Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
groups. Both peer pressure and group responsibility are
critical in ensuring repayment.
World Bank (WB) studies indicate that 50 percent of
borrowers get out of poverty in five years and that both
divorce and birth rates decline. With Grameen as a
model, thousands of other organizations have provided
micro-credit to the poor worldwide.
Critics point out that the bank is heavily supported
by foreign funds and argue that it would collapse other-
wise. Some say that Grameen is really controlled by the
government. Some say it is anti-Islamic. Others argue that
peer pressure drives out the weakest members, leaving
them destitute and compelled to a life of bonded labor.
Case studies indicate that perhaps two-thirds of Grameen
loans are actually controlled by male family members.
Stringent payback requirements drive some women to
usurious moneylenders. Grameen authorities say that such
stories are rumors circulated by a jealous BRAC or larger
organizations like the WB, which are promoting their
own schemes. Whatever the case, microloans apparently
have helped millions of women in Bangladesh.
are receiving training in 50 camps around the country . In
recent years many fundamentalist Islamic organizations
have appeared that are funded by Saudi Arabia and
Kuwait. However, it must be noted that the majority of
Bangladeshis remain moderate in their approach to religion
and that militants are a small minority .
Prime Minister Hasina says that poverty is a threat to
the nation and its development. Her government has
instituted a national services program whereby hundreds
of thousands of unemployed male and female youth will
be given training in a trade and a job for at least two
years. It is hoped that these apprenticeships will lead to
permanent employment. She hopes to engender a
”happy and prosperous Bangladesh free from hunger and
poverty .” Only time will tell.
Sri Lanka: Teardrop Weeping
Arabs called it Serendip , the Portuguese named it Cilao ,
and the Dutch spoke of Zeylan . All were referring to
Simhala Dvipa —Island of the Lion T Tribe. Known as Ceylon
until 1972 when it was renamed Sri Lanka, this tear-shaped
island is divided from the Indian subcontinent by the
22-mile (35 km) wide but shallow Palk Strait. While sepa-
ration fosters cultural distinction, propinquity favors spatial
interaction. In the case of Sri Lanka and India, interrela-
tionshipshave been filled wit h inherent antagonisms.
The Rise of Islamism?
Bangladesh' s image as a secular and tolerant Muslim na-
tion was shattered on August 17, 2005, when more than
400 explosions went off simultaneously in 50 cities and
towns across the country . Arrests were made and the
main suspects were found to be Islamic extremists.
Subsequently , threats were made to blow up the British
and U.S. embassies and a suicide bombing occurred in
Dhaka that killed 10 and seriously injured 21 people.
Several years of political chaos have helped to create
an environment for extremism. T Two women vie for
power in Bangladesh: Begum Khaleda Zia and Sheikh
Hasina. Begum Zia and her BNP political party are pro-
Islamic and isolationist; they propose an Islamic state.
Sheikh Hasina and her Awami League want to establish a
modern, secular state and improve relations with India.
Because of violence among these and other political
parties during Begum Zia' s tenure as Prime Minister
(2001-2007), the military declared a state of emergency
and took over the country . Both Zia and Hasina were
arrested on charges of graft. They were released the follow-
ingyear. Elections were held in 2008 and Shaikh Hasina
won handily . She took office as Prime Minister in 2009.
Some people say that Bangladesh is destined to be-
come the next Afghanistan. It is a fact that some 50,000
radicals, belonging to at least 40 groups, have received or
THE PHYSICAL LANDSCAPE
The island of Sri Lanka includes both up-country and
low country . About 30 percent is up-country , where
mountains rise above 8,000 feet (2,500 m). From these
heights, rivers flow in a radial pattern downward
through lush forests to the coastal plains. The longest of
these is the Mahaweli Ganga, running in a southeasterly
direction for 206 miles (332 km). In the low country , hills
are separated by abrupt escarpments and cut by deep
valleys. They descend in a step-like fashion to lowlands,
mostly under 1,000 feet (300 m). In the north, these
lowlands extend as an undulating plain to the Jaffna
Peninsula (Figure 9-9).
The island experiences four seasons in a yearly cycle.
From May to August, the southwest monsoon brings
orographic rainfall to the southwestern hills. This season
culminates with tropical cyclones from the Bay of Bengal,
which can affect all areas from October through November.
Next comes the northeastern monsoon, which supplies
40 to 80 inches (102-203 cm) of rainfall in the north and
 
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