.jpg)
Bangladesh’s major political parties should have a national consensus on combating terrorism, militancy and extremism that are posing grave threats to this beautiful country. Ideological differences among political parties are quite natural and obvious, but we expect a national consensus on core major issues like combating terrorism, militancy and extremism and to weed out the roots these emanate from. We will not prescribe political leaders on modalities, but expect that leaders of political parties will have a minimum consensus to fight the terrorism that is threatening not only to Bangladesh, but to the rest of the world. Today terrorism is a global challenge and Bangladesh a Muslim majority country needs carefully to continue to work with other friendly countries, regional organisations and the United Nations (UN) to fight the menace. Countrys image needs to be saved
Bangladesh has the capacity to replicate success of RMG and pharmaceuticals in other sectors of the economy. Some pharmaceutical companies in Bangladesh are producing high-quality medicines that are entering over a number of countries
Prof Sarwar Md Saifullah Khaled
Bangladeshs major political parties should have a national consensus on combating terrorism, militancy and extremism that are posing grave threats to this beautiful country. Ideological differences among political parties are quite natural and obvious, but we expect a national consensus on core major issues like combating terrorism, militancy and extremism and to weed out the roots these emanate from. We will not prescribe political leaders on modalities, but expect that leaders of political parties will have a minimum consensus to fight the terrorism that is threatening not only to Bangladesh, but to the rest of the world. Today terrorism is a global challenge and Bangladesh a Muslim majority country needs carefully to continue to work with other friendly countries, regional organisations and the United Nations (UN) to fight the menace.
Members of the civil society, journalists, intellectuals, teachers, scholars, religious leaders, cultural personalities and civil servants should work together to remove the social disease. The Bangladeshi Foreign Minister while briefing foreign diplomats recently expressed his hope that the international community will support Bangladesh in fighting common challenges of terrorism and violent extremism. He said this while briefing the foreign diplomats stationed in Dhaka on the recent attack at the Holey Artisan Bakery at Gulshan, Dhaka, that resulted in the death of 22 innocent people most of them foreigners. He said that the law enforcement agencies are on high alert and security measures have been strengthened. But we have to do it in our own way.
Militancy in Bangladesh shows many faces. The revelation comes at a dear cost, though. Commoners are confounded as to who real planners of so brutal actions are and why the perpetrators of the plots come out to be so motley after every incident in recent times. The two major power contenders in the country appear from their trading of blame to be both sure about the patrons. Leaders of the ruling Awami League go on saying it is the BNP-Jamaat duo which is sponsoring militant activities across the country in a bid to save the war criminals on trial and get back their lost power. The BNP is redirecting the charge. Leaders of this former ruling party say it is the government quarter which itself is allowing dreadful militant acts to create shock and awe to hang on to power as it is not elected and so has no popular base to stand on. So the nation is divided on the issue.
The experts made a blistering observation that a neo-rich class has emerged in the country by amassing money by means fair or foul for their uncontrolled grasp of wealth since the period after the countrys 1971 independence when the twenty-two families yielded place to them. Their children are rolling in opulence and going astray out of romance and heroism. Many thinkers make many anatomy of the eruption of the syndrome, including the outburst in the western world also. They say perspectives are different but style is the same suicidal one by youths in most cases. Bangladesh a Muslim majority country should walk a bit different path in search of a solution. A free ambiance in politics, economics, culture, religion and other fields of interaction could bring in a catharsis. After all, whatever their parentage, some best brains are being lost in such offensive and counteroffensive.
But it is difficult to assess the present situation. We are grateful to the members of the law enforcing agencies who have taken up strong precautionary steps to ensure security. Police are patrolling on the streets.
But we know little about the threat. That means that we cannot be sure that all actions taken so far will be enough for security. However, Bangladesh should take recourse to practicing democracy to unite the country that it lacks to combat terrorism, militancy and extremisms if necessary by holding a fresh, free, fair and credible early general election under a dependable government/election-commission for 1970 like national solidarity for a clean and strong government. It is clear that violent militant organizations have intentions to target Bangladesh and the attack of July 01, and 07, 2016 shows that they may try to strike again. This is not Bangladesh that we knew.
