Political extremism a very big problem, says IRI survey

People of Bangladesh are more worried about political extremism compared to religious extremism, said an opinion poll released on Wednesday by the International Republican Institute’s (IRI) Center for Insights in Survey Research. Fifty-three per cent of respondents said they feel political extremism is a very big problem in Bangladesh, and 44 per cent feel that religious extremism is a very big problem, according to the poll. This is the first time the Center for Insights in Survey Research tested Bangladesh public opinion regarding extremism.
When asked generally about the main cause of extremism, ‘political differences’ was the most common response with 38 per cent, while religious extremism was mentioned by only six per cent of respondents. Forty seven per cent did not respond.
Only one per cent of respondents said the use of violence was justified while 93 per cent said violence is never justified.
The poll was conducted by Nielsen-Bangladesh and the International Republican Institute between February 4 –21, 2016. Data was collected using a multi-stage stratified probability sample and through in-person, in-home interviews.  The sample was stratified by the eight administrative divisions, by district and by urban and rural locations.
The sample consisted of 2,550 respondents (response rate: 43 per cent) aged 18 and older, and was representative of voting-age adults nationally. The margin of error does not exceed plus or minus two per cent at the mid-range with a confidence level of 95 per cent, said the surveyor.
According to the poll, 73 per cent of Bangladeshis feel their country is going in the right direction; a nine percentage point increase since November 2015 and a 38 point increase over the last two years.
Overall, 83 per cent of respondents said security conditions in Bangladesh were very good or somewhat good and 77 per cent said they feel the country is politically stable.
Respondents were optimistic about the country’s future, including 72 per cent who believe their personal economic situation will improve in the coming year, and 65 per cent who believe the country is becoming more politically stable.
Still, Bangladeshis list the economy and security as their country’s biggest problems. Anxiety about security in particular has increased eight percentage points since November 2015 and, at 21 percent, is now tied with the economy as the most important problem facing Bangladesh.

Political extremism a very big problem, says IRI survey

People of Bangladesh are more worried about political extremism compared to religious extremism, said an opinion poll released on Wednesday by the International Republican Institutes (IRI) Center for Insights in Survey Research. Fifty-three per cent of respondents said they feel political extremism is a very big problem in Bangladesh, and 44 per cent feel that religious extremism is a very big problem, according to the poll. This is the first time the Center for Insights in Survey Research tested Bangladesh public opinion regarding extremism. When asked generally about the main cause of extremism, political differences was the most common response with 38 per cent, while religious extremism was mentioned by only six per cent of respondents. Forty seven per cent did not respond. Only one per cent of respondents said the use of violence was justified while 93 per cent said violence is never justified. The poll was conducted by Nielsen-Bangladesh and the International Republican Institute between February 4 21, 2016. Data was collected using a multi-stage stratified probability sample and through in-person, in-home interviews. The sample was stratified by the eight administrative divisions, by district and by urban and rural locations. The sample consisted of 2,550 respondents (response rate: 43 per cent) aged 18 and older, and was representative of voting-age adults nationally. The margin of error does not exceed plus or minus two per cent at the mid-range with a confidence level of 95 per cent, said the surveyor. According to the poll, 73 per cent of Bangladeshis feel their country is going in the right direction; a nine percentage point increase since November 2015 and a 38 point increase over the last two years. Overall, 83 per cent of respondents said security conditions in Bangladesh were very good or somewhat good and 77 per cent said they feel the country is politically stable. Respondents were optimistic about the countrys future, including 72 per cent who believe their personal economic situation will improve in the coming year, and 65 per cent who believe the country is becoming more politically stable. Still, Bangladeshis list the economy and security as their countrys biggest problems. Anxiety about security in particular has increased eight percentage points since November 2015 and, at 21 percent, is now tied with the economy as the most important problem facing Bangladesh.