Islamic extremism and Bangladesh
Neamul Haque Minnesota, US
Mrs. Nazli Kibria, the daughter of the late SAMS Kibria , wrote an article in the Los Angeles Times on April 5, 2005. This is one of many similar letters she has recently written to a number of major newspapers in the United States. Filled with frustration at her father's miserable death, she repeatedly pointed out how lawless our country has become. Sadly enough, she also invested a major portion of her energy in drawing attention to the rise of Islamist extremism in Bangladesh. Mrs. Kibria went ahead without any hesitation to call these spawning groups "Bangladeshi Taliban" and asserted with certainty that they do maintain links with 'international terrorist organisations.' With her conclusion of the existence of this extremism in Bangladesh, she felt an urging need for US intervention as part of the solution. "Even as the US has expanded its war on terrorism across more and more of the world, Bangladesh has escaped attention," Mrs. Kibria wrote. In a similar letter to the Boston Globe, dated March 7, 2005, she wrote, " the current political crisis in Bangladesh has not, thus far, attracted much attention in the United States". She urged anyone with positions of power and influence in the US to put Bangladesh on their radar screen now, rather than later. In the same article, she cast 'no doubt' that the assassination of her father is part of a larger and systematic campaign of terror in Bangladesh, "one that seeks to destroy the forces of moderation, democracy, and freedom, and convert Bangladesh into a 'Muslim state'."The central theme for all of her letters is the urgency of taking action now since she believes price of inaction will be high in the long term. "Are we better off dealing immediately with a problem that can most likely be solved through firm international diplomacy or waiting for a later time when we may be contending with a rogue state that lends aid and comfort to Islamist extremists?" Mrs. Kibria asked. While I do not know certainty how strong is the presence of what she calls "Bangla Taliban" in Bangladesh, I do question the judgement of any patriotic Bangladeshi who labels her own country using vicious words like 'Taliban' and 'militant Islamist extremism' , and openly invites foreign intervention. Are not we smartĘ enough to deal with such problem on our own, if they do indeed exist? Have not we seen the brutal face of American diplomacy in Iraq and Afghanistan? Do we really have to experience the 'firm international diplomacy' that Mrs. Kibria is inviting? Will we ever learn the lesson? Finally, I agree with Ms. Kibria's stated goal. I dream for the day when no one will dare to claim Bangladesh a terror county. I hope and pray that the killers of Mrs. Kibria's father will be brought to justice. As a nation we can not repay the greatest loss she has suffered, justice is the minimum we could offer her.
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