The First World War began on 28 July 1914, following the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne. One month after the killing in Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Austro-Hungarian Empire declared war on Serbia. The conflict continued until 1918.
The Second World War began on 1 September 1939, when Germany invaded Poland. Shortly afterwards, the United Kingdom and France declared war on Germany. The war lasted until 1945 and drew in nearly all the world’s major powers.
In the aftermath of the First World War, the League of Nations was established in an effort to restore peace and maintain global security. However, it failed to prevent further conflict, and the world was plunged into the devastation of the Second World War. Renewed efforts to secure lasting peace led to the formal establishment of the United Nations on 24 October 1945. Its objectives included maintaining international peace and security, protecting human rights, and promoting development cooperation. Headquartered in New York, the organisation began with 51 member states and now has 193.
Despite the founding of the United Nations and the creation of numerous regional organisations dedicated to peace, prosperity and harmony, lasting global peace has remained elusive. Since the Second World War, the Middle East in particular has witnessed numerous conflicts, leaving several once-prosperous nations severely damaged.
Most recently, a new war involving Iran has erupted, raising alarm across the globe. The international community watches anxiously, uncertain as to how the conflict will unfold and what consequences it may ultimately bring.
The Middle East generally refers to a group of countries in West Asia and parts of North Africa. These include Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Yemen, Bahrain, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel, Palestine, Iran, Turkey and Egypt. Although Egypt is geographically part of North Africa, it is often considered part of the Middle East for political and cultural reasons. Turkey lies partly in Europe and partly in Asia. Since the Second World War, numerous wars have centred on this region.
Many countries in the Middle East have been severely affected by conflict. Prolonged wars, civil wars and foreign intervention have devastated infrastructure, economies and social structures. Muslim-majority countries in particular have borne the brunt of these conflicts. The Iran–Iraq War lasted from 1980 to 1988, followed by the Gulf War in 1991. In 2003, Iraq faced a major US-led invasion. Lebanon endured war from 1975 to 1990, which evolved into a prolonged civil conflict. The Syrian war began in 2011 and descended into an ongoing civil war. Yemen’s war started in 2014 and also developed into a continuing internal conflict. In Libya, the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011 triggered widespread civil war. Although Afghanistan is not part of the Middle East, it experienced Soviet invasion in 1979 and, from 2001 to 2021, prolonged conflict involving the Taliban. Afghanistan and Iraq witnessed some of the longest wars, while Syria produced one of the largest refugee crises and Yemen one of the gravest humanitarian disasters.
These wars have claimed millions of lives, destroyed education and healthcare systems, and undermined oil-dependent economies. Regional rivalries and mistrust have deepened, fuelling long-term social divisions. A striking feature of many of these conflicts has been the direct or indirect involvement of the United States, including military interventions, coalition operations and support roles.
Many of these war-torn nations were once economically strong and rich in natural resources. Today, several rely heavily on international assistance to survive. Over the past four decades, prolonged conflict has left Muslim-majority countries in the region facing profound crises in state stability, economic resilience and social cohesion. These wars have not only redrawn borders but also reshaped the future of entire generations.
After prolonged planning, the United States and Israel jointly launched strikes on Iran. One of the principal targets of the two allied nations was Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was reportedly killed in the attack. The conflict is now spreading across the region, centring on Iran.
The United States had strategically established military bases in several neighbouring Muslim-majority countries. Following Iranian attacks on those American installations, the host nations are being drawn into the conflict as adversaries of Tehran. In effect, the United States and Israel are seen as manoeuvring Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia into confrontation with Iran.
Lebanon’s armed group Hezbollah has launched rocket attacks on Israel in support of Iran. Meanwhile, the United Kingdom has authorised the United States to use its bases for operations against Iran, and Germany is also participating in the strikes alongside Washington.
In addition, Yemen’s Houthi movement, the Palestinian group Hamas and Shia militia groups in Iraq have declared their involvement in the war. Iranian missile and drone strikes have reportedly hit the US embassy in Kuwait and surrounding areas. News agencies have also reported drone attacks in Doha, Bahrain and Dubai. US President Donald Trump has said that operations in Iran could continue for up to four weeks.
Because of the Iran war, Bangladesh and other South Asian countries are set to face serious risks. While the conflict is affecting countries across the globe, South Asia is likely to encounter deeper difficulties. For Bangladesh, the challenges could be multifaceted.
A new government has only just taken office following the departure of an interim administration. Barely 12 days into its tenure, the current government has yet to fully settle in. Ministers and senior officials are still familiarising themselves with their duties and responsibilities. At such a moment, the administration is poised to confront severe global and economic pressures.
The government is already unsettled by the mismanagement and corruption of the previous administration. Ongoing media reports alleging corruption involving associates of internationally renowned figure Dr Muhammad Yunus have further added to the embarrassment.
If the war persists, the new government may face acute crises in energy supplies, exports—particularly garments—and overseas employment. The cost of imported petroleum products and LNG is expected to rise, while supply chains for industrial raw materials could be disrupted.
Nearly 10 million Bangladeshi expatriates live in the Middle East. Many are already gripped by fear, and several have reportedly been killed. Should migrant workers lose their jobs, remittance inflows would decline sharply, undermining the Middle Eastern labour market and placing immense strain on Bangladesh’s already fragile economy.
The Suez Canal, a principal maritime route for exports to Europe and partly to the United States, lies close to Iran. Any disruption there would obstruct Bangladesh’s export shipments. Rerouting goods would significantly increase costs, causing substantial losses to exporters. Rising fuel prices would also push up domestic production costs, as Bangladesh is heavily dependent on imported energy.
If the conflict becomes prolonged, key Middle Eastern export markets—including Kuwait, Iraq, Iran, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia—could be severely affected. According to the Ministry of Commerce, in the 2024–25 fiscal year Bangladesh exported goods worth nearly $10.9 million to Iran, primarily garments and pharmaceuticals, within a market valued at nearly $650 billion. The war may effectively close off that market altogether.
As a nation, we are truly proud. We defended our language at the cost of blood and secured our independence through war. Yet misfortune continues to dog us. Even after 55 years of independence, we have not been able to free ourselves from vulnerabilities on all fronts. Nor have we fully matured as a civic society.
Vietnam gained independence around the same time as we did. The values, integrity and patriotism demonstrated by its people, many would argue, surpass ours. We had to shed much blood to restore democracy. After countless hopes and aspirations, a new government has been formed. Yet it now finds itself confronted with one of the greatest global challenges — a war-like international crisis.
In this context, ensuring the proper mobilisation and utilisation of domestic resources has become imperative. It is equally urgent to identify alternative sources of energy and food supplies, as well as to explore new overseas labour markets.
Writer: Executive Editor, Bangladesh Pratidin.
