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THINK

SOUTHASIA

SADF Bulletin N.03

Tuesday, 09th October 2012

www.sadf.eu

EDITORIAL

Antnio Vieira da CruzEditor of Tink South AsiaPolicy Advisor of South AsiaDemcratic Forum

In this edition of Tink SouthAsia you will find plenty of detailson what we are proud to presentas the biggest and most importantconference ever held on the topicof South Asia in Brussels, underthe title, Te Merits of RegionalCooperation: Te Case of South

Asia (part II). Tis important eventwill take place next 11th of October

in the Hotel Sofitel Brussels at PlaceJourdan, marking the legislative yearof the European Institutions. Tis

will present an amazing opportunityto discuss - with worldwideacademic and political experts -and understand some of the mostimportant issues in South Asia, suchas Peace and Stability, EconomicCooperation, and Development.

Perhaps one of the mainexpectations of this conference willbe the presentation of a study on

Education in Bangladesh conductedby Professor N. M. Sajjadul Hoque,from the University of Chittagong.His study is titled, Reviewing theEducation Policy of Bangladesh andhe tries to answer the question, Is thePresent Education Policy Adequatefor Countering errorism andReligious and Ethnic Intolerance?.

As per his findings, nine out of

ten people in Bangladesh believethat Education is an importantmeans to face the challenges ofterrorism and religious and ethnicintolerance in Bangladesh, and theoverwhelming majority (85%) feelthat it is important to incorporatethese issues in the New EducationPolicy of Bangladesh, as well asthe educational curriculum andtext books/syllabuses as a matterof priority. In the end, ProfessorHoque outlines some importantrecommendations for Bangladeshi

AP Photo/Pavel Rahman

(...) we are proud topresent as the biggestand most importantconference ever held onthe topic of South Asia inBrussels.


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EDITORIAL

civil society, the BangladeshiGovernment, the InternationalCommunity in general and theEuropean Union in particular.

Yet concerning Bangladesh, we mustcondemn vehemently the burningof at 10 Buddhist temples andaround 2,100 homes last 29th and

30th of September by extremistsin Southern Bangladesh. Tesedemonstrations are a reaction toan allegedly insulting image of theQuran posted on Facebook andcould be explained when we see theelections coming. In the same vein,

we saw also on the 21st of Septemberthe burning of a Christian Church inMardan, Pakistan, by a large mob ofextremist Muslims. Tis happened

as a response to the now infamousanti-Islam movie, even if theChristians of Mardan have nothingto do with this film. We must be

worried about this phenomenaof manipulating mobs to practiceviolent acts against innocent people

who, because of their religion, aretreated as scapegoats.

As a reflex of this reality, theBlasphemy Law of Pakistan isstill in vigour and there are yet nosigns of its end: Rimsha Masih, aChristian girl of 11 years old withDowns Syndrome is being heldin prison since the 11th of August2012, accused of burning pagesfrom a booklet used to teach Arabicand the Quran. Under the Pakistan

Penal Code, she could receive lifein prison. Rimsha joins Asia Bibiand many others that are in prison

because of this unjust law, and mostof the convicted are Muslim.

Some intriguing news is also comingin from the Maldives, where afterthe coup dtat of March 2012some turbulent riots took place,culminating in the most recenthappenings: on the 2nd of October

the Member of Parliament and well-known member of the oppositionMr Afrasheem Ali was stabbed todeath near his house; on the 8thof October the former PresidentMohamed Nasheed was detainedand arrested. In addition, fourmonths before the coup dtat,China opened a new embassy inthe Maldives. Perhaps it is justa coincidence, perhaps not. It is

publicly known that China is carry-ing out major infrastructure projectsin Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladeshand Myanmar. Several authors saythis is part of a Chinese strategyto encircle India and influence itsneighbours. But back to the Maldives,although the current governmentand some reports dont recognisethere was really a coup dtat, what

else can we conclude from theseoccurrences? Nevertheless, if we

want to understand what is goingon in these islands, there is nothingbetter than reading Djan Sauerbornscountry profile about the Maldivesin this number of Tink South Asia(pages 04 to 06).

Very shortly, we will follow carefully

the developments of the Free radeAgreement negotiations betweenIndia and the European Union,

(...) we must condemnvehemently the burningof at 10 Buddhist templesand around 2,100 homes

last 29th and 30th ofSeptember by extremistsin Southern Bangladesh.

(...) we must be worriedabout this phenomenaof manipulating mobsto practice violent actsagainst innocent peoplewho, because of theirreligion, are treated asscapegoats.

(...) the Blasphemy Lawof Pakistan is still invigour and there are yetno signs of its end.


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INDEX

04CountryProfile

07Heidelberg

Space

08MainArticle

where we can see the most recentpoint of tension is the retail market.Te entrance of big European retailcompanies into the Indian marketcould lower retail prices in Indiaeven more but, on the other hand,traditional commerce and smallshops would be forced to close ina medium/long run. It will be veryinteresting to see what develops.

