Bangladesh's Model for Countering Violent Extremism: Education, Faith, and Community Engagement
Bangladesh's Model for Countering Violent Extremism
Violent extremism is a global threat that poses a major challenge to all countries. Taking effective steps to counter it is of utmost importance. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh has developed a commendable model for countering violent extremism.
The focus of Bangladesh's anti-extremism approach is education. The government's National Education Policy on Countering Extremism 2010 is a testament to this commitment. It has facilitated the reform of the madrasa curriculum to promote interfaith harmony and prevent violent extremism.
The government has also introduced anti-extremism chapters in academic textbooks and conducted various awareness-raising activities against terrorism in schools and colleges. All these efforts aim to provide students with a holistic learning experience and promote the values of peace, mutual respect, and tolerance.
Religious leaders play a crucial role in strengthening religious education against violence and extremism. Through the Islamic Foundation Bangladesh, around 146,000 imams have been trained to raise public awareness against terrorism and violent extremism.
The government works closely with law enforcement agencies and local research institutions to engage religious leaders in countering extremist propaganda with scripture-based messages.
Bangladesh is a board member and pilot country of the Global Fund for Community Engagement and Resilience (GCERF), which supports local, grassroots efforts to counter violent extremism. This collaboration has led to investments in building resilience against violent extremism by supporting youth platforms in various ways.
The government has also launched two notable initiatives: the Nationwide Mosque and Islamic Cultural Center Project and the Mainstreaming of Students and Graduates of Qawmi Madrasas. The mosque project is designed to counter religious misconceptions that fuel terrorism and extremism, while the mainstreaming initiative helps ensure that Qawmi graduates actively participate in mainstream education and society, thereby discouraging any feelings of disenfranchisement.
These combined efforts demonstrate Bangladesh's commitment to countering violent extremism. Through education and faith-based awareness, the country is not only building resilience against terrorism but also a culture of peace, tolerance, and inclusion.
- Bangladesh's anti-extremism approach focuses on education.
- The government has introduced anti-extremism chapters in academic textbooks and conducted awareness-raising activities against terrorism in schools and colleges.
- The government works closely with religious leaders to counter extremist propaganda with scripture-based messages.
- Bangladesh is a board member and pilot country of the Global Fund for Community Engagement and Resilience (GCERF), which supports local, grassroots efforts to counter violent extremism.
- The government has launched two notable initiatives: the Nationwide Mosque and Islamic Cultural Center Project and the Mainstreaming of Students and Graduates of Qawmi Madrasas.
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