Editorial: Militants and their political patrons, Coordinated action needed to fight them
Complaints have been lodged with the police against some high-level political figures as well as a district super of police, for patronising the JMB. The latest accusations come in the wake of cases lodged in the recent past against a few other political leaders belonging to the same fold, for aiding and abetting the militants.
The nexus of politicians and terrorists is a dangerous combination, something the media had been writing about but no attention was paid to it by the then alliance government.
We feel that there is a need to focus on the issue of militancy, particularly of the type that we have been victims of over the last several years, in a holistic manner. We understand that there are dedicated anti-terror wings of the intelligence agencies, with training and expertise obtained from abroad. What is needed is a coordinated and collaborative effort that will allow concentration and optimum use of resources. And this can be ensured by a central coordinating agency. We are not aware that such an arrangement exists presently in Bangladesh. A fragmented approach or compartmented actions by the agencies might turn out to be counter productive.
One cannot also overemphasise the need for an anti-terror drive which must be based on a strategy that would not be regime oriented but address the interest of the nation Also, it must be so structured as to ensure uninterrupted execution of anti-terror policies.
But whatever be the strategy, it would bear littlie fruit if the people were not taken into confidence. Not only would it help to be made aware of the progress of the government in this regard from time to time, the public must be also actively involved in the government's anti-terrorist action plans if the scourge is to be completely rooted out from our soil.
It may not be out of place to mention that the fight against terrorism was high on the agenda of 14th Saarc summit and has found prominence in the Thirty-Point Delhi Declaration. In the spirit of regional cooperation we may seek the collaboration of our neighbours in this endeavour of ours.
The nexus of politicians and terrorists is a dangerous combination, something the media had been writing about but no attention was paid to it by the then alliance government.
We feel that there is a need to focus on the issue of militancy, particularly of the type that we have been victims of over the last several years, in a holistic manner. We understand that there are dedicated anti-terror wings of the intelligence agencies, with training and expertise obtained from abroad. What is needed is a coordinated and collaborative effort that will allow concentration and optimum use of resources. And this can be ensured by a central coordinating agency. We are not aware that such an arrangement exists presently in Bangladesh. A fragmented approach or compartmented actions by the agencies might turn out to be counter productive.
One cannot also overemphasise the need for an anti-terror drive which must be based on a strategy that would not be regime oriented but address the interest of the nation Also, it must be so structured as to ensure uninterrupted execution of anti-terror policies.
But whatever be the strategy, it would bear littlie fruit if the people were not taken into confidence. Not only would it help to be made aware of the progress of the government in this regard from time to time, the public must be also actively involved in the government's anti-terrorist action plans if the scourge is to be completely rooted out from our soil.
It may not be out of place to mention that the fight against terrorism was high on the agenda of 14th Saarc summit and has found prominence in the Thirty-Point Delhi Declaration. In the spirit of regional cooperation we may seek the collaboration of our neighbours in this endeavour of ours.
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