Double standard of Muslim nations
Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury
March 20, 2009
In recent years, many of the Muslim nations although are continuing to term those who participated in the war in Afghanistan as terrorists, in the state-owned and private media, Afghan warriors are continued to be termed as ´Mijahid´ [member of Holy War].
Mujahid is originally, "someone who struggles". The term has, even in Arabic, taken on meanings that are specifically religious, or in particular, military or paramilitary, or both.
Muslim nations, irrespective of their geological locations, language or culture, consider armed militants in Kashmir, Palestine, Afghanistan and other parts of the world as members of Holy War. Some nations, including Bangladesh have recently accepted the fact that, those fought in Afghan war are terrorists. Despite this recent change in strategy, there is no change in the official terminology of those militants who continue to be in the fields of militancy. Bangladesh´s present so-called secularist government also considers Afghan, Palestine, Kashmir etc militants as Mujahids.
Dhaka, under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina looks for excellent relations with India, United States and rest of the non-Muslim world. But, they possibly fail to realize the fact that, by terming Kashmiri or Afghan or Palestinian militants as Members of Holy War, they in fact, prove to be un-dependable and dubious.
Bangladesh, during the recent actions by various mega-terror groups including Hamas and Hezbollah, with all its zeal and enthusiasm, continued tremendous propaganda in favor of these notorious outfits. Hamas or Hezbollah enjoys the status of noble organizations both within the government as well as majority of the media. Terror patron nations like Iran, give further encouragement and instigation to such senseless notions of the Bangladeshi rulers and people by continuing various forms of activities, mostly designed at fueling anti-West and anti-Semitic notions.
It was also reported that, Iran continues to place huge amount of fund behind terror group named Hizb Ut Tahrir and others for decades. Cultural Section of the Iranian Embassy in Dhaka is known to be the contact point of Islamist militants and the Iranian regime for years.
In the name of observing ´Al-Quds Day´ or other similar events by the Iranian embassy or its cultural center, several local intellectuals as well as government officials and politicians are regularly invited to attend and give anti-Semitic and anti-West statements. During the recent past interim government in Bangladesh, a senior official of Ministry of Foreign Affairs attended such function and openly pronounced elimination of Israel from the global map.
Bangladeshi politicians, irrespective or their political ideologies continue to express solidarity with the militants in Afghanistan, Palestine, and Kashmir etc. Although Dhaka now visibly is set to combat Islamist militancy, there is no change in such notion and attitude of the government, state-controlled or privately owned media in Bangladesh.
Most of the Western media, while catering news in the Muslim nations also never term the militants in Afghanistan and Palestine in particular as terrorists. They also try to cope with the popular notion or opinion for the sake of protecting their business interests.
The present government in Dhaka has turned active in combating Islamist militancy. This is good. But, why they are keeping their lips tight of the issue of Leftist Militancy, which is also growing strength every day with the help and patronization of various figures and organizations?
Bangladesh government recently confessed that Islamist militants have penetrated into the disciplined forces and law enforcing agencies. This is surely sensation news for the entire world. But, we should also rewind our memories to another dimension of the entire issue. During 1996-2001, when Awami League government was in power, they announced general amnesty for the leftist terrorists and their kingpins around the country. Following that announcement, thousands of leftist terrorists surrendered arms to the government. It was also reported in the media that, a large section of such former leftist terrorists were recruited in Ansar [one of the law enforcing agencies in Bangladesh]. Some were also recruited in police.
Later, during a mutiny by Ansars, it was revealed that, the masterminds behind the mutiny were those recruited from leftist terror outfits in Bangladesh. There was a report that, several members of leftist terror groups, after joining Ansar, fled with arms and ammunitions and re-aligned to the terror outfits. This matter was never investigated and there was no hunt to grab those fled Ansars who looted arms and ammunitions and re-joined the leftist terror outfits in Bangladesh.
Bangladesh government is putting maximum focus on exposing the potential threat of Islamist militancy in the country. Extra security measures are already taken within the office of the Prime Minister and Presidential Palace to combat possible terror attack. There is also news about extra pre-cautions within the cantonments in Bangladesh to combat possible offensives from the Islamist militant groups.
Newly appointed Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police [DMP] asked the members of law enforcing agency to remain vigilant against any militant actions and guard against the educational institutions, especially English medium schools and colleges in the capital city.
Later, at a meeting with the principals and representatives of the English medium and missionary schools in the capital, DMP Commissioner Shahidul Haque requested the schools management and the guardians of students to remain alert about the threats of any militant organizations and enhance their own security measures.
The meeting was convened in apprehension of destructive activities by the outlawed militant organizations and about 200 principals and representatives of different schools attended the two-hour long meeting.
Manju Baroi, principal of YWCA School at Green road, said, ´Under the situation our own security should be enhanced and the interaction between the teachers and guardians should also be increased.´
The DMP commissioner noted that the security personnel of the schools should thoroughly check the school compounds, including the classrooms, before the start of school hours, ensure safe food and drinking water at the internal canteen or stores, keep watch on the strangers, beggar, hawkers, any abandoned objects and car parked for long hours around the school.
With this sudden meeting between the management of English medium and missionary educational institutions and police in Dhaka, there is a growing panic in the minds of the students and guardians, who fear any sudden attack at any time.
"This is a strange situation, and we do not know, how the law enforcing agencies will combat it."
On condition of anonymity, a teacher with country´s leading English medium school said, "Commerce Minister Lt. Col. Faruk Khan already said that militants have penetrated in law enforcing and disciplined forces. Under this reality, how we can be sure that, those members of law enforcing agencies or disciplined forces deployed to guard our students and institutions won´t ultimately turn into the in-house ghosts?"
