Paris attacks

We repeat our condemnation for the attacks and offer once again our deep condolences for the deaths in both the Paris and Beirut bombings. It is encouraging to note that many Muslim countries have condemned the Paris attacks, but we would hope that more Muslim countries and organisations would do the same. 

The attack is very symbolic, both in terms of the target and the date; it is an attack on the very concept of liberty. And at the risk of sounding apocalyptic, let us state that this is not the last of such attacks against targets which IS considers opposed to its beliefs and policies. What France suffered on Friday can befall any country that stands up to the extremist group, both physically and ideologically. 

The message of the IS should not be lost on us. It is thus essential to formulate a common strategy against a threat that cannot be combated singly. And we say this in spite of the many reservations we have about the misplaced policies of the West, regarding the Middle East in particular.

For one thing, to avoid the government intelligence net and conduct operations in a country which was already in a state of high alert after January 2015 is something that must be worrisome for all security agencies. And also, that an entire nation can be psychologically pulverised by a handful of men is a lesson for those who are number crunching on the size of the IS' ranks. 

In light of what happened in Paris, we need to shed our sentiments and look dispassionately at the implications and the lessons that can be drawn from the tragedy, particularly for Bangladesh, and work towards a common strategy.