The rising tide of Islamist violence in Bangladesh could be a bellwether for South Asia. How should the world respond? There’s a rising tide of political violence in Bangladesh — one that has gone mostly unnoticed by scholars and analysts. Yet the country presents both a potential threat, as violence by fundamentalist Islamist groups rises, and a prospective model for a democratic, majority-Islamic state. As a battleground over the role of Islam and politics, Bangladesh will be a crucial proving ground for those who see Islam as an inspiration for development, democracy, and peaceful social relations—and those with a fundamentalist vision for society who want to export terrorism to neighboring India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. As a potential bellwether for South Asia more broadly, Ba...

Europe is facing an unprecedented migration crisis nowadays. But instead of resolving it, it is on the verge of making an unprecedented mistake. Abolishing the Schengen agreement, as suggested by some, is not the answer. It would strike at the very heart of the European project, depriving EU citizens of their most cherished right, slowing down Europe’s post-crisis recovery and diminishing its capacity to curb organised crime and terrorist threats. The scale of the challenge is massive. The number of migrants reaching Greece alone by mid-August amounts to 158,000 since January 2015. Unfortunately the response so far has only deepened the concerns. Despite the fact that the European Commission has taken a firm stand, stating that “Schengen is not negotiable”, some European politicians ...

While India and China still rise to the top when it comes to luring start-up companies and their investors, some venture capitalists are beginning to scan opportunities popping in neighboring Bangladesh. Like other parts of Asia, Bangladesh's inklings of IT and technology appeal has more to do with its longer-term potential, than the current challenges it faces as a emerging country in the vital Asian economy. Vetted out through some recent statistics, one could see why technology entrepreneurs and funders may want to start setting up shop there. One striking number is that 70% of the country's population is under the age of 35, and its mobile-first adoption approach has resulted in more than 125 million mobile subscribers and 24.5% Internet penetration, according to this GeekTime re...