Mujahid is originally, "someone who struggles". The term has, even in Arabic, taken on meanings that are specifically religious, or in particular, military or paramilitary, or both.
Muslim nations, irrespective of their geological locations, language or culture, consider armed militants in Kashmir, Palestine, Afghanistan and other parts of the world as members of Holy War. Some nations, including Bangladesh have recently accepted the fact that, those fought in Afghan war are terrorists. Despite this recent change in strategy, there is no change in the official terminology of those militants who continue to be in the fields of militancy. Bangladesh´s present so-called secularist government also considers Afghan, Palestine, Kashmir etc militants as Mujahids.
Dhaka, under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina looks for excellent relations with India, United States and rest of the non-Muslim world. But, they possibly fail to realize the fact that, by terming Kashmiri or Afghan or Palestinian militants as Members of Holy War, they in fact, prove to be un-dependable and dubious.
Bangladesh, during the recent actions by various mega-terror groups including Hamas and Hezbollah, with all its zeal and enthusiasm, continued tremendous propaganda in favor of these notorious outfits. Hamas or Hezbollah enjoys the status of noble organizations both within the government as well as majority of the media. Terror patron nations like Iran, give further encouragement and instigation to such senseless notions of the Bangladeshi rulers and people by continuing various forms of activities, mostly designed at fueling anti-West and anti-Semitic notions.
It was also reported that, Iran continues to place huge amount of fund behind terror group named Hizb Ut Tahrir and others for decades. Cultural Section of the Iranian Embassy in Dhaka is known to be the contact point of Islamist militants and the Iranian regime for years.
In the name of observing ´Al-Quds Day´ or other similar events by the Iranian embassy or its cultural center, several local intellectuals as well as government officials and politicians are regularly invited to attend and give anti-Semitic and anti-West statements. During the recent past interim government in Bangladesh, a senior official of Ministry of Foreign Affairs attended such function and openly pronounced elimination of Israel from the global map.
Bangladeshi politicians, irrespective or their political ideologies continue to express solidarity with the militants in Afghanistan, Palestine, and Kashmir etc. Although Dhaka now visibly is set to combat Islamist militancy, there is no change in such notion and attitude of the government, state-controlled or privately owned media in Bangladesh.
Most of the Western media, while catering news in the Muslim nations also never term the militants in Afghanistan and Palestine in particular as terrorists. They also try to cope with the popular notion or opinion for the sake of protecting their business interests.
The present government in Dhaka has turned active in combating Islamist militancy. This is good. But, why they are keeping their lips tight of the issue of Leftist Militancy, which is also growing strength every day with the help and patronization of various figures and organizations?
Bangladesh government recently confessed that Islamist militants have penetrated into the disciplined forces and law enforcing agencies. This is surely sensation news for the entire world. But, we should also rewind our memories to another dimension of the entire issue. During 1996-2001, when Awami League government was in power, they announced general amnesty for the leftist terrorists and their kingpins around the country. Following that announcement, thousands of leftist terrorists surrendered arms to the government. It was also reported in the media that, a large section of such former leftist terrorists were recruited in Ansar [one of the law enforcing agencies in Bangladesh]. Some were also recruited in police.
Later, during a mutiny by Ansars, it was revealed that, the masterminds behind the mutiny were those recruited from leftist terror outfits in Bangladesh. There was a report that, several members of leftist terror groups, after joining Ansar, fled with arms and ammunitions and re-aligned to the terror outfits. This matter was never investigated and there was no hunt to grab those fled Ansars who looted arms and ammunitions and re-joined the leftist terror outfits in Bangladesh.
Bangladesh government is putting maximum focus on exposing the potential threat of Islamist militancy in the country. Extra security measures are already taken within the office of the Prime Minister and Presidential Palace to combat possible terror attack. There is also news about extra pre-cautions within the cantonments in Bangladesh to combat possible offensives from the Islamist militant groups.
Newly appointed Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police [DMP] asked the members of law enforcing agency to remain vigilant against any militant actions and guard against the educational institutions, especially English medium schools and colleges in the capital city.
Later, at a meeting with the principals and representatives of the English medium and missionary schools in the capital, DMP Commissioner Shahidul Haque requested the schools management and the guardians of students to remain alert about the threats of any militant organizations and enhance their own security measures.
The meeting was convened in apprehension of destructive activities by the outlawed militant organizations and about 200 principals and representatives of different schools attended the two-hour long meeting.
Manju Baroi, principal of YWCA School at Green road, said, ´Under the situation our own security should be enhanced and the interaction between the teachers and guardians should also be increased.´
The DMP commissioner noted that the security personnel of the schools should thoroughly check the school compounds, including the classrooms, before the start of school hours, ensure safe food and drinking water at the internal canteen or stores, keep watch on the strangers, beggar, hawkers, any abandoned objects and car parked for long hours around the school.
With this sudden meeting between the management of English medium and missionary educational institutions and police in Dhaka, there is a growing panic in the minds of the students and guardians, who fear any sudden attack at any time.
"This is a strange situation, and we do not know, how the law enforcing agencies will combat it."
On condition of anonymity, a teacher with country´s leading English medium school said, "Commerce Minister Lt. Col. Faruk Khan already said that militants have penetrated in law enforcing and disciplined forces. Under this reality, how we can be sure that, those members of law enforcing agencies or disciplined forces deployed to guard our students and institutions won´t ultimately turn into the in-house ghosts?"