It's evident in their conduct

Frustration, loneliness, drug addiction, a lack of proper vision and guidance and, at times, affluence have been found as major drivers of violent extremism among university students.

And this influence of extremism on them is clearly evident in the way they talk, dress and observe various national and cultural days, according to a study by three eminent Dhaka University professors.

The study also identified mal-governance, corruption, absence of rule of law, the global politics of labelling and a lack of proper understanding of religion among the youth as major causes of extremism among university students.

Conducted by Prof lmtiaz Ahmed, Prof Amena Mohsin and Prof Delwar Hossain, the study was presented on December 14 at the 2nd international conference on “genocide and mass violence”.

With support from the DU and the cultural affairs ministry, the Centre for Genocide Studies organised the two-day event at Dhaka University, which ended on Friday.

Scholars and researchers from home and abroad presented papers on different issues including genocide, war crimes, sexual violence, and the 1971 massacre of intellectuals in Bangladesh.

The study was based on interviews with students of Rajshahi University, Jahangirnagar University, Khulna University of Engineering and Technology, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, North South University and Manarat International University.

The study -- Bangladesh: Facing Challenges of Radicalisation and Violent Extremism -- sought to understand the root causes of violent extremism, its challenges and the way out. 

The analysis has been done at the levels of symptoms, through examining the shifts and changes in language, dress codes, observations about festivals, sculptures, culture, education, religion and secularism, politics and so on.

Presenting their findings, Prof Amena Mohsin said influence of radicalisation on university students were very much visible in their clothing, manner of conversation, and celebration of different national days.

The youth have grievances about the way the state machinery operates. They think no rules or systems are working in the country at present, she added.

“The youth cannot believe they will get jobs on completion of their formal education if they follow the path of honesty. Such a state of confusion is pushing them towards extremism,” she noted.

The research found that students now use Arabic words while greeting and bidding farewell and also during other everyday activities.

The use of head scarves such as hijab and niqab by female students and the trend of wearing trousers above the ankles by the male students -- both in line with Wahhabism dress code -- are on the rise.

The study also found many students have dissenting views on celebrating various national days.

“Some of them even consider 'Mongol Shova Jatra' [the Bangla new year procession] as Hindu culture.”

The study found social media has cocooned the youth into a shell and has become an important tool for radicalisation.

RECCOMMENDATIONS

The study made several recommendations, including creating spaces and institutions -- cultural, economic, political -- which would integrate human rights and be gender sensitive.

It said continuous interaction between the civil and the political circles is extremely critical. Besides, psychosocial support for the radicalised and their rehabilitation and reintegration in society is important.

It also recommends continuous research and profiling of the extremists as well the creation of database of incidents of violence and violent extremism, which is important to understand and face the challenges of violent extremism.