The call of strike by Awami League along with left-leaning political parties on August 20 in protest blaming the government for its failure to comprehend such attacks and take pre-emptive action did not speak good of the opposition either. In stead of showing unified stand against the perpetrators of bomb blasts, it gave wrong signal to the perpetrators of divided country at this juncture of national crisis. Apart from strike and blame game both the ruling party and the opposition would frustrate such motive and attempt and help law enforcing agencies to find clue of the motive behind such heinous act and apprehend the perpetrators.

It is interesting to note the comments by Motiur Rahman Nizami, Minister for Industries, who represents Jamaat-e-Islami in the coalition government, that Indian intelligence agency Raw and Israeli intelligence agency Mosad had a hand in organising the series of bomb blasts to destroy constitutional and democratic system, topple coalition government and break unity among Muslim groups and present Bangladesh as a terrorist country while investigation is on. Motiur Rahman Nizami is also the chief of Jamaat-e-Islami Party. The Foreign Minister, however, immediately came out with a statement saying that the government did not buy his opinions, although Nizami is a part of the administration. This type of comments by ministers must have caused misgivings in international relations.

The people of Bangladesh have been witnessing deteriorating law and order since the attempt on the life of theÊ British High Commissioner in Sylhet, in May, 2004.It was followed by grisly bomb attack in August, 2004 on the meeting of Awami League, killing 22 including prominent activist Ivy Rahman. Then early this year it was the assassination of a brilliant bureaucrat-cum-politician SAMS Kibria, who served as Executive Secretary of Escap in Bangkok with distinction, gave a blow to the fragile law and order situation.

As a Bangladeshi from abroad, I have been watching with concern the series of bomb blasts and killing of political opponents, businessmen and innocent people in the country. Providing security to the people belonging to any and all strata of the society, according to the constitutional provision, is the responsibility of the government in power. Failure to stop unabated incidents of bomb blasts and killings implies that the government in power has no plan effective enough to seize the challenging task of apprehending culprits. The Prime Minister should order to hunt down the culprits irrespective of party affiliation and bring them to justice which would set a precedent of governing the country under rule of law.

It is not understood how series of bomb blasts that rocked the whole country simultaneously was plotted without being noted by intelligence agencies, both civilian and armed forces! This failure verges on incompetence. In scenario it appears that the country is not in safe hands. Synchronized bomb blasts are indeed unprecedented in the country no doubt, but intelligence agencies are aware of the trend of bomb blasts since 1996.

Northern part of the country still remains under the clutches of militant Jagrata Muslim Janata in spite of banning the organisation. No leader of this organization or militant Islamic groups like Jumatul Mujahedeen has ever been arrested. It is simply no use to ban an organisation but leave its leaders and activists at large which would allow them to operate from underground. The leaders of these organizations should have been arrested and their network dismantled.

Another organisation left oriented Purbo Banglar Communist Party remains at large in southern part of the country extorting money from rich people, often killing innocent businessmen in the event of non-compliance with their demand.

The recent disclosure of increasing grants for and growth of Madrasas has caused further concern to law-abiding citizen because of reported involvement of some madrasas in training and rearing of extremists. The people at home and abroad are blaming Madrasa education for causing religious extremism in the country. Whether it is true or not that is debatable? A high powered committee should have been set up to investigate the method of madrasa education and the purpose it serves in the society which is poverty ridden. No madrasas should be given grant if it is not following standard of education the country needs.

In view of growing law and order crisis, there is a need to call round table meeting of all political parties to hold open discussion on the situation, and consensus suggestions emerging from the meeting should be immediately implemented in the interest of the country. On the other hand, the government may pay heed to the Indian government's recent proposal of joint operation to apprehend culprits, to stop recurring bomb blasts. Without India's cooperation it might be a difficult task to tackle this growing menace as Bangladesh is surrounded by India on three sides.

Mohammad Amjad Hossain, a former Bangladesh diplomat resides in Virginia.