DHAKA – In a bid to halt the growing wave of extremism in the country, Bangladeshi government has started giving cash rewards to the militants who promise to give up the path of terrorism.
According to media report, at least two militants who belonged to notorious Neo-JMB group have already claimed the payments. The initiative is part of Bangladeshi government’s plan to rehabilitate the extremists by offering financial and legal assistance.
The Neo-JMB militant group is consider an affiliate of the Middle East based Islamic State –also known as Daesh or ISIS. It is a splinter group of country’s top terrorism organization Jama’atul Mujahideen.
The “reformed militants” also appeared on the national television last week as they received the check. They were identified as Abdul Hakim and Mahmudul Hasan Bijoyeach.
Reports suggested that each of them was rewarded with 500,000 Taka (about $6,350) by the Bangladeshi government. However, the crime for which they were arrested is not clearly mentioned.
A video shared by VOA News showed Abdul Hakim saying at the TV that he had chosen the dark path,” however, he had “realized the mistake.”
The 22-year-old Hakim further said: “We do not believe in terrorism. Everyone who has gone on this path should return.”
This year over 70 people have died in Bangladesh in extremism related violence including Dhaka cafe attack claimed by the Islamic State group.
