Bangladesh Institute of Peace & Security Studies

Bangladesh Institute of Peace and Security Studies (BIPSS) is a non-party, non-profit organization and independent think tank devoted to studying peace and security issues related South and Southeast Asia. The institute seeks to bridge the gap between academic research and policy analysis within the context of Bangladesh and other countries of South and Southeast Asia. The leading strategic thinkers, academicians, former members of the Civil Services, Foreign Services, Armed Forces and media persons are associated with the Institute in its endeavor to chalk out a comprehensive framework for peace and security studies. BIPSS has launched a specialized front named Bangladesh Center for Terrorism Research (BCTR) focusing in depth research to curb extremism and militancy in Bangladesh and in South-Asia.

BIPSS is headed by Major General A N M Muniruzzaman.

Background

Bangladesh Institute of Peace and Security Studies (BIPSS) is the first institution of its kind in Bangladesh for informed analysis on all aspects of broad spectrum of security, peace and security studies in the region as well as of the global. It will serve as a critical space for reflection, a forum for research, training, exchanges and dialogue between practitioners, academics and activists at all levels. The view that growth and development cannot be realized without a secure and stable environment in which every citizen is a stakeholder, able to participate fully in the processes that govern his or her life is rapidly gaining ground in many parts of South Asia. Previously, discourse on peace and security was considered the sole preserve of the military, and not civilians. And security was seen largely in the narrow sense of defending a state from threat external to that state. The conflicts, insecurity, human misery and slow pace of development across South Asia, which resulted partly from decades of social exclusion, gross human rights violations and poor governance have compelled new thinking on what security is all about. A state is secure when its people are truly free from fear and anxiety and are able to agree with their rulers and fellow citizens the terms under which they would live in harmony with one another. But this view must not only become well embedded in the thinking of every people in South Asia, it must become a practical reality.

No effort to achieve peace and security and to strengthen governance, particularly in the security sector, will succeed without the commitment and active participation of the national stakeholders: the executive, the legislature, the security forces, political and civil society. Additionally, the shape that the transformation process takes in any given country will reflect its history, its domestic and international context, and its national goals. It is therefore critical that local needs determine the shape and pace of reform processes. But, the active participation of local stakeholders can only be realized if there is a shared understanding and knowledge of all aspects of peace and security issues among them.

At this moment there is no such dedicated Institute is available neither in Bangladesh nor in South Asia to address the above mentioned issues. In this context it is extremely beneficial to organize a dedicated think-tank based in Bangladesh with the linkage of regional and international think-tanks to address the above issues.

About Us

By and large, the academic community has done a poor job of providing guidance to policymakers on international peace and security issues. Many scholars are simply uninterested in developing policy recommendations to deal with important real-world problems. Indeed, ?policy studies? are seen as illegitimate undertakings in many social science departments.

At the same time, many policymakers focus almost exclusively on short-term issues. They do not spend enough time anticipating long-term threats and devising ways to prevent potential problems from becoming actual threats. They consequently fail to develop effective long-term strategies for enhancing national and international security. As a result, there is a large and growing gap between the academic and policy communities with respect to peace and security problems. This is not a conducive environment for sustainable peace and stability.

BIPSS seeks to bridge the gap between the academic and policy worlds, thereby generating better conceptual frameworks that in turn will lead to the development of practical strategies and policies for enhancing international peace and security.

The institute is headed by the President of BIPSS, Major General Muniruzzaman. He directs and coordinates all research and administrative activities of the Institute. The research activities of the Institute are supported by the Research Faculty consisting of a team of full-time researchers with varied social sciences background.

To contribute, through its academic program, to the process of building a community of South Asia knowledgeable on issues of traditional and non-traditional/human security and transnational security, with a common appreciation of the threats to security in South Asia and to enhance their effective participation in various policy/governance processes.

