BD firm to tackle extremism

Bangladesh has told the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) that it will handle the BNP-Jamaat-sponsored violent extremism with resilience and determination, reports bdnews24.com.
Foreign Minister (FM) A H Mahmood Ali told a meeting in Geneva on Wednesday that the alliance of BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami is promoting a violent extremist agenda in the name of political movements. But the people of Bangladesh are resolved not to submit to these forces.
 The FM said the alliance is out to destroy the non-communal, non-confrontational and pluralist identity of Bangladesh that the current government is trying to revive and construct over time.
He also referred to the ongoing political programmes of the 20-party coalition that boycotted the last parliamentary election, and to the brutal murder of writer-blogger Avijit Roy.
 He said Avijit's killing was a variant manifestation of this viciously self-serving agenda.
 The minister's speech at the top UN human rights forum was the first after Bangladesh was elected its member for the third time in last October.  "Bangladesh feels proud to be returning to this lead platform. This means international community has kept faith and confidence reposed in Bangladesh," he added.