Counter terrorism-A Bangladesh perspective
By-Mustafa R Kamal
The Daily Star, Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Photo: Star
Terrorism has become a threat to peaceful political order and stability for many countries of the
world. The attacks on World Trade Centre on 9/11 literally changed the entire world- President
Bush declaring “war on terror”, and rhetoric such as “either you are with us or against us”
divided the entire world. The period after 2001 witnessed wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Whether
these wars have improved the security situation and made the world a safer place or not, is a
debatable issue. Understandably, western nations frantically embarked into the search for
terrorists across the world.
While the western nations were hunting terrorists and disrupting terror links within and outside
their own countries, Bangladesh came face to face with terrorism. Terrorism in Bangladesh is an
internationally linked phenomenon. For Bangladesh, its history, geostrategic location, religious
diversity, weak infrastructure, socio-economic conditions and demographic factors are
responsible for the rise of extremist views and terrorism. The transnational form of the menace is
a challenge for any developing nation like Bangladesh. Moreover, global agenda of different
Islamic groups, growing presence of international financial institutions in the country,
globalisation, growth of Information and Communication Technology, limitations in monitoring
capacities of different government agencies and weak political institutions have accentuated the
threat of terrorism. Since 1999, some terrorist groups have used violence in the name of religion.
These groups have also developed a nexus with smuggling syndicates, gangsters, international
terrorists, outlawed groups and remnants of defunct terrorist groups, benefiting from each other
despite their differing aims and goals.
Photo: Star
Countrywide bomb explosions in Bangladesh on 17 August 2005 perpetrated by Jamat-ulMujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) shook the entire country. Although the damage was relatively
small the incident demonstrated the reach, strength and capability of the group to orchestrate and
conduct sabotage activities throughout the country. It was a wakeup call for the law enforcement
agencies (LEAs) and a signal for the government that religion based terrorists is a threat for the
peace and stability of the country. There have been other terrorist attacks in the country before
that — bomb blast in front ofUdichi Office in Netrokona, suicide bomb attacks by the JMB on
Chittagong and Gazipur court premises, suicide bomb attack at Jhalakathi, several bomb attacks
on the then leader of the opposition and Awami League Leader (present Prime Minister) Sheikh
Hasina.
The present government has adopted zero-tolerance towards terrorism and has denied the use of
its territory for any terrorist groups for perpetrating terrorist activities either inside or outside the
country. The government has enacted the Anti-Terrorism Act 2012 and Anti-money Laundering
Act 2012 and has, so far, proscribed five terrorist outfits- JMB, Hizb-ut-Tahrir(HT), Harkat-ulJihad, Bangladesh (HUJI-B), Jagrata Muslim Janata, Bangladesh (JMJB) and Shahadat-e-alHikma. Although, these religious groups have not carried out any terrorist activities since 2007,
JMB continues to maintain its organizational activities.
Of all the proscribed groups, HT appears to grow in strength and have continued its
organisational activities of recruitment, demonstration and distribution of leaflets, CDs and
posters despite the strong actions of the LEAs. The HT was launched in November 2001 in
Bangladesh, and is gradually becoming a growing concern. Although it propagates non-violent
means the actions of the group members on different occasions indicate otherwise. Some experts
in the US say that the HT acts as a “conveyer belt” for young Muslims, using its legal status to
indoctrinate them before they leave the group to join more extreme groups that may engage in
violence. The group’s publications, leaflets, CDs and posters propagate and express views
challenging the policies and actions of the existing government. The group makes subtle and
intelligent use of the internet and social media to publish its narratives targeting the youth.
Although, the LEAs are tough on the members of HT, this may not be enough to tackle the group
in the long run. This is so, since its membership reach has already penetrated into the public and
private universities and colleges targeting the intelligent, talented and middle-class young
students. HT believes that impact on human mind is important for any change to happen.
Now, where does Bangladesh stand in the terrorism scenario? This is a difficult question to
answer. Often, some quarters mix up criminal activities with that of terrorist ones and try to
project a grim picture in different forums. While the country faces numerous challenges to
maintain law and order, the terrorism scenario in the country is not so bad.
