Author: M K Tayal
Publication: Mid-Day
Date: February 25, 2004
URL: http://ww1.mid-day.com/news/nation/2004/february/77154.htm
Indian security agencies are concerned
that Bangladesh is fast becoming a hotbed of international terrorism. Intelligence
sources say that after 9/11, the country has become a recruiting and training
ground for global terrorists with the Bangladesh army directly involved
in these operations:
* Nearly 100 persons have been trained
to infiltrate the Indian borders by the Bangladeshi army centre at the
Saidpur Army Regimental Centre, sources say.
* According to security agencies,
the Border Security Force has furnished the Bangladesh Rifles with a list
of nearly 150 terrorist training camps in that country.
Apart from this, the Indian government
has prepared a list of 13 terrorist camps and training centres that it
believes are directly under the control of the al-Qaeda terrorist network.
In addition to that, there are 11 madrassas, which also double up as training
centres, sources in security agencies said.
* The al-Qaeda has apparently shifted
base to Bangladesh after facing the heat in Afghanistan and the Middle
East. It has three camps in Cox's Bazar, four each in Bandarban and Chittagong
and one each in Rangamati and Brahmanbaria.
* Its oldest partner in the country
is the Harkat-ul-Jehad Islami (HUJI), a terrorist organisation that started
operating with financial help from Osama bin Laden.
The US state department describes
HUJI as a terrorist organisation with ties to Pakistani militants. Founded
in 1992, today, it has a cadre-base of 15,000 men, led by Shaukat Osman
alias Sheikh Farid. In addition, there are seven madrassas which act as
Harkat-ul-Jehad Islami (HUJI) centers.
Three madrassas near Sylhet, and
one at Rangamati also work as recruiting centres.
* HUJI has links with the Roshingya
Solidarity Organisation (RSO). This came to light, when a tape leaked to
a US channel showed RSO militants being trained near Cox's Bazar.
* Al-Qaeda also reportedly operates
a 'sleeper cell' in Rajshahi, which was unearthed three years ago. Bin
Laden had reportedly sent his private secretary to attend a HUJI meeting
in Rajshahi.
* According to highly placed sources,
after Bhutan conducted a massive operation, many United Liberation Front
of Assam leaders fled to Bangladesh and tried to liaison with the Bangladesh
Islamic Manch,
* The porous border between Bangladesh
and India serves as an easy access route for these ULFA leaders.
According to the BSF, nearly 20
per cent of the border has so far been fenced.
The training
Each batch consists of 30 students.
Trainees are enrolled after
purchasing and filing a form that
costs 100 taka.
The forms are available with the
local amir HUJI. Infrastructure at some of the camps is comparable to the
best formal military training centres in the world.
Ukhia camp, near Cox's Bazar, boasts
of telephones and television sets, concealed beneath a 3 m high false forest
floor. It has interconnected bunkers, where students are imparted military-type
defence training.
Lukewarm response
Bucking under international pressure,
Bangladesh did conduct Operation Clean Heart throughout the country in
2002 but most of the action was aimed at the moderate RSO. Ukhia camp was
completely ignored by the Bangladesh army.
Problem ignored
Nearly 16 Border Security Force
personnel have been killed by the Bangladesh Rifles. India has so far not
reacted to these incidents.
