Three years after Holey Artisan attack

It is three years to the day that the country suffered the worst terrorist attack since August 21, 2004. It was a tsunami of sorts that affected the collective national psyche apart from its impact on the expatriate community and on some of our very close friends and development partners. We remember with deep sorrow the victims of a ruthless group which was breaching every tenet of the religion they were claiming to profess and the teachings they were trying to propagate. We also recall the efforts of the first responders and other security forces who suffered casualties. And we recall with admiration the bravery and sacrifice of a young man, Faraaz, who preferred death to the ignominy of forfeiting his principles.

We are happy to note that since that very fateful day of July 1, 2016, we had not seen any activity of the extremists, and that goes entirely to the credit of the law-enforcing agencies for having ensured that. However, we feel it is important to remind ourselves that such a phenomenon that stuck us with all its venom will not be entirely defeated unless the conditions that cause its germination in the first place are mitigated. We take comfort from the assurances of the head of our security agencies when we are told that the threat is not big. But that is no reason to be euphoric.

The fact that the IS has been deprived of their base and a solid ground to operate from, is all the more reason to firm up our guard. They will seek sanctuaries in other countries, particularly where the ground is fertile for absorbing them. Without appearing to be alarmist, we have to say that Bangladesh has been on the radar of international extremists. And only a constant alertness and awareness of the public would allow us to thwart effectively the phenomenon of militancy in the country.