These sorts of incidents have taken place on several places repeatedly, probably many more to come who knows. In those incidents too many people were killed and injured. So far we know, none has been prosecuted or punished for committing such heinous crime. Do we call it a total failure of the government?

Earlier in all such cases bombs were found to be made with crude explosives; with the help of gun powder used for making crackers for fireworks etc and gelatin, a low quality explosive, used in mining etc. But the latest one used at Awami League meeting on 21st of August were of military type, ARGES 84 most lethal latest generation hand grenades. These are of Austrian origin used by many countries. It has 3500 small round steel pellets as we find in the shot gun cartridges. Within four seconds of the removal of the safety lever its explosives get activated thus blasting/ripping off the outer cover of the grenade and shooting the pellets all around the radius of the point of impact/blast of the bomb. It could cause serious damage up to 25 meters and normal damage up to 150 meters.

This was revealed that these bombs are being used by Al Qaeda and were also used in the attack on Parliament house in New Delhi. A very well organised group is involved in this sort of operations in some countries. Involvement of intelligent organisations with the tacit approval of the government of some countries cannot be ruled out.

For quite some time the discussion about the discovery of lethal military weapons were being carried out in the independent media. The capture of ammunition at Bogra, capture of arms at Badda area in Dhaka and lastly capture of huge amount of small arms and ammunition, rocket launchers at Chittagong should have given enough headach to the government. But was there any serious attempt of the government to unearth the source and apprehend the culprits and their godfathers? Question remains.

At Bogra at the cache of military ammunition, one carrier truck, the spot and the names of some persons were revealed. In Badda area a person was caught along with good number of AK47 current generation automatic rifles, produced and used by many countries and their armies. Also some boxes of grenades were found; there in the body of the Grenades the name of the producing country was embossed. All these stories came in the newspapers earlier. Government has not made any clear statement or taken any action so far about those cases. The people of the country have all the rights to know about such incidence of serious nature. It seems the government either intentionally ignored the case or did not take the whole issue seriously.

The latest issue of catching 10 truck loads of weapon and ammunitions at Chittagong should have been dealt with utmost seriousness. How such a huge amount of lethal weapons/ammunitions could have been loaded at a government jetty exclusively used by a government fertilizer factory at Chittagong port. None is authorised to use that jetty other than government authorised agencies. These weapons must have been unloaded by a considerable number of labourers and took obviously lot of time. How come government having so many intelligence organisations like, NSI, DGFI, SB, DB, Coast Guard and Port Intelligence Organisations and Custom Intelligence did not have a clue of such shipments and unloading?

Half of those weapons and ammunitions, if fallen in the hands of miscreants either in the city of Dhaka or Chittagong, an Infantry Division would have needed years to oust and destroy them in an urban warfare tactics. The loss of life and destruction of property could have been colossal leaving aside peace and harmony of the people.

To me it seems that the whole case has been handled childishly. The junior police officer released some trucks captured with weapons at Chittagong and let them off. The charge sheet had too many anomalies as indicated by concerned authorities. The government elected by the people, of the people, for the people ignored totally its accountability to the people. We feel that government must publish a white paper about the capture of those weapons to include the investigation report.

In a civilized democratic country the minister (s) in charge would have resigned for failure to detect such an incidence of serous magnitude. The heads of all the intelligence organisations should have been taken into task and total overhauling of the organisations done. Blaming and transferring/posting of tiny police officer is a mere eye wash to shirk the responsibility by the government.

In the rally of Awami League on 21st of August a number of grenades were lobbed at the place where the leaders were standing. One or two well trained marksman fired good number of rifle shots at the vehicle of Shekh Hasina accurately at the desired spot although total chaos and pandemonium prevailed after the first grenade was thrown. This was well executed operation well rehearsed and positioned at the time of execution. It took place at a place where almost 200 police personnel, 30 DGFI personnel, dozens of NSI, SB, DB and other personnel were positioned to keep watch on the public gathering. Government and its machineries either has failed or kept aloof.

A motor cycle was ridden over the person of Dr. B. Chowdhury, the former President while he was going in a peaceful procession to declare his party. A stone was thrown at Maj.A.Mannan at the same spot by a cadre injuring him seriously. No action was taken by the government against those. Democracy was smashed under the wheel of a bike, to relish the scene by the custodian of democracy. Government should realise that a Frankenstein is being created in the country. It will not recognise its creator when time will come.

It seems that many more arms and ammunitions have been smuggled in the country. Not only political leaders are frightened but also the people of the country are shaken. The shivering will continue as people are apprehensive about their safety and security. Our credibility to the world community is at stake. Because of the latest event export will suffer to a much greater length, at a juncture when the apprehension of multi fiber issues in 2005 is haunting the business community, and the flood has already taken its toll.

We cannot keep quiet as responsible citizens. If the government is unable to handle these problems it should form a National Government to counter the armed gangs and also economic depression likely to come soon because of recent flood and oil price hike.

The earlier the government realises this national crisis the better it is for the country.

The writer served as Director, Military Operations in AHQs and is a former Ambassador.