“Extremism is a doctrine. A counter-doctrine must be established which will act as an antibody to prevent extremism,” he said while addressing a press conference on ‘Dhaka Peace Talk’ at the DMP Media Centre.

Centre for Social Advocacy and Research Foundation (CSARF) with the help of Counter Terrorism and Translational Crime (CTTC) unit of DMP and USAID will organise 12 episodes under the ‘Dhaka Peace Talk’ to eliminate extremism from the country.

Monirul, also CTTC unit chief, said terrorism is now a global problem. “Although Bangladesh is a non-communal country, it’d been at risk of terrorism at different times. Anti-terrorism activities are a long-term process,” he said.

He also said not only police but also family, civil society and others have to take joint efforts to prevent extremism. “The CTTC has been arresting those involved in extremism,” he said, adding that the ‘Dhaka Peace Talk’ programme will work as a preventive initiative to this end.

Replying to a query, the CTTC chief said if the ‘Dhaka Peace Talk’ programme becomes successful in Dhaka, it might be launched elsewhere in the country. 
 
He also underlined the importance of more such programmes, saying various initiatives were taken to raise awareness after the terror attack on Gulshan Holey Artisan Café. 

Twelve roundtable meetings will be organised under the ‘Dhaka Peace Talk’ programme and 25 people from different professions will be invited to participate in each meeting, Monirul said, expressing the hope that the participants will work as social ambassadors in society after learning how to deal with extremism or violent extremism from the programme.

CSARF Head and Associate Professor of Mass Communication and Journalism department at Dhaka University Shabnam Azim and representatives of the USAID were present.