Back to Brussels, the former PrimeMinister of Nepal, Mr Puspa KamalDahal, known as Prachanda,

will visit the European Parliamentin Brussels next 15th of October.Former guerrilla leader and chairmanof the Unified Communist Partyof Nepal (Maoist), Prachanda wasinvited by MEPs Nirj Deva and Jean

Lambert. Mrs Jean Lambert is theChair of the Delegation for relations

with the countries of South Asiawithin the European Parliamentand honours us with an interviewin this edition, where she speaks ofthe reconciliation process with theamils in Sri Lanka.

In the next edition of Tink South

Asia, we will report the mainconclusions of our conference, TeMerits of Regional Cooperation:Te Case of South Asia. If youdo not want to wait so long and

would instead like to attend, pleaseregister and take one of the last seatsavailable by sending us an email [email protected] or by consulting our

website at www.sadf.eu.

15Interview

16SADF Event

21South AsiaNews


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COUNTRYPROFILE

Te Republic of Maldives, located

in the Indian Ocean southwest of SriLanka consists of about 1200 coral islets(only 200 are populated) and is spreadacross an area of 90,000 sq km. Withabout 394,500 inhabitants Maldiveshas the smallest population in Asia ofwhich more than a quarter live in thecapital Mal. Te first settlers who werepredominantly Buddhist seafarers fromsouthern India and Sri Lanka populatedthe Maldives in the 5th century B.C.

In addition cultural infusion fromthe Arab Peninsula and East Africainfluenced the highly dispersed group ofIslands. In 1200 AD the last Buddhistking converted to Islam. Sunni Islamis the state law of the Maldives andonly Muslims can obtain citizenship,the practice of other forms of faith ispunishable by law. Dhivehi, which is aderivate of Sinhala, is the main languageof the Maldives; due to its open market

economy and tourism English is alsocommonly spoken and referred to asthe second main language.

In October 2009 the relatively

unknown archipelago made theheadlines worldwide for being the firstcountry to hold a cabinet meeting underwater. Te purpose for this unusualendeavor was to create awareness forthe Maldives struggle with climatechange. Te cabinet met sub aquato sign a declaration which was to beforwarded to the U.N. climate changesummit in Copenhagen, Denmarkdemanding large cuts in carbon

emissions. A reporter approaching thethen President Nasheed asking himwhat consequences the disapproval ofthe declaration would have, receiveda grim answer: if that happens, weare all going to die. According to theIntergovernmental Panel of ClimateChange (IPCC) sea levels will rise to18 cm. Nasheed promised his fellowMaldivians that they would not end upin refugee camps if the worst happens.Te Maldivian government has made itone of its core tasks to seek for landsthe country could acquire if forced to

Djan SauerbornAssistant to the Director of Research

at South Asia Democratic Forum.Research Assistant at the Departmentof Political Science, South Asia Institute(SAI) in Heidelberg University.

Maldives


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COUNTRYPROFILE

evacuate their country. Sri Lanka andIndia are high on the list due to similarculture and climate.

Sadly sea levels are not the only thingon the rise. Sociopolitical conflict andturmoil have also reached the shoresof the country many describe as theparadise on earth. wo main paradigmshave influenced the Maldivian discoursenegatively this year: Te rise of Islamic

fundamentalism and the coupdtat. Te former reached its pivotalpoint when in January of 2012 thegovernment ordered the shutdown ofall spas and health centers operated byresorts on the island. Te conservativeAdhaalath Party justified its call forclosure by accusing these recreationalretreats of promoting prostitution.Many protesters went a step further anddemanded a complete ban on sellingalcohol as well as direct flights to Israel.If the government had not nullifiedthe proposals put forward the negativeimpact on tourism, the strongest pillarof the Maldivian economy, wouldhave surely been insurmountable. Tis

is nevertheless a troubling warningsignal for this young republic whichhas traditionally been known for itsliberal, open and tolerant interpretationof Islam. Some officials state that thisinitiative by conservative forces wasonly the tip of a much larger Iceberg,pointing to the increasing supportwithin the archipelago state for thealiban in Afghanistan and Pakistan.Many liberals in the Maldives discount

this notion as a severe form of hysteria.But there have been incidents in thepast that shine light on the hull ofthe iceberg. In 2002, Ibrahim Fauzee,a Maldivian citizen was deported toGuantanamo bay by the US for havingties to the Al Qaeda. One year laterposters praising Osama bin Ladenpopped up on the walls of a school. In2007 foreign tourists were injured in anexplosion in the Sultans Park in Male.Te question if these occurrences are

enough to justify speaking of a radicalIslamic threat to the Maldives is hard toanswer, but authorities should stay alertand not be little these events.

Sadly sea levels are notthe only thing on the rise.Sociopolitical conflict andturmoil have also reachedthe shores of the country(...)

