The government has yet to launch a probe into the allegation of political patronisation contributing to the rise of militancy while the security experts stress the importance of detecting immediately

financiers and patrons of the militants.

After the August 17 countrywide blasts last year, the government had ordered the law enforcers to find out the sources of finance for the militants. But despite repeated

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calls by different political parties and professional bodies, it has not taken any measures to look into the allegation against a section of ruling alliance leaders of harbouring the Islamists.

Political parties that took part in the prime minister's national dialogue in last December to find ways to combat militancy had recommended instituting a judicial commission to enquire into the allegation.

They also suggested that those who have been accused of sheltering the militants from within the government and the administration should resign for the sake of a fair investigation.

LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan, also in charge of the home ministry, yesterday said none will be spared if found guilty in the investigations.

Speaking at a press conference on the arrest of JMB chief Shaekh Abdur Rahman, he said, “Hopefully, Bangla Bhai and the rest of the JMB operatives too will soon be captured.”

Bhuiyan, also secretary general of ruling BNP, said the organisational network of JMB has already been greatly diminished and now after the arrest of Shaekh the outfit would become even weaker.

on the trial of Shaekh Rahman, he said he would be tried in the existing court of law.

About involvement of external forces in the militant activities, the minister said it could be known after interrogation of the JMB chief.

About disclosure of some names by JMB military wing commander Ataur Rahman Sunny, he said the intelligence agencies are digging into the matter.

In the wake of the high-profile capture of JMB supremo, security experts yesterday stressed the need for severing the militants' link with their sources of finance and political patronisation.

"Finance is the main thing behind this sort of criminal activities. It would not have been possible for the militants to carry out the subversive acts without financial assistance and political patronisaiton from home or abroad," former adviser to the caretaker government Major General (retired) Moinul Hossain Chowdhury

told The Daily Star yesterday.

"The militancy menace will rear its head again if the sources of finance and patronisaiton are not traced and taken care of," he said, adding that higher unemployment rate and economic disparity in the society give rise to such activities.

Another former adviser to the caretaker government Brigadier (retired) Abdul Malek emphasised continuing the crackdown on militants.

Echoing the view, security analyst Major General (retired) Syed Mohammad Ibrahim told The Daily Star that the government and the media must pursue independently an investigation whether finance and political motivation for the Islamists come from abroad.

" Such investigation should continue inside the country as well," he added.

About what might the militants do after the arrest of Abdur Rahman, Ibrahim said they will probably take stock of their condition to decide how to proceed in absence of their top most leader.

Congratulating the Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) and the other law enforcement agencies on the success of netting the JMB kingpin, he said, "To the JMB operatives, the capture of their boss must have come like an injury to the spinal cord."

About the investigation and trial, Major General Moin said the entire process of handling the militants should be transparent.

ALLEGATIoN oF PoLITICAL PATRoNISATIoN

After religious militancy gained momentum in the northern districts, particularly in Rajshahi, Abu Hena, the then ruling BNP lawmaker of the district, had accused a section of government high-ups of backing the vigilantism by Siddiqul Islam alias Bangla Bhai led Jagrata Muslim Janata, Bangladesh (JMJB) and JMB.

He had named

Telecommunications Minister Aminul Haque and two ministers of ruling alliance partner Jamaat-e-Islami as patronising the militants.

Hena was expelled from his party for raising the allegations.

The names of Deputy Minister for Land Ruhul Quddus Talukdar Dulu

and ruling BNP lawmakers Nadim Mostafa and Mizanur Rahman Minu too cropped up in the allegations.

Later State Minister for Housing and Public Works Alamgir Kabir during a local party meeting in Naogaon said Dulu and Aminul Haque had been behind the militant activities.

But those ruling alliance ministers and lawmakers accused of shielding the militants had repeatedly denied the allegations.

Besides, a large number of militants under interrogation had confessed to having an affiliation with Jamaat.

Harkat-ul Jihad leader Mufti Hannan in october last year told a Dhaka court that former home minister Altaf Hossain Chowdhury had once assured him that he [Hannan] could easily stay within the country. State Minister for Water Gautam Chakraborty and president of BNP Gopalganj district unit had recommended the mercy petition for

Hannan.

Former director of Islamic

Academy Maolana Fariduddin

Masud, who had been detained for suspected links to militancy, told a Dhaka court that stunning information about militancy would come out if the law enforcers interrogated Industries Minister and Jamaat Ameer Matiur Rahman Nizami.

After denying for long the existence of Bangla Bhai and militants, the government finally banned militant outfits JMJB and JMB in February last year.

Against a background of repeated suicide attacks across the country, Prime Minister Khaleda Zia on last December held the national dialogue with different political parties and professional bodies. The dialogue, which came to an abrupt halt, eventually proved fruitless, as the government did not bother to implement any of the suggestions.