Aims and Objectives

• To assist the evolution and consolidation of stable, secure and accountable governments through the building of capacity across various sectors;
• To develop a comprehensive approach to human security in which local ownership is central;
• To periodically produce accurate and timely annotated analysis of the security and human right situation in the South Asian region, which will be useful to various actors working to deepen democracy and prevent conflict in the region and beyond;
• To assist the defense and security sector review process globally with a particular focus on South Asian countries on the basis of national consensus developed from the bottom up;
• To encourage a dialogue between South Asian civil society, governments, and the security forces on security sector reform and conflict prevention;
• To encourage the interest of younger scholars in human security and prepare them for careers in various fields of policy/governance;
• To work with regional institutions on security sector transformation and rights based development and encourage them to see the relevance of capacity building for their work;
• To work towards peace building and peace consolidation in the region as well as globally;

Mission

Bangladesh Institute of Peace and Security Studies (BIPSS) has a four-part mission:

• to create a dynamic hub of activity that bridges the academic, researchers and policy communities.
• to bring together people from every relevant discipline as well as from different platforms who study regional and international peace and security issues.
• to produce a new generation of scholars, analysts, and policymakers that is fully aware of the complexities of international peace and security problems.
• to sponsor projects that will lead to the development of sophisticated strategies and practical policies for enhancing international peace and security in the 21st century.

Content BIPSS

This is the first institution of its kind in Bangladesh, which is aimed at developing a comprehensive academic research program on all aspects of peace and security as well as timely security analysis in the region. It is not duplicate the work of other institutions or organizations already working in the field of peace and security in South Asia, but rather, it is complement their work and breathe new grounds. Some of the institutions working in this field are key partners in the implementation of BIPSS program of work.

• The reach of the Institute is to move beyond traditional security audiences such as the military and defense policymakers and academics already working in the field. And it targets not only senior military officers and policymakers but include a cross-section of actors across civil society.
• The seminar/workshop/dialogue program in Human Security fills major gaps in knowledge on conventional security issues as well as rights based discourse among key constituencies across South Asia.
• It enhances the development of a new community of South Asia with expertise in South Asian security issues.
• It enhances the capacity of practitioners to participate effectively in processes designed to promote human security in the region.
• It promotes South Asian own understanding and development of their own concepts of security and framework for addressing threats to peace and security in the region.
• It promotes greater participation of civil society in the process of Security Sector Reform and the making of defense and security policy.

BCTR

The institute, headed by the President of BIPSS, Major General Muniruzzaman, ndc, psc, (Retd.) has lunched Bangladesh Centre for Terrorism Research (BCTR), a specialized centre dedicated to study, data management and research on terrorism, radicalization and extremism. BCTR, a unique research centre dedicated to the study and research of terrorism, aims at reducing the threat of terrorism and minimizing its impact on society.

BCTR is the first such institution in Bangladesh for research and analysis on all aspects of broad spectrum of terrorism, extremism and radicalization issues in this region. It will serve as a critical space for reflection, a forum for research, training, exchanges and dialogue between practitioners, academics and activists at all levels.

The establishment of the BCTR involves manifold objectives:

• To advocate policy reforms to effectively combat the threats of terrorism and radicalization.
• To foster partnerships with regional and international research organizations and think tanks with a view to creating a comprehensive platform for the study of terrorism, extremism and radicalism.
• To highlight the effective steps taken and policies adopted by the government in countering radicalization, extremism and terrorism.
• To work as depository for research paper, literature and information related to extremism/ radicalization/ terrorism.
• To work as a link portal with other terrorism research centres around the world.
• To initiate the process of understanding the evolution and the contours of terrorism in this region and beyond.
• To track down the basic/ core/ inherent problems and transnational linkages of terrorism in South and South East Asia.
• To set up Confidence Building Measures (CBM) among the South Asian countries.
• To tie together experts, think tanks and scholars for effective regional counter terror strategy.

Since, there is no such dedicated institute available, either in Bangladesh or in South Asia, to address the above mentioned issues; it is extremely advantageous to organize a dedicated think-tank based in Bangladesh with linkages to regional and international think-tanks to address the above issues.

BIPSS Climate Change Cell

The issue of Climate Change is becoming a concern for Bangladesh. If the expert opinions of various national and international climate change cell proves to be true, Bangladesh will face serious consequences due to this phenomenon in the days to come. Bangladesh is among the most vulnerable states in the world facing the threats of climate change and the level of its vulnerability poses security threats to the state.