Some officials point tothe increasing supportwithin the archipelago

state for the Talibanin Afghanistan andPakistan.


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Te murder of Afrashim Ali, a lawmakerfor the Progressive Party of the Maldiveson October the 2nd linked to the ousterof former President Nasheed markedanother low point in the power struggleof the Maldives. On February 7th2012, President Nasheed was (in hiswords) forced to step down from office.Analysts, politicians and the mediadiffer on the question of legitimacyof this power transition. Some viewit as the act of an aggressive juntathat removed a democratically electedPresident in a military coup otherssuch as India and the US have calledthe new government legitimate, sinceNasheed, by coercion or not, resigned

and a successor Mohammed WaheedHassan was sworn in. A National Inquirycommissioned by the Commonwealthcame to the conclusion that the powertransition was legal and constitutionaland Nasheeds resignation wasvoluntary. Te rationale behind theswift endorsement of this inquiry byseveral nations indicates a strong senseof Realpolitik. Nasheed skipped histrial on October the 1st and continued

campaigning for the elections in 2013.Voices however are being raised that thethree judges presiding over the case havebeen hand-picked in violation of thelegal framework. In addition it seemsquestionably how the Inquiry can statethat power transition was legal but atthe same time recognize a police mutinythat occurred simultaneously as well asserious problems with the rule of law.Te question remains if the legal nature

of this case also leads to legitimacy. Itcomes as no surprise that many analystsspeak of a quasi-coup dtat.

Concluding one can state that althoughthe Maldives have been successfulin reaching almost all MillenniumDevelopment Goals (MDG) as well asbeing removed from the list of LeastDeveloped Countries (LDCs) internalas well as external actors need to putthis young democracy on the righttrack again before it regresses back toautocratic patterns. Te ouster ofNasheed did not only bring about anew government, but also initiatedvarious reforms in the justice system.Te situation in the Maldives is quitefragile: a young democracy, with nascentinstitutions experiencing a troublesomepower transition whilst pursuing a

national decentralization programis prone to experience turmoil. OnOctober 8th the former President wasarrest over allegations that he illegallyordered the arrest of a judge whilein office. Nasheed faces a maximumjail sentence of three years or thebanishment to a remote island if foundguilty. After the arrest the situationheated up rapidly as pro-Nasheedprotesters clashed with riot police. Te

importance of a mature dialogue whichincludes all involved actors and is ideallysupervised and supported by neutralexternal forces (SAARC, UNDP, EU)is paramount. Or in the words of theEU High Representative for ForeignAffairs and Security Policy, CatherineAshton, without a consensus on howto proceed the country will be unableto deal with the political, economic andenvironmental challenges which will

determine its future.

COUNTRYPROFILE

The question remainsif the legal nature ofthis case also leads tolegitimacy. It comes as

no surprise that manyanalysts speak of aquasi-coup dtat.

The situation in theMaldives is quite fragile:a young democracy, withnascent institutionsexperiencing atroublesome powertransition whilstpursuing a nationaldecentralization programis prone to experience

turmoil.


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MAINHISTORY

Bangladesh, the seventh most populousand fourth largest Muslim country inthe World, has a number of politicalparties which conduct their politics onthe basis of religious ideology. Religion-

based political parties attempt to temptpeople to join them through religion;they try to motivate people, especiallyyoung minds, through differentactivities. Tese kinds of political partieseven try to incorporate religious andorthodox syllabuses in the educationalcurriculum in Bangladesh. Religious-based political parties in Bangladesh arevery much active through their studentwings in various different educational

institutions. Tey attract and motivateyouth, both male and female, throughseveral extra-curricular activities.Initially, they capture the young mindsin the name of academic assistance butgradually motivate them religiouslyand at some stage use them as politicalweapons. It is now an open secret thatthese kinds of emerging religiously-motivated young people are caught inthe idea of religious extremism. Te

effect of this kind of procedure nowbecomes dangerous in the society. It isoften very common news in the daily

newspapers that teachers, students andyouths are captured from differentacademic institutions for their religious-based subversive activities, which isaffecting the academic atmosphere,

religious harmony and societal peaceand stability.

Bangladesh is often facing the problemsof terrorism, religious and ethnicintolerance. Few years back JMB(Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh)and many other organizations membershave been caught and sentenced todeath for killing people in the nameof religion. Religion based political

parties plan are to capture the engineof the society in Bangladesh throughusing young peoples by motivatingthem religiously. Teir goal is capturingstate power and establishing thealiban oriented formula in the statemechanism. Civil society and presentAwami League led government ofBangladesh is trying to initiate a noncommunal, progressive political andeducation system in Bangladesh and

according to that present governmenthas formulated the National EducationPolicy (NEP), 2010.

Reviewing Education Policy of Bangladesh:

Is the Present EducationPolicy Adequate for

Countering Terrorism,Religious andEthnic Intolerance?

