This Independence Day, let us stand against terrorism

As a practising Muslim, I know that my religion teaches peace. Millions of Muslims, from the youth to Muslim scholars, are taking a stand against the so-called Islamic State. The terrorist attacks in London and Belgium have grieved all Muslims. We pray for those who have lost their lives in these incidents, and their families.

We are not immune to what is happening in the rest of the world. Some of the Islamic State's claims of responsibility for terrorist attacks in Bangladesh are disputed, but the destabilisation of society is unmistakable. Terrorism, instigated by political, religious, and racial discrimination, is a serious threat to the stability, development, and socio-economic progress of Bangladesh. The Daily Star's news reports spread out over several months have found over 30 religious militant organisations that have set up their network in Bangladesh since 1989, with the central objective of establishing an Islamic state. These are issues we must all be conscious of, all over the world.

We want to live in harmony, and leave a peaceful world for our future generations. But in order to do that, we must decry support of all destructive practices. We are a democratic sovereign country celebrating its 47th Independence Day, and on this day, the time has come to stand united as a nation against all forms of terrorism.