It is particularly painful that the misguided young persons not only killed themselves but also killed other people. They were advised by their leaders that they were following the precepts of Islam. Their interpretation of Islam is distorted in such a manner that it provides a bad image for a peaceful religion.

In 1930, in the forward of the book by Mawlana Abul Kalam Azad, The Opening Chapter of the Qu'ran (a part of the Tarjuman al-Qu'ran), Abul Kalam, who has an established place in the field of Islamic learning wrote:

"For various reasons, the exact message of the Qu'ran has for centuries been steadily kept out of view; so much so that when we look back into the history of the commentators of the Qu'ran from the earliest centuries of Islam right up to the close of the last century, we find that the standard of approach to the meaning of the Qu'ran had steadily deteriorated. This was the result of a gradual decadence in the quality of the Muslim mind itself."

The Qu'ran repeatedly proclaims that the verses should be read with understanding and reason. Islam does not advocate blind faith. Ibn Rushd was a great rationalist and he interpreted Islam with reason and understanding.

Informed observers believe that suicide bombing owes its origin to Sayyid Qutb, an Egyptian, who was executed by President Gamal Nasser in 1966, who propagated a "divine program" to create an Islamic society. As the Prophet fought against the jahiliyyah (age of ignorance), Qutb advocated that the Muslims should fight the jahiliyya creeping in society, declaring jihad including suicide bombings against it, if necessary.

Qutb introduced two methods to remove "ignorance" from Islamic society. First, his followers must withdraw from the mainstream of society and organize their followers to fight against "misguided" Muslims on behalf of their narrow interpretation of Islam.

Second, his followers would create a truly an Islamic society according to their version of Islam, even through violence including suicide bombings, if needed. The deceased who carried out the attack would go to heaven. Observers believe that Osama Bin Laden clearly subscribes to this extreme ideology.

The very notion that Islam would allow suicide bombers to inflict carnage on human beings is at the least an obscenity. At this critical time, Islamic militants should not be allowed to hijack Islam to achieve their twisted ideology to suit their ends.

Furthermore there is much that Muslims can learn from our Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (peace be upon him) about how they should conduct themselves in the present day world. His whole career shows that the first priority must be to extirpate greed, hatred and contempt against others to reform society. Only then it is possible to build a safe, stable community where people can live together in harmony and respect each other

Fertile ground for fundamentalism
Many academics believe Islamic militancy flourishes in an environment of frustration, desperation and unemployment of youths. They are easily lured by the fundamentalists who preach an ideology that apparently offers panacea for them in the name of religion. Frustrated youths want to hear that there is a "magic wand" that will allow them to change their quality of life in a society that does not care for them.

Added to this social phenomenon, the current global political climate is not helping either. The Iraqi war has fuelled the common belief that the US-led alliance of the Christian world has been fighting against Islam, not against terrorists.

The lukewarm reception of Turkey in negotiations for entry into the European Union demonstrates that even a secular Muslim Turkey is unwelcome into a "Christian club." Austria even proposed for a second class membership for Turkey as "Associate Member," and for membership, the Catholic-majority France wishes to hold referendum for its entry, unlike in the admission of new members. What perception do they show to the Islamic world?

Gross disparity between rich and poor in Bangladesh
After independence of Bangladesh, many observers believe miscalculation of national priorities and confrontational politics have given a safe berth to steady rise of Islamic fundamentalism in the country. Furthermore, economic policies arguably led many unemployed youths (each year 2.5 million educated unemployed youths reportedly join the labour market in the country) into the hands of fundamentalists.

Although Bangladesh has admittedly progressed economically during the decade, the disparity among rich and poor within the country has widened. Too much wealth has concentrated in a few people. For example, per capita income to the non-poor has risen by about 19.38 per cent, while that of the poor has risen only 4.82 per cent, according to Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics.

The UN report, tabled in September this year at the UN meeting of the world leaders, indicated Bangladesh has achieved fifth worst ranking, only next to Ethiopia, Rwanda, Niger and Madagascar, in reducing poverty alleviation. The progress of poverty alleviation has been recorded at 0.52 per cent, well below the UN target of 2.2 per cent. These are realities, not conceived by the media.

