The 2-month old Bangladesh government, under Prime Minster Sheikh Hasina, has just gone through its first acid-test – the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) mutiny in February 2009. Before it could be quelled, this mutiny by the country’s paramilitary force, known as the BDR, left over 74 dead. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s reputation has been enhanced greatly for suppressing the mutiny successfully through political means, instead of resorting to military force. This way, Hasina has also managed to send out a message to the international community that Bangladesh has a stable democratic government at its helm; this is sure to give a much-needed boost to the country’s economy in form of more foreign investment and aid. 

Living in India we have all heard or experienced the notion of cricket being like a religion to millions of ardent fans. To the people of the subcontinent, the likes of Tendulkar, Murali and Akram are revered regardless of ones religious beliefs, caste, ethnicity or social status. The perception that sports, or in this case cricket, could rise above political uncertainty and turmoil has always held true, no more so than in the Mecca of the sport – South Asia. Yet, the recent attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore challenged that perception, with cricketers and officials being targeted in a brazen terrorist assault reminiscent of the audacious Mumbai attack in November last year. For the sports aficionados the sanctity of their ‘religion’ had been breached – while for Pakistan’s government and the international community, this was another instance of the deepening crisis confronting Islamabad.

A few months ago, we celebrated the victory of Barrack Obama in the US elections. We feel justified. Within the first fifty days of his administration, the world is sailing on the winds of peace and reconciliation. We are witnessing a new sense of hope in almost every part of the world.

Ideas predate civilization. They even predate humanity. The ideas of fire, weapons and symbols were probably thought of by Homo erectus before the birth of Homo sapiens. 

One never seizes to be amazed by Pakistan’s political googlies. Whether it is the elected leadership in Islamabad or the military chiefs in Rawalpindi, the country’s frequent political seesawing has left no stone unturned. From the recently brokered deal by Maulana Sufi Muhammad of the TNSM between Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the NWFP government for Nizam-e-Adl regulation in Swat or, the unexpected admission that the dastardly terror attacks on Mumbai in November 2008 were hatched on Pakistani soil – Islamabad has often left India, the US and the international community perplexed. 

The newly formed Bangladeshi government, under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, is serious about tackling terrorism and placing Bangladesh at the helm of a regional initiative against terrorism. 

Earlier this month Iran celebrated the 30th anniversary of the return of the exiled Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini and the Islamic revolution that followed. It has been described as one of the greatest and most important revolutions in history, one that changed the face and very core of a nation and its people, and sent waves throughout the world that resonate till date. On a religious-political front the revolution resulted in the creation of a theocratic nation as well as making political Islam a force to be reckoned with the world over.

Green Prophet had the opportunity to interview Gitanjali Bakshi, Research Analyst at the Strategic Foresight Group. The group has produced a report on the environmental impact of conflicts in the Middle East, which was presented at the Palais de Nations in Geneva this week.