Countering Violent Extremism in Bangladesh: Harnessing Faith Perspectives for Peace and Progress

Bangladesh has seen recent years the growing incidence of violence and extremism across the nation evidence of the revival of hate crime, communalism and fundamentalism. Attack on minorities, dissidents and bloggers shows the existence of different terror outfits, though the law enforcers rejected the possibility of interlinking with global terror networks like the Al-Qaeda, IS, and Taliban. The religious dogmatism, intolerance, and misinterpretation mainly cause the spread of the religious extremism. Government and Nongovernment organizations have taken different initiatives to combat this violent extremism. However, it fails to foil the growing incidents indicating some loopholes in the approach. The article mainly examined the different initiatives taken by the GOs, NGOs, and International actors in combatting religious extremism. It has also developed a model of combatting violent extremism with special reference to contribute to the national policy formulation process. In doing so, it has examined the reports, proceedings, articles, news articles and other materials.

the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also" (Matthew, 5:38-39).These teachings are highlighting the importance of peace, forgiveness, and turning away from violence in Christian faith.

Islam
The Quran, the holy scripture of Islam, emphasizes that violence should only be employed in self-defense or in defense of others.It promotes mercy, the compassion, and the pursuit of peace.The Quran states, "Fight in the way of the Allah only against those who wage war against you, but do not transgress limits.Indeed, Allah does not like transgressors" (Quran 2:190).It teaches the sanctity of life, stating that taking one life is equivalent to killing all of humanity, while saving a life is akin to saving all of humanity (5:32).The Prophet Muhammad further emphasized the prohibition of shedding Muslim blood, stating, "No Muslim may shed the blood of another Muslim nor may he exile him" (Bukhari).These teachings highlight the Quranic emphasis on self-defense, presservation of life, and the prohibition of aggression within the Islamic faith.

Judaism
The Torah, the sacred scripture of Judaism, unequivocally declares that violence is never justified and emphasizes the pursuit of peace.It states, "Do not murder" (Exodus, 20:13), emphasizing the sanctity of human life.Additionally, the Talmud, a compilation of Jewish teachings, expands on this principle, tea-ching that the destruction of a single human being is akin to destroying the entire world (Sanhedrin, 43a).These teachings highlight the Jewish belief in the inherent value of every human life and the imperative to the promote peace and preserve the sanctity of life.

Buddhism
Buddhism, a philosophy and spiritual tradition, identifies violence as stemming from ignorance and hatred, which are seen as the root causes of suffering.The enlightened teachings of the Buddha emphasize the futility of responding to hatred with more hatred, stating that only through non-hatred can hatred truly be overcome.This timeless principle is expressed in the words of the Buddha found in the Dhammapada (15.1).The Buddha taught that the eradication of violence lies in the cultivation of wisdom and compassion, recog-nizing that by developing these qualities, individuals can bring an end to the cycle of violence and promote peace.

Hinduism
Hindu scriptures emphasize the principle of ahimsa (non-violence) and its importance in the countering violence extremism.The Bhagavad Gita states, "Nonviolence, truthfulness, absence of anger...are declared as the austerity of the body" (Chapter 17, Verse 14).It highlights that non-violence is a form of spiritual discipline that leads to inner purity.The Mahabharata further emphasizes, "Ahimsa paramo dharma" (Nonviolence is the highest virtue).This verse underscores that non-violence is the ultimate moral duty.By following these teachings and cultivating a mindset of nonviolence, we can contribute to a more peaceful and harmonious world, the combating violence extremism through compassion, understanding, and the peaceful actions.
These examples highlight the perspectives of major religions on violence extremism, but it is crucial to recognize the diversity within each religion and the varying viewpoints on this matter.Nevertheless, it is evident that the overwhelming majority of people of faith denounce violence extremism.The major religions unanimously condemn violence, emphasizing the principles of love, forgiveness, and compassion.They advocate for the pursuit of peace and fostering mutual understanding as the sole means to eradicate violence.

