Community policing crucial to address extremism

Engaging community and beat policing to combat extremism and terrorism is essential as it can address the root cause quickly and eliminate threats, said top police officials and foreign diplomats at a seminar yesterday.

They stated that Bangladesh's strategic location is crucial for regional peace and security in the Indo-Pacific region, and Canada has been actively involved in partnering with the country.

The Anti-Terrorism Unit of the Police and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime jointly organised the project inception programme at Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel yesterday, for community and beat policing to counter violent extremism and terrorism. The project is being carried out in partnership with the Canadian government.

Inspector General of Police Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun said Bangladesh Police have adopted a multi-dimensional approach that focuses on both law enforcement and community engagement with aims to prevent radicalisation and recruitment of young people into violent extremist groups, disrupt terrorist plots, and support the rehabilitation and reintegration of those who have been involved in violent activities.

Involving beat and community policing in countering terrorism will add a new dimension to our fight against the menace, he said.

Canadian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Lilly Nicholls highlighted the shared values of democracy, secularism and free trade between Bangladesh and Canada, as well as their shared commitment to peacekeeping.

She emphasised that the project demonstrates the continuation of the partnership between the two countries.

Marco Teixeira, regional representative of UNODC South Asia, also spoke at the programme.