Crackdown on terrorists

. PHOTO: AFP

AL general secretary Abdul Jalil said, "The govt. is staging scenes of a drama one after another. Bangla Bhai and Abdur Rahman are the creation of four party alliance which is now staging the drama to misguide people." (The Daily Star, March 7, 2006)

One the other hand, the government blamed the opposition by saying that they are not satisfied with the capture of Abdur Rahman. BNP secretary general and LGRD minister Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan said, "Bomb attacks started during the AL rule but they did not catch the bombers and bring them to justice". "The opposition leader is trying to mislead the people." (The Daily Star March 5, 2006)

Jamaat leader Mr. Nizami said, "To create the background to ban Islamic politics in Bangladesh, anti Islamic forces created JMB. It was created at the time of AL rule in 1998. Shaekh Rahman earned a lot of money doing fertiliser business at that time."

On the other hand, Mufti Amini said accusing AL, "After the arrest of Shaeikh Rahman they (AL) termed it a staged drama which indicates they are associated with these militants." (The Daily Prothom Alo, March 6, 2006)

This confrontational politics was seen after the grenade attack on an AL rally on August 21, 2004, countrywide series bombing on August 17, 2005 etc. AL and BNP are the two sides of the same coin when it comes to politics. When any national issue arises they try to politicise it and use it for their own benefits.

Recent arrests of the masterminds of banned JMB Abdur Rahman and Siddiqul Islam alias Bangla Bhai by the government have put an end, seemingly, to the havoc that had been tearing apart the secular spirit of the land for long.

Now that the masterminds are locked in custody, it is the crying need for the government to bring everything before public, the secret information that the criminals have given and most importantly it has to work hard for weeding out the links / sponsors of the criminals and their whole network and prove its goodwill towards uprooting religious extremism for good from the country. There is more than one reason for the nation to look for a clear and sustainable action from the government as it kept the nation and others outside in continuous obscurity as to the presence of these elements in the country from the very outset.

There had been reports that Bangla Bhai and others were there under a direct patronage of people in the government. Dissident BNP lawmaker Abu Hena made it clear that there was some influential force in the BNP led-coalition government that had been patronising the extremists for a long time.

Rafiqul Islam Rime, Agrabad, Chittagong

The BNP-ruled alliance government at last held JMB spiritual chief Abdur Rahman and Siddiqul Islam alias Bangla Bhai. The countrymen from all walks of life applauded the steps taken against the top militant goons.

Now, the people would like to see hard steps against the JMB godfathers. The industries minister Matiur Rahman Nizami from the very inception of militancy in our country criticised the role of the media.

He maintained that the JMB was a creation of the media. He stated that there was none called Bangla Bhai. Now what he would say about Bangla Bhai, Abdur Rahman and other JMB leaders?

On the other hand, what is BNP thinking about its JMB sympathiser ministers and other like minded people?

M A H Nazim, University of Dhaka

He was living with wife, son, grandson at Sylhet city, while humping the bounty of fifty lakh taka. He was leading a suicide-bomb- squad to attack and kill people, including two judges and orchestrated a synchronised bomb attack across the country.

The ghastly terrorist wanted to talk to government high-ups while preparing for surrendering.

As Abdur Rahman was drawn into interrogation, he disclosed Bangla Bhai's whereabouts. When Bangla Bhai sensed the presence of law enforcers he wounded himself while attempting to commit suicide.

And before the curtain falls down, enchanted grinning viewers are clapping 'good performance' 'superb!

A Reader, On e-mail