We have heard the word “paradox" innumerable times in relation to development in Bangladesh. Now, in a new publication, ‘The Politics of Terrorism and Counterterrorism in Bangladesh’ published by a British multinational publisher Routledge, its editors say that ‘the chapters in this volume will illustrate that Bangladesh is an exciting and often paradoxical case for terrorism studies in general’. One of the paradoxical elements pointed out in this book is the fact that ‘most of the key coordinators or leaders of the new generational groups of terrorists are educated in secular universities, either in Bangladesh or abroad’ against a typical perception that religious seminaries, known as madrasas,  are the breeding ground of Islamic terrorism. This book is published as a part of the Routledge Studies in South Asian Politics series.  It contains nine insightful and critical analyses by some prominent academics and researchers known for their scholarly work on politics, terrorism,...