The higher educational process across Bangladesh has come under the scanner over the past nine weeks. Controversy has been generated not only about the format presently in place but also alleged absence of certain basic functions that are expected from educational institutions that have evolved and grown outside the government controlled public sphere. Analysts have gone on to express critical views about the proforma of education carried out in English Medium schools, Private Universities and also within the separate formats of Qawami and Aliyah Madrasas. Seminars and workshops have dealt with different dimensions of this issue.Emerging challenges in the education sector
Every educational institution needs to explain to its students the difference that exists between violent terrorism and the true ethos of Jihad within the paradigm of peace that identifies Islam
Muhammad Zamir
The higher educational process across Bangladesh has come under the scanner over the past nine weeks. Controversy has been generated not only about the format presently in place but also alleged absence of certain basic functions that are expected from educational institutions that have evolved and grown outside the government controlled public sphere. Analysts have gone on to express critical views about the proforma of education carried out in English Medium schools, Private Universities and also within the separate formats of Qawami and Aliyah Madrasas. Seminars and workshops have dealt with different dimensions of this issue.
The entire process about re-evaluating the role and function of educational institutions across Bangladesh within the matrix of education started as a consequence of the terrorist attacks carried out in July in the Gulshan Residential Area, Dhaka and in Sholakia at the time of the Eid ul Fitr prayer (the largest in the country).
The two terrorist attacks in July were the latest in a series of militant attacks in Bangladesh over the last eleven years- 2005 to July 2016. According to the South Asian Terrorism Portal (SATP) these attacks have claimed till now 393 lives- 360 civilians and 33 from among the security forces. In addition, 243 terrorists were also killed during these incidents. The highest number of killings occurred in 2013, when 246 civilians and security forces (plus 133 terrorists) were killed. There has been 38 deaths in 2014, 25 in 2015 and 46 till now in 2016.
To tackle this problem one needs to understand clearly what is generally understood by the term terrorism. Enders and Sandler in The Political Economy of Terrorism have defined it as the pre-meditated use or threat to use violence by individuals or sub-national groups to obtain political or social objectives through the intimidation of a large audience beyond that of the immediate victims. Lutz and Lutz have also highlighted that terrorists as an organized group use violence with the intention of creating fear or terror. This unfortunate activity uses as its tactics- kidnapping, hostage taking, bombing, suicide bombings, assassinations or the use of modern technology- the internet, social media and the use of websites.
Activities of such heinous nature have recently taken place in Orlando, USA, Brussels, Belgium, Paris and in Nice, France, Istanbul, Turkey, Baghdad, Iraq, Medina, Saudi Arabia, Munich, Germany and Quetta, Pakistan.
The nature of terrorism has evolved within Bangladesh since our independence. After 1972, the country witnessed a spike of terrorism by some leftist political activists with secular educational backgrounds. That disintegrated into small splintered groups in the face of a strong government response. Their subsequent activities were limited to stray incidents of extortion and killings.
The Afghan war against Soviet occupation (1979-1989) created another dimension in our country. Bangladeshis with a background of Madrasa education who had joined in that war returned indoctrinated in Taliban- Al Qaeda ideologies. These returnees were responsible for the formation of domestic terrorist groups like Harakat-ul- Jihad-al Islam (HUJI) and Jamat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB). Their targets were secular activists, religious shrines and mainstream political parties. After initial denial, most of their violence was contained and their networks were largely dismantled. This success enabled us to emerge as an influential actor in our region- determined to counter terrorism. The people also came out and demonstrated their stand against religious extremism and repulsion for radicalism.
A new spate of extremist violence appeared with the revival of the War Crimes Trial in 2009. Analysts have pointed out that financial support and political patronage as a last line of defence is being undertaken by those being prosecuted for their crimes against humanity. This has complicated the situation and led to their followers getting involved in acts of violence and arson against innocent civilians. This has subsequently spiked and metamorphosed into terrorist activities. It has led to a significant number of target killings of foreigners, members of religious minority communities, atheists, bloggers and people of differing views and practices.
These violent attacks were carried out by small groups with machetes or small firearms. A new Ansarullah Bangla Team gained notoriety during this new phase. Investigators are now stating that there was a growing mix in the composition of this new terrorist group. It is now believed that young persons who had been educated in Madrasas or in secular schools had been involved in perpetrating these violent attacks.
The gruesome Gulshan Restaurant massacre and the Sholakia Eidgah attack have however taken violent attacks by domestic terrorists to a more sophisticated level. The perpetrators, it was subsequently revealed, included students with Madrasa background but also students from comparatively affluent families who had studied in reputable English Medium schools and Universities in the Private sector. Some of them had apparently also gone abroad to study in foreign educational institutions.
