Dhaka sends tough message on terror

JYOTI MALHOTRA

New Delhi, March 30, 2007 : In the runup to the annual gathering of South Asia’s top leadership, Bangladesh has sent the strongest signal against terrorism by executing religious extremists who had unleashed a reign of terror in Bangladesh in recent memory.

The hanging of six Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) terrorists, by the army-backed government of Fakhruddin Ahmad, in various jails in Bangladesh, is being very quietly welcomed by New Delhi.

The execution, in fact, comes 24 hours before External Affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee meets his Bangladeshi counterpart Iftekhar Chowdhury to kickstart the faltering relationship between the two countries, in a special bilateral on the eve of the SAARC summit.

Tightlipped on record, government sources said they were very pleased with the fact that the Fakhruddin Ahmad government was sending such a strong signal against Islamic fundamentalism and extremism, which should be a model for the rest of South Asia to follow.

New Delhi’s newfound realism implies that just as it has been ready to deal with military dictatorships in Pakistan and Myanmar, doing business with a military regime in Dhaka – especially one that sends such positive signals against terrorism – should be welcomed with open arms.

The six JMB terrorists – among them, the infamous `Bangla Bhai’ and Sheikh Rahman – had let loose a reign of terror against the country, hanging people who contested their brand of severe, Islamic law. They were executed for carrying out a series of perfectly executed blasts in 63 of Bangladesh’s 64 districts two years ago, and subsequently killing two judges.

New Delhi clearly hopes that the Bangladesh government will take a similar, tough approach to Indian insurgent camps within Bangladesh, that were being nurtured by the BNP government of Khaleda Zia for the last so many years.

With the recent arrest of Tarique Rahman, son of Khaleda Zia, New Delhi feels that the tide may at last be turning in the Indo-Bangla relationship.

Tomorrow’s talks are significant because Dhaka asked for a special meeting in the runup to the SAARC summit.

Much is on the agenda besides terrorism, such as kickstarting trade and investment (such as the Tatas project), demarcating the last 6.5 kms of the border, reopening transit lines, using the SAARC process to improve the economic relationship such as in the power sector, gas and improving the people to people relationship.

In fact, with ``connectivity’’ being the theme of this SAARC summit, India hopes that an economic restructuring of the sub-continent, especially with Bangladesh and Pakistan, could well be the way out of the many political crises.

ENDS