Terrorism is a serious threat in the process of stability and development in Bangladesh. Political, religious and racial discrimination has given the birth of terrorism. Terrorism is also hampering the activities of socio-economic development where threat and intimidation are shown to realize the percentage of profit. Mir Zafar Ali Khan had played a nasty game with Nawab Siraj-Ud’-Dawllah at Palashi battlefield in 1757. He could be able to oust Nawab from the throne and became the Puppet Nawab of British. Genocide of 1971 in the soil of Bangladesh had given birth of state terrorism. The assassination of the father of nation, Banga Bandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his family members was the outcome of state terrorism. The killing of President Ziaur Rahman was another reflection of said procedure.
Terrorist activities in university/college campus and labour unrest in industrial sector had spread in the society as mushroom after the liberation war. Neglecting the demand of tribal people had also given the birth of terrorism which ultimately turn to insurgency in Chittagong Hill Tracts. Our people have the confidence on democracy and representative order. But due to post colonial system Jand”corruption in civil society has developed a grave horror of terrorism. Various causes are identified by the experts in this field. These are being discussed in the following paragraphs .. Political Frustration. There have been numbers of killings of youth, student leaders or activists of either in ruling or opposition parties. The epidemic of violence was brought forward since our independence. The father of nation was massacred with his family in 1975. Thereafter four top leaders were brutally murdered in Dhaka Central Jail. There had been thousands of political murders in the countryside by Gana Bahini in the name of scientific socialism. President Ziaur Rahmafl was murdered in 1981. Most wanted criminal was arrested from the house of a minister. The credibility of the election and the election commission were distorted Criminals and politicians in different places are drinking and driving together. Terrorist maintains close link with the politicians, police and some judicial members. Economic Disparity. Terrorism is born in an economically sick society, Every society in Bangladesh developed with different socio-economic background. Each and every section of the society has certain demands and needs which from their point of view are genuine and deserves to be fulfilled by the government. On the other hand government machineries hardly pay attention to their demands resulting a disorder in the society. The politicians, vested in.terests and the neighboring countries exploit this situation of discontent amongst the different sections of society as well. Economic disparity resulting into inaccessibility to suitable economic avenues which has given the birth to numerous terrors as individual or as a group. Religious Intervention. Some Pro-Islamic groups under the banner of JamaatIslam never wanted a separate sovereign and independent Bangladesh. They are continuously creating religious sentiments amongst the general mass. This extremist group also organized a long march towards India to protest the demolition of the Babri Mosque. They also organized a grand rally in Manik Mia Avenue from where they had planed to march and destroy Shikha Chirantan at surhrawardy Udyan and Shikha Anirban at Dhaka Cantonment. They also insulted Honorable President in an inaugural occasion of Eid-E-Milaclunnabi program on 18 July 1997. tudent Politics and Campus Violence. One Nazir Ahmed was the first victim to be stabbed to death by members of a rival group in 1940 in the history of Dhaka University6 The last victim is Partha Pratim Acharya in I the recent past. Political parties are patronising their student groups in the educational institutions. Recent terrorism in the educational institutions faded the glorious tradition of student politics of Bangladesh. Fighting between the rival student groups, hijackings, muggings, extortion has been the order of campus for the past few years. The terrorist groups use political identity and remain under the protection of political party. Teachers of University have clearry been divided into political groups.
Labour Unrest. Terrorist activities are the alarming concern in the industrial sector of Bangladesh. Armed groups join hands with industrial workers leaders or trade union leaders. They exert undue pressure on the management to fulfil their illogical demands. They become violent and provoke workers to go for strikes when the authority concerned refuse to concede to their demands. They take blessings from influential political quarters. The same terrorist activities are also a great concern in port and transport sectors. Recent abstention programme taken up by port workers for withdrawal of government permission in connection with the construction of a private container terminalnear Chittagong port paralyse the whole port activities.
