Bangladesh de-radicalises Islamist militants to help return to life

Nine Islamist extremists from two militant outfits surrendered in Bangladesh in order to return to normal life by taking advantage of a government de-radicalisation programme. Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan received seven men and two women by presenting them flowers upon their surrender, and handed them to their families at a ceremony in Dhaka on Thursday.

"Those who adopted the wrong path have returned to their life today, brining smiles to the faces of their parents," Khan said, calling on other extremists to take the opportunity, too.

The men and women, between the ages 18 and 34, had been alienated from their families since they joined the homegrown Islamic outfits Jamaatul Mujahedeen Bangladesh (JMB) and Ansar al Islam, both of which are have been blamed for multiple deadly attacks in Bangladesh.

 

They were also offered cash and material supports to begin afresh under the government's De-radicalisation and Rehabilitation Programme, said Colonel Tofael Mostafa Sarwar, the head of the scheme. None but one of those who surrendered are accused in any criminal cases, but they were deeply engaged with the militant groups, he said.

All nine were under surveillance before they were brought to this stage, he said, adding they were radicalised either through social media or by their friends.

Members of the spy agencies in the guise of militants mixed with them and gradually managed to convince them to shun their way of life, the colonel said, concluding: "It is the first step to bring them back to the light."    (dpa)