Rise of militancy worries SC judge
Voicing serious concern over the rise of militancy in Bangladesh, a Supreme Court judge today said the issue must be dealt without leniency "since it involves the state's security".
The concern came during an appeal hearing challenging a High Court bail for Asif Adnan, son of former HC judge Abdus Salam Mamun, who was allegedly recruited by the militant Islamic State.
“While my heart bleeds to see that a son of one of my former brother is before us as an accused in this case, we cannot ignore the question of the security of the state,” said Justice AHM Shamsuddin Choudhury, member of a 4-member bench at the Appellate Division.
The state’s security is of the highest importance which must be “protected at all cost,” he said adding that the matter “must be dealt without leniency” and in disregard of the accused’s heredity.
“I can understand the emotion and predicaments of my former brother Abdus Salam Mamun.” But, the question of the state security must be treated as overriding and non-compoundable, he added.
‘AL-QAEDA TARGETING THE MERITORIOUS FOR RECRUITMENT’
“Whenever we open the newspaper in the morning, the main news that gets our attention is on militancy in the country,” Justice Shamsuddin Choudhury said. “Such news involves not only Bangladeshis but also foreigners.”
These people (militants) are bent to destroy our country and assassinate our leaders including Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and other VVIPs and important individuals, he added.
Justice Manik said the latest news about Burdwan blast and al-Qaeda chief Ayman Al Zawahiri’s message are alarming. “We cannot be oblivious of these facts.”
“Ayman Al Zawahiri is a lunatic, debased and depraved and debauch person who is targeting brilliant people all over the world including Bangladesh. He has sparked a reign of anxiety in the mind of many statesmen all over the world.”
There was a time when young brilliant youths used to follow the ideals of Karl Marx, VI Lenin, Fidel Castro, Che Guevara, Trotsky, HoChiMinh, Martin Luther King, Abraham Lincoln and Mahatma Gandhi, he said. “But now, they are being brainwashed by militant lunatics.”
These lunatics are trying to recruit the meritorious in Bangladesh and other countries by brainwashing them with misinterpreted Islam and instigating them to take up arms against the state, the judge said.
Stating that some moves should be totally out-rooted from the society, the judge said: “If we don’t act resolutely and with iron fist now, it may be too late tomorrow. So we cannot look at the matter with compassion or mercy irrespective of identities of such accused.”
Most of these youths have brilliant academic background educated in English medium schools, the judge said. “..And institutions like North South University are breeding ground for militancy.”
“They are well dressed, clean shaved and smart – it is impossible to identify them as militants by their looks. I feel pity for their parents who do not know what their children are doing outside.”
After hearing the four-member bench of the apex court headed by chief justice Md Muzammel Hossain stayed till Sunday the HC order that granted bail on November 10 to Asif.
The apex court also fixed Sunday for passing further order on the appeal.
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