Sajjadul HoqueAnthropologist and Professor at theUniversity of Chittagong, Bangladesh.General Secretary of South Asia Youthfor Peace and Prosperity Society(SAYPPS).


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Education itself is a catalyst for socialchange. It empowers people in a waythat no other process can. Educationhas a revolutionary aspect. Educationis a powerful instrument in the process

of overcoming problems like terrorismand religious and ethnic intolerance.

Keeping this in mind, I led a team whichconducted a study titled, ReviewingEducation Policy of Bangladesh: Isthe present education policy adequatefor countering terrorism, religiousand ethnic intolerance? which wascarried out mainly with the objectiveof reviewing the New Education

Policy (NEP) 2010 of the Bangladeshigovernment to find out whether issuessuch as terrorism and religious andethnic intolerance were addressed,and in particular, if there was a focuson facing these challenges througheducation.

Te study was conducted on the basisof both qualitative and quantitativemethodologies and both primary

and secondary sources were used andanalysed. Field investigation began inJune 2012 and ended in July 2012.

500 respondents were drawn randomlyfrom amongst students, teachers,guardians, journalists and politicians(of different age, religion, gender,educational qualification and ethnicity)

and four divisions (Dhaka, Chittgong,Rajshahi and Sylhet) of Bangladesh.Education systems, the current stateof terrorism, and religious and ethnicintolerance in Bangladesh have beendiscussed in this study. We reviewed thecurriculum and textbooks of two majormainstream education systems, viz,Madrasha and General Education fromClass III to Class XII. We also reviewedthe syllabuses of both of these systems

of education as they appear at differentlevels i.e. at Primary and Ebtadayee(Primary level of Madrasha education);Junior Secondary and Secondary level(that is, Dakhil in Madrasha education);and Higher Secondary (that is, Alim inMadrasha education).

Amongst the findings of the study, it isrevealed that a majority of Bangladeshipeople, including teachers and students,

are somewhat acquainted with the NEP2010 of Bangladesh, as in they haveheard of it, but that a truly inadequate

percentage (only 37.4%) had adeeper understanding of the NEP, i.e.understand whether important issuessuch as terrorism and religious and ethnicintolerance are included in education

policy or not. 47.2% of respondents arenot aware of what national educationpolicy addresses and how it impacts theeducation system. A majority (60%) ofpeople opined that the NEP 2010 wasscientific and modern. It was foundthat when respondents thought thatNational Education Policy, 2010 andalso the present text books/syllabuses/curriculum address the aforementionedissues they did not think that they did

so in proper or effective ways: regardingNEP, 2010 15.2% said Yes and 14%said Yes regarding present curricula/syllabuses/text books.

Most people surveyed (71.6%) thinkthat terrorism and religious and ethnicintolerance are a problem in Bangladesh.Some think that politics and the NEPhave a religious bias (40.4% and 17%opined respectively). 43.6% said that

the present NEP is not adequate toface the challenges of terrorism andreligious and ethnic intolerance and

MAINHISTORY

AP Photo/Pavel Rahman

Education itself is acatalyst for social change.

It empowers people in away that no other processcan.


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also that it is not an effective methodto make teachers, students and othersrelated to the education system to benon-communal (31.20% said it isnot effective in doing so) and that theNEP somehow misses the opportunityto incorporate the issues which couldface the challenges of terrorismandnreligious, and ethnic intolerance.

Tese issues are not even gettingimportance standing in classroomteaching: 75% of respondents sharedthat they do not have any chapter/textin their textbooks or in their educationgenerally countering terrorism andreligious and ethnic intolerance. Only19% of students said that their teachersaddress issues related to terrorism andreligious and ethnic intolerance.

Te most significant finding is that the

vast majority (91.2%) of people believeEducation is an important means toface the challenges of terrorism andreligious and ethnic intolerance inBangladesh. Tey (85%) feel that it isimportant to incorporate these issues inthe NEP, curriculum and text books/syllabuses as a matter of priority. 48.4%believe that these issues should beintroduced from primary level.

40.6% of those polled believe religious-based political parties are partiallyresponsible for the problems ofterrorism, and religious and ethnicintolerance. In most educationalinstitutions of Bangladesh, religious-based political parties initiate strongand organised activities through theirstudent wings (63.44% said) but thevast majority (85.6%) of people do notsupport their activities. Almost half

polled (45.2%) believe that religiousideology-based student wings of thepolitical parties have a relationship with

MAINHISTORY

the issues of terrorism and religious andethnic intolerance. It was observedduring data collection that respondentsfrom Madrashah (both teachers andstudents) did not consider terrorismand religious, ethnic intolerance asproblems for Bangladesh. In fact,they even refused respond to somequestions in this regard. Perhaps itcould be concluded there is a thinkingthat if they acknowledge these issues asproblems, then it would open the doorto the expansion of secularist notionsand activities of non-Muslim peoplein Bangladesh, as well as increasinginternational interference that couldhamper their Islam-dominatedideology. If this is the case, it couldbe said that the Madrashah system ismuch-neglected in providing educationto counter religious intolerance.Tis education system itself needs

exploring, understanding, embracingand ultimately improvement. Duringour research it was also discoveredthat Qwami Madrashah teachersand students are more rigid in theirreligious views than the more global-thinking teachers and students of theAliya Madrashah. As mentioned, theteachers of Qwami Madrashah refusedto answers some questions. Tey mainlybelieve that peace can come only by

following the Almightys given waysand they also pass this notion to theirstudents. In contrast, Aliya Madrashahprovides a more mixed education thatincludes subjects from the generaleducation stream; they often comeout from Madrashah and enroll forhigher studies and their thoughts andideas are much modern than Qwaumigraduates.

