Daily Times

Since Zia’s oppressive dictatorial regime, we have been persistently entrenched with radicalisation and violence. We have continued to nurture seminary-based culture wide across the country which erupted in the form of various Jihadi proxy’s which are now being controlled locally, as well as, by foreign entities for their own vested interests.

Bangladesh has recently taken up an initiative to construct more than 500 model mosques to teach and spread ‘moderatism’ which would eventually contribute in the de-radicalisation project. More importantly, Saudi Arabia is a conjoint partner in terms of finances and of course, they had already started transforming their indigenous stakes to avoid or postpone the collapse of their Kingdom or intent to fulfil someone else’s agenda, while leaving us all alone to bear the consequences of the plans once mastered by the Saudi King’s engineering council.

Factors that further precipitated the conditions involved in spurring sectarianism and religious extremism have been found that it is further being exploited by certain power hubs either at the behest of foreign entities or either for departmental gains. Provincially encapsulated political diaspora from mainstream political parties has further worsened the outcome by strengthening locally influenced pressure groups and promoting ethnic based politics. It has been observed more often that it is our national political practice that if a party has been questioned or charged for any such anomaly; it continues to play their respective provincial cards.

We have lost the plot, because we have acted as a surrogate mother to multiple foreign projects while losing our own stability

That might be a pertinent reason that not a single mainstream political party has its roots deep inside the Balochistan provincial politics. Therefore, it continues to be the rolling stone and injunction of national security beholders and a cynosure of proxy wars. The so-called National Action Plan (NAP) had not been executed with that vigour it was once formulated. Cumulatively, it is all about propelling us in a state of national disintegration.

To further avoid the state of quandary, immediate measures should be devised and promulgated in terms of national policy. Starting firstly from revisiting basic schooling procedures and curricula and then parallel persuasion of ‘Model mosque culture’ equipped with the principles of patience and respect; further applying this mannequin nationwide. It would aid in transforming the mob mentality which has been consistently coercing and stabbing the society from the bottom since decades.

Preserving and promoting subcontinent civilization, culture and instincts is another major player in this de radicalisation project as we have lost the plot being stray cattle which acted like a surrogate mother for multiple foreign projects while losing its own prestige and kudos. Decentralization of competent and well reputed bureaucrats is cardinal to prosperity at grass root level rather than deployment of blue-eyed officials merely in the vicinity of federal capital or provincial headquarters. Inclusion of entire provincial stake holders; specifically targeting local ethnic groups to pull them in a mainstream set up and to promote national attributes among them while providing them with due and appropriate share within national assets and institutions. All national decisions regarding policy revisit should be tabled and approved under Council of Common Interest and the parliament; further implemented via NFC award and Provincial Apex Committees.

Political stake holders in conjunction with key institutions should work under one line while following a unidirectional trajectory in terms of national interest as we are at a brink of national disintegration. Building a national anagram and effective deradicalisation is a dire need of the hour. Together we can clutch and make this democratic project a success story.

The writer Researcher and Democrat. He can be reached at kh.hamdan99@gmail.com

Published in Daily Times, May 28^th 2018.