The world witnessed one of the deadliest peace-time massacres in the history of the United States when a fanatic went berserk and killed 50 people in a gay club.
Bear in mind that this incident occurred in a country that possesses the most efficient and modern intelligence.
The Orlando killing in a gay club was carried out by Omar Mateen, a 29-year-old Afghan-American. Reports suggest he had a troubled life and a confused mind.
He, however, called the police before the shooting and said he was a supporter of Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
Now, a debate is raging through the US about his true motive, and whether he himself was gay or not.
He had visited the club and mixed with other men. He had divorced his wife. He was an unpredictable character.
All said and done, the fact is, just like in Bangladesh, IS has claimed responsibility by saying that Mateen was their man.
Still, FBI Director James Comey has said that Mateen had made comments favourable to multiple armed Islamist movements and people, which “adds a little bit to the confusion about his motives.” President Barack Obama said Mateen was likely a “home-grown extremist.”
“So far, we see no indication that this was a plot directed from outside the United States and we see no indication that he was part of any kind of network,” Comey told reporters in Washington.
“We’re highly confident this killer was radicalised, at least in some part, through the internet.”
Where does Bangladesh stand on this? The stand is clear -- there is no IS, and the home-grown extremists are behind the recent targetted killings.
Who are these “home-grown” extremists? It has been proven through police investigation that they belong to JMB, born during the regime of BNP and its ally Jamaat-e-Islami, or they are Jamaat’s student activists from Islami Chhatra Shibir.
When Dhaka says the opposition BNP and Jamaat are behind this terrorism, it is washed away as if it is a political statement.
Why don’t they think about who the beneficiary is? Who has patronised the home-grown terrorists like JMB? Who sponsored the 2004 grenade attack on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and other senior leaders of the Awami League?
What the super-powers need to do is to stop bossing third world countries like Bangladesh around. Instead, give the countries intelligence and/or any other appropriate support. The world must unite against terrorism instead of tarnishing the image of another country
But the US insists that there is IS in Bangladesh. It has issued travel warnings on Bangladesh and Secretary of State Kerry even called Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, condemning the killing of Xulhaz Mannan, a USAID official and a gay rights activist. President Obama also sent a letter of sympathy to Xulhaz’s family, which was a welcome gesture.
They should look deep into where Sheikh Hasina has taken Bangladesh, and how she has been the only leader who stands firm on secularism with zero tolerance on terrorism.
The world must acknowledge that she is the hope of Bangladesh who has stood firm on her commitments as well as her electoral pledges.
Today, after this saddest of incidents in US history, have we issued a travel alert or insisted IS is present in the US? That is for them to judge, and it is for Bangladesh to judge its internal matter.
Social media reacted in similar tones after the Orlando killings, which means a huge number of Bangladeshis think the same way I do. Sheikh Hasina has condemned the killings and sympathised with the affected families.
Is Paris or London safe against Islamist terrorists? Paris has been attacked and a police officer was killed immediately afterwards. London remains on alert, with security officials toting automatic guns, guarding many key institutions.
What the super-powers need to do is to stop bossing third world countries like Bangladesh around. Instead, give the countries intelligence and/or any other appropriate support.
The world must unite against terrorism instead of tarnishing the image of another country, or making issues which affect its economy as foreign investors run away.