But none of these notions are enoughto address the issues of terrorismand religious and ethnic intolerance.

The most significant

finding is that the vastmajority (91.2%) of peoplebelieve Education isan important means toface the challenges ofterrorism and religiousand ethnic intolerance inBangladesh.

(...) respondents fromMadrashah (both teachersand students) did notconsider terrorismand religious, ethnicintolerance as problemsfor Bangladesh.


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According to the responses, the nameof the most well-known religious-basedstudent political party is BangladeshChhatra Shibir, the student politicalwing of Jamaaet-e-Islami Bangladesh.Others mentioned by the respondentsincluded Bangladesh KhelaphoteMajlish, Bangladesh Chatra Majlish,Ismali Chatra Shangstha, IslamiAikkojot, Islami Chatra Andolon,Hijbut ahreer Bangladesh (Tough

Hu is banned by the BangladeshGovernment but the leaders andmembers of Hu are active in differentplaces, especially in the educationalinstitutions of Bangladesh). But theresearch has found that BangladeshChhatra Shibir has dominance inmost of the educational institutions ofBangladesh whereas others do not. Inrecent times, Hijbut ahreer is takingplaces insidiously in the institutions.

In the case of Aliya Madrashah, thedominance of Bangladesh ChhatraShibir is great. On the other hand,Qwami does not represent theirdominancy. Activities like managingstudents accommodations, helping

poor students financially, helping outthe students in risky situations they mayfind themselves in and an attraction topracticing Islam are all important causeswhich attract students to join religious-based political activities in academicinstitutions. On the other hand, othernon-religious-based political partieslike Bangladesh Chhatra League(student wing of Bangladesh AwamiLeague), Chhatra Dal (student wing

of Bangladesh Nationalist Party, BNP)and others internal factions, clashesand their involvement in violence haspresented an image to the studentsthat the religious-based political partiesare much more desirable as they aredisciplined and organised. Moreover,non-religious student political partiesdo not care for the students as muchfrom the time of recruitment, failing tomeet their individual problems, whereas

these are properly taken care of by thereligious-based student wings. Tisthen becomes a vital way of attractingstudents to join the religious studentwings in the academic institutions.

MAINHISTORY

om Shaw/Getty Images

(...) the name of the mostwell-known religious-based student politicalparty is BangladeshChhatra Shibir, thestudent political wingof Jamaaet-e-Islami

Bangladesh.

Activities likemanaging studentsaccommodations, helping

poor students financially,helping out the studentsin risky situations theymay find themselvesin and an attraction topracticing Islam are allimportant causes whichattract students to joinreligious-based politicalactivities in academic

institutions.


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been dropped from present policy. Fromthe reviews of NEP 2010 and books,syllabuses and from our study, it canbe concluded overall, that the presenteducation system of Bangladesh is notstrong enough to counter terrorism,religious and ethnic intolerance. Eventhe NEP 2010 itself has been developedafter long term review, taking account

of public opinion and expert ideas butstill, it is simply not strong enough.

Te failure of the State in satisfying thebasic needs of the people, the growingcriminalisation of economy and politics,the growing inequality in society, theincreasing youth unemployment,the lack of peoples confidence inmainstream democratic politicalleadership, the external environment,

the communalisation of culture andeducation and religious biasness inall most every sector of the State, allcontribute to the growth of terrorismand religious and ethnic intolerance inBangladesh.

It can be understood simply todaythat religion works as a very powerfulcontroller in politics and educationpolicy as well as in education system of

Bangladesh. Tough the government ofBangladesh does not admit to it, theycarry propaganda as so-called secularistthoughts.

