Combating Jamaat
JAMAAT has been resorting to hostile actions against the law enforcing agencies for quite sometime. The latest clash between Jamaat and the police was on 19 January in Sundarganj of Gaibandha district. And we notice a very dangerous trend where the police have been deliberately targeted, as was the case in Sundarganj where, reportedly, Jamaat-Shibir men ambushed a police team. The ensuing clash lasted for nearly five hours and resulted in injuries to 55 persons including 22 policemen.
The recent clashes have followed police attempt to round up Jamat-Shibir cadres wanted in cases of violence and arson committed last year following the pronouncement of Sayedee's death sentence on February 28, 2013.
The questions that one must ask are, whether the spurt of violence by Jamaat indicates a new tactic and what their ultimate objective is. It is necessary to do so in order to devise appropriate strategies by the state to combat the party. We are not quite sure whether tackling the issue as merely a law and order problem, as is being done presently, is the correct approach. We believe it is not. Drive to arrest alleged criminals is one thing but if the objective of the joint forces is to render the party politically ineffective through this drive than the government's strategy is patently flawed.
Jamaat is not simply a law and order problem. While its violence must be condemned and curbed, there is urgent need to devise appropriate strategy, both political and security, in order that the party can be effectively countered both as a terrorizing outfit and also as a political entity.
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