Anti-militancy operations

The security forces deserve credit for detecting and neutralising militants, particularly over the last one year after the Holey Artisan encounter. Needless to say, the militant tactics have taken a unique character in Bangladesh. In some places, they have taken the benefit of built up areas to set up bases and are involving their family members in militant activities, using children as human shields. In others, secluded houses have been turned into militant dens. Obviously, the idea is that presence of women and children will not arouse suspicion among the public. And that is what has made the raids on militants den more sensitive, not to speak of the fact the anti-militant operationsare taking more time than normal. And it has also made the job of the security forces more dangerous, as the death of a fireman in recent anti-militant operation in Rajshahi has demonstrated.  

Admittedly anti-militant operations, where bullets fly and grenades are hurled, cannot rule out the possibility of own casualties, but adequate precaution and safety measures might help in reducing fatalities on own side. Regrettably, the fireman was employed in a particular task but neither adequate personal protection nor safety measures for his team was provided while they were involved in the job of blowing a hole through a wall of the building using water hose. Whatever may be the cause of his unfortunate death, either from splinters of IED hurled by the militants or from knife wounds inflicted by them, had there been adequate protection Abdul Matin might still be alive.