INTEGRATING CIVIL AND MILITARY APPROACHES TO COMBAT TERRORISM IN BANGLADESH

Abstract

Terrorism in Bangladesh has traditionally been addressed by short-term methods relying mostly on the use of hard power. Conversely, terrorist outfits have shown great resilience in their ability to regroup, adapt and survive. Absence of a comprehensive approach in combating terrorism has undermined any sustained effort to dismantle the terrorist organizations operating within the country. The paper viewed the counter-terrorism (CT) measures not only as a forceful response to the acts of terror, but also as a synergistic application of hard and soft power, where the armed forces would be seamlessly integrated to act as an effort multiplier. In discourse, substantial weaknesses have been observed in the information sharing between the intelligence organizations, integration of the society in the overall CT strategy and most importantly, absence of any detailed architecture that would direct and coordinate the hard and soft power effects towards a desired end state. The paper proposes to form a National Counter Terrorism Committee (NCTC), within which police would lead the hard power, NSI would act as an epic centre of intelligence and CT prevention committee would lead the soft power approach. The core capabilities of Bangladesh Armed Forces would be integrated to augment both hard and soft power responses both in time of peace and in crisis. Therefore, the proposed architecture would promote a consensus-based national perspective and enhance institutional collaboration streamlining the barriers in countering terrorism.