The tiny minority of Islamic extremists seems to be extraordinarily busy these days in Bangladesh: “With pressure mounting on Dhaka to act against North Eastern insurgent camps there, media reports say that there were at least 48 camps across Bangladesh to impart arms training to Islamic militants, some of whom are known to be close to al-Qaeda and Taliban.” This from ExpressIndia.
“‘So far, security agencies have reportedly identified 48 training centres across the country. The names of 13 militant organisations are known, but only a few of them have created news,’ an article in the Saturday Tribune of Bangladesh said.
“The known outfits include Shahadat-e-al-Hikma, Jamaat-ul-mujahid-ul-Bangladesh, Jamaat-e-Yahia trust, Hizbut Tawhid, al-Harakat-ul-Islamia, al-Markaj-ul-Islami, Jamaatul Falaiya, Tawhidi Janata, world Islamic front, Jumaat-as-Sadat, Shahadat -E-Nabuat, Harkat-ul-Jehad Islami and al-Khidmat, it said.”
Among these names include the Jihad Party of Bangladesh, Confession and Wisdom, Party of Allah’s Unity, etc.
“‘Whatever their actual number or present capabilities, as well as the limited influence they have on the general population, these Jihadis have started causing alarm in democratic circles, and unless they are effectively contained, may become a real and extraordinary danger in the imminent future,’ senior Bangladeshi journalist Haroon Habib said in the article ‘Islamic Militancy: Is Bangladesh following the Pakistani example’.
“It said that there were also frequent allegations about ‘a mysteriously soft attitude’ adopted by the Bangladesh government towards these outfits ‘as none of the arrested militants have, so far, received any punishment, nor have there been any meaningful investigation into their funding and support structures’.” Hmmm. And why is that?