The Economist analyses the blood feud taking shape in Bangladesh. Maybe it's that famous British penchant for understatement. But, then again, maybe it's just denial. And apologetics.
Bangladesh's voters are for the most part a tolerant bunch with surprisingly astute political judgment. They are not easily bullied or hoodwinked. But their disillusionment with the main parties has created a vacuum, which the Islamists are trying to fill. Some are harmless charitable workers. Some have dangerously illiberal social views. A few are violent jihadists. Bangladesh is still a long way from becoming a hardline Islamic state, but its secular rulers are doing their best to give secularism a bad name.
Now it may be debatable whether Bangladesh is already a hardline Islamic state. But if it isn't, it certainly isn't "a long way" off.
