Female radicalisation in Bangladesh: an investigation of its scope, extent and key motivations behind

ABSTRACT

This article provides a comprehensive analysis of the intricate dynamics surrounding female involvement in jihadism in Bangladesh. Drawing on expert interviews and surveys, the study uncovers a multifaceted picture of this phenomenon. Three distinct categories of factors – push, pull, and facilitating – emerge as central in explaining the surge in female participation within militant groups in the region. Push factors, which encompass grievances and vulnerabilities arising from personal crises, poverty and family breakdown, create an environment ripe for radicalisation. The concept of “humiliation by proxy,” where global Muslim victimisation serves as a motivating force, further deepens our understanding of this process. Pull factors reveal that ideological allure, the pursuit of glory, adventure, and the evolving gender roles offered by groups like the Islamic State play a significant role in attracting women to extremist ideologies. The article underscores that the desire for paradise is not confined to men alone but extends to women. Facilitating factors, such as influential family members and online platforms, are pivotal in shaping female radicalisation. Cultural loyalty, particularly from husbands and fathers, empowers them to influence women towards extremism. The internet acts as a powerful tool, facilitating exposure to radical ideologies and virtual group bonding, creating echo chambers that reinforce extremist beliefs.

KEYWORDS:

• Female Jihadism
• Feminism
• Islamic State
• Al Qaeda
• radicalization

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The work was supported by the University of Dhaka.

Notes on contributors

Shahla Shahreen

Shahla Shahreen has been employed as an Assistant Professor in the Department of World Religions and Culture at the University of Dhaka since November 29, 2021. She initially joined the department as a Lecturer on July 13, 2017. During this period, she has completed her second Master’s in Peace and Conflict Studies from the University of Manchester (with Merit) as a Commonwealth Scholar (2020-21). Her research interests include Radicalisation, Religious Extremism, Religious Violence, Interfaith Dialogue, and Gender and Religion.

Shafi Md Mostofa

Shafi Md Mostofa (PhD) is a theologian and security studies scholar with broad interests in political Islam, authoritarianism, modern South Asian history and politics, and international relations and the clash of civilisations. He is an Associate Professor of World Religions and Culture at Dhaka University’s Faculty of Arts and an Adjunct Lecturer at the University of New England, Australia. He is also a postdoctoral research fellow at the London School of Economics and Political Science. He has published extensively with Routledge, Springer, Cambridge University Press, Oxford University Press, SAGE, Brill, Wiley and Blackwell; and the journals: Politics and Religion, Politics and Policy, Perspectives on Terrorism, Diaspora Studies, and Asian and African Studies. He is the author of “Islamist Militancy in Bangladesh: A Pyramid Root Cause Model” (Cham, Springer) and “Dynamics of Violent Extremism in South Asia: Nexus between State Fragility and Extremism” (Singapore, Palgrave Macmillan). He is also a guest editor of the Journal of World Affairs, SAGE.