There is scope for discussions with extremists for the sake of resolving any problem, Foreign Minister Dr Dipu Moni said Tuesday, as an international meet began brainstorming here over counter-terrorism measures, reports UNB.
"There remains scope for discussions in case of resolving any kind of problem," Dr Dipu Moni told the journalists when asked if, like the insurgency-problem resolution in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, there is any scope for a negotiated solution to the problem of extremism the country faces off and on.
The Foreign Minister was speaking to the journalists as the chief guest after the inaugural session of a two-day international conference on "Counter-terrorism Strategy for South Asia" organised by Bangladesh Institute of Peace and Security Studies (BIPSS) at a city hotel Tuesday.
BIPSS president Maj Gen (retd) ANM Muniruzzaman gave the welcome address while Laila Bukhari, research fellow of Norwegian Institute of International Affairs, presented a keynote on "Deradicalisation and Rehabilitation Programmes Targeting Religious Terrorists and Extremists in the Muslim World."
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Dipu Moni said the present Awami League-led centre-left coalition government, after assuming office, has identified counter-terrorism as one of the key areas where it will focus its efforts while marching on the path of democracy and development.
"However, rather than being just reactive to this threat, we want to confront the very root of terrorism and extremism in this country through a spectrum approach to roll back this menace," she said explaining the new government's policy.
The Foreign Minister went on to say: "We would also be undertaking initiatives for counter-extremism, counter-radicalisation and countering the terror finance in the country. The process of re-education and rehabilitation is always on."
She informed her audience that government authorities are also for creating opportunities to vent out frustration in lawful manner and she cited past instances of dealing with such problems.
"Previously also we have been successful in dealing with disappointments of a particular group. In this respect, though from a completely different context, the historic Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord during the previous tenure of the Awami League Government is an excellent example.
"This proves that Government is open to any constructive suggestion and agreement," the foreign minister said.
Incidentally, the previous AL government of Premier Sheikh Hasina had also taken initiative to rehabilitate members of leftwing outlaws.
"However, we are firm to deal with any force which might destabilise society and disrupt peace and security of the common people. In this endeavour we plan to work very closely with our partners across the South Asian region and beyond," Dipu Moni said.
Later, responding to a query about the proposed formation of South Asian taskforce, she told journalists: "We are talking to our neighbours about it and are getting positive response."
Having talked to the partners, the modality and process would be determined. Every country has its own mechanism, she added.
She said the problems relating to extremism and terrorism are not confined to boundaries of the states, and the South Asian taskforce would provide a regional mechanism to address the problems.
About the timeline of forming such a taskforce, the Foreign Minister said: "There is no set timeline. We are talking. A platform would be set through discussions."
