Terms of reference for FBI and team

From 1999 to 2005 a total of 16 lethal bombs/grenades have been thrown and exploded in public gathering/meetings, on individuals, and in cinema halls and cultural functions.

In all these cases many prominent leaders were killed and a large number of people got seriously injured. Previously those used to be crude bombs and as such the fatality was less. But in the recent past most of the explosives are of the latest generations of military weaponry which had the devastating effects.

On August 21, 2004, at the Awami League gathering a good number of military grenades were thrown. A senior political leader along with many innocent people got killed and many others seriously injured. Authorities had failed to apprehend the criminals who threw a bomb at the British ambassador and in other public place, but with that devastating incident on August 21, the people expected that the perpetrators would be apprehended, Instead another incident followed to kill the former finance minister.

In The Daily Star on September 7, 2004, I wrote an article entitled "Terms of Reference for Inquiry." I suggested that, instead of carrying out the inquiries in isolation, to include other important factors, for instance to include the capture of arms, ammunition, explosives, etc in Dhaka, Bogra, and Chittagong, to find their source and the group(s) running such a dangerous business. Today it is clear that a good number of sophisticated military weapons with ammunitions and grenades have been smuggled in the country. Previously crude bombs made with "Zarda kouta/canister" were thrown more to create psychological fear and panic than to kill a person. These top quality Arges military hand grenades having more than 2000 pellets and which are made for fighting soldiers in the battle field only are being used to kill and seriously injure innocent civilians.

The latest generation of American as well as Russian automatic rifles are being smuggled in Bangladesh. Some brand new weapons have been captured by law enforcing agencies.

It seems that the intelligence agencies who are supposed to track the groups either have failed or not bothered to do their job. The attitude is that as long as their masters are not affected, there is nothing to bother about. They do not understand that criminals do not have any boundary, principle or morality, today's mentor is tomorrow's enemy.

I am not here to blame the ruling coalition for the political murder. But today the peace loving people of the country are compelled to question the sincerity of the government. The effort made to unearth the motives of the perpetrators responsible for killing/attempt to kill the political leaders and innocent civilians is yet to be revealed. Their godfathers, sources, and organizations both inside and out side the country must be known.

There is of course a fact that bomb attacks also took place under the Awami League regimes. Various law enforcing/intelligence agencies and the government failed to apprehend the culprits. Nothing was done even at that time, but for that reason justification can not be made by other government for not taking appropriate action or for carrying out a farcical investigation. These sorts of action should have been given utmost importance, not because of killing the political leaders, but to restore confidence of the public and image of the country to the outside world.

After the killing of Mr. Kibria, the former Finance Minister, Bangladesh government has asked for the help of Interpol and FBI. The immediate reaction of the US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia Christina Roca was that there was "inaccessibility to evidence." That indicated that there existed some lack of seriousness on the part of government and local investigating authorities.

The other day H.E. Harry K. Thomas, US ambassador, asked for clear terms of references from the Bangladesh government before FBI could undertake a thorough investigations. Terms of references are the most important aspect of an inquiry. The clearer the terms of reference of an inquiry, the better will be the findings, opinion, and recommendations in the report.

The following points may be included in the Terms of Reference:

1. Origin and source of grenades (Arges) used in all the grenade attacks.

2. Source of advance US and Russian origin automatic rifles captured recently

3. Destination and end user of these weapons.

4. Who are the godfathers bringing weapons? (Captured persons at Rangpur, Badda at Dhaka city could give clue)

5. Who has imported 10 truck load of weapons in Chittagong and for what purpose?

6. Who are these highly motivated groups throwing grenades at the political leaders, cinema halls, and at cultural function like Jatra, etc.

7. Is there any link between the groups throwing grenades at political leaders, British High Commissioner, and cultural functions, cinemas, etc.

8. Is there any link to foreign elements/intelligence?

Findings and opinion should have transparency and be made public. Facts should not be hidden like other inquiries giving the pretext of national security, etc. The people have all the rights to know the facts.

It seems our leaders believe in the theory of, "time is the best healer." This is very much true if we look at our past history. Within three years of our independence our leaders and so called policy makers and so called elites started propagating and lobbying about pardoning all the killers of our nationalist elements and freedom fighters. Although about those elements there were clear evidences of killing, raping, and looting. Finally, the perpetrators were let off unpunished. So one can expect the same tomorrow, but at what cost; of the country's reputation and security of the people.

Not providing the helicopter for air-lifting the seriously injured former finance minister and international personality, Mr. Kibria, a sitting member of Parliament, needs to be looked into seriously. Speaker of the Parliament is the guardian of MPs. He was not informed by anyone till next morning. Who is responsible?

When Mr. Abu Taher an MP from Barura constituency (Comilla) died, his body was carried by helicopter to Barura Upazila HQs for Zanaza and later on to his village home for burial although the same job could have been done in two and half hours by road. A man's life is much more precious if he or she could be saved with immediate attentions.

I remember last year while I was traveling by road from Montreal to Toronto I found all 12 lanes of both high ways were blocked. A rescue helicopter had landed at the middle of the high way which was surrounded by one dozen of ambulances and police vehicles. There was a minor accident of a semi trailer and the driver was injured and for that at least one thousand vehicles were made to wait to save his life.

At this stage as a democratic country our credibility has come to its lowest ebb. At the beginning of the multi fiber agreement of WTO we are supposed to consolidate our life line garment industries. Hartal has stopped exports and we are going to loose our market.

We have failed to provide protection to our people. Particularly the intelligence organisations which have failed measurably. They need to concentrate and give more attentions on these extremist elements and 5th columnists than wasting most of their resources and energies on honest opposition party elements within the country.

The writer served as Director Military Operations in AHQs and as an Ambassador of Bangladesh.