While submitting the report of theaforementioned research topic, anotherbrutal incident happened in Bangladesh- extremists vandalized and torchedBuddhists temples. On September 30,2012 mobs demolished 12 Buddhiststemples and monasteries and morethan 50 houses in Ramu Upazilaat Coxs bazar. Some terrorists also

MAINHISTORY

Moreover, research also found thatrespondents who were teachers did notadmit their involvement in religious-based political activities during theirstudent lives for fear of losing face. Butit is observed that most of them hadinvolvement in religious-based politicalactivities and their recruitments alsohave some influence of their religious-

based political activities; such as beinga member of the student affiliation ofwith Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh. Eventhen, they still nurture their gainedbeliefs and philosophy and try totransmit them to their students. Teseteachers are also involved in decision-making processes in the educationalinstitutions to which they belong. Tustheir involvement, religious ideology orfundamentalist views and influence of

an increasing and ominous manner.It was found during the research thatinternal conflict amongst the differentindigenous groups, especially in theChittagong Hill racts, is one of theprime causes of violence and ethnicintolerance in Bangladesh. Duringone discussion, a Marma (the name ofan indigenous group of Bangladesh)student was blaming the dominancyof the Chakmas (the name of an

indigenous group of Bangladesh) alongwith other factors in hill areas. TeChakmas form a majority in termsof population among the indigenouspeople. Tey have more access toand facilities in every sector than theindigenous groups. It was clear fromthe discussion of the Marma respondentthat the Chakmas are also responsiblefor creating inequality among theindigenous people of Bangladesh.

While reviewing the NEP 2010, it wasalso found that the word secular has

(...) internal conflictamongst the differentindigenous groups,especially in theChittagong Hill Tracts,is one of the primecauses of violence and

ethnic intolerance inBangladesh.

While reviewing the NEP

2010, it was also foundthat the word secularhas been dropped frompresent policy.

The time has come totake the effective stepsin countering terrorismand religious and ethnicintolerance in Bangladeshthrough education.


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Encourage communication anddialogue between followers ofdifferent faiths. Encourage thestudents and teachers to bear truerespect and understanding for allfaiths and cultures;

Withdraw text books promotingreligious hatred and communal

disharmony, to be replaced bybooks that encourage interfaithharmony and peace;

Bring all madrasa, Englishmedium schools as well as alleducational institutions understate control and supervision;

Start more vocational schoolsaround the country. Stream

madrasa students into variousvocational courses or startvocational course in themadrasas;

Promote debate, discussion andfree-thinking in society;

We need to convince scholars andpeople generally that the aim ofeducation reform is not to curtail

the Islamic education in thecountry, but rather to improvethe quality of education andmake it more relevant in todaysworld;

MAINHISTORY

destroyed two monasteries and a Hindutemple in Chittagong and torched twomonasteries at Ukhia and five houses ateknaf upazila in Cox's Bazar.

Given recent incidents therefore, onecan guess easily the future consequencesof terrorism and religious and ethnicintolerance in Bangladesh. Bangladesh

as a country in South Asia and also asone of the Muslim-dominant countriesshould not wait for nature to take itscourse but instead use education now asa mean to counter these issues straightaway. Te international communityshould also come forward to helpBangladesh in this regard; otherwisethey will also be affected in thisglobalized world.

Education is the only way that onecan sustain behaviours and norms. So,renewing the education system as wellas education policy should be done as amatter of priority to reduce tensions insociety. All activities and plans shouldbe thought through so that thesecan contribute to reducing tensionsbetween cultural, religious or ethnicgroups. Plans for managing educationshould include extra time and effort for

establishing everyones commitment tothe idea of equal access to educationand learning for all.

Te time has come to take the effectivesteps in countering terrorism andreligious and ethnic intolerance inBangladesh through education. Somerecommendations have been givenbelow on the basis of the aforementionedresearch project:

Revise the National EducationPolicy 2010, to incorporate

specifically the issues of terrorismand religious and ethnicintolerance;

A multicultural approach toteaching should be introduced inteachers manuals;

Incorporate these issues from

elementary level up to higher levelas per students understandingcapacity;

Heads of educational institutions,especially heads of universities,should take initiatives to introducethe issues like terrorism andreligious and ethnic intolerancethrough revising syllabuses ofdifferent departments. Tey can

even address these issues throughteaching-learning processes;

Te government should seriouslythink about the reform of theoutdated madrasa curriculum,especially of Qwami madrasa;

Create awareness among madrasateachers, students and theirguardians that they will be the

beneficiary of the reform;

Tere is an urgent need tocarefully scrutinise the syllabuscontents and the textbooks atall levels to ensure that theseencourage closer inter-faith andinter-cultural understanding;

Invest more in mainstreameducation by providing betterschools and special incentives forthe poor and underprivileged;


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Promote humanism;

Government should advocatethese issues to raise awarenesswith the help of community,non-government or internationalorganisations;

International community like theEuropean Union should assistthe Bangladesh Governmentin launching intercultural

dialogue among different groupsand academic institutionsfor promoting educationalapproaches aimed at combatingall forms of discrimination andviolence in Bangladesh; and

Te EU and BangladeshGovernment could form a jointEducation Commission toaddress these issues and makeplans to incorporate them into theeducation system in Bangladesh.

