Time to switch on a positive mode

The doom-gloom cries are muffled when you hear the Pope's voice of sanity, recognise a shift in our counter-terrorism efforts, and consider some of the positive vibes about Bangladesh.

A Wall Street journal's online report last Sunday highlighted the Pope's comment to the effect that "It is not Islam but global economic disparities that fuel terrorism." On his way back from Poland to the Vatican, he told journalists aboard a plane that it's wrong to equate Islam with terrorism. "If I talk about Islamic terrorism I have to talk about Catholic terrorism. When money sits at the centre of world economy and not people, terrorism gets to expand." "We should talk about it," the Pope added underlining the need for interfaith dialogues. These then should culminate in a convention at the world stage under the UN auspices.

A new, robust multilateralism built on the rock-bed of commonality of interests to save the planet like in the case of facing up to climate change has to be forged to fight terrorism. The challenges posed by both the phenomena bode ill for mankind; only that militancy carries an immediacy about it to be halted. 

This compelling global agenda may be viewed in its three aspects: First, ISIS being on the run from its territorial strongholds is ordering loyalist cells to go on randomised killing sprees. This evokes unease about when and where it strikes next. Secondly, far right reactions of the opposite kind raise a spectre around the corner; and thirdly, sectarian conflicts already on a simmer could take on a cauldron proportion, especially in the Middle East and North Africa.

So far as Bangladesh is concerned, it has graduated from a reactive to a proactive mode of fighting militancy. Counter-terrorism denoting a preventative capacity has started playing out since the nerve-wrecking Gulshan terror incident ending by virtue of a successful army commando operation a month ago. The following intervention at Sholakia, one kilometre short of the massive Eid congregation and the wholesale prevention of a planned terrorist attack from Kalyanpur with timely tip-off, spoke of tangible progress in dealing with incessant militancy. It appears, all the incidents threw up important clues to work on a set of hypotheses to zero in on two masterminds— Canadian passport holder of Bangladeshi origin Tamim Ahmed Chowdhury and the sacked army major Ziaul Haq. They were reportedly behind Gulshan-Sholakia terror attacks including country-wide target killings. The police have declared TK. 20 lakh in prize money each, for information leading to their arrest.

That said, we briefly turn to the debate centring on some UGC proposals for greater supervisory authority over the private universities by way of what appears to be 'a blanket terror watch.' The proposals are basically two-fold: One, seating of an observer on the Trustee Board meetings; and two, formation of a three-member committee to 'closely watch if any militant activity is going on in the 134 private and public universities across the country.'

We are reminded by the president of the private universities' association and academics of the existing provisions for government and UGC representatives, to be in the private university syndicate and an UGC representative in the academic council.

Thus, the proposed appointment of an observer to the Trustee Board through an amendment to the relevant act could smack of a control freak superfluous as it may sound. If pushed through, it could stifle the spontaneous workings of the universities. One wonders how terrorism could be spawned in trustee board meetings!

Whatever institutionalisation has taken place among the well-run private universities benefitting the cause of higher education should not even be unwittingly put in peril. 

The manab bandhans, i.e human chains, formed throughout the country by the educational institutions with clock-work timing was a definitive step towards awareness building from within and without. Furthermore, it marked a resounding demonstration of solidarity, collective will and commitment against exploitation of religion for utterly wrongful causes.

Here are some good tidings for Bangladesh: BMI Research, an affiliate of the New York based prestigious rating organisation Fitch, has ranked Bangladesh among the top ten emerging markets of the world. Terrorism is not unique to Bangladesh, its rising spectre is only calling for professional handling.

We must reciprocate the feel good sentiments expressed by some major development partners to stand by us through building a climate of confidence for them. 

On an inspirational note, we share the findings of the Happy Planet Index survey placing Bangladesh eighth in the list of ten most happy countries in the world. 

The writer is a columnist of The Daily Star.