Terror continues to haunt Bangladesh, India must help
Shantanu Mukharji
IS-sponsored terror struck Dhaka in Bangladesh on Friday, March 17, when a suicide bomber blew himself up near a checkpoint close to the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) headquarters.
RAB is the principal task force comprising handpicked officers from the armed forces, proficient in dealing with counter-terror operations relating to security contingencies threatening Bangladesh.
Coincidentally, earlier on March 16, another IS suspect blew himself to smithereens, again near a RAB barrier near Dhaka's Ashokana area. The IS immediately claimed responsibility for this act of terror.
What's disturbing is the audacity and desperation on part of the extremists, ostensibly inspired by the IS, to strike at such close proximity of the RAB. It's an open defiance, displaying scant fear of this elite force and also indicative of the extremists' desperation to hit at crucial locations and draw maximum local and international publicity.
Bangladesh has always been in denial mode, saying IS is not complicit in any of the terror acts. They consistently maintain that it's only the home-grown terrorists who are at work. Conceded, but the terrorist forces, in different nomenclature, are very much alive and kicking and are hitting out at regular intervals.
It's time for Bangladesh intelligence agencies to introspect and assess the threat, beginning from July 1, 2016 when people were taken hostage and killed (including one Indian) at a renowned cafe in Dhaka.
On July 7, the Eid congregation was attacked and since then there have been attacks at regular intervals, setting a pattern of continuing terror. Those involved in these heinous incidents were educated in the most sophisticated educational institutions and were sufficiently radicalised through their “aakaas” operating with the IS cadres in Syria. We can, therefore, safely assume there is a good number of Bangladeshis in action in the IS misadventures in Syria and possibly in Iraq.
Despite Bangladesh securitymen killing terrorists and sporadically arresting some, the terror continues and the country looks fraught with terrorism perils in the near future, more so when it is about to observe it's “Genocide Day” and hold Independence Day celebrations in the current month.
By the existing trend of terror in Bangladesh, it seems to be symptoms of a disease, leading to prognosis and treatment.
The author is a retired IPS officer who has held key positions in the Government of India handling sensitive security issues within and outside India. Against this backdrop, Bangladesh needs a good medical treatment. And if done half-heartedly, it will not cure the malady, which may manifest in some form or the other.
The major forces engaged in unsettling Bangladesh and fomenting terror are more than identified. They are Jamait-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), Harkat-ul-Jehad, Hefazat-e-Islam, elements from the banned Jamat-e-Islami (JeI) and its affiliates with links to Saudi Arabia and a few other Gulf countries who believe in Islamising Bangladesh through terror.
In the same vein, we should not forget the role of the Pakistani High Commission in Dhaka. The Inter-Services Intelligence's (ISI) undercover operatives are known for subversive activities in Bangladesh with a two-pronged agenda.
One, to foment terror combined with fanning communal tension between Hindu minorities and Muslims and two, to wean Bangladesh away from India, derailing their bilateral ties. A number of Pakistani diplomatic mission staff declared persona non grata in the not-so-distant past engaged in such nefarious activities.
Their agenda is likely to intensify in March/April because of Independence Day festivities and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's upcoming visit to India. In sum, India and Indo-Bangla interests are very much on target by these elements.
Significantly, the extremist outfits in Bangladesh appear to be asserting themselves to push their terror agenda. Hefazat-e-Islam merits a close watch. It has grown in massive proportions since its inception in 2013. Originating from the port city Chittagong, it has effectively made its presence felt by raising Islamic issues and abetting terror in vulnerable areas.
The statue of a Greek goddess in front of the Dhaka Supreme Court was exploited to the hilt as Hefazat Islam called for its removal, interpreting it to be anti-Islam. These activities continue, much like the Taliban taking on Buddhist statues in Bamian, Afghanistan.
Again, Harkat-ul-Jihad, active since 1984, was responsible for Pune's German Bakery terror attack of 2010 and for the Varanasi bombings of 2006. These are just a handful of illustrations to prove complicity.
Bangladesh watchers would expect Hasina, during her forthcoming visit, to seek India's help in addressing cases of terror violence in the former's backyard. And in all likelihood, India will respond favourably by a visible action for a collaboration to contain the ugly terror menace.
Indian representatives from IB, RAW and NIA must camp in Bangladesh for a considerable period, offering all assistance including technical knowhow. Unless the terror perils are addressed in a professional and wholehearted manner, the festering wounds would continue to cause immense pain and any delay in surgery will be suicidal.
The author is a retired IPS officer who has held key positions in the Government of India handling sensitive security issues within and outside India.
