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Bangla commies angry over anti-terror pact with US
Bangladesh's new agreement with the US to protect American interests and help identify suspected terrorists in the country has drawn flak from the communists who feel it reeks of imperialism. US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia Christina Rocca visited Dhaka last week to sign a memorandum of intent that will help identify individuals or groups suspected of working against the US, OneWorld reports. Under the agreement, Bangladesh will install PISCES (Personal Identification Secure Comparison and Evaluation System), sophisticated computer software to document passengers travelling into and out of the country and check the movement of suspected terrorists. In exchange, the US will help Bangladesh develop a computer database to use at airports and seaports. "Dhaka and Washington have reached an understanding on the state of law and order and human rights in Bangladesh and Bangladesh has expressed its desire to work on it," said Rocca.But leftist parties in the country are not taking too kindly to the "understanding". Workers Party president Rashed Khan Menon said: "The government is collaborating with the US to conceal its failure to resist different groups acting against the interests of countries that are our friends. It is the government's responsibility to act against those involved in unlawful activities." Communist Party of Bangladesh secretary general Mujahidul Islam Selim maintained the US would like to dominate Bangladesh as it has been doing with Pakistan, and the agreement is proof of Washington's "imperialistic attitude". He feared the memorandum would enable Washington to punish Bangladeshis by charging them with acting against US interests. The home ministry said the renewable agreement would be valid for five years. Relevant portions of PISCES will immediately become operational at the capital's Zia International Airport and later expand to cover all land, sea and airports. According to the US State Department, PISCES is part of its Terrorist Interdiction Programme that seeks to tighten the noose around key terrorist transit points worldwide. PISCES provides information to border control officials at transit points, helping them to identify, detain or track travellers. It also increases the capacity to collect, compare and analyse traveller data, mainly to stem the flow of terrorists, weapons and illegal funds. A ministry press release emphasised that the memorandum "has been taken up in the national interests of Bangladesh for enabling the country's law enforcers to check trans-boundary crimes and terrorism". But socialist party Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal president Hasanul Haque Inu felt the government did not need to sign the agreement, because it was already duty bound to foil any conspiracy against foreign interests. "By signing the memorandum, the government has virtually confessed that it has failed to take action against terrorist activities," he remarked. Both at home and abroad, there were charges that terrorist groups were operating in Bangladesh, an accusation that Dhaka denies. But the arrest of several Islamist activists and other evidence revealed the presence of the hardline Islamist group Harkat-Ul-Jihad and its youth front Jama'atul Mujahedin Bangladesh (JMB), said to be funded by Al Qaida. The JMB recently changed its name to Jagrata Muslim Janata Bangladesh and began a vigilante drive against extremist Left groups, killing 10 people and terrorising villagers. The group allegedly has the backing of politicians and police. Apart from that, a leftist terrorist group has been active in southwestern and northern Bangladesh for over three decades. The US government is also worried about increasing evidence of arms smuggling into Bangladesh, which it would like to help curb. In April, when the government recovered a massive haul of 10 truckloads of arms and weapons in Chittagong port, the US was keen to aid the investigation. Reports indicated the consignment was headed for insurgent groups in neighbouring countries. American Ambassador Harry K Thomas said: "We offered assistance and have not yet heard from the government on the issue." He noted that 50 days had passed since the arms were recovered but the incident is still shrouded in mystery. Thomas pointed out the US embassy in Dhaka had been receiving anonymous threats through phone calls and fax messages. "In such times we cannot ignore these threats." Nor can investors in Bangladesh, where US direct investment exceeds $1 billion. Posted by: Dan Darling 2004-05-24 |
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