Militants offering ‘lucrative package’ online to attract youths: Police

Militant outfits are offering ‘lucrative package’ online to attract youths to radicalization and violent extremism, police said today.

“Recruiters and motivators of militant outfits are offering lucrative and attractive package to engage people in militancy,” said Monirul Islam, additional commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP).

The people who have no patriotism, kindness, responsibility and void of tolerance and failed in accepting reality are searching shortcut way in life and being radicalised afresh, said Monirul, also chief of the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime unit of the DMP.

He was addressing at the inaugural session of ‘Dhaka Peace Talk’ at the DMP media centre in Dhaka.

Center for Social Advocacy and Research Foundation (CSARF) in association with CTTC unit of the DMP will organise the programme to build awareness in the society against militancy and extremism.

The organizer of the programme funded by USAID will hold 12 roundtables where 36 persons, who have expertise in preventing violent extremism, youths and different stakeholders, will participate the programme.

Their recommendations will be shared with relevant agencies and stakeholders for consideration to make the effort a success.

Monirul Islam said terrorism or extremism is a global problem and main hindrance on the way of establishing peace and security.

“It is not possible to combat the menace by enforcing the law only. A united effort of law enforcers, civil society, parents, teachers is a must. The peace talk is the part of the effort,” he said adding that the risk level of it in the country is low now.

Stressing on youths’ engagement in the programme, the CTTC boss said youths aged between 15 and 30 are the most vulnerable to violent extremism and militancy.

CSARF Executive Director Shabnam Azim said it is like building up a network through which all stakeholders especially youths will work as a community ambassador and spread the activities to make other people aware.

Founded in 2019 by a group of researchers, university teachers and career journalists, CSARF is a nonprofit think-tank in the country, specialising in social advocacy, research and security threat analysis.