Failure to try attackers encouraged militants
Failure to bring to trial the perpetrators behind the grenade attack on British High Commissioner Anwar Choudhury and other bomb attacks ultimately encouraged the militants, UK State Minister for Foreign Affairs and Common-wealth Dr Kim Howells said yesterday.
"If these people are not brought to justice, others may feel that they can get away with attacks on government officials. We have to find these people and find (them) quickly," he told reporters after a meeting with State Minister for Home Lutfozzaman Babar.
The state minister however stated that militants have not grown to an alarming proportion.
"I don't think the number of militants has reached an alarming level," Babar said, despite all the militant attacks, including the August 17 countrywide serial blasts, attacks on courts in three districts and the recent killing of two judges in Jhalakathi on November 14.
Howells mentioned that Babar assured him of all-out efforts to track the culprits. He also assured of the UK government's cooperation to work with Bangladesh on militant issues.
Democracy is not secured where the judges are attacked, the British minister said.
"We're certainly very keen to exchange what information we have," he said, referring to evidences like the fingerprints of bomb makers on bombs or the technology of bomb making.
Misguided people are killing the innocent ones in the name of religion, and those who preach Islam need to be engaged to motivate people against this, he noted.
Babar's denial of the strong network and large number of the Islamist militants came in continuation of the government's earlier denials although the countrymen as well as the world community have witnessed countrywide stronghold of the militants.
The intelligence agencies submitted reports to the government on militant organisations and their activities a few years ago and many were arrested with firearms and explosives in different parts of the country, but the authorities kept on denying their existence.
After Siddiqul Islam alias Bangla Bhai and his Jagrata Muslim Janata Bangladesh (JMJB) launched self-styled vigilante operation, killing 27 people in Naogaon-Rajshahi-Natore region last year, the government and the state minister denied his existence.
Even when Bangla Bhai and Abdur Rahman, chief of Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), gave interview to newspapers, admitting to their action, the government said Bangla Bhai is the "creation" of the media.
Meanwhile, the JMB grew larger and equipped itself with a strong network and launched the nearly-simultaneous bomb attacks in 63 districts on August 17, killing three people.
The government under international pressure then banned the JMB but took no major step to arrest him or his militant cadres.
However, determined to establish Islamic rule in the country, in total opposition to democracy and judicial system, in the second phase of their attacks, the militants blasted bombs on courts in Chittagong, Chandpur and Laxmipur on October 3, killing two people.
On October 18, a JMB activist hurled bomb on a Sylhet judge and in the recent attack on Monday, a member of the JMB suicide squad killed two judges in Jhalakathi.
Babar, who is now at the helm of the home ministry, however, refused to be complacent over the situation. "We cannot neglect the matter. The action against militants is a continuous process and we'll have to stick to the process," he said.
The British minister expressed satisfaction on the steps taken by the government, he said.
On government steps, Babar said, "We've taken short-, mid- and long-term policies and the progress is quite good. Immediate trial of the arrested militants and completing the trial in the shortest possible time is the most important. Besides, we are conducting motivation programme."
British High Commissioner Anwar Choudhury was present at the meeting.
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