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Our ally in war on terror in trouble

Steve Johnson - 3/26/2008

It might sound ridiculous, but it is a fact! Al Qaeda pals and Islamist elements are gradually getting planted in many of the sensitive positions in Muslim Bangladesh’s administration and law enforcement agencies. On the other hand, Rapid Action Battalion [RAB], a group formed by former Islamist Coalition government in the country has by now crossed many records of human rights abuse and extra judicial killings. It is learnt from various sources that on an average, more than hundred people are killed by this notorious group, while rape in custody is a regular phenomenon. RAB, a force formed with members of police, ansar and army behave like old days ‘bad guys’ and are in reality modern version of armed goons which are licensed to kill anyone without assigning any reason. On the other hand, none of the members of RAB are either repentant or even questioned for such brutality. Their souls and minds are as black as their uniform. They wear black veils on head, which also looks similar to nasty racket of culprits or hoodlums. And very alarmingly, a large number of Al Qaeda pals and ultra Islamists are already positioned in various posts within this notorious group, which are busy in identifying and cleansing anti Islamist forces in Bangladesh, in the name of combating crime.

Everyone knows by now that Bangladesh is presently administrated by military backed interim government, which visibly aims to cleanse politics and politicians from the country in the name of anti-corruption drive. Since taking over country’s administration on January last year, this government although sent large number of politicians in prison and even trying them in hidden courts on corruption charges, they are trying their best in somehow salvaging corrupt army officers, many of the names, already known in Bangladesh to be champion corrupts. Take for example, the name of Major General [Retired] Mahmudul Hassan. This gentleman is known as ‘thief of Baghdad’ for his severe corruption during military dictatorship of Hussain Muhammed Ershad during 1982-1990. This interim government did not touch any of the corrupt men in Ershad’s cabinet, just because, they are unwilling to let people see the corrupt face of military dictators or their pals. Their [interim government’s] main agenda is to give bad name to politicians to shut the doors of democracy in the country. There are hundreds of names of corrupt army men, who are spared from ongoing ‘anti corruption’ drive of the present rulers in Dhaka. Take the name of Zafar Imam, Major General [Retired] Abdus Salam, Lieutenant General [Retired] Noor Uddin Ahmed, Major [Retired] Kamrul Islam, Colonel Akbar Hossain and his wives, Major Sayeed Iskander and many others. These are the known names of corrupts in Bangladesh. But, till date, they are not within actions of the interim government. Reason possibly is already assumed by my readers.

Most important point is that Dhaka is rapidly going into pro-Islamist quarters and allies of war on terror are definitely in trouble. The present administration in Bangladesh is under great influence of Islamists and anti United States as well pro-Communist lobbies. So called seculars, which are generally anti American and pro Communists are playing important role in fixing strategies for the administration in Dhaka. Because of such interactions between the administration and anti American lobbies, moderate Muslims as well as liberal Islamic parties are in danger. Every effort is on to some how crash pro-American and anti Islamist forces in Bangladesh. Election Commission is also set to stop such moderate Islamic parties from participating in Bangladesh’s future elections by incorporating numerous ridiculous electoral pre-conditions. It is also visible that the present administration is patronizing formation of political parties under the leadership of questioned individuals of ultra Islamists like Major General [Retired] Syed Muhammad Ibrahim. General Ibrahim is known to be a pro-Iran and pro-Saudi man in Dhaka, having close links with known and unknown patrons in Afro-Arab nations. He reported collects huge amount of fund every year through an NGO formed using the name of Prophet of Islam.

The entire scenario in Dhaka evidently shows that actions and initiatives takes by the present administration is no delighting for global community confronting jihad and religious hatred. America’s allies in war on terror are in great danger in Bangladesh. And, this was very loudly proved when members of para military troops named RAB stormed into the office of internationally known award winning journalist Mr. Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury. It is necessary to mention here that, Choudhury faces sedition, treason and blasphemy charges in Bangladesh for confronting culture of jihad, promoting interfaith understanding and demanding relations between Israel and the Muslim nations. His newspaper, Weekly Blitz is known to be the only anti Islamist publication in the Muslim world. Previous Islamist coalition government tried in many ways to shut this newspaper and many of the notorious Islamist forces tried to kill this extremely courageous voice of moderation. Despite numerous international demands, none of the governments in Bangladesh are intended to drop the false charges on Mr. Choudhury. Rather they have possibly opted for continuing harassment of him through various means.

Although Mr. Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury was released on Tuesday late hours [he was abducted from his office at gun point in the evening] due to prompt actions taken by some members of the United States Congress and the US Embassy in Dhaka, it is anticipated that life of this proven ally of war on terror is in real jeopardy. Guns of Islamists and pals of Islamists like RAB are consistently chasing him. Who will save this true hero?