The representatives of the civil society and members of various professional associations organized a two-day convention on unity against terrorism on 30 and 31 August 2005 at Dhaka. Since March 1999 Bangladesh has been subjected to numerous acts of terrorism directed essentially against all progressive, secular and democratic forces. The fanatic militants and extremists have turned the country into a romping ground for terrorism under the protection and patronage of the Alliance government that assumed power on 10 October 2001. This government has Jamat as one of its coalition partners and they are dedicated to jehad. They are also the anti-Liberation force in the country. They use religion for political ends and excite communal frenzy to gain their ultimate objective of grabbing state powers by any means fair or foul.

Last year on 21 August the terrorists dared to attack an Awami League rally in Dhaka with the plan of assassinating Sheikh Hasina MP, the leader of the parliamentary opposition and the emblem of progressive, secular and democratic spirit of the country. This year on 17 August the same extremist elements staged a nation-wide bombing attack in all the district headquarters except one in the country. They threatened to destroy our democracy, our justice system and our way of life. At last waking up from its denial syndrome the government acknowledged the might and reach of the fanatic elements and the threat to the security of the state.

The convention was originally planned to draw attention to the unresolved acts of terrorism particularly of August 2004 and start a national movement for unity against terrorism. The intention was to force the incompetent and presumably the collusive government to action by the show of national unity. It was expected that participants from abroad would join the convention to express their solidarity in this unity against terrorism. Unfortunately the fall-out of 17 August bomb explosions prevented participants from abroad to be present at the convention. Only William Sloan, lawyer and human right activist, from Canada made it to the convention. Messages were received from Lord Avbury of British parliament, Johan Van Hacke of European parliament and Henry Pinger of German parliament.

The convention opened with an address of welcome by the Convenor Barrister Roknuddin Mahmud. It was addressed by Sheikh Hasina MP as a representative of the victims of terrorism. A photographic exhibition was held in the premises of the convention hall. Six seminars were held in the two days of the conference devoted to the following subjects (i) Terrorism and the Culture of Impunity, (ii) State Terrorism and the Rule of Law, (iii) Bangladesh Minorities: Intolerance and Denial of Rights, (iv) Repression on Women, (v) Freedom of Expression under Attack and (vi) Extremism and Fanaticism: Response. A session was held with representatives of various political parties who strongly endorsed the idea of unity against terrorism.

In the closing session the chairmen of all seminar sessions gave their reports on the discussions and conclusions of the seminars and the following Dhaka Declaration was adopted unanimously.

Dhaka Declaration 31 August 2005

This Convention notes with great anxiety that, This secular and democratic motherland of ours achieved through a great War of Liberation is under the occupation of a militant terrorist coalition.

The Convention is of the view that,

Terrorism and lawlessness in Bangladesh had its origin in the dastardly military coup of 15 August 1975 when Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the father of the nation, was brutally assassinated along with 18 others of his immediate family and associates and when state powers were forcibly and illegally captured by military adventurers. This terrorism flourished during the long spell of subsequent illegal occupation of the country by military rulers. Following this terrorist tradition many secret armed extremist groups have been perpetrating armed terrorist attacks – gun raids, bomb blasts and grenade throws – against secular and democratic forces and the main opposition Awami League and its leaders and workers. These are going on with support, protection and patronage of the ruling Alliance as well as their lack of concern and willing indifference to these acts of violence. Even cultural events or gatherings, mazars and urus of saints and dervishes or mosques of the Ahmadiya community are not spared from these terrorist attacks.

The Convention further maintains that,

The main objective of the grenade attack on Awami League Rally on 21 August 2004 was to assassinate Sheikh Hasina and other leaders of the AL and create a leadership crisis in the main opposition party. This was a mindless attack by the anti-Liberation evil forces in connivance with their associates and although Sheikh Hasina escaped death as if by a miracle, 24 other patriotic sons and daughters of the country including a pioneer in women’s movement Ivy Rahman lost their lives. As a victim of the same conspiracy S A M S Kibria MP and the former Finance Minister, popular leader Ahsanullah Master MP, eminent lawyer of Khulna Manjurul Imam, former MP of Natore Mumtaz Uddin and a few other top ranking leaders were brutally murdered or gunned down.

The Convention notes with grave concern that,

This evil force is striking regularly and viciously against free press and free thinking in the society. About a dozen journalists such as Humayun Kabir Balu, Manik Shaha or Dipankar Chakrabarty had to lay down their lives for their voice of dissent and truth. In the same way Prof M Yunus and Prof Humayun Azad, both emblems of free thinking and human rights, were most brutally killed.

