|
The government in Bangladesh has to be wary from now on about militant Islam as a future threat. Allowing theological education to spread without a leash has created conditions in Bangladesh in which the recruitment of 'Jihadis' for Taleban-type activities in fairly large number is now possible.
A leading national daily of the country reported sometime ago that 'madrashas' (religious schools) are being favoured over regular or mainstream educational institutions in the allocation of government funds. Clearly, this is not desirable. Madrasha education mainly produces the Islamic clergy or prayer leaders and we have an abundance of them. What the country needs, above all, is the creation of forward looking human resources through the mainstream educational systems of the country.
Madrashas with their outmoded system can never fulfill this need. They are rather likely to create, at least, some radicalised elements or extremists to play into the hands of terrorists or foreign conspirators. So, the government will be duly expected to go for a review of its policies in this area in the wake of the countrywide terrorism. It cannot remain so unconcerned about religion-fed terrorism and needs to address it by nipping it at the bud.
The Awami League (AL) has blamed the government for the bomb blasts while the BNP has likewise blamed the Awami League. This was not unexpected. They pathologically behave like this always and never they rose to the occasion. But do they realise what great harm they are doing to their country from such mud slinging at each other? This is a moot question considering the fact that it is time that they should be rather up and doing and speaking in a united voice to tell the world that Bangladesh has no indigenous Taleban-type movement widely supported by its people and that a conspiracy is there to slap such a label on Bangladesh. Such unity among the political forces is very important to prevent the spoiling of the country's image externally. The same is very badly needed to cope with the conspirators and protect the country's vital interests.
It does not matter who rules -- the BNP or the Awami League. All in the country will suffer once it gets a bad name on a lasting basis for terrorism. From students from this country not getting visas to outside investors shying away from it and even economic sanctions against the country, all kinds of scenarios are conceivable once the stigma is allowed to be firmly attached to Bangladesh as a terrorism infested country.
|