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In Bangladesh, PVE interventions through state and non-state actors are being implemented for the last couple of years in addressing different drivers of VE. Above 90 non-state organizations along with the government actors have different types of engagement and the experience of working to address the drivers of violent extremism. But there is not any platform for sharing the knowledge among the implementers and the leading actors; resulting in creating lack of common and evidence-based understanding about the effectiveness of the intervention and coming up with the deficiency of any applicable knowledge as well insights to be replicated contextually in respective areas and, with strategic target groups.

In this context, many resources are not being utilized in the most effective means. Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) Unit has experiences on preventing radicalization and violent extremism in various parts of Bangladesh showed that the most of state and non-state actors do not have evidence-based knowledge to fight extremist views, ideas and narratives.  Additionally, they are not sufficiently equipped to mobilize their fellow people/community against radicalization/VE to contribute to the national C/PVE effort. The US State Dept. Country Report on Terrorism (2017) shows that Bangladesh’s lack of a publicly available strategy to counter violent extremism hindered sustained engagement with the United States and the international community.

In this recurring condition, Rupantar as the Secretariat of the Stop Violence Coalition (SVC) organized the National Preventing / Countering Violent Extremism Conference in Bangladesh for the very first time in the history of the country in December, 2019 with the support of CTTCU of Dhaka metropolitan police, USAID, and UN Organizations. Followed by the formation of the advisory committee and the steering committee with the participation of state and non-estate actors, researchers, development practitioners; the conference took place in the 09^th and 10^th December of 2019 in International Conference Centre of Bashundhara (ICCB), Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. While it was inaugurated by the Honorable Speaker of the Bangladesh Parliament and the senior advisor of the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, the conference experienced the presence of ambassadors of various embassy in Bangladesh along with the UN organizations. It was wrapped up by the presence of the honorable Home Minister and the Inspector General of Police along with various distinguished guests. 

The conference brought out people together and developed a platform to share knowledge in the unified platform. However, sharing knowledge of VE is not yet the norm since many are afraid what their acquired experience may bring upon themselves. In many countries only the government agency talks about VE and no one else dares share their knowledge. In Bangladesh this is the first-time people came together to let others know that they are not alone. People from different orientations have gathered different set of ideas as to why a certain individual turns to the dark path of VE. And sharing such stories might not have the same effect on everyone. Hopefully with the effect from this conference people would become more prompt to sharing their part of the story and be more lenient. Also, the government has their strategy to counter violent extremism. If they were to incorporate the ideas from PVE practitioners in their plan if would only benefit our society. The conference also experienced the 1^st Draft of the National P/CVE Strategy presented by the designated CTTC where various recommendations are generated from the practitioner to be shared with them.

SDG Goal 01- To reduce poverty Rupantar has been supporting necessary grant support of 2200 households an average amount BDT 25000 cash IGA through livestock- 01 (cow, goat, sheep), livestock 02(poultry), tailoring, beautician, agriculture-AgroSolution, fisheries- fish cultivation, Skill Development Training, Small and Medium Business who are living extreme poverty level.

SDG Goal 03 – As a part of ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages, Rupantar has made the District Action Plan with the government district administration of Khulna district to reduce the child marriage and to achieve the indicator 3.1 & 3.2 by reducing the maternal mortality rate and ensuring proper healthy well-being of the people.

SDG Goal 04 – Rupantar ensures inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all. We have 100 trained facilitators. We are the first pioneering NGO for school theater education with 20,000 children and 100 schools. Rupantar is the first NGO in pioneering the initiative to open distance learning (ODL) working aligned with government issues.

SDG Goal 05 –Rupantar has provided support to around 2000 women leader to practice their rights and flourish the women political empowerment process.

SDG Goal 06 –Rupantar has provided 34,000 families water and sanitation support to ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation in Dacope of Khulna district and Shyamnagar of Satkhira district. 700 community based organization (CBOs) were trained on small-scale water resource management.

SDG Goal 08 – To promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all, an approximate  number of 150 vulnerable poverty-ridden community people were supported with Income Generating Activities training and further support in three districts.

SDG Goal 13 –To achieve the goal 13 by taking urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts as part of climate change adaptation and bio-diversity conservation initiative, we provided awareness on adaptation to climate change and best practices for bio diversity conservation through action research to 300,000 people.

SDG Goal 16 –To Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, to provide access to justice for all and build effective, ensuring accountable and inclusive institutions at all level, Rupantar intends to achieve all the 10 indicators mentioned in the Rio+20 outcome document. We have trained 10,000 elected local government officials, 15,000 community leaders and 500 local government bodies on service delivery, good governance and democracy respectively. We provided awareness to 325,000 people in 49 districts on human rights, violence against women and child. We also cover the important trafficking zones. We have initiated a consortium based activity called PEACE consortium to promote engagement and action to prevent violent extremism. Rupantar is also leading a coalition Stop Violence Coalition – SVC Secretariat for promoting social harmony