Punishment not enough to dissuade youths from militancy
Counter Terrorism chief says
Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Additional Commissioner Monirul Islam yesterday said punishment is not enough to dissuade youths from getting involved in extremism.
“Extremism can’t be stopped by hanging or imprisoning the extremists; extremism generates in the brain,” said Monirul, also chief of Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit of DMP.
“We want to address this and stop young minds from being corrupted,” he added.
Monirul made the remarks while speaking at a workshop, held at Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy in the capital.
Darshak Shrota Pathak Foundation, in association with seven other organisations -- including Utsarga Foundation and CTTC -- arranged the workshop titled “Tarunner Bangladesh”. Youths from different districts took part in the event.
Seeking cooperation from the youths, the CTTC chief said youngsters have a major role to play in eradicating extremism from the country.
Law enforcement agencies alone cannot curb militancy and extremism; everyone must shoulder the responsibility, Monirul said.
“We need support from families, civil society, teachers, religious leaders, cultural personalities and so on. If they perform their duties with conviction, youths won’t be misguided and won’t take the destructive path of extremism,” he added.
Darshak Shrota Pathak Foundation President Ziaul Hasan said youths played a vital role during the Liberation War in 1971, which helped the country achieve independence faster.
“But the war is not over. Now the young will have to fight against drugs, militancy and communalism,” he said.
Jafor Raja Chowdhary, registrar of copyrights at Copyright Office Bangladesh; and Shahidul Alam Sachchu, general secretary of Darshak Shrota Pathak Foundation spoke at the programme, among others.