Both these incidents and also the Kallyanpur incident demonstrated sophisticated planning ahead of the terrorist acts, use of more advanced and lethal weapons, the taking of hostages, the willingness to fight till the end with the law enforcers and signs of possible motivation links arising out of activities being carried out by radical outfits like the Al Qaeda and the ISIS in different parts of the world. The nature and modus operandi also indicated not direct recruitment but a clear associative aspect in terms of international linkage- in the use of information technology, portrayal of violence in the media, target patterns and nature and brutality of the violence.
In this context it is necessary to refer to the extremist nature of motivation that might have influenced some of the perpetrators. Both Rukmini Callimachi (in the New York Times, 12 June, 2016) and Yousuf Al-Hlou in their respective columns have referred to Abu Muhammad al-Adnani, the Islamic State spokesman, and quoted him as saying that No attack is too small. Adnani is also reported to have observed that everyone could and should carry out acts of terror in the Groups name. In this regard Adnani has also observed that sympathizers who could not buy weapons should instead use rocks, knives or even cars to kill infidels. The Gulshan occurrence and the incident in Nice, France from this point of view appear to have a close reflection of such inspired brutality.
It has been reported that currently 84 Private Universities are functioning in Bangladesh with a total of 463,767 students. Forty per cent of the students are women. They have a total number of about 14,000 teachers of whom about 6,400 are full time. There are also 37 Public Universities in the country with a total number of 238,000 students. There are also more than 2.1 million students associated within the parameter of the National University and the Open University (where learning is carried out mostly with the help of digital technology, outside formal classrooms).
This changing nature of terrorism in our country calls for a fresh examination of the evolving situation. We need that for a better understanding on how to contain its impact and reduce its expansion.
Analysts have accordingly in different discussions, seminars and workshops pointed out that our law enforcement authorities must not only bring the perpetrators to justice but also work on the basis of a suitable counter-narrative that could be applicable not only for religious school formats but also within the English language dominated English medium educational institutions- schools as well as Universities.
It is being hoped that this kind of pro-active engagement through quality education can help to prevent radicalization and assist in the de-radicalization of those already radicalized.
It has been underlined that this has to be a holistic approach involving all stakeholders- political parties, administration, law enforcers, academics, professionals, business, social activists, religious and local opinion formulating leaders, educational institutions and families. It has also been reiterated correctly that this effort has to be in the form of a comprehensive unified social movement.
We have watched in this regard students, teachers and employees from educational institutions across Bangladesh holding rallies on roadsides on 1 August and participating in events where they voiced their rejection of terrorism. They demonstrated their sympathy for the victims and warned terrorists that the youth of this country did not believe in militancy. On that day, leaders in the educational format including the Education Minister and the Chairman of the University Grants Commission also requested all educational institutions within the country to eradicate the ideology of radicalism and attach greater emphasis on Bangladeshs secular culture, toleration within the social fabric, importance of upholding moral and ethical values, equal opportunity, heritage, history and diversity. In this context educational institutions were also asked to facilitate sports activities and debating events so that there could be constructive exchange of ideas. Parents were also asked to play a more meaningful role and inter-act more with their children and if necessary address disaffection through psychological counseling.
The University Grants Commission has also suggested the inclusion of a government Observer in the Board of Trustees of each Private University with the task of monitoring the educational activities. Some analysts have however disagreed and pointed out that such a factor resembled more the Orwellian concept of Big Brother is watching you. Instead, they have suggested more effective and improved connectivity between the UGC and the Vice Chancellors and Pro-Vice Chancellors of these institutions. I believe that the subsequent step in this context needs to be taken cautiously and after serious discussion. We need to remember here that measures adopted must not end up affecting the environment, infrastructure and the functions of the Faculty and the Curricula that has already gained global benchmark acceptability.
The current debate about emerging challenges in the field of higher education will also have to address the question of frustration arising out of unemployment for a student who has spent a lot of money in Private Sector education or a number of years in the Madrasa format. One way out might be to also arrange in such institutions as well as those in the public sector, the scope of not only greater technical education and vocational training but also more comprehensive schooling in the use of computers so that they can gain from the BPO process which is moving forward at such a fast pace.
Lastly, every educational institution needs to explain to its students the difference that exists between violent terrorism and the true ethos of Jihad within the paradigm of peace that identifies Islam.
Muhammad Zamir, a former ambassador, is an analyst specialised in foreign affairs, right to information and good governance. He can be reached at [email protected]