The Abuse of the Religion in Driving Violent Extremism
Religions, revered by millions worldwide as a source of peace, compassion, and moral guidance, are sometimes exploited for nefarious purposes.Violent extremism can arise when individuals or groups manipulate religious teachings and doctrines to the justify their extremist ideologies and acts of violence.This abuse of religion involves misinterpretation, distortion, and selective interpretation of religious texts, often driven by political, ideological, or personal agendas.It is crucial to recognize and address how religions can be misused to fuel violent extremism, while emphasizing that such actions do not reflect the true essence and teachings of these faith traditions.

Mobilization
Religion can serve as a source of collective identity, particularly when other forms of identity are blocked.Extremist groups target disaffected individuals, such as young Muslims in Europe, offering a religious framework for belonging and collective action.

Narrative Framing
Religion helps extremist movements organize grievances & give meaning to world events.For example, the Hindu nationalist movement in India uses religious ideology to rally supporters for political causes.

Moral Justification
Religion can provide a moral warrant for extremist acts, including violence.It can persuade individuals who have experienced mistreatment or violence to engage in behavior they may perceive as transcending existing laws.

Higher Purpose
Religion can elevate conflicts by imbuing them with higher or eternal significance.Extremist groups may use religious narratives to transform political conflicts into grand, eschatological struggles.For instance, Israeli settler groups justify violence based on territorial claims rooted in scripture.

Countering Violence Extremism (CVE)
Countering Violence Extremism (CVE) consists of the three different words-countering, violence, the extremism.Here the first comes about Extremism, which refers to being extreme, far beyond from laxity and moderation.Usually the extremism is narrowly defined as the mere extreme nature of ideologies or religion, but the real meaning is far wider.It includes the excessive forms of culture, ethnicity, race, casteverything on what an exclusive identity could be made up.Violence extremism is while the idea gets fuel the violence either it is in physical forms or abstract forms of violence.It includes all kinds of destructtion, damage, assault in physically or verbally oriented to political, cultural, religious, ethnic or any other identity.CVE refers to the counter measures in preventing violence extremism including the recruitments, training, radicalizing & mobilizing to violence.It includes the publicity, publication and networking of all kinds of activities related to extremism.The US homeland security department has termed CVE as the proactive actions in countering violence extremism, which includes public safety, resilience, inclusivity, and security (Homeland Security, 2016).The dealing of a situation, which provokes into violence, is also included in CVE activities.Humera Khan has emphasized over the use of non-coercive measures to dissuade individuals engaged or in risk of terrorism (Khan, 2015).In according to the European Union (EU) all sorts of actions, which contribute in building resilience of the individual and the communities against the radicalization and extremism, are CVE measures.

CVE Components
In according to the Council on the American-Islamic Relation (CAIR) pointed towards three key components of CVE including-intervening in an individual's path toward violent extremism, interdicting in criminal activity, reintegrating those convicted individuals into society and help to come back in normalcy.

Intervention
Intervention comes at the initial stage while recruitment or pre-recruitment process is going on.It includes the promotion of counter narratives against the extremism, emphasizing over the social and familial engagement, inform the concerned agency about the suspected ones, ending the way of recruitment-brainwash, indoctrination, abduction, spreading disinformation & religious misinterpretation.(Shahjalal, 2020).

Reintegration
Reintegration of the extremists into their family and society with arranging proper rehabilitation process is always considered critical.In most of the time, their appearance, lifestyle, orientation, attitude and behavior have been different always.The counseling, education and physiological and psychological training, support and treatment are also required here.Social and political arrangement to accept a particular individual assisting him to normalcy is also included here.

CVE Steps Messaging
All kinds of messaging and manifestation are included here in Electronic Media, Print media, Publications, Schools, Institutional training and work-shops, Films, programs etc.The social media can also play the significant role here.

Community Engagement
Community engagement and outreach includes the programs and campaigns lead the public engagement into making plans against the terrorists.The awareness campaign, dialogues with local leaderships, informs the locals about the possible indication of extremism so that they can make police know about extremists.

Education and Training
A special program on dealing & preventing extremism-ideas and propagandas and the responsibility in against that are the burning necessity at every educational institution.A special chapter on extremism; how to figure out extremism, what to do in response, the consequence of extremism shall be included in the text book.In addition, the training and programs to educate people from all wake of life on extremism are also included.