Political Strike. Hartal or a strike or a bundh as it is called in India is a strong political weapon of the people protesting against some acts or commissions which affect the group interest. This is a basic human right and’also permitted by th~ constitution as a fundamental right. But hartal in Bangladesh means ablazing of cars, insulting the general people on the street, create blockade on railways and highways and crippling of the country’s ports. Armed groups are active during hartal. As a matter of fact hartal paralysed the socio-economic structure of the country. ‘ Insurgency in Chittagong Hill Tracts. Bangladesh Government, since last 21 years has faced insurgency challenge in Chittagong Hill Tracts. There were massacres and many tribals and nontribal citizen of Bangladesh lost their life. The Shand Bahini’s member’s claimed themselves as true revolutionaries. However, a recent peacte treaty may e’.ld the contradictions and save the blood of both tribal and, nontribal people. Drug Trafficking. Port City is not far from the Golden Triangle of South Asia. The common border area shared by Myanmar, China and Thailand offers for growing illicit drugs. Traffickers carry these items through Chittagong Hill Tracts (Mainly through Ali kadam thana). Though most of the illicit drug despatched by sea on to west and America but obviously a portion of the drugs and narcotics get passed to -market for local consumption. As a result, a good number of youth addicted and involved numerous terrorist activities. 2Frustration Against Corruption and Autocracy. No one born as a terrorist. Several factors play a part in the process of transforming an innocent youth into terrorist. Our society is sick due to political injustices and corruption. So, the ‘people, comprising mainly of youth are frustrated and indulge into criminal acts. Corruption is
qnother factor which pushing a person down the dark. lane. These two factor prevailing in Bangladesh since her inception. Rise of Separatists Group. Shadhin Janmobhumi and Janojuddah party organized in south and southwestern part of Bangladesh are a left wing terrorist group caring out threat and intimidation to the general mass. This is, in fact, the struggle between haves and not haves. Recently, a radical Islamic group organized to counter Shadhin Janmobhu’mi and to established a country based on Islamic sharriah. The Islamic terrorist 9[9UP. knoyvn as Jagrata Muslim Janata Bangladesh (JMJB) carried out a series of coordinated bomb attack on 17 August, 2005 over 63 administrative district (approximately 500 bombs). Jagrata Muslim Janata Bangladesh (Awakened Muslim Masses of Bangladesh), also known by the acronym JMJB, is an Islamist, terrorist organisation based in Bangladesh, especially around the country’s north-western region. It is reported to be affiliated with al-Qaeda. The organisation was the feature of a January 2005 New York Times article based upon the rise of Islamic radicalism in Bangladesh. It was also responsible for a series of suicide bombings in Bangladesh on 17 Augest,2005.
The group is led by Siddiqur Rahman, also known as “BangIa Bhai”, and Shaykh Abdur Rahman. Both of them are were apprhended by the law enforceing agencies of Bangladesh Government for series of suicide bombings . Several lesser leaders, for example, the head of the military branch, have also been captured. The group was formed in the late 1990s. JMJB came into spotlight through its murder spree in the North-western region of Bangladesh. Soon after, in 2004 the organization was banned by the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party-led government and measures were taken to eradicate its missions and presence. Many of JMJB’s members• and leaders were former Mujahedin who fought in Afghanistan and who personally knew Osama bin Laden. Its captured activists have stated that they were trained and hoped to join their Jihadist comrades in Afghanistan and Iraq in fighting against the U.S.-led coalition and the democratic political establishments in place within those countries.
Their leaders include BangIa Bhai, Shaykh Abdur Rahman, Shaykh Abd as-Samad assSalafee and Dr. Asadullah al-Ghalib. The JMJB is extremely critical of the Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh, which it deems as heretical due to the latter’s participation in the Bangladeshi political establishment and patronization of secularism and sacrilege of Islamic values and principles. After the Government of Bangladesh proclaimed a large prize for the capture of BangIa bhai. On 6 March 2006, BangIa bhai was captured by police and Rapid Action Battalion in Mymensingh District.
Political parties should come forward and hig~light the need for curbing the fast deteriorating law and order situation. They should stop undue desire for material gains, personal vendetta and rivalry within and out side the party. They may stop student polities for the time being if so demand. Encouragement and almost direct association of teachers section in so-called student politics should be stopped. Police should prepare the non-partisan list of terrorists around the country. No one, even from the ruling party must not interfere with the police in this regard. It should be clear to every political party that no terrorist should use political identity. Armed group must not have blessings from influential political quarters. They shoutd also think for an alternative to strike. Opposition party must not take the hartal or strike as indispensable to throw out the government. On the other hand ruling party must not beat indiscriminately and ruthlessly the opposition party in the street during hartal. A sound -political climate must be created in which it will become difficult for the terrorists to develop tin infrastructure for refuge and support.
Economic disparity and poverty should be eliminated from the society if government wants to combat the terrorism. Unemployment and curtail job opportunity should be looked into carefully. Step must be taken on issues of grievances of deprivation. All efforts should be directed to ensure the basic right for a human being. Special measures are needed to bring the backward class into the mainstream of the society. Low income, huge unemployment massive poverty and chronic underdevelopment must be eliminated to reduce the -terrorism. Social inequality in the distribution of income and wealth to be removed gradually. General. Strong administrative measures are the most essential to counter terrorism. Government must have policy and policy measures to counter terrorism. Civil administration, local police authority and various intelligence organisation must worked together. They should be just and fair in thinking as well as in action. Most efficient and competent officials to be posted in the local ”’administration for interaction and co-ordination among various agencies.
