Militancy rising due to poverty, misinterpretation of religion

The younger generation of Bangladesh identifies misinterpretation of religion and various socio-economic problems, including unemployment and poverty, as leading causes of the rise of militancy in the country, finds a Prothom Alo survey.

Besides, almost half of the youth think decadence of moral values, absence of social justice and lack of education also play a vital role for the incidence of militancy in Bangladesh.

The survey, conducted by Org-Quest Research Ltd among 1200 people aged between 15 and 30 years last March, found that the reasons of rise of militancy, according to the youth respondents, could be divided into three broad categories-economic, religious and social.

Militancy, in Bangladesh, was rising from the 1990’s. But, since the attack at Holey Artisan Bakery restaurant at Gulshan on 1 July last year, many of the militants were identified as youth from educated and affluent family backgrounds. Earlier, it was the poor and uneducated who were found to be prone to militancy.

According to the survey results, misinterpretation of religion is leading the educated and affluent society youth to militancy.

Unemployment and poverty main reasons

One third of the respondents said frustration for not getting jobs despite being qualified draws many youth to militancy. Youth from all classes at villages and towns were in agreement on this.

Almost half of youth from Rangpur and Sylhet divisions consider unemployment as the main reason for the rise of militancy whereas very few of those from Khulna and Barisal (13 and 7 per cent respectively) think so.

According to the latest Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) labour force survey, around 2.6 million people in the country are currently jobless. BBS categorises persons who do not get the chance to work, even for one hour in a week, as unemployed. There are 8.6 million others who do not get any kind of payment for their services in the family.

The BBS survey also revealed that fewer chances are being created in the country for the jobseekers.

According to the Prothom Alo survey, around one third youth consider unemployment and poverty as interrelated and they identified poverty as another main reason for growing radicalisation.

Youths from villages put emphasis on poverty as the cause in the rise of militancy. Besides, male respondents also think poverty as a more important reason than the female respondents.

Dhaka University’s economics department professor Abul Barkat said, “When economic disparity rises in a country, it harms the youth more than any other section of people. The jobholders also become victims of this inequality.”

“The ever increasing economic inequality is making more youth frustrated,” he added.

Misinterpretation and misuse of religion

The youth survey found that according to 58 per cent respondents, militancy is rising due to misinterpretation and misuse of religions. Portraying Islam negatively is also playing a very important role.

A very small number of youth (4.6 percent) opined that madarasa education is encouraging youths to get involved in militancy.

About half of respondents from Chittagong consider misinterpretation and misuse of religion as chief reason of the rise of militancy whereas about 19 to 23 percent youth from Rajshahi, Rangpur, Khulna and Mymensingh think so, the study finds.

Illinois State University’s professor Ali Riaz told Prothom Alo, “The chances of youth’s engagement in familial, social, political and economic affairs is shrinking by the day in Bangladesh. This is making them insecure. Denial will intensify the situation because alienated people take recourse to extremism.”

Degeneration of social values and illiteracy

Around one fifth of the respondents said militancy is rising in the country due to illiteracy and gradual degeneration of social values. As many as 12 percent of the youth identifies lack of social justice as another reason.

A PhD researcher Azizur Rahman, in his paper “The Forms and Ecologies of Islamist militancy and terrorism in Bangladesh”, has said, “Poverty and resource deprivation, economic dislocation and social disorganisation, political blame game and patronisation, and easy access to arms and ideological apparatuses are the major factors of militia motivation in Bangladesh.”

The paper also put emphasis on ensuring the freedom of expression and democracy in the country to fight terrorism.

It also asked to involve government and private institutions, NGOs, civil society, media and people in planning and implementing an integrated strategy to prevent radicalisation and publishing ideologies countering the extremists.

*The report, originally published in Prothom Alo print edition, has been rewritten in English by Shameem Reza.