Bangladesh has been cited as a success story in addressing the menace of terrorism, in many
world forums. In the Global Terrorism Index Report 2011, released by Australia-based Institute
for Economics & Peace, Bangladesh is ranked 39 (lower ranking indicates higher impact of
terrorism). Taking into account factors like number of terrorist incidents, fatalities, injuries and
property damage, the index scores 158 countries over the last 10 years. Bangladesh is in a much
better position than any other country in the region like Pakistan (2), Afghanistan (3), India (4),
Sri Lanka (16), Nepal (22) and Myanmar (33).
Photo: Star
Despite all the successes, there remain numerous challenges in the fight against terrorism in
Bangladesh. There is a potential threat-the post 9/11 phenomenon of self-radicalization where
individuals become radicalized at their own. This is one of the reasons that HT continues to
follow the strategy of propagating their ideologies and messages through internet, social
websites, blogs, CDs, fliers, posters and so on. Again, there is terrorist financing of different
groups through multiple sources, both from inside and out. The financing sources include crop
donations (a form of taxation in the rural areas), Hundis / Hawalas, donations for charity, money
earned through counterfeit currency and funds received by some NGOs. Following illegal money
is a challenging and arduous task and the LEAs, so far, have been facing many hurdles in doing
it. But entry of Bangladesh into the Egmont Group, an international network of Financial
Intelligence Units with 117 member countries, would reduce lot of hurdles in this field.
Although the US has brought many terrorists to justice, detained many more, bombed the
remotest areas of Afghanistan, invaded Iraq and carried out drone attacks inside Pakistan, yet it
has not been able to stem terrorist attacks. The question is- hasthe war on terror done any good?
At present, what is the face of terrorism around the world?
In the global perspective, the issues that are going to engage the terrorism arena are selfradicalization of vulnerable groups and individuals, displacement and movement of terrorists
across countries and regions, continued and likely escalation of terrorism and insurgency in Iraq
and Afghanistan, and sectarian violence in these countries and also in Yemen and Somalia. For
Bangladesh, the growing number of self-radicalized youths would be a major concern in the
coming days.
Arundhati Roy in her book, The Algebra of Infinite Justice writes, “Terrorism is the symptom,
not the disease. Terrorism has no country. It’s transnational, as global an enterprise as Coke or
Pepsi or Nike. At the first sign of trouble, terrorists can pull up stakes and move their “factories”
from country to country in search of a better deal. Just like the multi-nationals.
The situation in Bangladesh is unique and in combating terrorist groups and networks it has dealt
with the problem in its own style that is best suited to her dynamics despite the prescription of
other countries to do it differently. And this has proved to be effective and successful. In the past,
top leaders of JMB was put through speedy trial and executed. Stern actions have led to
weakening of JMB to the extent that it no longer poses a credible threat. However, the HT
continues to carry out its organisational activities-recruitment, networking, training, preaching of
ideology and fund raising despite the actions by the LEAs.
What response should the government then make in the present circumstances? The government
should adopt both hard and soft approaches. The hard approach of arrests, prosecution and
proscription should continue. On the other hand, the soft approach — general awareness of the
people against the warped ideologies being preached, counter narratives, economic development
and strengthening the institutions of the government should receive attention. At the moment, the
hard approach of the government appears more pronounced than the soft. Much more is to be
done in the domain of the soft approach, which is naturally slow to take effect, long lasting but
more difficult to achieve. John L. Esposito says, “Critical to the fight against global terrorism is
an ability to move beyond presuppositions and stereotypes in our attitudes and policies and to
form partnerships that transcend an “us” and “them” view of the world.”
The trends, pattern and overall threat of terrorism in Bangladesh is new. It is difficult for any
single government agency to address the problem alone, for it is a fight that needs the
involvement of all. Therefore, a coordinated and collaborative approach is the solution. Its
transnational nature demands cooperation with other countries since it is a fight that needs a
global effort too. Bangladesh is a country of moderate Muslims and Islam plays a major role in
the lives of the people. Therefore, any group propagating an extremist view is going to face
opposition since the general people is secular.
In Bangladesh, the most encouraging part is the awareness created amongst the general
population against terrorism and the wrong ideologies that they preach. Thus, it is encouraging
findingthe general mass protesting and arresting activists of different groups who preach wrong
ideologies in public places. The recent protests throughout the country against the verdict of a
convict of war crimes charges, and the activities of a religion based political party, is yet another
manifestation of the secular nature of Bangladeshis. Bangladesh is a success story in fighting
terrorism and shecontinues to inspire other nations who are still struggling to fight this menace in
their own land.
The writer is a security and Defence Analyst.