MAINHISTORY

All religious scholars must

provide leadership in fightingagainst all forms of terrorism andreligious and ethnic intolerance;

Effective steps are needed toalleviate poverty and illiteracy,because people often turn toterrorism in exchange for money,having no proper knowledgeof the consequences of theiractions;

Political will without religiousbiasness is the most importantfactor to curb terrorism;

Activities of religion basedpolitical parties need to beunder close observation tocheck formation of extremists ineducational institutes as well;

Promotion of interfaith studies

in all education curriculums isrequired;

Disassociation of teachers and

students politics from the politicsof national political parties;

Student and teacher politicsshould be concerned with variousaspects of education only;

Monetary benefits providedto students by political partiesshould be stopped;

Academic institutions should

provide a good environment suchas accommodation, etc. for theirstudents;

Job guarantee at the end ofstudent life;

Encourage mixing of membersof different political/ethnic/religious groups in formal and

informal settings;

Emphasis on moral education;

Temba Hadebe/AP


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INTERVIEW

Tink South Asia (SA): Mrs JeanLambert, as a Member of the Europe-an Parliament where you are Chair ofthe Delegation for relations with thecountries of South Asia, how wouldyou describe the mission and role ofthe Delegation in terms of relationsbetween the European Union and thecountries of South Asia?

Ms Jean Lambert (JL): Te Delegationcomprises elected Members from allpolitical groups and is part of the Euro-pean Parliament's formal organisation.Our main role is to link with the Parlia-mentarians of the six countries we cov-er (Bangladesh, Bhutan, the Maldives,Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka) and cometo a better understanding on issues ofmutual concern.

SA: Do you see any room for im-provement in the efficiency and effi-cacy of the European Parliament del-egations in general and if so, how?

JL: Our Delegations need to travel toget a better understanding of the realsituation and context - so I'm con-cerned about moves to restrict that. Ialso think we can develop our links withother parts of the European Parliament,

such as Committees to share informa-tion and help link them with relevantParliament Committees elsewhere.

SA: Tis summer you and a groupof MEPs visited Sri Lanka and theMaldives on mission. Could you tellus a little about the experience andwhat you see as the main outcomes ofthis trip?

JL: Te political situation in both SriLanka and the Maldives is of impor-tance to the European Parliament. We

spent a day in the Maldives capital andfive days in Sri Lanka, where we hadmeetings in the capital and went to partof the Eastern province. Here we visiteda number of grass-roots projects the EUsupports.

SA: Regarding your visit to SriLanka specifically, did you see signsof the reconciliation with the amilsin Sri Lanka improving? In your view,

what are the main opportunities anddangers in this process of reconcilia-tion?

JL: Te material conditions for manyamils are improving. Te East hadbeen hit by the tsunami in 2004 as wellas being conflict-affected, so tacklingissues including shelter, services andlivelihoods is important. Personally, Istill feel that there is more to be done

in terms of a political settlement andfor the people. Conflict-affected areascould be much more involved in de-

cision-making from the grassroots up.Tis could really help in terms of estab-lishing a long-term peace. Tere havebeen countless meetings at nationallevel, but people want tangible prog-ress. If they do not see a real willingnessfor their inclusion, there could be somewho would seek to exploit that. SriLanka is a country of diversity; I believethat should be strength, not a risk.

SA: And finally, could you give us alast word about the current politicaland financial situation in the Mal-dives?

JL: Te Maldives faces some seriouspolitical and financial problems which,of course, become linked in some ways.Te European Parliament is very keento see the nascent democracy develop in

the interests of the people and politicalforces should prioritise that. Te Euro-pean Parliament is keen to see strongelection monitoring for the Presidentialelections next year and Parliamentaryelections, so these elections can be asfree and fair as possible. Te humanrights situation needs to be addressed aswe want no return to the old days.

Jean Lambert

Born in Orsett, England, Ms Lambert is Memberof the European Parliament since 1999 and Vice-Chairwoman of Group of the Greens/European FreeAlliance. Ms Lambert is Chair of the Delegation forrelations with the countries of South Asia within theEuropean Parliament.


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THINKSOUTH ASIA 17

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14:00 14:30REGISTRATION

14:45 15:15WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS

Paulo CASACA,Founder and Executive Director,

South Asia Democratic Forum

President Vytautas LANDSBERGIS,Member of the European Parliament,

Vice-Chair of the Delegation to the EU-Armenia,

EU-Azerbaijan and EU-Georgia Parliamentary

Cooperation Committees

(European Peoples Party)

Jo LEINEN,Member of the European Parliament,

Member of the Delegation for relations with India

(Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and

Democrats in the European Parliament)

Sir Graham WATSON,Member of the European Parliament,

Chair of the Delegation for relations with India

(Group of the Alliance of

Liberals and Democrats for Europe)

Ryszard CZARNECKI,Member of the European Parliament,

Vice-Chair of the Delegation to

the Euronest Assembly

(European Conservatives

and Reformists Group)

Sndor SIPOS,World Bank,

Special Representative to the

European Union Institutions

Belgium and Luxembourg Head of Office

15:30 18:50THEMATIC WORKSHOPS

19:00 19.45CONCLUDING SESSION AND

CONFERENCE RETROSPECTIVE:

