Extremist groups re-emerging to topple government

As reported by this daily on Thursday, Jamaat-e-Islami, its student’s body Islami Chhatra Shibir and allies of the killers of the  Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman are conspiring to topple the government. 

Reportedly, as part of the conspiracies and ill-motivated activities, these anti-state forces are holding secret meetings to plot subversive acts and spread rumours against the government in view of tarnishing the image of the country. 

It is disheartening that a group with vested interests have always been trying to hinder Bangladesh's progress and prosperity by carrying out militant activities but the incumbent government’s ‘zero tolerance policy against terrorism’ have successfully annihilated militancy to some extent with an iron-hand. 

In a country that was founded on the values of 

secularism and tolerance, there can be no room 

for ideologies which spread hatred and violence

Militants in the country have been thrashed by countrywide anti-militant drives by the law enforcement agencies over the last few years. Following the government’s zero tolerance policy against terrorism and drugs, the anti-crime elite force is fully involved in campaign against terrorism and so far their efforts deserve plaudits.

It needs no emphasizing that as long as anti-liberation forces are not rooted out, all the departments concerned should cooperate to avert any unwanted incidents and chaos. Killing in the name of Islam is an age-old phenomenon although Islam never supports terrorism and militancy. Hence, cross-sections of people including professional leaders and religious personalities should forge social resistance against terrorism and militancy. 

We all need to be vocal against terrorism and militancy to make the pertaining development sphere sustainable. We must work to free our society from the grip of drugs and militancy. In a country that was founded on the values of secularism and tolerance, there can be no room for ideologies which spread hatred and violence.  At the same time, we must not forget that it is not enough to merely capture the militants which exist, but ensure that individuals are not radicalized in the future.