When it comes to fighting the looming threat of militant extremism, it always pays to be prepared.
The Holey Artisan incident was a watershed moment for Bangladesh as it opened our collective eyes to just how far and wide the tentacles of terrorism can reach, as it was able to effectively turn promising young men into the path of destruction and violence through means invisible to the general public. To that end, it is comforting to know that our intelligence agencies are now well on-top of the situation when it comes to detecting any signs of extremist violence erupting.
According to the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime, a remote hill in Bandarban is currently being used as a training ground for would-be militant youths of the new Jama'atul Ansar Fil Hindal Sharqiya. If there is any semblance of truth to these claims, the situation needs to be nipped in the bud before it escalates into something bigger.
But brute force and shows of power are not the only way to curb the spread of militancy. One of the most impactful actions taken by the government has been the establishment of programs which recognize the seeds of militancy and pro-actively direct them towards at-risk youths -- the primary targets of militancy. Through such measures Bangladesh has made steady yet significant progress, improving its position year after year.
Another inextricable component in fighting terror is cooperation. Working with other nations, most notably our regional partners, is absolutely key.
The great progress we have made since the Holey Artisan attack in 2016 is undeniable, and we must congratulate the brave men and women who have stood and fought against terrorists and militants and, most importantly, continue to remain vigilant against such behaviour in the future.
The message needs to be heard loud and clear: Militant extremism has no place in Bangladesh.
