Curbing the menace of militancy

Militant attacks on innocent common people in many countries of Asia, Europe and America in recent times have become a matter of serious concern for everyone across the globe. In most cases, it is the so called Islamic State (IS) that claims the responsibility of the heinous acts.
The same thing happened in the brutal killings at Gulshan and Sholakia in Bangladesh, though the government rejected the claim of the terrorist organisation and blamed home-grown militants, including the opposition political parties. In spite of repeated assurance by the government to uproot militancy, the sense of insecurity persists in the minds of the public.
Threats and insecurity created by the militant acts have also left a serious negative impact on trade, especially, foreign trade of the country. The major exporting sectors like RMG, leather and leather goods are experiencing the jolt most in different ways. Foreign buyers do not feel secure enough to visit and see for themselves where and how the commodities they intend to purchase are being manufactured. Earlier, they were concerned about the compliance issues like child labour, environment pollution, worker's right and the like. Now, it is their self security that appears to ranks high in the list. According to an authentic source, purchase orders in leather sector have slumped alarmingly. Generally, buyers place orders after being satisfied with the quality of products and the production process on physical inspection of the factory premises. Recent incidents of militant attacks have forced them to cancel some of their scheduled visits. Another impact, no less damaging, is that foreign nationals working as expert technicians in different factories are faced with insecurity, and no amount of assurance from any quarter seems enough to make them feel secure, especially at this stage. The same is true to potential investors. The government has set out elaborate plans for economic zones in various parts of the country to attract foreign firms. A number of renpwned foreign enterprises demonstrated interest to invest in manufacturing their products in some of these zones. However, under the present circumstances, no mentionable move is noticeable. This is indeed worrisome, and all concerned including the law enforcers must pay urgent attention to this.         
It is not easy to look for a custom-made solution. Before approaching the problem, one should have an in-depth idea about the nature and depth of the problem. Confusion may arise to understand the difference between militancy and insurgency. The former term relates to terrorist groups radicalised by religious belief. They do not have any definite territory. In most cases their ideology is to achieve the status of shaheed and secure heaven in the after world. The name of IS and ALQaeda may be mentioned here as the most talked about militant groups. On the other hand, insurgency springs from the belief in certain political ideology to serve some political purposes, which could be about establishing the rights of the people, even liberation from oppressive regimes. They are concentrated in a specific area of a country and their conflict is with the government. The LTTE of Sri Lanka may be cited as an example of this category. Insurgency may be subdued by counter military measures. But only military measures are not sufficient and appropriate to eliminate militancy.
Militancy is motivated by counseling, training; brain washing etc, done in so subtle and secret way that even the parents of a youth cannot perceive when their son turns into a militant. So, counter-motivation, counter-persuasion and counter-counseling are needed to bring back some one from the wrong path. Here it is the responsibility of the cross-section of the people to put their minds together to curb the menace. Educational institutions do have a foremost role in this regard. Equally importantly, it is the families which should take up the role to groom the youngsters with a sense of strong bonding from very tender age.
The government has taken some praiseworthy measures lately. Delivery of uniform khutba at mosques explaining the provisions of religion by the Imams and publishing the list of missing youths are mentionable. But it is like a preventive measure against a disease.  What needs more at present is a curative measure before the disease takes an epidemic turn.
The detectives and intelligence agencies should sincerely put their best to identify the persons designing and implementing the plan to convince and train the youths and supply them fire arms. Co-operation of political parties, irrespective of political ideology, can contribute largely in this exercise. Hence, a national consensus is needed and to form it, initiative should come from the government.
The writer is a free lancer and
writes on topical social issues. [email protected]