A 10-day anti-terrorism assistance training programme focusing on 'Border Control Management' concluded in Dhaka Thursday, reports UNB.
Officials from Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Immigration Unit of the Special Branch of the Bangladesh Police, Bangladesh Coast Guard, Customs Department of the National Board of Revenue, and the Department of Immigration and Passports participated in the training.
The US government, through the US Department of State's Anti-terrorism Assistance Programme (ATAP) and the US Embassy's Regional Security Office, hosted the training offered by the Department of State's Bureau of Diplomatic Security that took place at the Police Staff College in Dhaka, said a US Embassy media release.
Acting Deputy Chief of Mission of US Embassy Dhaka Viraj LeBailly, Rector of Police Staff College M Nazmul Haque, Regional Security Officer of US Embassy Dhaka Bernard Nixon, and other senior officials from the Bangladesh Police and Border Guard Bangladesh were also present at the graduation ceremony.
When asked about the benefits and purpose of the training, Viraj LeBailly said, "The Anti-terrorism Assistance Programme courses are just one of many avenues we can use to fight terrorism together and protect the interests of Bangladesh, the United States and the entire region."
Thousands of Bangladesh law enforcers and officials from other security agencies, ministries and directorates have been trained by ATA since 2000 with over $23 million in assistance provided.
Viraj LeBailly said the Border Control Management training course will enable border security agencies to devise innovative strategies and employ state-of-the-art techniques specifically designed to improve the country's ability to combat terrorism.
"Bangladesh is developing the capacity to create a whole-of-government response to increase its effectiveness."
Bernard Nixon also said, "ATA graduates should utilise their training and knowledge in their daily operations and share what they have learned with their colleagues to multiply the effectiveness of this training."
The US Embassy, in partnership with the government of Bangladesh, plans to offer several more Antiterrorism Assistance training courses this year.
