Bangladesh: Empowering law enforcement with community-based strategies to counter violent extremism

Khulna and Rangpur, Bangladesh/26 May 2025: In a rapidly evolving global security landscape, tackling terrorism and violent extremism demands more than traditional enforcement. In Bangladesh, where counterterrorism remains a priority, the police are exploring a more holistic approach—grounded in transparency, ethical leadership, and strong community ties. This shift reflects a growing understanding that lasting security stems from trust and legitimacy, not just force. Engaging communities as partners redefines effective policing in the fight against extremism.

In this direction, 80 law enforcement officials from the District Counterterrorism Units, Range Police, Metropolitan Police, and the Anti-Terrorism Unit (ATU) in Khulna and Rangpur Divisions were equipped with knowledge, skills and tools to integrate trust-building into counterterrorism efforts.

Supported by Global Affairs Canada, the series of trainings were part of an ongoing partnership between the Bangladesh Police and the UNODC, designed to enhance police capacities in addressing terrorism and violent extremism. Mr. Md. Mozid Ali, BPM, Police Commissioner, Rangpur Metropolitan Police and Mr. Md. Rashidul Hasan, Additional Police Commissioner, Khulna Metropolitan Police chaired the capacity building initiatives in Rangpur and Khulna.

Through a combination of presentations, interactive discussions, and hands-on exercises, participants delved into strategies such as procedural justice, ethical leadership, and effective communication.

Discussions emphasized fostering trust as a critical component of modern policing, introducing strategies for promoting procedural justice, ethical leadership, and effective communication.

The sessions provided insights into aligning policing practices with international best practices, ultimately enhancing public trust and reducing the appeal of extremist narratives.

One of the key components was developing a tailored action plan, designed to integrate these trust-building principles into daily policing practices. By focusing on community engagement and communication, the training aimed to reduce the appeal of extremist narratives and reinforce the police’s legitimacy within local populations.

This activity contributed to SDG 16 and SDG 17: https://sdg-tracker.org/

(Supported by Global Affairs Canada)