Following this, BIPSS has established a Climate Change Cell in the institute to monitor, analysis and to formulate policy recommendations for the government agencies, policy makers and foreign development partners. Our primary focus area will be the security dimensions of climate change. We are studying both the human security dimensions of climate change and the climate change related social unrest and intra/ inter state conflict.

BIPSS, under the auspices of its newly launched Climate Change Cell, will cooperate and collaborate with relevant government and donor agencies to lessen the threats posed by climate change.

SARRF

In the backdrop of growing terrorist activities across the region of South Asia, the scope of active collaboration and mutual assistance to study terrorism in this region are imperative to curb terror threats in this area. The region of South Asia has a long history of conflict, war and terrorism due to political instability, rampant corruption and civil conflict. Besides the major conflict in the region between India and Pakistan, other countries i.e. Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka are victims of terrorism.

So, it is imperative to establish a joint engagement of all South Asian states to exchange and share their own experiences, ideas, obstacles and opportunities for accomplishing counter terrorism strategy. In search of South Asian cooperation for effective counter terrorism strategy, collaborative research and analysis are highly mandatory to facilitate the development of understanding among these countries.

SAARC charter by design does not provide room to discuss bilateral security issues. This is a major stumbling block that hinders the advancement of regionalism in a multi-national platform. Unlike ASEAN, SAARC does not provide an alternative window (e.g. ASEAN Regional Forum) to bring security issues into discussions. There is a long felt need to establish a platform for discussion and informed debate on issues related to security and strategy in the region, as well as the exchange of research papers or data on peace and security matters.

One of the major security concerns of the region is the fast deteriorating scenario of radicalization and extremism. No concerted effort has been made to halt the advancement of growing militancy in the region. Some policy guidelines in this regard were laid down by SARRC but little, if any, substantial gain could be achieved. In light of this, BIPSS has launched a network of leading South Asian think tanks to address issues related to peace, strategy, security etc. at track Two Level.

The network is named South Asian Regional Research Forum (SARRF). SARRF will serve as a critical platform for research and analysis of issues involving peace, strategy and security. It will also focus on the protracted and lingering regional conflicts and unresolved security issues. Initially all SARRC member countries are coming to the forum. It is composed of one Think Tank from each member countries. SARRF will essentially fill up the space and serve as a pivotal area for research and analysis that have been needed for long.

BIPSS is also undertaking a regional research project in the field of Counter Terrorism Strategy (CTS). The driving purpose of this project is to find out avenues to effectively deal with growing terror trends in the region. Given the geographical contiguity, close ethnic and cultural ties, there is much to be gained from shared experience and best practices from the members of the region in finding effective CTS. BIPSS will therefore organize a regional conference titled “Counter Terrorism Strategy: In Search of South Asian Cooperation”, in February 2009, where presentation of the research findings on South Asian terrorism will be made by respective member institutions. The concept meeting for the conference was held in Dhaka from 24-26 October 2008.

SARRF will essentially address wide range of issues related to peace, strategy and security in the region of South Asian. It will foster partnerships with regional and international research organizations and think tanks with a view to creating a comprehensive platform for the study of peace and security issues. The SARRF platform will advocate policy reforms to effectively deal with security and strategic challenges in South Asia. The network will engage to work as a depository for research paper, literature and information related to the above mentioned issues. SARRF will also initiate the process of understanding the evolution and the contours of terrorism in this region and beyond to track down the basic/core/inherent problems and transnational linkages of terrorism in South and South East Asia.

Membership in SARRF is by invitation only. Initial members of the network are; Pakistan Institute for Peace Studies (PIPS), Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies (IPCS, India), South Asian Foundation (SAF, Nepal), Kabul Center for Strategic Studies (KCSS), Sri Lanka Press Institute (SLPI) and host/ initiator institution Bangladesh Institute of Peace and Security Studies (BIPSS).

External links

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• International Conference/Seminar
• Projects
• BIPSS in Media