The news that as many as 36 Bangladeshi migrants in Malaysia have been arrested for their involvement in militancy is unsettling to say the least. They were active in introducing Islamic State (IS)-inspired ideology in the host country and formed recruitment cells within the community of their compatriots there, according to The New Straits Times. Whether the militants had any ambition of spreading terrorism in Malaysia is not clear but the authorities there made it amply clear that the "cells were set up to indoctrinate radical beliefs, raise funds for terrorist activities, and to ultimately overthrow the legitimate government in their home country".

Malaysia follows a strict policy against terrorism. Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, the Home Minister of that country revealed that planned security operation based on intelligence gathered by the Special Branch carried out in three phases in Selangor and Johor could nab the 36 Bangladeshis in connection with the organised undercover militant activities. Of them, five have been "charged under the Offences Relating to Terrorism (Chapter VIA) of the Penal Code" in two sessions courts. Another 15 of the group have been issued deportation order and the rest 16 are under investigation for their involvement in the clandestine militant movement. 

Clearly, Malaysia's campaign against militancy has been swift and decisive, but is Bangladesh now equally determined to fight militancy? After the August 5 uprising, terrorists and anti-social elements came out of jails when the gates of many of those including the high-security one at Kashimpur were broken open. The six Islamist terrorists who attacked the Holey Artisans in Gulshan, Dhaka, killing 22 people, many of them foreigners, were killed but their seven associates including their masterminds were sentenced to death. Their whereabouts are not known. Also two militants of the banned Ansar al-Islam were snatched from the crowded court area in old Dhaka. They are still at large.

In fact, the interim government had little time to pay attention to the re-emergence of militancy in the country. The fluid state of politics in the country has not helped the cause. Some point accusing fingers at the attack on the Bangladesh Television building at Rampura, Metro Rail station at Kazipara and other highly sensitive infrastructures and centres on militants who joined the protesters during the movement.

Malaysia has done its part of the job by busting the dens of militants who organised there and were making preparation for unleashing attacks on the government in Bangladesh at their convenience. But busting the terrorist network in Malaysia may not be enough. The militant groups may have formed a coalition among themselves in order to advance their common goal of unseating any elected government in the country. There is no guarantee that the IS followers are not active in other countries with the same dubious objective. Even they may try to cause serious disruption during the election to be held tentatively in February next year.

The police force is yet to make full recovery from the setback it suffered during and after the uprising. There is a need for extra vigilance and thankfully the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and the Army are still on security duty. The police seem more to be interested in apprehending the members of the former ruling party of the fallen government than minding other pressing business. Since they had intimate knowledge of the militant groups, their service should be made good use of in hunting the militants, if any, trying to staging a comeback.

Meanwhile, communications should be established with the Malaysian authorities in order to verify the militant backgrounds of those accused. They should be interned on their deportation from Malaysia and quizzed to get as much information as possible. If they have international connections, they may be made to admit so.

nilratanhalder2000@yahoo.com



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