Extremism a global challenge, say experts

Extremism a global challenge, say experts

Dhaka, May 20 - Speakers at a discussion on Monday said challenges of extremism and violent extremism are everyday reality, not just for Bangladesh but for all countries across the South Asian region and in the world. 

"I think it is important for us as academicians, practitioners, and members of society to constantly learn how the nature of extremism is changing and to create effective countermeasures," said Shafqat Munir, Senior Research Fellow, BIPSS (Bangladesh Institute of Peace and Security Studies) while moderating the discussion. 

The BIPSS organized the policy circle on “Extremism: Challenge for Society and Democracy” at a hotel in Dhaka. 

Dr. A. S. M. Ali Ashraf, Professor, Department of International Relations, University of Dhaka and Abul Kalam Azad, independent journalist and researcher, were the esteemed speakers who streamlined the conversation by contributing their insightful perspectives on the topic.   

The moderator of the event Shafqat Munir highlighted how extremism is affecting the society and the state. 

He also added that Bangladesh has faced significant challenges due to extremism, particularly violent extremism for decades. 

While the current situation is much better than before, Shafqat Munir said, “The absence of a successful terrorist attack does not denote the absence of terrorism.” 

The primary questions that he addressed and highlighted for the policy circle was how to cope with the growing threat of extremism, how to handle this threat, and what tactics should be developed to combat extremism in the modern world. 

Abul Kalam Azad listed a few of the main causes of people's susceptibility to extremism. 

These consist of injustice, corruption, inequality, and discrimination, among others. Additionally, he said that the emergence of extremist ideologies in people was a direct result of personal experiences such as trauma and loss. 

Abul Kalam Azad asserted that two of the main causes of extremism in local culture are the proliferation of hate speech and propaganda. 

Besides, he said, extremism may impede a society's social, political, and economic advancement, where one of the main causes of developing extremism is misinterpretation of religion. 

In the age of technological innovation, Azad further stated that extremist organizations are using encrypted social media access as a means of communication and attack mobilization, greatly increasing the chances of harm caused by extremist assaults. 

In addition, social media use has recently made it easier to recruit and communicate with young people, brainwashing them into joining extremist groups.

Dr. A. S. M. Ali Ashraf stated that between 1999 to 2024, terrorism has taken different trajectories. 

Because of his experience in the field of "terrorism and political violence," he frequently approaches problems from a theoretical standpoint. 

Thus, based on theoretical viewpoints, Dr. A. S. M. Ali Ashraf discovered four distinct types of extremism in Bangladesh and around the world: left-wing extremism, right-wing extremism, faith-based extremism and extremism including ethno-national groups and political violence. 

He said, “Terrorism itself is a political violence, but Bangladesh has a different narrative and connotation for political violence.” Dr. Ali Ashraf also added that extremism poses a challenge for not only democracy but also to non-democratic ideologies as well. 

The application of cutting-edge technologies is both strengthening the hand of extremist organizations and creating new difficulties in both democracy and non-democracies in countering the violent attacks of the extremists. 

Moderator of the event Shafqat Munir concluded saying “If we had to have this conversation in 15 years or a decade from now, with the advent of artificial intelligence, greater integration of technology, the conversation would be different."-UNB