Govt nurtures militancy, terrorism

The two-day discussion on 'Security and law: South Asian perspective' was organised jointly by Odhikar and South Asian Network against Torture and Impunity (SANTI) at Spectra Convention Centre in the city.

Taking part at the inaugural session, Awami League (AL) Presidium Member Suranjit Sengupta said terrorism and militancy is protected and nurtured by the government in Bangladesh.

In support of his claim, Suranjit cited government's initial steps against militants and keeping top kingpins in sub-jail ignoring the jail code, its 'failure' to investigate major bomb blast incidents and find out the attackers, and its 'reluctance' to hold hearing of Bangabandhu Murder Case and arrest seven absconding accused.

Terming Jamaat-e-Islami a fundamentalist organisation, Suranjit posed a question how the government would resist militancy when Jamaat is a component of the four-party ruling alliance.

"Jamaat and the militants have the same objectives- militants carry out activities from outside while Jamaat works from inside the government," he said.

Suranjit also referred to killings in the name of 'crossfire' and said the government permitted such extra-judicial killings since the indemnification of Bangabandhu's assassins.

Speaking as chief guest Law Minister Moudud Ahmed said Suranjit's accusations are baseless.

He said Jamaat is not a fundamentalist organisation.

Moudud said during its five years' rule, the AL did not complete the trial of Sheikh Mujib Murder Case as they wanted to keep it alive for political reason.

He said the AL also did not arrest the absconding accused during its tenure.

Moudud said eight major bomb blast incidents took place during the AL regime, but the then government did not arrest anyone.

Dr Ahmed Ziauddin, an international legal expert, in his keynote presentation said reasons behind security threats are mixed with ideology, religion, nationalism, ethnicity, culture, economy and natural resources.

"We live in a much more dangerous world than anytime before where, because of globalisation, technology and other factors, smaller groups and even individuals could cause havoc," he added.

Dr Ziauddin said in this fast evolving world, nature and actors of threats to security change frequently and unexpectedly.

In fact, non-state actors, organisations, loose networks and even unconnected individuals could pose grave national security threats than ever before in present days as opposed to conventional threats emanating from another state, he added.

"States have responded very differently to traditional and to these new brands of national security threats and concerns largely by introducing new laws and measures, and even, on occasions, acting beyond laws," Dr Ziauddin said.

There are widespread legitimate concerns about impacts of floods of new laws on individuals and societies both at national and international levels, he added.

Dr Ziauddin said questions abound whether laws, intended to provide safety and security, are restricting freedoms in reality, or restrictive measures, put in place, deny space and freedom that in turn can create further or aggravate resentments.

Chaired by Odhikar Advisor Farhad Mazhar, the discussion was also addressed by Susan Ward of Academy for Educational Develop-ment (AED).

Representatives from India, Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka are taking part in the meeting.