PM's resolve welcome

While welcoming her commitment, we must say that implementing her resolve will involve not only facing some hard truths but also doing something decisive about them. The direction that the investigations are taking has been rather revealing dropping hints at some of her coalition partners' possible links with the activities of the extremists. The main issue confronting her today is what is she going to do with the increasing indications of a linkage between some elements within her coalition and outlawed extremist outfit like Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) that bears sinister implication for the country's future. Although Jamaat has issued rejoinders against such allegations, the impressions gathered from those arrested and interrogated cannot be brushed aside until the process of investigation has been completed yielding a definitive result. Besides, the prime minister can always tap in on her intelligence agencies to get to the bottom of things.

The challenge before her is clear-cut. The most important issue facing the country today is this spate of terrorist bomb blasts. Any attempt by any quarter to deal with the matter in a half hearted way or sweep things under the carpet will be suicidal not just for the ruling coalition but for the future of the entire nation. We, therefore, sincerely hope that the PM will face the challenge head-on and exorcise extremism root and branch from wherever it exists and in whichever form. We, on our part, are ready stand by her on any decisive action she takes to uproot terrorism. We wish her well.

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