Alexander Meleagrou-Hitchens's book 'Incitement' explores the life and influence of Anwar al-Awlaki, a radical ideologue who became the first American killed by a drone strike. The book delves into Awlaki's appeal among disaffected Muslim youth, particularly in Bangladesh, where he inspired a series of attacks on secular activists. Awlaki's ability to blend authoritative religious interpretation with a counterculture image made him a magnetic figure for extremists. The article also discusses the class dynamics within jihadist organizations, where middle-class members often assume 'white-collar' roles in propaganda and planning, while lower-class recruits are left with 'blue-collar' tasks like violence. The author, James Allchin, reflects on his personal experiences reporting on religious extremism in Bangladesh and the broader implications of Awlaki's legacy in developing countries, where many men feel a sense of ressentiment and a thirst for order amidst societal changes.

Britain's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic revealed significant flaws in its welfare state, exacerbated by a decade of austerity that cut public services and local authorities. The country faced the highest death toll in Europe, with the government's slow response and Boris Johnson's initial nonchalance, including a remark about shaking hands in a hospital, drawing criticism. The structural weaknesses of the health system were laid bare, with reduced hospital beds and a decimated health service leaving it ill-prepared to handle the crisis.

The Holey Artisan Bakery in Dhaka, known for its upscale dining, became the site of a horrific terrorist attack on July 1st, during the Eid holiday week. Armed attackers stormed the bakery, killing 28 people, including expatriates, after a 12-hour siege where they targeted non-Muslims and those unable to recite Koranic verses. The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack, which is part of a larger trend of Islamist violence in Bangladesh that has claimed around 50 lives since 2013. The local militant group Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) is suspected to be involved. Despite mass arrests by authorities, the violence has not been curbed. The government, led by the Awami League, has been criticized for its authoritarian approach and reluctance to acknowledge the presence of IS in the country.

A deadly attack occurred at the Holey Artisan Bakery in Dhaka, Bangladesh, targeting the country's elite and foreign residents. Gunmen stormed the establishment, leading to a 12-hour standoff that resulted in at least 28 deaths, including 20 hostages, six suspected gunmen, and two police officers. Victims included foreign nationals from the United States, Italy, Japan, and an Indian student from the University of California at Berkeley. The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack, which involved brutal killings and a division of hostages based on their ability to recite the Koran. The Bangladesh government, while questioning the extent of the Islamic State's presence, has faced a series of violent acts attributed to local militant groups such as Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh and Ansarullah Bangla Team, the latter being associated with al-Qaida in the Indian Subcontinent.

The article discusses the theft of $101 million from Bangladesh's foreign exchange reserves, which were held at the Federal Reserve in New York. Only $20 million has been recovered, and the perpetrators remain unknown. This incident is one of the largest bank robberies in history. However, the article points out that this is not an isolated event, as Bangladesh's financial system has been routinely plundered, including by those who are supposed to protect it. The state-owned commercial banks (SOCBs) in Bangladesh, which control a significant portion of bank assets, are highlighted for their high rates of nonperforming loans, attributed to poor governance and a culture of patronage. The International Monetary Fund (I.M.F.) is cited as a source for the statistics on nonperforming loans in Bangladesh compared to advanced economies.