The Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening (CEPPS) & International Republican Institute (IRI): Turning Away from Violence: Fakhrul’s Story

Fakhrul Azad, a dynamic 22-year-old student from Bomankhil, Ramu, Cox’s Bazar and co-president of the Union Chatra Dal, has a history and reputation within local political circles of being short tempered; a trait that has often led him to be combative in words and actions against his political opponents. Due to this reputation, Fakhrul was viewed as a young, politically active, and loyal partisan on the front lines of protests, wielding sticks and ready to clash with opposition groups for the benefit of the local Bangladesh Jatiyatabad Chatra Dal.

From the Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening’s core partner, the International Republican Institute’s (IRI) programming identifies youth like Fakhrul as the target audience for its Student Wing Trainings for Nonviolence program, which IRI co-implements with local partner PULSE Bangladesh Society. Through this partnership, and a tailor-made and localized curriculum, CEPPS/IRI can guide politically active youth like Fakhrul away from violence and towards positive decision-making processes. IRI’s partner focused training materials around communications, conflict resolution, compromise, public speaking, press releases writing, and citizens’ rights and responsibilities.

Fakhrul began attending IRI’s Student Wing Nonviolence programs in the first year of the Nagorik program and found the learning material engaging. He reported a deeper understanding of the negative ripple effect that violent political action forces onto local communities and began to identify more productive, impactful, and non-violent ways of community engagement. Fakhrul identified multiple ways through which he could create a role for himself to be an active civic participant while relying on tactful public engagement and opposition relations. He is now actively participating in his local community, contributing to a number of development initiatives. His commitment to service is evident in his role as a member of a school committee focused on child protection. Fakhrul regularly attends school meetings, offering insights to parents on public education. His strong relationships with both the local elites and villagers have positioned him as a respected figure whose counsel is often sought. His participation in these meetings has also provided him with a platform to continue to hone his communications skills which Fakhrul believes have significantly improved since he began his training with IRI. Fakhrul no longer views physical clashes as credible and expedient ways to achieve political goals. Instead, Fakhrul now engages in more nuanced risk analysis of his actions, clearly defining his goals and acting on what is likely to advance his agenda while minimizing the negative impacts to his community.