RAJSHAHI, March 31, 2022 (BSS) - The Rajshahi Metropolitan Police (RMP)
officials sought support from students to rid the society of violent
extremism, drug abuse and terrorism.

They said integrated efforts by the police and common people, including
students, could help to root out social menaces, including child marriage and
violence against women.

They came up with the observation while addressing a sensitizing workshop on
"Role of Youth Community towards Preventing Violent Extremism and Drug-
addiction" at Rajshahi College auditorium in Rajshahi metropolis today.

Rajshahi Metropolitan Police (RMP) and Manob Kalyan Parishad (MKP) jointly
organised the workshop supported by the Asia Foundation (TAF) under its
'Police Engagement Approach for Countering Extremism - PEACE' project.

Around 500 students from different institutions in the city and members of
youth organizations joined the meeting.

RMP Commissioner Abu Kalam Siddique addressed the workshop as chief guest,
while Additional Commissioner Mazid ali, Principal of Rajshahi College Prof
Abdul Khaleque and retired principal Prof Habibur Rahman spoke as special
guests with another Additional Commissioner Sujayet Islam in the chair.

Professor Murshida Binte Habib from the Department of Psychology in Rajshahi
University, TAF Director Sadat Sadruddin Shibly and MKP Programme Coordinator
Munira Parveen also spoke.

The meeting was told that support from the youth community can be the crucial
means of freeing the society from all sorts of crimes, including violent
extremism and drug-addiction, for the sake of overall development of the
country.
 
Large-scale promotion of proactive engagement of the youth community is very
important towards combating the existing social crimes besides countering
extremism.

In his remarks, Abu Kalam Siddique said united efforts of police and people
can curb anti-social activities everywhere in the society.

He puts emphasis on breaking down long standing barriers of mistrust between
police and youth community and explores opportunities of community policing
for ensuring citizens' safety through local initiatives.

Kalam Siddique said the community based policing had been introduced in the
metropolis with a noble view, but the community people should take the
responsibility of making it effective.

Sadat Shibly told the meeting that the PEACE Project is intended to empower
law enforcement agencies to carry out counter terrorism efforts that
effectively engage citizens in awareness raising, information sharing and
prevention initiatives.