Most Read

Danger at home

15 December 2005, 18:00 PM
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
By Dr. K. Maudood Elahi, Jahangirnagar University
15 December 2005, 18:00 PM
. PHOTO: AFP
I do not think the present government, with its political composition, is in a position to contain the fanatic upsurge of the so-called Islamic extremists. The government has been, from the very beginning, suffering from the alleged image problem and fighting against the opposition party, mainly the AL. Therefore, in its initial years several journalists and writers were harassed and even accused of so-called anti-state activities and imprisoned. The AL was also implicated in the process. But now, as the media reports go, these extremists are openly threatening the very political structure sanctioned by the Constitution of the country and even threatening to destroy the Shahid Minars built in memory of the contribution of the freedom fighters and delivering fatwa not to observe the Victory Day etc. They have even gone to the extent of declaring 14 August as independence day and rehabilitating Jinnah as the father of the nation! And these are indeed the most serious anti-state activities - nothing but plain and simple, and are enough to belittle this hard earned freedom of the country and the cause for which Bangladesh was born. These are some of the reasons for which Bangladesh is losing credence in various international forums and the international donor/development agencies are now showing reluctance to be partners of our national development efforts.

It seems that the intelligence machinery and the law enforcing agencies of the country are yet to fully unearth the activities of the extremists. However, there are reasons to believe that the ultimate motivation of these extremists is to erase Bangladesh from the map of the world. Does the government entrusted with upholding independence of the country and protecting its citizen read this message? The two major allies of the ruling BNP have long been professing for turning Bangladesh into a so-called Islamic state (we have seen what this was during the Paki period). They are also directly or tacitly lending support to the extremists at the cost of BNP and its founder's contribution to our struggle for liberation in 1971. This is high time the BNP shakes off its allies and stand on its own for the sake of an independent entity of Bangladesh and the goals for which this country was born. The BNP will shine in the history of Bangladesh for ever by adopting such a measure for the sake of the country.

Otherwise, it will be doomed to oblivion altogether. The political parties must quit the blame game now and look for the truth. No wonder, Bangabandhu had the farsightedness to see this poor country secular where all religious faiths could flourish and live together!

Google News LinkFor all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.