Combating terrorism
In a three-day dialogue of top police officials from 14 South Asian and neighbouring countries, and representatives from other organisations held recently in Dhaka, the Inspector General of Police rightly pointed out that police forces of countries need direct channels of communication for sharing real-time information for swift response to terrorist threats. The IGP decried the cumbersome diplomatic procedures that make it extremely tough to share intelligence and track down terrorists.
We completely agree with the IGP's statement that establishing communication links between police forces of countries is crucial for tackling security threats. We know that terrorism is not an isolated phenomenon but a global menace that requires the joint efforts of law enforcement agencies and intelligence communities of countries. We also know that Bangladesh cannot turn a blind eye to the threat of terrorism any longer, especially in the aftermath of the deadliest terrorist attack in the country's history that we witnessed last July. The government's strong-handed response to the attack has been impressive, as we saw a number of successful anti-terror raids on militant dens in the last couple of months.
However, the Bangladesh government alone cannot wipe out the scourge of terrorism from its soil. What we need is multilateral cooperation and a coherent counter-terrorism strategy in the sub-region. A mechanism also needs to be put in place that allows for the quick passage of information. In an era where the radicalisation of youths is accelerated by social media, direct modes of communication for effective intelligence-sharing among law enforcement agencies in the region are indispensable.
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