Under the protection of the government these militant extremist forces have been organized so well and their destructive capacity has reached such a proportion that on 17 August they were able to blast some 500 bombs almost simultaneously all over the country in 63 out of 64 district headquaraters. It is difficult to imagine that such an unprecedented well-coordinated operation could be successfully staged without the knowledge and silent nod of the government. On the other hand the government has been undertaking acts of state terrorism. By granting indemnity retrospectively the government killed 58 citizens under the operation Cleanheart in 2002/03. For nearly four years death in custody is taking place relentlessly. Recently several armed units such as Cheeta, Cobra, and Rat followed by RAB, have been instituted in the police force and in the guise of so-called ‘crossfire’ or ‘encounter’ they are carrying out hundreds of extra-judicial killings.

The Convention firmly believes that,

The nation-wide bomb attack on 17 August was intended to hinder the ongoing movement led by the combined opposition forces for electoral reforms, including the reform of the Caretaker government and Election Commission. Another target of the attack was the district administration, the police establishment and the courts of law. Such an attack proves beyond a shadow of doubt that it is directed against our democratic system and the rule of law. The anti-Liberation communal forces organizing themselves under various extremist groups is out to grab state powers by hook or by crook, they are determined to establish extremist military power in the country.

The Convention notes with serious trepidation that,

Since the take-over of power by the Alliance government so far there have been more than fifty cases of bomb blasts, grenade attacks and similar other planned acts of violence. At the same time smuggling of arms and explosives and the widespread availability of illegal arms and weapons in the country have created a climate of insecurity and panic. But unfortunately in none of the cases investigations have proceeded far enough nor any criminal has been arrested, nor anyone has been brought to trial and terrorism has been suppressed. The government has failed to demonstrate any earnestness in investigating the cases. Instead by destroying exhibits of evidence or not protecting them carefully they have weakened investigation. By pointing accusing fingers at wrong parties the police is allowing the real criminals to escape scot-free. The government, in fact, is taking many such conspiratorial steps to frustrate investigation of the acts of terrorism. A culture of impunity has given a free hand to extremism and terrorism and terrorists have turned reckless under the patronage of the powerful. Really democracy in Bangladesh is under serious threat. Bangladesh is in the grip of a farce of the coexistence of terrorism and democracy.

The Convention strongly states that,

Islam is the religion of peace. The strength of Islam lies in reason, modesty, kindness and tolerance. There is no place for extremism in Islam and Islam teaches balance and compromise. Islam conquered the world armed with its noble mission for peace and tolerance. It gained power and prominence and the Medina Pact executed by the Prophet of Islam is the proof of this spirit. The Muslims of Bangladesh are a peace-loving people and followers of the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (sm). Trading in the name of religion has been firmly rejected by the people in 1971 and it will once again be rejected. Democratic institutions, the system of laws and justice and even human rights are under serious threat now. The traders of religion are a growing menace and they are well-organized and heavily armed. The bomb and grenade attacks perpetrated by them have put the security and independence of the country at stake.

Considering the overall situation this Convention makes the following declaration,

The wide reach of armed terrorism in the country and the destructive capacity of the extremist groups severely threaten national security and even the constitution of the country.

In this context this Convention determine to put a stop to this adventurism call for unity of all progressive, secular and democratic forces.

It intends to forge people’s resistance through mass sensitization and mass organization.

With this end in view the Convention presents the following action plan:

1. In order to build a terrorism and corruption free society in Bangladesh all patriotic, democratic forces devoted to people’s welfare irrespective of party affiliation and different views must forge strong national unity.

2. Resistance must be put up against all violations of the constitution, illegal adventurism and extra-judicial action.

3. The exploitation of religion for all communal and political purposes must be stopped.

4. Careful steps must be taken to stamp out the growing extremist militant groups.

5. The illegal arms and explosives that abound in the country must be recovered and destroyed.

6. The civil administration and especially the intelligence agencies and law enforcing agencies cleansed of partisan proclivities must be reorganized for protecting the innocent citizens and punishing the criminals.

7. In order to create a healthy climate for education the institutions, curricula and training that engender extremism and militancy must be closed.

8. Arrangements must be made to properly investigate all the cases of bomb blasts, grenade attacks, political killings and arms smuggling of the last several years and bring the culprits to justice. For this purpose it is urgent that the responsibility should be given to a neutral politically impervious enquiry commission. For effective and fair investigation it is urged that the anti Terrorism United Nations be involved in this work.

Newsletter _______________________
Vol. 4. No. 7. September 20, 2005
Bangladesh Awami League Publication