A matter of national security

It is argued that it becomes a matter of national security whenever the nation's core values are threatened and on the top of these values is the question of the sovereignty and its territorial integrity. Pending a credible investigation although nothing is exactly known as yet as to the origin, destination and the purpose of the consignment, the very fact that our territory was used for the unlawful trafficking is at the least discomforting. If the trafficking had involved a trans-border movement it also certainly violated the territorial integrity and sanctity of the country.

Whatever might be the source of the unlawful ammunitions and explosives and whatever could be the motives behind their trafficking, the size of the haul and the location of the cache deep inside our territory suggest that the country is splashed with these lethal items which when put to use can wreak havoc in the society. It's syndromes are already writ large on the face of our society where the criminals have virtually the field day and are capable of advancing their nefarious activities with a measure of impunity. What is however more disturbing is that the presence of a huge quantity of unmarked bullets and explosives in the country's interior -- irrespective of whosoever are the criminals behind it and whatever source have they been procured from -- puts a question mark on the sovereign authority that we are able to exercise over our territory. In all reckoning we seem to share that authority with gangsters and outlaws.

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In the parlance of national security the maintenance of conditions conducive to an uninterrupted development and social progress is another important core value for a developing country like Bangladesh for the continued wellbeing of its impoverished people. Have we been able to maintain those conditions is an apt question to be asked at this juncture. The Bogra episode is just one odd instance of the denials of those conditions. But when the widespread chaos, virtual breakdown of law and order and social disorders now prevailing in the country are viewed in their entirety, the composite picture is indeed bleak. Whatever manifestation of this bleakness we come across is only the tip of the iceberg. Anything, more serious and unpredictable, can happen -- given the state of country's internal order at this point of time.

If the ammunition of Bogra is a threat to our national security, the prevailing domestic order that, in more than one way, makes it possible is also a threat to our national security in more significant way. Not only it makes Bogra-like episode worth undertaking, it constantly stand in the way of our development and progress wherein lies our real security. It does so by allowing our criminals in disrupting the stability of the country -- thus denying the conditions essential for our development, growth, production, economic activities and so on. The situation is compounded by the free rein enjoyed by the criminal elements masquerading as para-military groups of any ruling dispensations who in a political void, need them desperately.

The consecutive governments of the country failed to provide an environment conducive either to development or security. These cumulative failures rendered our national security wobbly at the best. It will only exacerbate with the politicisation of its issues. The situation surrounding Bogra haul is still opaque and it is dangerous to comment anything purely on conjectures. Under the circumstances let the experts take care of the mystery that continues to shroud the haul while politicians on either side of the divide can keep mum instead of incensing the mood of blaming each other.

Not only that. They will do a great service to the nation if they help create, with their political conduct, a condition that can rid the nation from its present predicaments -- its poor governance, downhill slide of lawlessness and pervasive corruption at all levels. Only with that it is possible to avert the repetition of Bogra-like episode. It calls for a holistic approach to combat threats to our national security -- a mere 'fire fighting' to contain the menace will prolong the threats even if there is a reprieve in sight.

What is still more crucial is a collective effort of all political forces of the country to root out the threats to our security. A successful security or foreign policy is always based on consensus. No government can achieve that by excluding certain part of the political force from the whole process -- and certainly not by embittering inter-party relationship through a senseless blame game.

Brig ( retd) Hafiz is former DG of BIISS.