Kushtia operation

Primarily, a 100-strong local force started the operation and three helicopters took commandos of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) from Dhaka. About 1,000 men from police, Rab and Bangladesh Rifles searched every house in 10 villages in two upazilas (The Daily Star, 21 Jan, 2006). They were reinforced with another 700-strong force. Despite this huge number of personnel the operation ended in a fiasco. Actually this (ostensible) operation was not an endeavour to capture the top brass of the JMB but to show the countrymen and foreigners that the four-party government is very keen and sincere to fight JMB. But like me many people do not buy this argument as their previous and even present attitude towards JMB and other religious (so called Islamic) militants and tacit support to the rise of the JMB are well documented.

There was no need of such massive operation involving lots of resources. If government were really sincere (not really) they could do it with even a small number of law enforcers. Locals had to endure untold sufferings and agony. They were awakened up from the bed and were frightened to see the crack forces.

I think the four-party government knows the whereabouts of JMB top brass. They are waiting for an opportune moment to catch them and reap big benefits in terms of publicity just before the next elections.