Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has wisely decided to seek US and UK help in the investigation. That will expose the extremist inspiration for this uprising and the likely external support it received. Her government has indicated its willingness to examine the feasibility of transit rights for India through Bangladesh territory and promised to cooperate in the elimination of terrorist camps in Bangladesh and contain the operations of the ISI in and from Bangladesh territory. It is also logical to expect more meaningful economic cooperation between India and Bangladesh. It should be noted that the interim army regime had under consideration many of these initiatives. Thus, for the Islamists, both the Awami League government and the present army are enemies. That explains why a large number of army officers were targeted with such brutality.

Some elements in Bangladesh with deep Wahhabi Islamist roots going back to the 1971 civil war have since then developed strong links with Al-Qaeda or with the ISI. It will be unrealistic to expect that they will give up their jihad after the failure of this uprising. There is a reasonable probability that with the Awami League government and a professional army in place the Islamists will try to make it into a battlefield for spreading jihadi Islam.

The Obama administration is placing increased emphasis on Indonesia and Southeast Asia in its efforts to connect with gentle Islam. Bangladesh is an important transit point for jihadi operations in Southeast Asia. There is a good case for the US, the European Union, Japan, India, Indonesia and other Southeast Asian countries to support Bangladesh politically, economically, militarily and in terms of intelligence cooperation.

... contd.