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| Bangladesh |
| Bangladesh is now a major terror hotspot |
| 2006-03-21 |
| Bangladesh Prime Minister Khaleda Zia is on an India visit and one of the main issues that New Delhi may bring up is the harbouring of insurgents from the north-east. For India, the concerns of Bangladesh becoming a safe haven for the terrorists, are mounting India has made it very clear that patience is running thin in Delhi over Dhaka's attitude As the separatist groups flex their muscles from neighbouring Bangladesh, north-east India continues to simmer. Bangladesh has emerged as the second front of Islamic terror in South Asia over the last five years. Notwithstanding the repeated demands from India for dismantling terror infrastructure in Bangladesh, it still remains a major hub for the ultras with as many as 172 insurgent camps operating in that country. "Bangladesh is taking some action against them. They have launched a few operations in which some militants have been killed. But it is not enough, Dhaka needs to do more," outgoing BSF Director General R S Mooshahary said. Many Islamic radical groups, some with links to Osama bin Laden led al-Qaeda, have set up their training camps in the country along with about 18 terrorist groups that are active in North-east India. There are nearly 200 camps, mostly close to the Indian border, of these terrorist and fundamentalist organisations inside Bangladesh. A meeting between the security agencies manning the border of the two countries, Border Security Force (BSF) of India and Bangladesh Rifles (BDR), nearly three months back on the issue of the terror camps running in Bangladesh ended on a stormy note. The chief of BDR left the press conference abruptly because India had made it clear that patience was running out in New Delhi over Dhaka's attitude towards the problem especially when it comes to harbouring terror groups active in India. India has already given a list of 172 terrorist training camps active in Bangladesh which are run by 18 outfits from North-east India have set up bases in 20 districts across the border. "We have given them a list of 172 insurgent camps. They verified it and they say they are not there, which I feel is a routine reply," he said adding, "We are sure there are camps and we are sure that some insurgents from India have taken shelter in Bangladesh." The list of these training camps available exclusively to CNN-IBN shows that United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA), which has been trying for a peace accord with New Delhi, and National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) run the maximum number of camps, 38 each. The ULFA has been running its training campsin Chittagong, which is also the hotbed for Islamic fundamentalist activities in Bangladesh. The camps are being run at Sherpur, Cox's Bazaar, Mymensingh, Bandarban, Sunamgunj, Kurigram, Comilla, Jamalpur and Khagrachari and Tangail. Cox's Bazaar is the main smuggling route in the country of illegal arms whereas Khagrachari is the place where ULFA chief Paresh Barua survived a bid on his life in 2001. Apart from these place camps are also being run at Moulavi Bazaar, Rangamati, Netrakona, Panchagarh, Nilphamari and even capital Dhaka. The People's Liberation Army (PLA) which is fighting for an independent homeland in Manipur has found a safe haven in such camps operating on Bangladeshi soil. The problem has acquired a new and frightening dimension as Indian intelligence agencies allege that insurgents in Bangladesh are getting help from Islamic fundamentalist groups "The entire security spectrum will go haywire if this happens," former deputy chief of Research and Analysis Wing(RAW), the Indian agency responsible for external intelligence, Bibhuti Bhusan Nandy says. Nandy, who has been keeping a close watch on the activities of these groups in Bangladesh, also said that most of these insurgent bases are being funded by Pakistan's external intelligence agency, the ISI. "All these Islamic terrorist groups and our North-east insurgent groups are the masters of one and the same. It is the ISI and the DGFI of Bangladesh that have teamed up too destabilise this region," he adds. The concern has been mounting in India because as the terrorist groups flex their muscles from neighbouring Bangladesh, North-east India will continue to simmer. These outfits have been trying to imprint ethnic identity through armed insurgency and Bangladesh has even refused to accept the problem or address India's concern. |
| Posted by:Dan Darling |
| #3 Rantburg - your one stop shop for the latest in WOT news. |
| Posted by: ryuge 2006-03-21 20:30 |
| #2 Correct, RD. I've read several blogs and news sites where this was seen as a surprise. But I'd been reading about it on the RB for months prior. This is what makes RB invaluable - not to mention the informed commentary and first-rate snark. |
| Posted by: Xbalanke 2006-03-21 12:49 |
| #1 Bangladesh has emerged as the second front of Islamic terror in South Asia over the last five years old news here at News Service of Truth, Justice and the American Way, Rantburg News Service. /thankyouverymuch |
| Posted by: RD 2006-03-21 01:08 |