Expressing deep concern over India’s Saradha Group’s financial assistance to Jamaat-e-Islami in Bangladesh, speakers at a programme yesterday demanded immediate implementation of the Anti Terrorism Act 2009.
They also called for building social resistance to protect the country from militant network and urged the government to assist the people in this endeavour.
The remarks were made at a discussion on Jamaat in Bangladesh and militancy network in South Asia as well as around the globe. Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee and Forum for Secular Bangladesh and Trial of War Criminals of 1971 jointly organised the meeting at Women’s Voluntary Association’s auditorium in the capital.
Nirmul Committee leader Shahriar Kabir said: “We are very much worried about the militant network in Bangladesh and their recent activities. Most alarmingly, now we see that Jamaat got financial assistance from one of India’s mafia groups.
“On the other hand, we are anxious as al-Qaeda chief Ayman al Zawahiri in his recent video clip tells about his plan to establish the flag of jihad in Bangladesh, India and Myanmar. In another development, the Rapid Action Battalion has recovered huge cache of arms and ammunitions from Chunarughat in Habiganj.”
He said if the people did not stand against Jamaat and militants, they would destroy the country.
“Our security forces often claim that if they agree with the allegation of al-Qaeda activities in the country then the US will interfere leading to the NATO forces coming to our land. I will rather say since the US is behind all such militant activities in the world, we should not think about what the US will do. Rather we need to think how to build resistance against such militant networks and their activities in the country.”
He suggested that a strong coordinated scheme is initiated among Bangladesh, India and Myanmar.
Maj Gen Abdur Rashid, a security analyst, said the general people were subjected to victim of the militant activities, carried out in the name of jihad or protecting Islam.
“Radical speech has been given in the mosques while a one-sided education system persist in the country. On the other hand, funding for the militancy groups will threaten the development of the country” he said.
Barrister Tania Amir thinks that people do not need to build resistance against militants since the country has the Anti Terrorism Act 2009 in place. It is a legal framework to ensure punishment or ban any organisation for any terrorist activities or their involvement in any such involvement.
Quoting section 17 of the Act, she said: “Why is not the government implementing the Act and bringing the terrorists under the law, punishing them or banning their organisations?”
The section reads: “For the purpose of furthering the objectives of this Act, any organisation shall be held to be involved in terrorist activities, if it – (a)operates terrorist activities or participates in it; (b) take preparation for terrorist activities; (c) abets or incites terrorist activities; (d) supports and cooperates organisations involved in terrorist activities; (e) otherwise involves in terrorist activities.”
Moreover, section 18 says: “For the purpose of this Act the government shall have the power to prohibit by order or incorporating in schedule, any organisation on reasonable basis of involvement in terrorist activities.”
Quoting from these two sections, Tania said: “The ATA has given the government more power than the Special Powers Act. Why is not it followed?”
Four militant organisations were banned during the BNP-Jamaat rule while the Awami League-led government banned one and blacklisted seven other organisations in 2009. However, most of the groups have been operating defying the government ban and vigilance of the law enforcement agencies.
Chief guest and Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Hoque said: “It is true that we are passing a very critical period. Al-Qaeda’s video clip gives a new indication which is alarming. Therefore, we need to raise public opinion and fight together against militant activities in the country.”
The programme was presided over journalist Kamal Lohani when Prof Muntassir Mamoon and Barrister Turin Afroze were also present.