The people of Bangladesh are admired for their traditional hospitality extended to foreigners and for preserving their age old tolerant and Muslim heritage and values. Appropriate measures are to be taken to prevent the spread of violent extremism and to bring the perpetrators of the attacks to justice. The drive against eviction of restaurants at Gulshan and Baridhara on security ground the decision is too late. Emphasis should rather be on improving security at restaurants, diplomatic missions and in the area as a whole. Gulshan and Baridhara are not proper diplomatic areas, rather mixed areas comprising residential, commercial and diplomatic characters. Unlike diplomatic zones in Islamabad of Pakistan and New Delhi of India, Gulshan and Baridhara are mixed areas where the presence of foreigners is relatively insignificant
The government has issued notices to 13,000 commercial establishments in residential areas under city corporations across the country. The government decided to direct the authorities concerned to cancel the trade licences of the commercial establishments set up in residential areas and halt the issuance of fresh trade licences to the illegal establishments on government plots in city corporation areas across the country. The government has also decided to take legal actions to evict those illegal establishments if not removed within the timeframe fixed by the government. Mobile court drives will also be conducted.
In the education sector of the country, the government should promote a minimum common curriculum for all schools, regardless whether they are government schools, private schools or Madrasas. When all children have a sufficient knowledge of Bangla, English, Arabic, mathematics, history, religion and other subjects, they will have the tools to exploit the full potential of their lives, to get a job and to be empowered citizens of this country. The government should revise three types of education system and introduce a uniformed system to better the present education system. To do this national consensus is essential through an early general election based on political party manifesto to that end.
The number of girls is equal to the number of boys in the primary education. Enrollment in the entry level has reached nearly cent per cent. So it is high time to promote common curriculum for our children for mental unity of consciousness and patriotism.
In the investment environment front both foreign and domestic entrepreneurs will look at security, improved infrastructure and level of corruption before investing here. Bangladesh economy has been growing at 6 to 7 per cent during the last 15 to 20 years despite some political, social and natural disturbances in the past. Bangladesh needs to shows zero tolerance to corruption conducive to Islamic faith. Bangladesh will have to ensure proper security, improved infrastructure and reduce the level of corruption to attract the foreign direct investment. There are many foreign companies who see and take advantage of the opportunities of investing in Bangladesh. The textile sector is still the major sector. At the same time Bangladesh is going through rapid development and needs great investment in infrastructure and energy, and those are some areas where there are many competitive foreign companies who are able to offer useful solutions to Bangladeshs needs.
Today many praise the economic growth of Bangladesh, particularly in the readymade garment (RMG) sector. Bangladesh has the capacity to replicate success of RMG and pharmaceuticals in other sectors of the economy. Some pharmaceuticals companies in Bangladesh is producing high-quality medicines that are entering over a number of countries. The effects of climate change are visible in Bangladesh especially in the coastal areas. To combat the effects of saline water intrusion on the rice farms in the southern Bangladesh, and the important work to prevent the effects of new natural disasters by building embankments and sufficient numbers of cyclone shelters should be there.
It is mentionable that usually there is a very positive perception of Bengali and Bangladeshi culture around the world. The Muslim majority Bangladesh has a rich tradition of religious and racial co-existence, literature, art, music and panoramic view over the deltaic region criss-crossed by mighty rivers, their tributaries and numerous rivulets. Here people are simple, hospitable and hard working. All these inspire many foreigners to continue visiting many parts of the country to learn more. Let not these bounties of this beautiful country favoured by the Almighty be nullified by wrong, dirty and imprudent politics of a handful of power hungry crafty politicians devoid of patriotism. Let peace loving Bangladesh an abode of 92 percent adherent to Islam, a religion of peace a country that we traditionally know face militant and militancy by practicing democracy based on national consensus and save its traditional heritage and image of its own.
The writer is a retired Professor of Economics
