Bangladesh

Where We Work

Bangladesh

Context

Bangladesh is currently ranked 40 on the Global Terrorism Index of 2022. Violent extremist propaganda and radicalisation ideologies spread in 2021, particularly online. With the closure of educational institutions for over 540 days, adolescents and youth were at increased risk of radicalisation through popular social media platforms, such as Facebook, YouTube and Telegram.

According to a 2021 report on the assessment of VE drivers, events, and online activity by SecDev Analytics, the number of subscriptions to extremists’ channels increased to 11.1 million during the last quarter of 2021 – six per cent higher compared with the prior quarter. A spike in VE posts was recorded after the takeover of power by the Taliban in Afghanistan.

STORIES FROM THE GROUND

Peace clubs to counter extremism

Law enforcement agencies are doing their best to counter violent extremism, but I think without the active participation of the community through preventive measures we can’t demolish the root causes of violent extremism.

I am impressed to see the enthusiasm of these young leaders of peace clubs and I believe we could develop a peaceful country if such youth (peace) clubs were to be active in every community with soaring PVE initiatives.

– Ferdousi Islam, Member of Parliament

Pathways to Change

GCERF is addressing the drivers of violent extremism that make the local environment conducive to violent extremism. Activities focus on youth, women, forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals and host communities. GCERF invests in programming which aims to:

Equip young people with the skills to mobilise, organise and represent their own interests when engaging with local authorities on topics that concern them.
Provide skills training and opportunities for youth to participate in sporting competitions, debates and interfaith dialogues.
Train religious leaders, journalists and local leaders on how to prevent violent extremism.
Strengthen women’s resilience to violent extremism through courtyard meetings and awareness raising events.
Disseminate messages of peace through radio and cultural performances.

Social Cohesion

241,350 community members, 68 percent of the total reached in 2018, were directly engaged in social cohesion activities.

48,200 women participated in courtyard meetings to discuss PVE

13,300 youth were engaged in community-based youth forums, PVE sharing sessions, and cultural or sports programmes.

4,900 youth, including nearly 2,000 girls, participated in sports programmes in schools and madrasas (Madrasa girls were encouraged to participate in these mixed, public social events to develop their confidence in the public sphere.)

8,300 religious leaders participated in interfaith dialogues on social cohesion

Community Agency

69,900 community members (36,200 men and 33,700 women) participated in activities designed to build resilience through community mobilisation and advocacy:

1,803 local authorities attended law and order committee meetings and orientations
22,700 parents and teachers attended a total of 400 meetings with school and madrasa management committees
3,200 women attended women’s gatherings to raise awareness of violent extremism and effective responses
2,100 civil society representatives, journalists, religious leaders, and local authorities participated in roundtable discussions, trainings, and community consultation meetings

Equal Access to Opportunities

4,900 vulnerable youth (2,300 young men and 2,700 young women) participated in vocational skills training programmes tailored to meet the demands of the local labour market (based on consultations with local business associations and employers), and some received start-up funding.

1,500 youth received training in vocational skills

1,400 youth received business management and entrepreneurship training

240 trained youth received small grants as start-up capital to launch their own businesses

747 youth were linked to the job market through job fairs and meetings with employers

Sense of Purpose

69,900 community members (36,200 men and 33,700 women) participated in activities designed to build resilience through community mobilisation and advocacy:

49,900 youth (24,600 boys and 25,300 girls) participated in activities such as:
4,500 students participated in student engagement events, where they learned to design their own PVE awareness-raising initiatives
2,300 students participated in moderated debate festivals on PVE
200 young men and women participated in a total of 11 cultural development workshops hosted by local theatre groups