Sagar Biswas :The Bangladesh government has decided to ban broadcast of Peace TV, a 24-hour channel run by India-based controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik, in the wake of allegations of inspiring Islamist militants.The Cabinet committee on law and order on Sunday took the decision in a special meeting held at Secretariat in the backdrop of two major terrorist attacks in a span of only one week-one at Gulshan on July 1 and another at Sholakia on July 7. Earlier, allegations were raised from different quarters that one of the attackers in Gulshan carnage was inspired by the speech Dr Zakir Naik, a 50-year-old Indian preacher, who is also banned in Malaysia. The terrorist had followed Naik regularly through social media networks, including twitter. Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu, head of the Cabinet Committee, disclosed the decision of the ban on Peace TV after the meeting. He said several other crucial decisions were also taken in the meeting with a view to curbing militancy.Besides the Industries Minister, Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed, LGRD Minister Khandakar Mosharraf Hossain, Water Resources Minister Anisul Islam Mahmud, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu, Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon and Expatriate Welfare Minister Nurul Islam took part in the meeting.Heads of different security and intelligence agencies, including Inspector General of Police AKM Shahidul Haque and Dhaka Metropolitan Commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia, among others, were also present. Just two days ago, Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu had hinted about the banning. “We’ve got some allegations about Peace TV. These will be thoroughly investigated,” he said.The Peace TV is owned by Islamic Research Foundation [IRF], a Mumbai-based charity organization, which was founded by Naik. He is also president of IRF. The Peace TV did not get license to broadcast in India. Its contents are broadcasted from Dubai in English, Urdu and Bangla apparently to catch followers in the subcontinent.Dr Naik, however, on Saturday claimed that no Bangladesh government official had said that he inspired the act of terrorism, PTI reported. “I spoke to Bangladeshi government people. They told me that they do not believe I inspired these Bangladeshi terrorists to do this act of killing innocent people. That is a different issue that he was my fan,” Naik said.It is also alleged that some Indian youths went to Syria to join ISIS [Indian State of Iraq and Syria]. After getting the news, the Indian government took hard stance against Dr Naik and his Peace TV. According to media reports, Indian authorities have found Naik’s speeches to be provocative and objectionable. Besides, his explanations had ignited controversies in many places. Dr Naik is also banned from entering the UK and Canada.Recently, the provincial government of Maharashtra initiated an investigation about the matter. Later, law enforcers were deployed around his Mumbai office. “I saw the speeches made by him [Naik] and also the telecast of the particular channel [Peace TV]. Today, I made enquiries with my officers. It is a matter concerning security of our country and social harmony,” India’s Union Information and Broadcasting Minister M Venkaiah Naidu on Friday told The Indian Express.Meanwhile, the cabinet committee meeting adopted a motion of condolence following the recent militant attacks one after another in the country. It also conveyed thanks to the members of law enforcement agencies for their expertise and performance to resist recent militant attacks. At the same time, the meeting laid emphasis on providing latest weapons and training to increase law enforcers’ capability.”The meeting decided to keep vigil on the ‘khutba’ [delivering religious speech] during Jumma prayers in the mosques. The security agencies will also see whether the religious personalities, who conduct ‘khutba’, are following real religious norms, or not. Besides, the waj mahfil will also be brought under close monitoring,” Amir Hossain Amu said. He said: “The meeting also decided to give stress on social consciousness to eliminate and control militancy. For that, it needs to initiate a movement involving the people from all walks of life. Besides, the police patrol duty must be increased.”About the security measures regarding foreigners, Amu said, “The security of foreigners and export organizations must be increased, if they want. The meeting also asked the concerned departments to close unauthorized schools, colleges, hotels and restaurants in Gulshan diplomatic enclave.” Official sources said the meeting sharply criticized US-based international television channel CNN [cable news network] for its live telecast of Gulshan terror attack for over 36 hours. The committee members observed that CNN intentionally continued the telecast. On behalf of the police, it was told the meeting that charge-sheets of 14 militancy cases, including Japanese national Hoshi Konio and Italian citizen Cesare Tavella, have already been submitted. The rest 23 cases are under investigation, the sources said.
