of high profile arrests a few months before it relinquishes its power. However, people are not at all convinced that such isolated actions by the government will deter the fundamentalists. Since the Jamaatist are believed to be holding the trump card for winning the election, the true test of government power to suppress thefundamentalists in Bangladesh will come after the general election.