Bangladesh Serial Blasts
By Vipin Agnihotri
23 August, 2005
Countercurrents.orgOver 400 low-intensity bombs exploded across Bangladesh on August 17, resulting in death of two people and serious injury to over 100.
Whoever might have done that, one thing is for sure that they are very organized, meticulous and powerful, with large network and connections. This is not a terrorist act that is passed; the evidence shows that it is a prelude to something more alarming.Though there were no immediate claims of responsibility, leaflets of the banned Islamic group, Jamiat-ul Mujahedin Bangladesh, calling for the establishment of the Islamic law in the country were found at the scene of some of the explosions.
There is reason why the text of the leaf-let calling for religious war should be taken seriously. If they can execute a countrywide orchestrated act of terrorism involving at least thousands of under-ground operatives with thoroughness and precision, they are not far from taking the government and opposition and parliament.
Though, the bomb were homemade and was packed only with sawdust, and planted outside government buildings and courts - intended to cause only limited damage and were not meant for any serious damage or casualties.
But the manner in which the coordinated explosions took place almost simultaneously left more questions than answers.
After the blast, comes the usual response from the government. “It is a cowardly, conspiratorial and well-planned terrorist act.”
But the million- dollar question, which now arises, is: Whether the government has a will to curb the activities of these Islamist groups or they are working on the formula ‘Just another day in the office.’ If we take a look at the past, Khaleda Zia's Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) came to power in the October 2001 polls after collaborating with the Jamaat-e-Islami and the Islamic Oikyo Jote - both of them known for their fundamentalist views on Islam. The victory at that time gave an inside view of the fact that the influence of fundamentalist parties in Bangladesh is getting pivotal by the day.
That’s why it is more or less impossible for the government to stop the growing activities of the Islamists, which are getting stronger and also playing a crucial role in the formation of government.What’s more, there has been a steady rise in attacks on the opposition parties. Who can forget the attack on Sheikh Hasina in August last year using same homemade bombs and grenades, at a protest meeting organized by the Awami League in Dhaka? Though she was lucky enough to survive that onslaught but other 20 plus members of her party was not that lucky.
These incidents can be a ‘trouble-sign’ for India too, which has had to deal with the fallouts of growing fundamentalism in Pakistan.
Insurgent groups based in India's North East are known to have bases inside Bangladeshi territory, where leaders of groups like ULFA are believed to have business interests as well.
Smuggling of arms and ammunition, as well as drugs are also reported to be taking place through Bangladeshi territory into the North East.
In addition, infiltration from Bangladesh has been a long-standing problem for India, since the days of the 1971 Liberation War, when thousands of refugees crossed over to India.
This can pose a new challenge for India unless something drastic happens and the Bangladeshi government do something concrete regarding these fundamentalists, it could only be a matter of time when Bangladesh also becomes the hot spot for terrorists, fighting for ‘jehad.’This can lead to a new headache not only for south-asian community but for International community as well.
(The writer is a journalist based at India He can be reached [email protected])
