Death and Islam

New decrees lead to rioting

It began as an angry demonstration by leftist students at the University of Dhaka against the military regime of Lieut. General H.M. Ershad, 53. Shouting "Deception!" and "Food first, language second, generals last!" hundreds of students last week marched into the streets of Dhaka in open defiance of martial law: When the students ignored orders to return to the campus, police shot tear-gas canisters into the crowd, which was armed with bricks, hockey sticks and knives. Throughout the day, as fighting spread to other Bangladesh cities, bands of students continued guerrilla-style raids, beating civilians, burning shops and attacking buses. By the time the army had restored order, three people were dead and 300 wounded in the worst violence since Ershad took power in a bloodless coup eleven months ago.

A major clash between the military government and the nation's student community had been brewing since Jan. 14, the day Ershad announced, in a burst of religious enthusiasm, that the Koran would be read this year at Feb. 21 ceremonies honoring Bengalis killed in 1951, when the fight for independence from Pakistan began. Said Ershad: "The ideals and principles of Islam will be reflected in every sphere of state and national life." Ershad's statement shocked the nation and especially incensed Bangladesh's non-Muslim minority (10% of the population), who saw it as a betrayal of the founding principles of the state.

The political turmoil currently gripping Bangladesh is the latest blow to a country already staggering under huge social and economic problems. Covering an area the size of Wisconsin, Bangladesh has 94 million people, nearly half of them under 16 years old. Desperately poor (per capita income: $123), the country has received more than $10 billion in aid over the past decade, including a total of $1.2 billion this year from Japan, the U.S. and the World Bank.

Despite the furor over his Islamization plans, Ershad has made an impressive start on Bangladesh's troubles. He has revitalized the private sector by returning more than 300 industrial enterprises to private ownership. Ershad has jailed seven former Cabinet ministers on charges of corruption. He has reduced the price of such staples as rice, sugar and wheat, and he hopes to raise food-grain output 25% by 1986, mostly by Introducing higher-yield crops.

Ershad has promised to return the country to parliamentary democracy, though no timetable has been announced. Although he was once considered relatively lenient with students and the press, he has, however, cracked down on anyone suspected of subversion. Since the beginning of the year, more than 200 dissidents have been jailed. Last week 30 top opposition leaders were arrested at the home of Kamal Hossain, a former Foreign Minister and the author of the country's constitution. All were charged with holding an unlawful political meeting and encouraging student unrest.

Meanwhile, the rebelling students showed no indication of giving up the fight against Islamization. "Religion is in the heart," said Muslim Student Leader Ahmed Mauzeem. "Islam is not a government, and we are not Bedouin kings walking around with oil under our feet." The government showed no signs of softening, either. The nationwide curfew was extended from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. All six of Bangladesh's universities were closed, and both students and security forces were bracing for a possible reprise of last week's rioting. This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so viewer discretion is required.