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Download PDF Intelligence agencies fear that militancy might rear its head again as the 12 decisions the government took to step up its campaign against the menace about a year ago remain unimplemented.
There is a strong possibility that the militants still at large might mount fresh attacks. Their leaders behind bars might pass them instructions to that end, taking advantage of slow trial of the cases against them, observed intelligence officials.
Besides, they added, absence of motivational and reorientation programmes for over 500 detained militants, mostly operatives of banned Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) and Harkat-ul-Jihad al Islami (Huji), keeps alive the threat of militancy even though it has been on the wane for some time.
“Since there are no motivational programmes for the militants in jails, they might become sucked into militancy again on return to society after serving out terms. Not only that, they might try to brainwash the other inmates to join them,” said a top official of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab), the elite crime busters who tore through the militant network and nabbed many militant leaders and activists.
Speaking in return for anonymity, he also said the laxity of the authorities could result in militants making a comeback.
Talking to The Daily Star recently, Rab Additional Director General Col Gulzar Uddin Ahmed acknowledged the risk.
Explaining the need for programmes to make militants in prison renounce extremism, he cited the example of JMB Shura (highest policymaking body) member Khaled Saifullah carrying out countrywide bomb attacks on August 17, 2005 just around 10 days into his release from Dinajpur jail.
Saifullah had come out after serving five years in jail in a case filed under the Explosive Substances Act. Three days later, JMB supremo Abdur Rahman called him over phone and asked to prepare for a series of blasts across the country.
The 12 decisions taken at a home ministry meeting in September 2007 include, among others, waging massive anti-militancy publicity campaign by the information ministry, focusing on mosques and madrasas in the fight against militancy and ensuring anti-militancy sermons by imams after Jum’a prayers, arranging training on anti-militancy motivation capacity for chairmen and members of union parishads and increasing intelligence watch on Qwami madrasas.
“The government plans for a revamped anti-militancy campaign remain confined to papers and discussions. None of those has been implemented in the last three years,” said a Rab official, expressing dismay.
Following the rise of militancy, the government had decided to modernise madrasa education system, particularly the one followed at Qwami madrasas, but little has been done in that direction, said the Rab official, requesting not to be named.
Officials of intelligence and law enforcement agencies suggested quick trial of cases filed against the militants as there is every chance that those in jails might indoctrinate other inmates and also attempt jailbreak.
Mentioning the execution of six top militants including JMB boss Abdur Rahman and his second-in-command Bangla Bhai on March 30 last year for killing two Jhalakathi judges, they said it was possible due to the government’s sincerity.
Inspector General (prisons) Brig Gen Zakir Hasan said they have mass education, motivational and vocational programmes for prisoners, but there is no specific one for the militants as none comes to jail with the identity of a militant.
He said usually two militants and three facing other criminal charges are kept together in a cell. Asked if the militants can motivate the other cellmates, he said, “They can, but the ones they share the cell with are more hardened.”
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