Militancy has been a menace for a long time but the rulers never felt the urgency till it reached a desperate situation. The Liberation War had introduced arms into the society out of necessity. it had also divided political activists into pro and anti liberation camps. Unhealthy political culture found the opponents either in the anti-liberation camp or as lackeys of india. issues would have been dead long ago if appropriate legal action against the offenders were taken on time. Politics in Bangladesh usually have more steam on non-issues.
Poverty, hunger and mismanagement agitated the people in a war-ravaged Bangladesh. it was the communists who first offered the panacea to the frustrated minds and attracted some agitated youths. Thus, we had armed struggle by Huq-Toha, Matin-Alauddin, shiraj sikder and many more. With the passage of time, the leaders of these groups, without the required abilities, wasted a great number of youths. The remnants are still struggling in rural pockets. The islamic fundamentalists were in hibernation because of their role during the War of Liberation, as it was not the right climate.
With the incursion of the communists in Afghanistan under Noor Mohammad Taraki, an international battleground was found for the
islamic fundamentalists to fight, train and learn militant politics under the active encouragement of the West. The tsunami of militancy in Afghanistan is felt from Uzbekistan to indonesia. West's hate-culture in occupied iraq combined with terrorism has renewed impetus in the Middle East and elsewhere. Geogra-phically speaking Bangladesh is an isolated Muslim country; but could not isolate itself from the upsurge of islamic militancy breeding worldwide. Faith, simplicity and emotion are the character definitions of a Bangladeshi. 'We are Taleban, Bangladesh is Afghanistan' was the battle cry of the fundamentalists. Those who are dreaming of political power without democracy are in the
game of jihad and terror bombings.
Like the communists of the bygone days not all fundamentalists are advocating gun-barrel politics. Communists like Joty Basu of West Bengal or Nripen Chakrabarty of Tripura, who have not proved to be harmful, must be distinguished from Naxalite Charu Majumdar. Those who are speaking too much against fundamentalism without distinction are in fact inadvertently propagating their cause on simple minds. Most of the poor people still visit the village imams more frequently than the doctors, with medical and other problems. The imam is respected in a village and has religious solutions on all issues. Outright accusations are not the way. The state must develop a method of constructive
engagement with the imams of the mosques and teachers of madrasas as a long-term strategy.
Fathomless corruption, unprecedented law and order problem, insecurity of life and property with abject poverty and naked luxury combined, make people absolutely hapless and angry. One must understand the language why a man on the street has a propensity to throw stones at luxury cars or glass castles of Dhaka without provocation. it is that reaction to social rejection and neglect that is drawing some agitated youth towards islamic militancy. Even Bill Gates says that market is not the solution of all social ills. No doubt, the richest businessman is also the greatest philanthropist on earth.
The state must ensure minimum security and opportunity to all. A society cannot infinitely remain a bottomless pit of corruption, injustice and insecurity, without drawing flaks of drastic remedy offered by the extremists. it is in fact the social bankruptcy that the terrorist outfits are terming as 'Ayam-e-Jaheliat' to allure frustrated minds. in the past, communism had failed because there were few takers of a godless system. Terrorist in the name of religion will have more sympathetic ears in a predominantly Muslim society. if you are looking for a JMB suicide bomber in the torn body-parts of Yadav Das of Netrokona, you are plain dishonest.
The worst of the fears have
come true. Nothing can be worse than the human bombs willing to explode for a mission. Public confidence is shattered. Not long ago in Motijheel, i observed, everybody was giving suspicious look at everybody else; every object suspected to be a bomb about to explode. While in New York several weeks ago, i was overwhelmed by more questions by Bangladeshi and American friends alike than i could possibly answer. Panic is spreading.
The visit of Bill Gates could have exploded a thermonuclear device in the iT sector of Bangladesh and a resultant tsunami in the capital market. it was equivalent to a commercial tragedy that a painful bearish slide prevailed in the capital market on the day he and his wife arrived in Bangladesh. Bangladesh has become infamous for missing opportunities. But the visit of media mogul Ted Turner, offers to invest multi-billion dollars by TATA, india and WG Petroleum LLC of UsA, indicate that everything is not lost yet. i appreciate their insight and bravery.
As a trained man in military hardware i am not impressed by the lethality and efficiency of the bombers. The hostility towards society and motivation for sacrifice has not been backed by the killer instinct and technology. Nowhere in the world is suicide bombers satisfied with such small targets with wholesome personal sacrifices. it speaks that terror bombers are more emotional than coldblooded murders. Obviously Bangladesh needs to meet that emotional void in the society.
We have thrown away ten truckloads of sophisticated arms, explosives and ammunition worth millions dollars, accidentally captured in Chittagong, by looking for some petty boatman in the proverbial style of 'Man seru Mea' of Chittagong port, and played politics on serious issues like attempt on the life of the leader of the opposition, the British High Commissioner, killings of AsMs Kibria, Asanullah Master MP and many others.
After 34 years of its birth Bangladesh is still engaged in a heated debate between the father-of-the-nation and declarer-of-the-independence issue. Who is the father of the nation is directly relevant to who is in power. Names of bridges and airports, currencies, textbooks, accused and complainants change with the change of government. The new generation is thoroughly disgusted with the essential knowledge of history and the claimant of living witnesses of the national history. The poverty stricken people have no more stomach for corruption, insecurity, injustice and distortion. Bangladesh is at that crossroads now.
**The author is a free lancer.