Shah J. Choudhury
Recently, I came across a shocking report about individuals identifying themselves as Bangladeshis who are allegedly raising funds and providing support for ISIS cells abroad. The news is not just disheartening — it is profoundly shameful.
How can someone, a son or daughter of a country that was born out of a heroic struggle against injustice, where millions sacrificed their lives and dignity, choose to betray their roots and embrace the path of violence and terror?
Terrorism is not what any faith teaches. Islam, in particular, condemns the killing of innocents and spreading of fear. Yet some people, misled by distorted interpretations of religion and a false sense of “jihad,” become pawns in the hands of murderous ideologies.
True martyrs of Bangladesh gave their lives for the independence and dignity of this nation. But today, these misguided few, under the banner of the same Bangladesh, are sowing fear and destruction elsewhere. This is not just wrong — it is a betrayal, a sin, and a stain on our collective identity.
We demand that the authorities act decisively, identifying and punishing those responsible. At the same time, we must raise awareness in our society, particularly among the youth. Let them know: taking lives in the name of religion or ideology is never righteousness. True patriotism means upholding the dignity of your homeland — not becoming a tool of foreign terror networks.
Let our call be loud and clear:
Being Bangladeshi means standing for peace, humanity, and truth. Not betrayal, but pride — live as a proud Bangladeshi.