Faith Leaders Involvement
Faith community leader's engagement is also a key measures of CVE.The majority and minority ethnic community should must represent into the national policy & strategy formulation process against extremism.It also encourages the faith leaders to face and demystify the misinterpretation of extremist ideas from faith perspective.The involvement of faith must be confirmed at every stage of CVE activities including intervention, interdiction and integration.They can motivate, counsel & train up the victims with offering counter narratives of extremism.

Meeting Social Problems and Anarchy
Extremists always take the scope of social problem and anarchy and lure vulnerable one into extremism very easily.Most particularly the youth and women are always their target of victimizing.So, CVE includes the program and policy for inclusivity and confirming social justice.It indicates also the necessity to take action in meeting up the social problems and demands like poverty, inequality, unemployment, marginalization and injustice.

CVE in Bangladesh
Bangladesh has implemented various measures to combat the escalating threat of extremism in the South Asia region.Since gaining independence, Bangladesh has witnessed a constant evolution in the nature of extremism within its borders.Shortly after independence in 1971, radical Marxist-Naxlist groups emerged, perpetrating violence against civilians & engaging in subversive activities.Subsequently, from the 1990s to the 2000s, religious extremism gained prominence, exemplified by the notorious 1999 attack on the Udhici program at Ramnar Botomul in Dhaka.Various terrorist organizations, such as Jamatul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), Ansarullah Bangla Team, and others, emerged during these period and targeted individuals and installations.
In response to these attacks, the Bangladesh Police adopted a zero-tolerance approach and implemented several initiatives.Initially, the Ministry of the Home Affairs established a specialized task force called the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) in the early 2000s to counter the increasing number of militant activities.RAB swiftly took action against organizations like JMB, HUJI, AI, and others, successfully apprehending key figures from these militant groups by 2005.
However, in subsequent years, militant organizations resurfaced and resumed their operations from underground networks.Bangladesh Police, in collaboration with affiliated organizations like RAB and BGB, continued to respond swiftly to these threats.In 2009, the Bangladesh government launched a dedicated special unit within the Bangladesh Police called the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT).This unit aimed to take rapid action against extremism and terrorism throughout the country, operating under the oversight of the Police Headquarters.Furthermore, in 2016, another specialized unit called the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) was established under the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) to bolster counterterrorism efforts.This unit worked in tandem with the existing forces to address the evolving challenges posed by extremism and terrorism.The fundamental distinction between a true preacher and an extremist recruiter lies in their objectives.A true preacher guides followers to uphold prophetic ideals, the promoting peace, stability, and harmonious social, familial, and the patriotic relations.In contrast, extremists disregard the pursuit of peace, opting for instability, disorder, & chaos.They prioritize isolation, severing ties with family, society, and the state, while neglecting the prophetic teachings on the maintaining peace, order, and patriotism.True preachers lead their

Irregular in Studies
Liking Isolation followers towards love, fairness, and humanity, while extremists incite violence, cruelty, injustice, and destruction.Therefore, CTTC emphasizes the importance of discerning the difference between true preachers and extremist recruiters.The FIU is responsible for sharing information with law enforcement and other government agencies to investigate and prosecute money laundering and terrorist financing Bangladesh has implemented anti-terrorism financial regulations to prevent terrorist financing and other crimes.The government has created a National Counter Terrorism Authority, improved cooperation with international partners, and invested in law enforcement & intelligence.Challenges remain, including incomeplete compliance and public awareness.Nevertheless, the government remains committed to implementing the regulations and combating terrorism.

Islamic Foundation
The Islamic Foundation has launched a nationwide campaign to combat violent extremism and terrorism.It focuses on engaging Imams, who play a key role in motivating people against extremism, by providing instructions and guidelines for addressing extremism in their weekend prayer speeches.The foundation also assists law enforcement agencies by offering Islamic viewpoints for the formulation of their leaflets.They lead a comprehensive social campaign across the country, both physically and the virtually.The campaign includes several distinct initiatives 1) Preparation, design, and distribution of Islamic viewpoints on religious extremism.2) Offering counter narratives to Islamic fundamentalists.3) Clarifying the difference between Islam and the terrorism.4) Providing unified sermons (Khutbah) on the Fridays.The institute also maintains a specialized section within its library, called Peace Corner, which collects rare materials and resources on extremism to the facilitate research.

