The number of convicts -- 25 to be exact, including the former minister -- is indicative of the magnitude of the crime committed. The fact, however, that 17 of them, inclusive of the ex-minister, are absconding, means that they have to be ferreted out and made to face justice.

That they have been found guilty of promoting and supporting Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh in their acts of extortion and torture of people in a court of law puts across some strong signals. It lends a robust credence to the widely acknowledged fact that elements within the erstwhile BNP-led coalition government with Jamaat had harboured, sheltered and promoted the extremist elements of JMB spearheaded by so-called Bangla Bhai. The government going in a denial mode despite wide newspaper coverage of the rising extremist spectre only helped strengthen the militant causes. The interrogation of terror suspects had revealed names in the erstwhile government who allegedly nurtured armed extremism. They should be pursued now -- to the fullest.

With the conviction delivered, numerous people who were maimed and crippled by the JMB would feel that justice has been done.

This court verdict along with the execution of the six top extremists should deliver a strong message to those who harbour militant agenda. The ideology these people work on having been based on exploitation of religious sentiments of innocent people may still be rubbing with some; so the need for an all-out campaign against the protagonists of armed extremism.

That the rise of militancy is a potential threat to state security and social equilibrium is universally acknowledged today. We have to build on this basic realisation of our people.

The latest court verdict against patronisation of militancy should convey the message to the outside world as to our national commitment to combating terrorism.