Research to find 'vulnerable point’ that drives Bangladeshi youths to extremism: Psychiatrist

A psychiatrist has advised the government to form a ‘national research team’ in Bangladesh to identify a “common vulnerable point” of youths that can motivate them to turn to extremism.

“Then we can better prevent the scourge,” Dr Mekhala Sarkar of the National Institute of Mental Health said to bdnews24.com on Thursday after a seminar in Dhaka where she spoke on ‘psychological motivation of youths behind extremist violence’.

She said there was no research to say exactly what motivates youths to be extremists at this moment, though many of the recent attackers were members of the well-to-do families.

But, Dr Sarkar, an assistant professor of psychiatry, said it was possible to identify a common vulnerable point through detailed analysis of the profiles of the dead, missing or arrested youths.

She also called upon the government to set up a “call centre” to offer “immediate support” to those who are still in “dilemma” whether to join extremist forces or not.

The foreign ministry’s think-tank, the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS), organised the seminar on ‘Recent extremist violence in Bangladesh: Response options’ at its auditorium on Thursday.

Diplomats, government officials, including police, academia and journalists, attended the seminar in which the speakers looked at the different aspects of extremist violence in the wake of the recent unprecedented attacks at Gulshan and Sholakia.

In the July 1 attack at a Gulshan diplomatic zone cafe, 17 foreigners were killed among the 22 people. Five terrorists and a suspect were killed in the commando conterstrike to end the siege.

This was followed by another terrorist attack on the Eid day at Sholakia Eidgah Ground on Jul 7.

Police busted a militants’ hideout in Dhaka’s Kalyanpur on Tuesday and killed nine suspects were in a gunfight.

In the last two years, Bangladesh has witnessed a series of attacks targeting secular forces including writers, online activists, publishers, foreigners and religious minorities.

Middle East-based group the Islamic State has reportedly claimed many of those attacks including the July 1, but the government is so far rejecting those claims and said “home-grown” extremists were behind those attacks.

Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali, speaking at the seminar said, it was clear from the recent attacks that certain vested quarters are trying to destabilise the country and stop its growth.

“They want to create a sense of fear and insecurity among our people. They also want to tarnish the image of Bangladesh and discredit the government both at home and abroad,” he said.

Many of the attackers were also found to be students of North South University.

Psychiatrist Dr Sarkar, however, suggested not to come to any conclusion without research.

“Maybe better internet access has made the affluent children vulnerable. But we should not jump to the conclusion that rich families or English medium were the factors behind them.”

She said the national research team, that she suggested at the seminar, could be made of eminent psychologists, experts and others concerned who have knowledge on the issue.

“We can analyse the profile patterns of the dead, missing youths or those who have been arrested to identify the vulnerable point. Then we can intervene on that particular point,” she said.

“Until today, we don’t have any research on the extremists’ psychological aspects.”

“Once the call centre is set up, she said, the government must ensure that those who will call would not be harassed. “If they feel vulnerable, then they’ll not call.”

President of Jamiah Ikra Bangladesh and former director of Islamic Foundation Allama Fariduddin Masud also spoke at the seminar and gave religious explanation.

He termed the attackers “mentally ill” and said they were committing the “biggest sin”.

“Killing of any innocent people irrespective of their religion is most notorious crime and worst sin in the eyes of Islam.”