Opinion: Dhaka militant den raid gives us confidence

Law enforcers at Road no. 5 in Kalyanpur in Dhaka where a special operation of the joint forces neutralised nine militants on July 26, 2016. Photo courtesy Prothom Alo

Star Online Opinion

Kalyanpur gives us confidence.

After what we have been experiencing in the past few months – militants freely attacking and killing people one after another – a deep sense of insecurity had seeped into the society.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s quick statement that the country averted a catastrophe by busting this den of terrorists is a pointer. This is why the sudden and successful eradication of the militant den in Kalyanpur in the early hours of today was so assuring. It surely proved a few things.

First, there is no alternative to effective intelligence gathering to fight terrorism and that the people should be taken along in this task. The government should invest heavily in intelligence. It already has a lot of weapons in its armory- it has laws that enable the agencies to snoop on what the private citizens are doing. That should be applied properly and in the right direction.

It also proves that there is no scope for complacence. Because of the geopolitical situation, militants nowadays seem to be active on their Jihadi path, constantly conspiring to destabilize nations. The Kalyanpur militants are merely an obvious corroboration to that effect.

After the Gulshan café attack, security has been tightened and a lot of agencies are working to flush out the militants. Amidst that, these militants had been digging and drilling a dark tunnel leading to some big terrorist acts. The prime minister herself had said the other day that she expected more attacks apprehending that some educational institutions might just be the next target.

And with the unfolding of the latest event shows the militants are not scared by the heightening of security. So surveillance will be a key to fighting them. Such successful operations will also break the morale of the militants. Many would shun the path of destruction.

However, many would harden as well and become even more elusive. So our law enforcers will also have to be more effective and stay one step ahead of the Jihadists.

We believe busting more such militant dens would bring even more sense of security for the people who are already panicky. Restaurants and shopping malls find thin crowd because people are scared to go to public places. This is not good for economy.

So the vigil must be enhanced to bring Bangladesh to its old form. Kalyanpur operation is a sure way to that direction.

Dutch-Bangla chamber chief found dead

Star Online Report

Four days after going missing from Dhaka’s Dhanmondi, Dutch-Bangla Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Hassan Khaled was found dead in Buriganga river today.
Hassan, 55, also the chief executive officer of New Era Trading, left his Dhanmondi home around 9:00am Saturday to buy medicines from a nearby shop but did not return.
This afternoon, his body was found floating in Keraniganj area of Buriganga river, Dhanmondi Police Station Officer-in-Charge Noor-a-Azam Miah told The Daily Star.
Details have not been obtained yet.
Until yesterday, police were clueless about Hassan’s whereabouts. They went through surveillance cameras in the neighbourhood but could not reach any definitive conclusion.
Hassan is one of the founders of the DBCCI, established in November 1999, and he has been involved in advocating bilateral trade between Bangladesh and the Netherlands.
He was residing on the third floor of the six-storey building in Dhanmondi House 45, Road 4/A over the last three years with his wife and daughter.

Militants shouted 'Allahu Akbar', black flags found

The ‘Jahaj Building at Road no. 5 in Dhaka’s Kalyanpur,’ where law enforcers during a special drive of the joint forces killed nine militants on Tuesday, July 26, 2016. Photo: Shaheen Mollah.

Star Online Report

The militants shouted “Allahu Akbar” before they attacked the law enforcers during a special drive of the joint forces in Dhaka’s Kalyanpur today.
Police found “Allahu Akbar” inscribed black flags from the den, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia said while addressing a press briefing at his office.
Nine militants were left dead during the raid and one was caught alive.
Police recovered 13 handmade grenades, one sword, one pistol, seven magazines and bullets from the den, the DMP commissioner said.
The militants had rented the apartment on June 20 and had gathered there to carry out terror attacks, he claimed.
One police man was slightly injured in the operation, Mia said.
The militants were aged about 20, wore jeans and sneakers and were highly educated, he added.

Mia further added that police suspect these attackers belong to the same group that attacked the Gulshan café because similar kind of red handkerchiefs and backpacks were found. “Black dresses were also found there,” he added.
The militant detained from the spot with bullet injuries was taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital. He claimed to be a member of the Islamic State, DMCH police camp sources said earlier.