EVEN after the bloodiest Gulshan’s Holey Artisan Bakery attack in 2016, there is apparently no fundamental change in government’s counterterrorism strategy. Time is running out too quickly to take multi-angled tasks to deter terrorism and uproot the causes of extremism -like, corruption, injustice, inequality, unemployment, and lack of democracy, and extreme explanation of religion.
News media said that amid subversive activities by terror groups, particularly the banned Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), the government formed a high-powered body named “Committee for Resistance and Correction Militancy” in April 2009. Its objective was to launch a countrywide massive awareness programmes by screening feature films and documentaries even in villages alongside running campaigns and holding discussions. Under the initiative, imams of mosques were to deliver anti-militancy sermons after Jum’a prayers while UP chairmen and members would train in anti-militancy motivation programmes.
As the authorities relax, a new breed of radicals grew in silence. Bangladeshi-Canadian Tamim Ahmed Chowdhury, who was inspired by global terror organisation Islamic State, entered Bangladesh in October 2013 and held a meeting with a faction of JMB. He also looked for fresh blood and found some educated, tech-savvy youths from well-off families. This was how a new radical group emerged in 2014.
The Gulshan incident served as a wake-up call to the government and triggered a massive hunt for militants. Law enforcers succeeded in busting a number of militant dens through counterterrorism operations. Apart from using force, the government launched awareness campaigns and the home ministry held several meetings and conferences with leaders of all religious communities as part of anti-militancy campaigns. Since the Gulshan attack, law enforcers killed more than 80 suspect militants in 30 drives but the successes do not guarantee that there would not be any attacks in future as militants could regroup and regain strength.
De-radicalisation and rehabilitation of detained militants is another big issue in combating extremism, and the government is yet to do anything in this front.
