The decision to start joint patroling by India and Bangladesh to check cross-border crimes is a welcome one. Since the change of guards in Dhaka, Bangladesh has once again become a favourite destination for the militants active in the North-Eastern part of the country. Both the ATTF and NLFT are operating from Bangladeshi soil, while the ULFA and the NDFB are planning to shift their bases from Bhutan to Bangladesh after the Royal Bhutan Government taken a tough stand against the terrorist groups operating from its soil.

Underground organisations active in the North-East have always been provided safe havens in Bangladesh. Starting from the TNV in late 70s, the militant organisations always preferred to have their bases in that country because of the porous Indo-Bangladesh border. But during the Awami League rule, the ultras had to think twice before establishing bases in that country as that party never allowed any organisation to use its soil for terrorist activities. But things have changed in the last couple of months after the BNP wrested power from the Awami League. Encouraged by strong anti-Indian attitude of the BNP, the ultras are once again hoping to get safe haven in that country.

During its earlier stint in power, the BNP in collusion with the Pakistani ISI aided and abetted the terrorist groups active in the North-East. The ISI even funded Islamic fundamentalist groups to sow anti-Indian feelings among the children through Madrassas.

India, at that time, protested number of times against presence of terrorist groups in Bangladesh. But Bangladesh never admitted the fact in spite of India providing enough evidences. As a matter of fact, once a top Bangladeshi official even challenged his Indian counterpart to make an ariel survey of Bangladesh to see whether any ISI-backed terrorist camps exist in that country or not.

The BNP should do well to keep it in mind that anti-Indian attitude may propel the party to power, but at the same time it may lead to Bangladesh’s isolation from the international community. Before encouraging the ultras to create disturbances in India, the BNP leadership should take a lesson from the fate of Pakistan, which has now been forced to ban all the jehadi organisations operating from that country because of immense international pressure. After September 11, the world situation has undergone a sea change. The present Bangladesh authorities should also join the worldwide fight against terrorism in all earnestness.