'Roles of family important to fight radicalisation'

Families should instil values of social harmony among the youth to make them immune to radicalisation and militancy, a roundtable observed on Sunday. 

Stakeholders said while the youth are susceptible to radicalisation for various reasons, a vested quarter of home and abroad is using them for their own interest by spreading misinterpretation of religion.
More than one speaker came up with their views that alongside family, educational and social institutions should play their due rule to fight radicalisation of youth.
Prothom Alo, in association with Kishor Alo-Manusher Jonno Foundation’s SAMPREETI project organised the roundtable on prevention of violent extremism through harmony in the capital's Karwan Bazar’s CA Bhaban.
Executive director of Manusher Jonno Foundation Shaheen Anam said youth should be taught to honour difference of opinion from the outset and there should be practice of harmony in everywhere in the society.
Highlighting the need of hearing the youth’s voice, she said, “Unfortunately non-government organisation’s work on youth was inadequate in the past. But the dialogue has recently been started which should continue.”
She also said that there was once a stereotype that radicalisation breeds in religious organisations but this has been proven wrong now.
Security expert and University of Asia Pacific’s treasurer Ishfaq Ilahi Choudhury lamented that there is no serious de-radicalisation programme in Bangladesh.
“Some jailed militants are even radicalising inmates by giving sermons,” he added.
"We must consider all the terror attacks equally and condemn all those attacks with same vehemence. We should not differentiate between Christchurch and Sri Lanka attack and protest at both incidents with equal force," Ilahi said.
Professor of United International University Hamidul Haque suggested that killing militants without identifying the force behind them would not bear any sustainable results to the problem.
Dhaka University’s professor of development studies department Kazi Maruful Islam called for ensuring a democratic environment and freedom of expression in all sectors of society to root out militancy from the society.
He also said there should be rehabilitation system of the radicalised youth in the society as the country does not have such facility now.
Prothom Alo associate editor and Kishor Alo editor Anisul Haque said that spreading sports, literature and cultural activities among the youth is needed for a long-term solution to the problem.
He also urged the guardians not to instil too much competitive attitude in youth.
DU’s teacher of peace and conflict studies Md Towhidul Islam said comprehensive strategy is needed to fight radicalisation as they are a heterogeneous group.
He suggested that harmony forums should be established in different sectors of the society.
Bangladesh Institute of Peace and Securities Studies’ research fellow Shafkat Munir said that technology should be used in a positive way to create social harmony in the society.
He also called for awareness programme so that the youths and their guardians become aware of the menace of radicalisation.
UNDP’s Foisal Bin Majid, singer Dilshad Nahar Kona, ICT expert AKM Nazrul Haider, SAMPREETI’s deputy programme manager Shahajadi Begum, Youth Club of Bangladesh’s president Arefin Rahman Himel, and Eastern University student Ashrafun Nesa, among others spoke at the roundtable.
Prothom Alo associate editor Abdul Quayyum moderated the programme.