Sincerity in functioning. All civil, paramilitary and military including the intelligence organisation should discharge their duty with sincerity. They must not give any concession to some quarter. All organs of the state should optimum of efficiency. Accountability: Administration must be accountable to the parliament. Bureaucratic attitude wili produce a worst situation than that of terrorist act. Morality and Neutrality. Local civil administration, police or security forces must not have communal, regional or party loyalties. They should be free from local political interference.” Screening of Pro Terrorist Elements. Screening of pro terrorist elements from the society should be the most essential job of the administration. Otherwise, these elements will sabotage from within and encourage the terrorism in the country. Civilian-Police Relations. All efforts should be made to normalize the relations between civilian and police forces. This will generate confidence among the people. They will not only trust on the police but also help the authorities to counter terrorism. Quick Redressed of People’s Grievances. Conscious and concerted efforts should be made by the government officials at all level to redress the public grievances. Local police stations are to be very cautious about those grievances. Local people should be encouraged to approach the nearest police station with the complain hand information about the terrorist. Eradication of Corruption., All efforts should be made to eradicate corruption in government’s administrative machinery. Otherwise it will give a quick response to the rise of terrorism. Role of Media. The electronic media, the press, field publicity department, intellectuals should play constructive, effective and meaningful role in combating terrorism with the administration. Sophisticate Weapons and Proper Training for Police. There is a primary need of proper training, equipping and marshalling of the police forces. They should also be supplied with sophisticated weapon to fight back terrorists who have already equipped with those. 44. Co-operation Between Concerned Agencies. Accurate information and timely decision are essential to counter terrorism. There should be proper and meaningful co-ordination between various intelligence agencies and law enforcing agencies working in the field. Enactment of Strict Law. Separate law should be made to counter terrorism. There should also be a special tribunal from where quick and appropriate judgment can be proclaimed. The state policy makers may think about it. The TADA Law in India is an example of countering terrorism.
Terrorism in the world is not a new concept. Killing, kidnapping, sabotaging, hijacking, exploding bombs etcare the traditional activities of terrorist. Technological advancement gave terrorists a new dimension of mobility and lethality. Many of the terrorists sustained psychological damage during childhood. Terrorists try to isolate the government from the mass. They at times compel the people to co-operate with them. Some times they use to draw attention of international community. Terrorists follow traditional as well as modern methodology. Terrorism is also a serious threat in the process of stability and development in Bangladesh. It is hampering the activities of socio-economic development. Bangladesh has come into existence through bloodshed which had given.. birth of state terrorism. Pakistani Armed Forces along with their associates killed many people, looted properties and created horror. Various causes of terrorism in Bangladesh are identified. But mainly du~ to post colonial system and corruption in civil society. Political frustration was brought forward since our independence. Terrorist maintain close link with the politicians, police and some judicial members, Every society in Bangladesh developed with different socio-‘economic background. The demands and needs of these societies are not fulfilled accordingly. Economic disparity creates inaccessibility to suitable economic avenues which has given the birth -of terrorism. Fundamentalism has also given the rise of terrorism. Political parties and some teachers of university ruins the academic atmosphere by patronizing unethical polities in name of student polities. Terrorist activities are also prevailing in the industrial sector. Armed group join hands with workers leader or trade union leaders and exert undue pressure on the management to fulfill their illogical demands. Political strike paralyses the socioeconomic structure of the country. Illicit drugs and narcotics trafficking have also influence terrorism. Terrorism is a serious problem and there are no easy solution, to this problem. It should be a combined measures of political economic and administrative actions. Unethical politics, undue desire for material gains, personal vendetta and rivalry within and outside the party should be stopped. Armed group must not have blessing from political parties. Political leaders must have a political identify and it should coincide with national ideology. Steps must be taken on issues of grievances of deprivation. All efforts should be directed to ensure basic human rights. Low income, huge unemployment massive poverty must be eliminated to reduce terrorism. Strong administrative measures are most essential to I counter terrorism. Government machinery must be sincere in functioning. All efforts should be made to eradicate corruption. Police forces should be equipped with sophisticate weapons. They should also have anti terrorist training. Electronic media and the press should play constructive, effective and meaningful role in combating terrorism.
Counter-Terrorism Policy. Government in power cannot alone eradicate terrorism from the society. Joint efforts may reduce the volume of terrorism. Political parties should stop unethical polities and preach their follow men to know the reality. They may warn their counter parts without devoicing ethical formula and without hampering economical development. Alternative to strikes should be thought by the politicians. Media should play an extremely important and obvious role in relation to terrorist activity. The media policy should include cooperation understanding, dialogue, interchange of information and reasonable degree of responsibility by both administration – and media. Employment opportunities to be created so as to case frustration amongst the Young generation. 51. Administrative Measures: Strong Administrative measures and speedy trial procedure to be adopted to curb terrorist activities. Public confidence to be gained by law-enforcing agencies and honest efforts should be made by them in combating terrorism. Administration should be accountable to the”‘ parliament. They should be free from political interference. At the same time parliament to check the abuses of power by the law enforcing agencies indulging in tackling the problem of terrorism. The steps must be taken to win the confidence of the largely innocent people and thereby making the terrorists isolated. Strong and extraordinary administrative and legislative measures are most essential to strengthen the hands of administrative machinery and law enforcing agencies to counter terrorism.
