The big bang

The Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh has claimed responsibility for the attacks. Leaflets, issued in the name of that organisation, were found at many of the places where the explosions took place. These leaflets said: "Democratic system of governance is anti-Islamic as it vows for supremacy of people instead of supremacy of God. The present judiciary is not in conformity with Islam as it does not practice Islamic law. It is time to implement Islamic Republic and the Sharia law in Bangladesh" and "Bush and Blair be warned to get out of Muslim countries."

So far it is known, the terrorists had used commercially available explosives in small quantities for assembling crude improvised explosive devices fitted with timers. There seemed to be no intention of mass casualty. The explosions were meant to demonstrate the reach and the extent of the following of the organisation right across the country.

We have been listening from different sources and finding news paper reporting every now and then about the rise of Islamic fundamentalist forces in Bangladesh. High handed activities of militant Islamic groups in different parts of the country especially in rural areas dominated the media at times. But, leaders of the political parties of the alliance now in power along with intelligence and law enforcing agencies of the government always denied those as untrue or at best exaggeration of fact. They even went up to the extend of terming those people as traitors who, as per their language, are engaged in fabricating and circulating baseless or blown up stories of terrorist activities by Islamic groups. As per government this is being done with an ulterior motive, with the intention of tarnishing the image of the country to discredit the government.

Under the circumstances, the general population seemed to be unprepared for such a well orchestrated bomb attack. The bombs were detonated at or near government offices, courts, press clubs and other important public places. The success of the operation lies in the fact that it occurred at different places covering the entire country almost simultaneously; the places of occurrences were crowded with people inclusive of law enforcing agencies at the time of the blast yet there happened nothing which could hinder the successful completion of the entire episode.

Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia condemned those responsible as " enemies of the country, people, peace, humanity and democracy." Mr. Lutfozzaman Babor, the state minister, Home, described the incidents as an organised attack. Mr. Abdul Mannan Bhuiya, the secretary general of BNP the major partner of the ruling coalition and an important minister of the government said, the persons responsible for the attack whoever they might be would be caught and punished.

Can these statements be considered to provide enough assurance that the militants with their terrorism agenda would now be dealt with by the government with full thrust? Could the people of this country feel safe from destructive activities of these fanatics after what has been said and done by the government? It is doubtful or to be more precise it may not be doubted that it is not going to happen. This is not the first time that similar occurrence took place. The nation had to listen to such rhetoric every time without finding any effective effort but talk, not to speak of having any positive outcome.

In early 2002 an Islamic militant group calling themselves Shahadat al Hiqma which was operating mainly in Rajshahi region, came forward with their fundamentalist agenda. They called press conference and distributed leaflets and hand bills propagating anti-state messages quite openly under the very nose of the government and its different agencies. Interestingly, the government was somehow found deliberately overlooking the happenings. Naturally, the political and civil society created a big hue and cry with the help of the press. As a consequence, on February 9, 2002, the Government had banned the Shahdat al Hiqma. Some leaders of that group were arrested at that time. It was known that those arrestees were subsequently released.

Crack-downs had been ordered by Begum Khaleda Zia after bomb explosions at Dinajpur on February 13, 2003, and after a gunfight on August 14, 2003, between the police and JMB activists in Joypurhat. But, that crack-down fizzled out after a period of time.

All those arrested between February and August, 2003, had been ordered to be released and not many were prosecuted in courts.

The government of Bangladesh again declared crack down on Islamic militants on February 23, 2005 and banned activities of some militant Islamic groups. But, it was widely believed that the said crack-down on Islamist militants was in fact an 'eye wash' to satisfy the donor community.

Apparently, the said crack-down was initiated out of panic of stoppage/curtailment of aids from donor countries and agencies. The decision of crack down and ban on militant outfit in Bangladesh coincided with reports that Western donor-countries had held an informal meeting at the World Bank headquarters at Washington DC, from which Bangladesh was excluded. The members discussed the deteriorating security situation in Bangladesh. European Union (EU) countries were contemplating the curtailment of aid to Bangladesh because of the failure of the government to act against religious extremist elements, which had stepped up attacks not only against the leaders of the opposition Awami League headed by Sheikh Hasina, but also against the Ahmadiyas and moderate Muslims advocating secularism and religious tolerance and against Bangladeshis working for foreign non-governmental organisations (NGOs). On that very day during Washington meeting, when the EU officials called for action, the ban order was issued.

EU officials, reportedly, described the situation in Bangladesh as very precarious and alleged that governance had failed due to reluctance to act against the religious extremists due to electoral considerations. Consequently, while the EU demand was not accepted, it was agreed by the participants that they should once again mount pressure on Dhaka to act against the extremists and improve governance and law and order.

Though the crackdown should have been against all the Islamic militants but the government's ban order was selective. It was against Jagrata Muslim Janata, Bangladesh (JMJB)and Jam'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh(JMB)only. Governments ban did not extend to another militant group Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islam(HUJI) which was rumoured to have definite linkage to Al Qaeda of Osama bin Laden and his International Islamic Front (IIF).

As had been already described, the government and its alliance partners always vehemently opposed the very existence of militant organisations in Bangladesh. But, the denial lasted till 23rd of February,2005, the day of Washington meeting of donors. It is really interesting to note that how in a day the government suddenly not only accepted the fact of existence of terrorist Islamic groups in Bangladesh but started to make accusations and take actions against the militant fundamentalists for creating anarchy and social unrest by misleading groups of youths exploiting their religious sentiments. In the first place it is puzzling how a government could so deny a fact with full knowledge of the same just to maintain personal and partisan interest.

It is understood, the government has been facing a serious image crisis abroad for the last several months over the militant issue. It is also coming out that major donor countries and agencies have been raising the issue in every meeting with the government. Some donors even threatened to stop aid and co-operation.

Fundamentalist militant Islamic groups consider secular progressive forces and left leaning political parties not only as rival but as enemy who are to be eliminated if necessary. Political parties at present opposed to the alliance government including the main opposition Awami League fall under the category of elements to be considered enemies by the militants. In that way, the Islamic militants and alliance government seem to have same or similar political goal in respect of dealing with main opposition Awami League and its partners.

It has been seen that rise of so called Islamic fundamentalist forces have rather benefited the alliance government. The militants targeted their activities including torturing and killing of the political elements towards those who are also opposed to the present alliance government. It is obvious, personal and partisan interest of party in power took priority over national interest, the issue of rule of law or ensuring safety and security of people in addressing the militant fundamentalist activities of so called Islamic groups.

Whatever commitment given or actions taken by the present alliance government so far in respect of curbing the so called Islamic militancy have been found to be to hush up the hue and cry and to let the situation cool down. Nation is yet to see any meaningful effective move to prove that the government means business. It may be concluded that whatever the present government says or does, the people of this country may not find any option but to pray to Allah for their safety and protection from the fanatics who are out there to kill innocent people in His name.

GM Quader is an MP