NEW PERSPECTIVES ON REGIONAL

COOPERATION IN SOUTH ASIA

Comments by:

Paulo CASACA,Founder and Executive Director,

South Asia Democratic Forum

Dr. Siegfried O. WOLF,Director of Research,

South Asia Democratic Forum,

Brussels

Marc FRINGS,Head of Section South and Central Asia,

Team Asia and the Pacific,

Konrad Adenauer Stiftung

Dr. Jivanta SCHTTLI,Department of Political Science,

South Asia Institute, Heidelberg University

SADF EVENT


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15:30 16:30 // WORKSHOP ACOMBATING TERRORISM AND

IDEOLOGIES OF HATE

Prof. Dr. Peter LEHR,Centre for the Study of Terrorism

and Political Violence (CSTPV),

University of St. Andrews

Moderator:

Tim JONES,

Advisor to the EU Counter-Terrorism,Council of the European Union,

European External Action Service (EEAS)

16:40 17:40 // WORKSHOP BGOVERNANCE FOR PEACE

Lion KNIG,South Asia Institute,

Cluster Asia and Europe in a

Global Context, Heidelberg University

Moderator:Dr. Siegfried O. WOLF,

Director of Research,

South Asia Democratic Forum,

Brussels

17:50 18:50 // WORKSHOP CTHE ROLE OF EDUCATION

IN COUNTERING TERRORISM,ETHNIC AND RELIGIOUS INTOLERANCE:

BANGLADESH CONTEXT

Prof. N. M. Sajjadul HOQUE,Department of Anthropology,

University of Chittagong

Moderator:

Rensje TEERINK,Deputy Head of Division

India, Nepal, Bhutan), Asia and

Pacific Department, EEAS

Comments by:

Kai FRSTENBERG,SADF Fellow

Radu CARCIUMARU,SADF Fellow

Co-Rapporteurs:

Djan SAUERBORN,SADF Felllow

Benjamin KALTWASSER,South Asia Institute, Heidelberg University

Comments by:

Marian GALLENKAMP,SADF Fellow

Radu CARCIUMARU,SADF Fellow

Co- Rapporteurs:Kai FRSTENBERG,SADF Fellow

Miriam SCHWARZ,South Asia Institute, Heidelberg University

Comments by:

Marian GALLENKAMP,SADF Fellow

Robert Jan RIEMERSMA,SADF Fellow

Co- Rapporteurs:

Sebastian SCHMITT,South Asia Institute, Heidelberg University

Jennifer STEINER,South Asia Institute, Heidelberg University

SADF EVENT


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15:30 16:30 // WORKSHOP GFOOD SECURITY IN SOUTH ASIA: MUCH

NEEDED REGIONAL COOPERATION

Dr. Wolfgang Peter ZINGEL,South Asia Institute,

International Economics,

Heidelberg University

Moderator:

Prof. Dr. Idesbald GODDEERIS,KULeuven

16:40 17:40 // WORKSHOP HINTELLIGENT ENERGY: HOW CAN EUROPE

COOPERATE WITH SOUTH ASIA?

Prof. Dr. Rainer SAUERBORN,Director of the Institute of

Public Health,


Moderator:

Dr. Jivanta SCHTTLI,Department of Political Science,

South Asia Institute,


17:50 18:50 // WORKSHOP IOPEN INTERNET FOR AN

EFFICIENT SOCIETY

Dr. Rohan SAMARAJIVA,CEO of the Sri Lankan think tank LIRNEasia,

Board Member of ICT Research Africa and formerSri Lankan Director General for Telecommunications

Moderator:

James FONTANELLAKHAN,Financial Times Brussels Correspondent and former

Financial Times Delhi Correspondent

Comments by:

Miriam SCHWARZ,South Asia Institute, Heidelberg University

Julian SIEFERT,South Asia Institute, Heidelberg University

Co-Rapporteurs:

Robert Jan RIEMERSMA,

South Asia Institute, Heidelberg University

Rais ANDERSEN,South Asia Institute, Heidelberg University

Comments by:

Julia SEIBERT,South Asia Institute, Heidelberg University

Jan WEIGELT,South Asia Institute, Heidelberg University

Co-Rapporteurs:

Sebastian SCHMITT,South Asia Institute, Heidelberg University

La Toya WAHA,South Asia Institute, Heidelberg University

Comments by:

Karim LESINA,Vice President, International External Affairs,

EU, Central and Latin America and

Trans-Atlantic Relations, AT&T

James WATERWORTH,Vice-President, Computer and Communications Industry

Associantion (CCIA), Europe

Andrea RENDA,LUISS University, Rome

Co-Rapporteurs:

Julia SEIBERT,South Asia Institute, Heidelberg University

Florian BRITSCH,SADF Fellow

SADF EVENT


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SOUTH ASIA DEMOCRATIC FORUM

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