Initial alarm bell
The initial alarm bell of presence of Islamic Jihadis in the country was rung by foreign journalists, followed by local media. Alex Parry of Time magazine in its edition on October 2002 ran a story that Bangladesh had became a safe haven for Islamic Jihadis and Al-Qaeda fighters. He wrote: "Bangladesh has also its fundamentalists. And its southern coastal hills and northern borders with India are lawless and bristling with Islamic militants armed by gun runners en route from Cambodia and southern Thailand to Sri Lanka, Kashmir, Central Asia and Middle East."

Eliza Griswold wrote in The New York Times in January 2005 about the alleged attempt of Bangla Bhai to bring about Talibanisation in some parts of the country, bordering India. Traveling through Bangladesh, she concluded: "The global war on terror is aimed at making the rise of regimes like that of the Talbans impossible, in Bangladesh the trend could be going the other way."

The authorities reportedly dismissed these reports and blamed foreign media against Bangladesh. Much later, the August 17 bombing incidents took place in almost all districts simultaneously, demonstrating the strength and organizational capability of militants throughout Bangladesh. Thereafter, the incidence of suicide bombings took place at Gazipur and in Chittagong, a seismic shift of nature of violence, borrowed from the Middle East and Afghanistan.

The two incidents compelled the authorities to take seriously the threat to internal security from militants. The daily media reports show large numbers of militants from the banned Islamic outfit with deadly weapons, explosives and bomb materials including detonators are being captured. They reflect the size of their strength and spread over the country. The law enforcing agencies have to be commended for their duties in arresting the suspected culprits.

Who is responsible?
Time is always rife for speculation during days of uncertainty, insecurity and fear. Although at domestic level, suspected culprits have been identified as members of the banned organization JMB, there are many wild theories or rumours floating in the country as to who are the behind the scene operators of the violence.

Informed observers believe theories of conspiracy against Bangladesh are easy to invent and sell. Ordinary people are credulous and swallow whatever information is dished out to them.

The probing question is why Bangladesh has to be destablised and in whose interests. Stability and progress of Bangladesh provide economic dividends to every state including its neighbours and distant states.

The cause of the rise of militancy has to be dispassionately examined and emotions or bias should not come into the picture. It has to be analysed in an objective manner as to how militancy has spread over the country and why.

It is easy to blame or pass the buck to others. It demonstrates immaturity and lack of self-examination or analysis. For example, parents should not blame only the environment of school or teachers for failure in examinations of their sons and daughters. Sons and daughters including parents should take responsibility for failures.

Neutral probe body
Bangladesh is a respectable member of the comity of nations. It became twice member of the Security Council, representing Asia, and actively participates in the UN peace-keeping operations of other countries. It is a tragedy that it cannot secure peace within its borders from Islamic militancy. Bangladesh is a nation of tolerant people and there is no room for violence in the community.

Observers suggest two alternatives in the matter. First, let there a national fact-finding body, headed by an independent eminent person, with a few members representing cross section of people without any political affiliation to inquire into matter and submit their findings as to who is responsible for such dreadful state of affairs.

If that is not possible, the other alternative is to request the UN (as Lebanon requested the UN to inquire into the responsibility for assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in February) to examine the empirical evidence and come to the conclusion about the causes of Islamic militancy in Bangladesh and who is behind it.

To request the UN is not to be considered as derogation of sovereignty or incapability of a state. It is an act that manifests maturity and commitment to the UN process. It is noted that the Commonwealth Secretariat was involved in the mid-90s to settle the political differences between the two mainstream political parties in the country. No question of sovereignty was raised during that time.

In any case, the concept of old-fashioned notion of sovereignty has undergone dramatic changes in a world which is being run by numerous treaties and conventions, to which the ratifying states limit their sovereignty to abide by the rules and regulations.

Conclusion
Bangladesh has always been a moderate and tolerant country. It is a multi-religious, multi-lingual, and multi-ethnic country. About 12 per cent of its people are non-Muslims (16.8 million people). It is a sizeable population of non-Muslims in the country.

The very fact that the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition are female persons demonstrates that the overwhelming majority of people are very enlightened and liberal in their mind and attitude. The Muslims of this country are non-Arab and have different traditions and cultures.

Those who support or are responsible for Islamic militancy in the country are enemies of Bangladesh and they must be identified through an independent probe body. People of Bangladesh have the right to know who is responsible for the militancy.

Barrister Harun ur Rashid is a former Bangladesh Ambassador to the UN, Geneva.