Bangladesh Serial
Blasts
By Vipin Agnihotri
23 August, 2005
Countercurrents.org
Over
400 low-intensity bombs exploded across Bangladesh on August 17, resulting
in death of two people and serious injury to over 100.
Whoever might have done that, one thing is for sure that they are very
organized, meticulous and powerful, with large network and connections.
This is not a terrorist act that is passed; the evidence shows that
it is a prelude to something more alarming.
Though there were
no immediate claims of responsibility, leaflets of the banned Islamic
group, Jamiat-ul Mujahedin Bangladesh, calling for the establishment
of the Islamic law in the country were found at the scene of some of
the explosions.
There is reason
why the text of the leaf-let calling for religious war should be taken
seriously. If they can execute a countrywide orchestrated act of terrorism
involving at least thousands of under-ground operatives with thoroughness
and precision, they are not far from taking the government and opposition
and parliament.
Though, the bomb
were homemade and was packed only with sawdust, and planted outside
government buildings and courts - intended to cause only limited damage
and were not meant for any serious damage or casualties.
But the manner in
which the coordinated explosions took place almost simultaneously left
more questions than answers.
After the blast,
comes the usual response from the government. It is a cowardly,
conspiratorial and well-planned terrorist act.
But the million-
dollar question, which now arises, is: Whether the government has a
will to curb the activities of these Islamist groups or they are working
on the formula Just another day in the office. If we take
a look at the past, Khaleda Zia's Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)
came to power in the October 2001 polls after collaborating with the
Jamaat-e-Islami and the Islamic Oikyo Jote - both of them known for
their fundamentalist views on Islam. The victory at that time gave an
inside view of the fact that the influence of fundamentalist parties
in Bangladesh is getting pivotal by the day.
Thats why it is more or less impossible for the government to
stop the growing activities of the Islamists, which are getting stronger
and also playing a crucial role in the formation of government.
Whats more,
there has been a steady rise in attacks on the opposition parties. Who
can forget the attack on Sheikh Hasina in August last year using same
homemade bombs and grenades, at a protest meeting organized by the Awami
League in Dhaka? Though she was lucky enough to survive that onslaught
but other 20 plus members of her party was not that lucky.
These incidents
can be a trouble-sign for India too, which has had to deal
with the fallouts of growing fundamentalism in Pakistan.
Insurgent groups
based in India's North East are known to have bases inside Bangladeshi
territory, where leaders of groups like ULFA are believed to have business
interests as well.
Smuggling of arms
and ammunition, as well as drugs are also reported to be taking place
through Bangladeshi territory into the North East.
In addition, infiltration
from Bangladesh has been a long-standing problem for India, since the
days of the 1971 Liberation War, when thousands of refugees crossed
over to India.
This can pose a
new challenge for India unless something drastic happens and the Bangladeshi
government do something concrete regarding these fundamentalists, it
could only be a matter of time when Bangladesh also becomes the hot
spot for terrorists, fighting for jehad.This can lead to
a new headache not only for south-asian community but for International
community as well.
(The writer is a
journalist based at India He can be reached [email protected])