Md Joynal Abedin Khan :
After the recent sensational militant attacks, the government, law enforcers and security experts have categorically admitted that massive militant activities emerged everywhere in the country.
To this effect, the members of law enforcing agencies have already started fighting against the militant groups to uproot them from the country as the radical outfits spread their actions from the capital to remote areas.
Earlier, the government has banned six militant groups along with bringing 26 radical outfits under strict vigilance.
The banned militant organizations are: Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), Jagrata Muslim Janata Bangladesh (JMJB), Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT), and Hijb-ut-Tahrir. The radical outfits under the govern observation are: Asif Reza Commando Force (ARCF), Hijb-ut Tauhid, Taamir Uddin, Lashkar-er-Taiba, Jais-e-Mohammad, Warat Islamic Front, Jamaat’ As Sad’at, Al Khidmad, Harkat-e-Islam al-Jihad, Muslim Millads Shariah Council, World Islamic Front for Jihad, Jais-e Mohammad, Kalimar Dawat, Islami Dawati Kafela, Hizbullah Islami Samaj, Harkat-Ul Mujahidin Bangladesh, Nusratul Muslemin, Al Harat Al Islamia, Jamaatul Falhiah, Tauhidi Janata, Biswa Islami Front, Jamaatul Al Sa’dad, Shahadad-e Nabuat, Jamaat-e-Eahia Al Turat, Jais-e Mostafa Bangladesh, and Al Jihad Bangladesh.
According to official data, at least 615 people, including high officials of government and law enforcers, were killed in militant attacks across the country in last several years.
Of them, 360 were civilians, 252 terrorists and 33 members of security forces, it said.
Since 2005, the law enforcers arrested 1,884 people in connection with the militancy activities and recovered 185 firearms, over 4500 rounds of bullet, 1624 hand grenades and more than 2,000 kilograms bomb making explosive from their possession, the report said.
However, law enforcers have continued their ongoing raid in cities and remote areas in the all the districts to curb the militancy which also raised a conception among the people that militancy extended everywhere in the country, Police Headquarter Sources said.
The police personnel sometimes follow a policy of ‘extrajudicial killings’ in the name of self-defense to hold faith of the people on law enforcers that raised question among the common people.
Though their raids hi8ndered to lead the normal lives, the intelligence agencies could not take any effective step due to lack of advance information in connection with the terror attacks in Gulshan, Sholakia and Jposseni Dalan.
They sought people’s help to combat the militants and their cohorts from the country. In the meantime, anti-terrorism committees have been formed in educational institutions, local government units as well as religious places to fight against terrorism considering the national interest, Home Ministry sources said.
Terrorism issue also got highest priority in the Deputy Commissioners’ ongoing annual conference, they said.
Security expert Brigadier General (retd) Shakhawat Hossian told the media that the militancy has already emerged in the remote areas from the cities. “We are frightened as women have recently started joining the militant groups,” the security expert said.
“Law enforcers have raided some remote areas in Gaibanda, Pabna, Satkhira, Bogra and Manikganj districts following intelligence report that militants were operating their activities in these areas, creating a concern of militancy everywhere in the country,” he said.
Security analyst Major General (retd) Abdur Rashid said that militant activities had first started in the country being inspired by the Afghanistan-based radical outfit, Harkat-ul Jihad al-Islami (Huji).
Later, another militant outfit was introduced in the name of Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), he said.
But the drive against militants has continued as they repeatedly organized to commit attacks, he said.
Contacted, Professor Dr Zia Rahman, Chairman of Criminology Department of Dhaka University, said that the problem can be resolved if we can address the gaps within our intelligence agencies and bring about changes in social, family and educational activities.
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said that they would soon control over the militants by combating against them.
Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid has asked for forming educational institutions-based committees across the country to fight terrorism and militancy.
Inspector General of Police (IGP) AKM Shahidul Hoque said that the government committed to root out militancy, but it could not be done without participation of the people from all walks of life.
Asaduzzaman Miah, Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, however, said that they do not have any information to confirm international connection with the country’s militants, but they are not ruling out the possibility. Investigations are underway, he said.
