Shafi Md Mostofa
On August 5, 2024, a student-led revolution ended Sheikh Hasina’s 15-year authoritarian rule in Bangladesh. Despite the regime’s “zero tolerance” policy toward extremism, designed to legitimize its rule by positioning itself as the sole force in countering militancy, the approach failed to eliminate the threat. Instead, it seems that a conservative young generation emerged.
In the aftermath of Hasina’s fall, schoolchildren took to the streets advocating for a caliphate, and Hizb ut-Tahrir, a banned militant group, openly made the same demand. Simultaneously, the Islamic State’s Waliyat Al Hind released a statement titled “O Muslims of Bangladesh: Halfway Done, Now Strive for the Rule of Allah!” The group urged continued efforts to implement Islamic rule in Bangladesh, signaling the persistence of extremist narratives.
The challenge of militant Islam remains in Bangladesh, with many being radicalized online.
“Cyber radicalization” has been a major concern in Bangladesh’s efforts to counter violent extremism. A study of 250 detained militants found that 82 percent of young Bangladeshi militants were radicalized through various social networking sites. Radical content is easily accessible online and online radicalization is an ongoing process, particularly among urban and educated youth.
Extremist groups in Bangladesh have utilized various online tools and platforms to promote their ideologies, recruit new members, and coordinate their activities. Among the most commonly used platforms are social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. These platforms have been utilized by extremist groups to share propaganda, spread hate speech, and recruit new members.
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