Dhaka Declaration
In response to the growing threat of extremism in Bangladesh and its association with religion, Ulemas from across the country united to issue a declaration against extremism.The primary objective of this conference was to clarify the Islamic position of Ulemas regarding religious extremism.The Ulemas firmly rejected all forms of aggression, destruction, killing, injustice, and suicide, considering them entirely un-Islamic.They emphasized that Islam does not endorse compulsion, cruelty, or extrajudicial barbarism.The Prophet (PBUH) established a state characterized by peace, stability, progress, and coexistence with multicultural and multi-religious populations.During the conference, several factors contributing to extremism were mentioned: 1) Extremists lack knowledge and insight into the underlying purposes, spirit, and essence of faith.They often prioritize a literal interpretation of Islam rather than the understanding its broader meanings.For instance, the literal interpretation of a saying by the Prophet advises not to carry the Quran to non-Muslim households due to concerns of desecration.
2) Extremists lack a comprehensive understanding of Islam and attempt to reshape society solely based on the past without considering the context.The Prophet always considered contextual and situational analysis.3) Extremists label laxity as disbelief (kuffar), but this is an inaccurate understanding.Sometimes people are compelled to show leniency or flexibility.4) Extremism is often fueled by oppressive political rulers to mislead the people and divert attention from their own oppressive actions.

Recommendations
To effectively counter violent extremism in Bangladesh, several measures can be implemented: It is important to implement these measures holistically, addressing the root causes of extremism, promoting inclusivity, and involving various stake-holders in a collaborative and sustained effort.Additionally, regularly evaluating and the adapting these strategies based on emerging trends and challenges is crucial for long-term effectiveness.

CONCLUSION:
Bangladesh is currently grappling with the escalating threat of violent extremism, as global terrorist organizations seek to the establish their presence in the country.This article underscores the imperative to counter violent extremism from a faith perspective and assesses the effectiveness of existing strategies implemented by relevant authorities.It emphasizes the significance of incorporating faith perspectives into Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) initiatives, highlighting that the Islam unequivocally condemns extremism while promoting values of peace, harmony, stability, and progress.By examining Islamic teachings and the perspectives of Islamic scholars and leaders, it becomes evident that Islam advocates for peaceful coexistence, as exemplified by the Medina Charter.In light of these insights, the article proposes a national strategy framework as a proactive measure to effectively address and combat violent extremism in Bangladesh.
, social and national losses, damages and other consequences caused by terrorism and extremism.It emphasizes over the engagement of not only security apparatus rather other stakeholders like local administration, political leadership, and general people.The networking and communication, social and familial relationships are also emphasized on this stage.
Motivation, workshop programs to raise consciousness about individual, familialstakeholders including political leadership, clerics and general people is also important.The transnational cooperation, inter-state security engagement, training and intelligence sharing are also the key task of this phase.Regular analysis of the extremist's movements and nature are required to be recorded.Local and global security think tanks and research organization shall be engaged in the information sharing & strategy formulation process vide avenues for economic empowerment and social inclusion, reducing vulnerability to extremist influences.5) Strengthening Rule of Law and Justice Systems: Enhance the capacity and effectiveness of law enforcement agencies, judiciary, and intelligence services to prevent, investigate, and prosecute extremist activities.Ensure that justice is served, and perpetrators are held accountable to build public trust and deter future acts of violence.6) Countering Online Radicalization: Collaborate with internet service providers, the social media platforms, and tech companies to monitor and remove extremist content online.Promote digital literacy and empower individuals to critically evaluate online information & recognize propaganda and radicalization attempts.7) International Cooperation: Foster collaboration with international partners, sharing best practices, intelligence, and resources to address the transnational nature of the extremism.Engage in multilateral efforts to combat terrorism, exchange expertise, and coordinate actions to disrupt extremist networks.