Transparency the key to JMB interrogation

Reward worth Taka 50 lakh each was announced for information leading to the arrest of either of the two kingpins. It remains still unclear who would get the reward money though it has already been officially confirmed that the money would be paid.

People have reason to feel happy as both Rahman and Bangla Bhai were responsible for at least one and a half dozen major bomb incidents in the country, which have claimed the lives of at least two hundred people and left at least a thousand others maimed during the last decade.

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The nation is still haunted by the tragic memories of incidents of bomb attacks at Ramna Batmul on Bengali New Year's day, Christian church in Gopalganj, Udichi cultural function in Jessore, CPB rally in Paltan, and Awami League rally in Narayanganj during Sheikh Hasina's rule.

During the rule of the present BNP -led alliance, bomb attacks were conducted with precision in a well co-ordinated manner on August 17 last year in 63 out of 64 districts, sending shock waves through the entire nation.

The bomb operations were conducted with efficiency also on AL rally at Bangabandhu Avenue in the city, claiming the life of AL leader Ivy Rahman and a couple of dozen others, and again in Habiganj, killing AL leader SAMS Kibria and some others. Another incident of bomb explosion took place at the Sylhet shrine of Shah Jalal (RA) on British High Commissioner Anwar Chowdhury.

People expected national unity to face the threat posed by JMB but instead both the major political parties still remain engaged in blame game and mudslinging against each other. In democratic culture there will be battle of wit and intellect between the ruling party and the opposition but that should not in any way turn into bitterness or personal hostilities as is being witnessed in our country.

The Awami League led 14-party combine has been describing the arrest of Rahman and Bangla Bhai as a stage managed drama and demanding interrogation of those detained by an independent commission for ensuring transparency and neutrality in the process of investigation. As national elections are due early next year, the demand of the AL-led combine is likely to become stronger with the passage of time.

The AL- led combine has expressed doubts that if the JMB leaders are interrogated by Rab and policemen, the findings may not be neutral as a section of alliance leaders had connections with Bangla Bhai. Abu Hena MP, was expelled from BNP for bringing similar charges against some top leaders of Rajshahi region. The AL and its allies would intensify their demands for conducting fair investigation when general elections come closer.

If required, those on the suspect list should be brought under interrogation process as fingers have already been pointed at some leaders of the BNP-led alliance as national interest should get the top most priority. If such action is taken, it would also enhance the country's image on one hand and pay dividends to the alliance on the other. If such actions require expulsion of some leaders, the BNP-led alliance can do so as that would pay them dividends for not becoming blind or biased to party interests.

Those responsible for conducting the interrogation and investigation into the cases have to prove their honesty and integrity by showing total neutrality. The government should ask the concerned authority for issuance of periodical official statements as the people have a right to know the progress of the findings, also through official channel. Unless there are official statements, media would run speculative stories leaving the chance of creating confusion among the people.

If the investigation is conducted maintaining transparency without influence, which is definitely possible, the country's image will be brightened. Utmost care has to be taken to leave no scope of misunderstanding over the process of interrogation and investigation. The intensity of people's hatred against the Islamic militants behind bomb attacks claiming lives of innocent people, has been demonstrated through celebrations following the arrest of the JMB leaders along with their accomplices.

Those responsible for conducting investigation, I am sure, would be able to round up the remaining followers of the JMB and unearth, if any, their foreign connections. Another aspect which needs attention of the investigating agencies is to find out answers to questions like who could gain out of the country's instability and disruption of democracy. The attacks were conducted, as it appears, for short term and long term gains.

The detection of certain irregularities in bank transactions in some branches of Islami Bank and issuance of the show cause notice by the Bangladesh Bank is seen as positive progress in unveiling the sources of funding of Islamic militancy in the country. It remains to be seen what will happen following submission of the findings to the Home Ministry.

It also needs to be unearthed through interrogation where from the JMB men had their training. The findings of the investigating agencies should be made public. There is no reason to feel complacent over the arrest of Rahman and his second in command Bangla Bhai as some of their accomplices remain still at large.

It is high time that both the ruling party and the mainstream opposition sat together and reached understanding on major issues of national interest so that no third group can play foul with our country. Some quarters are already engaged in a heinous campaign against Bangladesh describing it as a "failed state." Either of the two major political parties, I am sure, cannot but protest this. But if they protest together, the protest is sure to become stronger and more effective.

The arrest effort has to be intensified so that the militants can be eliminated. The relevant agencies of the government need to remain ever vigilant against attempts to reorganize similar forces under different names aimed at destabilizing the country's nascent democracy and disrupting the development process.

Nurul Huda is a Special Correspondent of BSS.