Terrorism linkages

The reaction of our Foreign Minister reconfirms the government's known attitude to the issue. We feel that the government must demand specific information of the US government on their findings of possible activities of international terrorists on our soil, so that concrete actions could be initiated against these elements.

There have been reports regarding presence of terrorist elements trying to get a foothold in Bangladesh. In fact Harkatul Jihad (HUJI) was named specifically as one such group having links in our country. We ought to keep in mind that the thread of international terrorism in our part of the world runs right across the Middle East to South East Asia. One must not, therefore, discard out of hand the possibility of its tentacles existing in Bangladesh, without a serious investigation into the matter. We are not sure whether that has been done with any seriousness.

Tap here to add The Daily Star as a trusted source

Our policy towards combating international terrorism is well demonstrated in our signing of the UN Conventions on it. In keeping with that the government should consider very seriously the US offer to help us combat the menace at home by adopting a holistic policy on the issue. Terrorists cannot be combated without a coordinated action at regional and international levels.

We appreciate the attempts of the government to acquire appropriate hardware to reinforce the Coast Guard. It is just as well since that is one area which remains most vulnerable and at the disposal of the smugglers of illicit weapons and drugs, to be used without let or hindrance.

It is just not enough to ban groups suspected of terror links and do nothing about arresting their members. It must be ensured that such elements are divested of all capabilities of working with anti-state and transnational terrorist elements, once and for all.