The prime minister’s adviser for information technology, Sajeeb Wazed, in an article published on lesser known US daily newspaper Washington Times, has called on the US government to declare Jamaat-e-Islami a foreign terrorist organisation and make Bangladesh the centre of its South Asia foreign policy as it enhances national security and economic interests.
Sajeeb’s article was published as opinion column on newspaper’s website on Tuesday under the title ‘Unmasking terrorists in Bangladesh: Jamaat-e-Islami disguises its violent extremism with political legitimacy’.
The newspaper came into discussions in Bangladesh after Bangladesh Nationalist Party chairperson Khaleda Zia had written an opinion in it on January 30, 2013 which the ruling Awami League had blamed for suspension of Bangladesh’s generalised system of preferences in US market.
‘The United States and other western nations need a stable, terror-free South Asia. Bangladesh stands as a beacon for the region in this regard — peaceful and democratic, governed by secular laws. A strong, thriving Bangladesh should be central to US foreign policy in the region because it enhances national security and economic interests. As a result, the United States should not hesitate to call Jamaat-e-Islami what it is — a foreign terrorist organization,’ wrote Sajeeb.
Sajeeb narrating recent arrests of Jamaat leaders and recovery of explosives from them, wrote, ‘This upswing in extremist violence is all the more troubling because it coincides with the expansion of al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent. Last September, in a 55-minute video circulated on the Internet, the nominal head of al Qaeda, Ayman al-Zawahiri, called on Bangladeshis to “raise the flag of jihad” across South Asia.’
Claiming that the government of Bangladesh is trying to make sure this does not happen, Sajeeb wrote, ‘Jamaat’s leadership makes no attempt to mask its organization’s aims. It and its partners have enticed young “student” recruits and seek to establish an Islamic theocratic state in Bangladesh. Like al Qaeda, with which it continues to collaborate, Jamaat has proven that it will do so by any means available.’
Sajeeb was of the opinion that the dreaded Islamic State has redrawn sovereign borders in the sands of the Middle East and North Africa, and the threat it and other terrorist organizations pose around the world is serious and growing.
‘To confront and defeat these international terrorists, top US lawmakers and executive branch officials have been working overtime to find new allies and strategies. One Muslim nation, Bangladesh, can be relied on to stand tall against homegrown and foreign-produced terrorists,’ he said.
Sajeeb’s article was published as opinion column on newspaper’s website on Tuesday under the title ‘Unmasking terrorists in Bangladesh: Jamaat-e-Islami disguises its violent extremism with political legitimacy’.
The newspaper came into discussions in Bangladesh after Bangladesh Nationalist Party chairperson Khaleda Zia had written an opinion in it on January 30, 2013 which the ruling Awami League had blamed for suspension of Bangladesh’s generalised system of preferences in US market.
‘The United States and other western nations need a stable, terror-free South Asia. Bangladesh stands as a beacon for the region in this regard — peaceful and democratic, governed by secular laws. A strong, thriving Bangladesh should be central to US foreign policy in the region because it enhances national security and economic interests. As a result, the United States should not hesitate to call Jamaat-e-Islami what it is — a foreign terrorist organization,’ wrote Sajeeb.
Sajeeb narrating recent arrests of Jamaat leaders and recovery of explosives from them, wrote, ‘This upswing in extremist violence is all the more troubling because it coincides with the expansion of al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent. Last September, in a 55-minute video circulated on the Internet, the nominal head of al Qaeda, Ayman al-Zawahiri, called on Bangladeshis to “raise the flag of jihad” across South Asia.’
Claiming that the government of Bangladesh is trying to make sure this does not happen, Sajeeb wrote, ‘Jamaat’s leadership makes no attempt to mask its organization’s aims. It and its partners have enticed young “student” recruits and seek to establish an Islamic theocratic state in Bangladesh. Like al Qaeda, with which it continues to collaborate, Jamaat has proven that it will do so by any means available.’
Sajeeb was of the opinion that the dreaded Islamic State has redrawn sovereign borders in the sands of the Middle East and North Africa, and the threat it and other terrorist organizations pose around the world is serious and growing.
‘To confront and defeat these international terrorists, top US lawmakers and executive branch officials have been working overtime to find new allies and strategies. One Muslim nation, Bangladesh, can be relied on to stand tall against homegrown and foreign-produced terrorists,’ he said.
Source: New Age