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Home for security council to fight terrorism

Rejaul Karim Byron
The home ministry has suggested forming a Cabinet Committee on National Security, a National Security Council (NSO and a Joint Intelligence Unit to counter terrorist threats in a coordinated way.
Its proposal on Counter Terrorism Strategy in Bangladesh, submitted to different ministries for their feedback, also suggested creation of a Central Inter-agency Counter Terrorism Coordination Cell to coordinate and monitor activities of counter-terrorism cells in all intelligence and law enforcement agencies. The proposal includes an organogram on this cell.
"The structures of these proposed bodies will be decided following opinions given by the ministries," said a home ministry source.
The ministries are expected to give their feedback by May 30.
The home ministry prepared the proposal as part of global initiatives against terrorism under the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy endorsed by member states in September 2006 The focus of this anti-terrorism initiative will be based on four principal strands -- prevent, pursue, protect and prepare.
The proposal recommends upholding democratic governance through the rule of law both at national and local levels to prevent terrorism.
The ministry uses a controversial survey conducted by the four-party alliance government on determining educational background of arrested militants in 2006, and says, "Madrasa educa tion has long been a subject of profound blame, to be a breeding ground for terrorism in Bangladesh. But recent trends in terrorism in Bangladesh reject any significant correlation between madrasa education and its linkages with terrorism. Only 19 percent of those who were arrested for terrorism were drawn from Mad rasas."
It however recommends that madrasa curricula should be revised and modernised along with that of mainstream education.
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The ministry noted that due to lack of quality education, madrasa graduates do not get adequate employment opportunities. This leaves them vulnerable to radical -isation. So, the government should facilitate employment opportunities for madrasa graduates.
The proposal suggested introduction of an accountability system for non government organisations (NGOs) under which their financing and auditing system will become transparent.
The ministry identified protection of democratic principles as a critical issue in Bangladesh's counter-terrorism efforts.
To reduce the possibility of attacks in highly populated areas and on critical infrastructures, it is necessary to adopt multi-faceted plans to maximise security. This could be done by forming a Joint Surveillance Team comprising personnel from different law enforcement agencies, it said.
"Cross-border cooperation on an inter-state level with India and Myanmar should be promoted without further delay. This can be done by signing MoUs and extradition treaties with these countries."
Measures to improve vigil on borders should also include modernisation of immigration procedures and visa information system.
In preparing for consequences, the ministry says, "An effective, integrated response to terrorism requires incident management planning, enhanced interoperability and coordination, based on and supported by rapid and effective decision-making. A committee or group empowered to take rapid action should be formed to coordinate the response."
It adds that a four-tier alert system can be prescribed to understand a prevailing terrorist situation. These are -- low, medium, high and extreme.
The home ministry says, "Bangladesh had been relatively lucky on two counts, initially due to no effect syndrome and lack of fallout effect from terrorist attacks in the western world, and subsequently being still in the second generation technology level in terrorism environment in thecountry."