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Poverty, misinterpretation of Islam behind rise of militancy

Speakers tell roundtable

STAFF CORRESPONDENT
Speakers at a roundtable yesterday identified poverty, disparities in the educational system and misinterpretation of Islam as the major factors behind the rise of militancy.
They also called for a concerted and united movement to root out this menace.
Experts on Islam and religious studies, think tanks, social scientists and educationists took part in the discussion on 'Islam, militants and suicide bomber' organised by the daily Prothom Alo at a city hotel. Matiur Rahman, editor of the Prothom Alo, moderated the roundtable.
There is no such concept of militants and suicide bombers in Islam, the speakers said and pointed out that the madrasa education system is responsible for instilling hatred, anxiety, depression in a large of madras students, who remain inactive and jobless in society.
The prevailing disparities in every sector, particularly in education, have largely contributed to the rise of militancy, said Prof Muzaffer Ahmad, a trustee of Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB).
He said the nation has to be united and act together to find out its root and ways to check the menace.
The major political parties saw the issue of dialogue on militancy from their respective angle and did not consider it a need of the hour, Prof Muzaffer said, adding that the issue could be solved if the political parties together take an initiative taking the socio-economic aspects into account.
He also underscored the need for instilling family and social values in youths to discourage them from resorting to militancy.
M Shamser Ali, vice-chancellor of South East University, said harbouring the militants has backfired on those who have backed them to eliminate the left-leaning outlaws.
He called for a complete reform in the educational system and suggested a unified system at the school level to solve the problem.
He also mentioned that poverty is a reason, which pushed the poor madrasa students to militancy. Former secretary Shah Abdul Hannan, however, criticised the media for pointing an accusing finger at the Jamaat-e Islami, its student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir and madrasas.
There is no room for militancy in Islam, he said, adding that only a government has the authority to call for jihad and the others will be regarded as rebels in Islam.
He also brushed aside the
involvement of Qawmi madrasas in militancy.
KM Saiful Islam of Dhaka University strongly criticised the Jamaat for using religion for its political gains.
He also condemned the Jamaat for their role during the Liberation War in 1971 and for not making apologies for it.
Kazi Nurul Islam, chairman of world religion department at DU,
blamed the religious studies and educational system in madrasa, particularly in the Qawmi and Alia madrasas, for instilling hatred in students, which eventually encourage them to become suicide bombers.
He called for finding out the godfathers, source of funds and the brains who are brainwashing the young bombers.