80 percent militants inspired from internet

Staff Correspondent: Anti-Terrorism Unit (ATU) of Police said that around 80 percent of youths who were involved in militancy are inspired from virtual world that means internet. The observation emerged from militants who were arrested since the Gulshan’s Holey Artisan attack.

The disclosure was revealed at a workshop and seminar on “Preventing Terrorism and Extremism Through Community Engagement” held at Brac University in the capital on Saturday.

Students of different schools, colleges, universities and madrasas attended the programme arranged by Anti-Terrorism Unit and initiated by Community Development for Peace (CDP).

Moniruzzaman, Additional Deputy Inspector General of Anti-Terrorism Unit, said, “A survey conducted on 250 militants arrested since Gulshan attack shows that 56 percent of them emerged from general education system. Of them, 82 percent youths inspired to militancy from internet.”

He said, “Three militant organisations remain active in the country. Jama'atul Mujahedeen Bangladesh (JMB), Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT) and Hizb-ut Tahrir. The organisations are trying to conduct the activities. Of the organisations, one or two are inspired by al-Qaeda in Indian Sub-Continents (AQIS) and Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). All the militants in Bangladesh are homegrown. Of them, several are attempting to contact international militant organisations.”

risingbd/Dhaka/June 22, 2019/Nur/AKA