Terror attack on Eid congregation

Even before we could barely recover from the gruesome terrorist attack at a restaurant in Gulshan that left 20 hostages, mainly foreigners, dead, we are faced with another attack, this time on an Eid congregation, the largest in the country, at Sholakia, Kishoreganj. That the attackers chose Eid day and targeted such a large number of Muslims, reveal their intention to distort Islam which they claim to be defending. The attack is a direct onslaught on peace-loving Muslims. It is laudable that the on duty policemen managed to prevent higher casualties though the attack left two policemen and a woman dead.

Apparently this Eid congregation was targeted because of the actions of the Imam who would have led the Eid prayers. He had previously collected signatures from over 100,000 Islamic scholars and declared terrorism and suicide attacks as haram (or forbidden under Islamic law). We urge the government to provide the required protection to the courageous Imam and the other religious leaders who have pledged allegiance to the anti terrorism cause.           

It is clear that these terrorists are not upholders of Islam. Rather they are using a perverted interpretation of religion to annihilate anyone they perceive to be their opponent – they could be foreigners, Sufis, people of other faiths, freethinkers and Muslims who do not endorse their death cult. Investigations have revealed that many members of these death squads are well educated and from fairly well to do families. In such a frightening scenario, we must all stand united, forgetting our differences, to fight a common enemy and make our country safe again. This means the public and the police must develop trust and cooperation with each other to identify the radicalised terrorists who are waiting to carry out their next killing spree.