EXPLORING ONLINE RADICALIZATION IN BANGLADESH: STRATEGIES AND EVOLVING DYNAMICS

Abstract

The unprecedented improvement in global communications technology has eased our lifestyle in many respects. On the contrary, this is also posing serious challenges to societies around the world. Bangladesh is no different. Given the present government‘s commitment to ‗Digital Bangladesh‘ more people are getting access to the internet and internet-based social platforms. Both the international (Al-Qa‘ida, ISIS) and domestic (ABT, Hizbut-Tahrir, JMB, Huji) extremist groups and terrorist organizations are taking advantage of this situation. They are utilizing encrypted social media platforms to launch various activities such as, holding virtual discussions, running campaigns, recruiting new members, building communities, spreading radical thoughts, and so on. As a result, Bangladesh has become a case study of online radicalization of late, which requires serious research attention. Against this backdrop, the study primarily attempts to explore the strategies and tools of online radicalization in Bangladesh based on the theoretical underpinning of Social Learning Theory (SLT). This qualitative study relies on both primary and secondary data, and the data collection techniques mainly include Key Informant Interview (KII), social media observation, and monitoring of websites. The research additionally provides crucial policy suggestions for overcoming the existing lacuna.