Dr. M. S. Haq
In nano, passed big bang and other senses, terms such as terrorism and terrorists could include, at present and as appropriate, activities of peoples, governments, political parties, terrorist organizations, research + development + engineering (RDE) in defense areas, intelligence outfits and other stakeholders – at local, global and others levels – that involve elements of terrorism and terrorist elements as perceived, felt or otherwise dealt with by all concerned at individual, collective and other levels for a variety of purposes under existing regimes of challenges, opportunities and other things. It implies inter alia outcomes from random and careless uses of above terms by all concerned on a regular basis – without proper scrutiny as to whether or not the terms justify terming of individuals and situations as such at say any given time – could create additional opportunities for terrorism, increase vulnerabilities to terrorism, take the toll on anti-terror capabilities, among other things – all, at respective operation and other levels, all, relative to time, space and other variables.
The terms are inter alia becoming increasingly contradictory, partisan and confusing especially, when it comes to situations wherein freedom fighters, liberty fighters, democracy fighters, rights fighters including right to life and human rights fighters are termed as heroes in certain countries as opposed to those countries where they are termed as terrorists. Further, the terms are increasingly becoming victims of for example misuses and abuses by politicians, governments and concerned others in the effort towards realization of narrow political gains, implementation of agendas of harmful partisan politics, and political revenge taking, to mention a few.
But having said that, it will not be out of place to mention here: present day terrorism is, inter alia and as appropriate, involved in creating and sustaining an increased number of what I would call societal foramen in pursuits of allowing its networks to pass through strata of societies for expediting hiring of potential terrorists belonging to for example varied classes of above societies (professionals, politicians, others) and for organizing, as well as committing terrorism with the help of multi-level (I mean societal levels) participation, as well as cooperation, and inter-disciplinary mechanics. It is in that and other contexts could be said – life lines of anti-state actors of terrorism are supplemented and complemented by state actors of terrorism and vice versa – relative to known, unknown and other variables though. By the way, foramen is fossae on say a human bone, I mean an opening that allows blood vessels, nerves and tendons to pass, for example the pelvic bone’s obturator foramen.
Windfalls from above and other developments have, among other things, been instrumental in – one, making anti-terror work including anti-terror intelligence work more cumbersome and more uncertain – triggered by say an increasing heterogeneity of power, influence and personality in domains of terrorism; two, taking a continuing toll on trust among people, government and concerned others; three, pushing up possibilities of miscalculation, misidentification, misjudgment, wrong action and injustice in pertinent areas by all concerned; and four, generating additional terror opportunities on account of say resultant confusions, as well as speculations.
Bangladesh should not use lightly the terms such as terrorism and terrorists while describing a purpose, a person, a situation, a forecast, an action, an outcome and other things – at local, global and other levels, at decision-making, implementation and other levels, at self-reflection, collective reflection and other levels, and so on – given present day sensitivities, seriousness and ramifications attached to causes, effects and causalities associated with terrorism and anti-terrorism at local, global and other levels. The country should not misuse or abuse or otherwise as applicable terrorism and anti-terrorism in pursuits of harmful partisan politics – whether at the cost of Bangladesh and its people or not. It should not attempt to popularize terrorism beyond reasons and realities – inviting fully blown terrorism to the country through the foreseeable future and facilitating enabling environments for say the US to degrade Bangladesh from one of its present day statuses that is – a moderate Muslim country. Do not corrupt Gene mechanics of aggregate Bangladeshis at intra, inter and other generational expenses.
The last word: Bangladesh should conduct at the soonest a fair and thorough investigation into matters of Nobel laureate Prof. Yunus before branding him as a terrorist. Let us work towards ensuring the right and affordable justice for all at all levels at all time. God bless. (The author is inter alia former Project Officer/Head, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Kabul – Afghanistan).
Related Posts
