Islamists incite violence

Photo: AFP

Watching 22nd February's news footage, it appeared as if Bangladesh is going through a civil war. To counter the mass demands for capital punishment against the 1971 war criminals, Jamaat-e-Islami and allied groups destroyed two Language Movement monuments, assaulted police, burned vehicles, and vandalized stores. As these religious party activists view the ongoing International Crimes Tribunal as a ploy by the ruling Awami League to eliminate the opposition, they have a right to peaceful protest. They do not have the right to terrorize society.
In Dhaka, the police seemed to retreat at times as the militant procession attempted to reach Shahbagh's neighbourhood. Astonishingly, the militants hurled bombs at police from inside Baitul Mukarram. This is not only a terrorist act, but also an affront to the national mosque. The cube-shaped mosque is a national monument that belongs to the nation; it is not a fortress for terrorists. This nationwide terror campaign was a pre-planned assault on the government and citizenry. Where were the paramilitary border guards during the Baitul Mukarram assault? They were deployed across the city, but were not seen on camera assisting anyone. The Rapid Action Battalion is usually ready with their submachine guns, but it seems that these violent demonstrations were left solely for the police, who appeared frantic, blowing into whistles, sporadically lobbing teargas shells and firing rubber bullets.
Why is the government high command not giving orders to the paramilitary and law-enforcement personnel to fully engage and eliminate these violent attacks on the nation? Is there anything to gain by treating criminal religious activists with kid gloves? Whatever the gain is, the people are suffering and will continue to do so as the fire rages through the nation.