Home minister calls for regional cooperation to counter terrorism
Monday, 9 November 2009
FE Report
Home Minister Advocate Shahara Khatun said Sunday that the government would not allow any terrorist elements or organisations to use the country's borders for terror activities against neighbouring countries.
"Bangladesh will strictly ensure that its territory is not used by terrorist elements or organisations for activities against neighbouring countries," assured the minister, while calling for sincere commitment from the South Asian countries to counter terrorism in the region.
The Home Minister was addressing the inaugural ceremony of a regional workshop on effectively countering terrorism for police officers and prosecutors of South Asia at a city hotel.
Bangladesh Enterprise Institute (BEI) organised the three-day workshop with the support of the governments of Australia and Denmark. It was also jointly hosted by the government and the UN Counter Terrorism Executive Directorate (CTED).
Home Secretary Abdus Sobhan Sikder chaired the session where CTED Executive Director Mike Smith, Danish Ambassador Einar H Jensen, Australian Ambassador Bill Paterson, Foreign Secretary Mijarul Quayes and BEI President Farooq Sobhan addressed.
The Home Minister reiterated that terrorism knows no borders, no boundaries and urged the SAARC countries to engage in regional cooperation to counter terrorism.
The political roots of terrorism have caused great mistrust and misunderstanding among South Asian countries, she said and added that extremist influences, at times, polarised societies to the extent of hostility towards neighbours.
The minister said though South Asian region boasts of incredible tolerance and mutual respect, it faces threat as terrorism has taken different forms.
Home Minister Advocate Shahara Khatun said Sunday that the government would not allow any terrorist elements or organisations to use the country's borders for terror activities against neighbouring countries.
"Bangladesh will strictly ensure that its territory is not used by terrorist elements or organisations for activities against neighbouring countries," assured the minister, while calling for sincere commitment from the South Asian countries to counter terrorism in the region.
The Home Minister was addressing the inaugural ceremony of a regional workshop on effectively countering terrorism for police officers and prosecutors of South Asia at a city hotel.
Bangladesh Enterprise Institute (BEI) organised the three-day workshop with the support of the governments of Australia and Denmark. It was also jointly hosted by the government and the UN Counter Terrorism Executive Directorate (CTED).
Home Secretary Abdus Sobhan Sikder chaired the session where CTED Executive Director Mike Smith, Danish Ambassador Einar H Jensen, Australian Ambassador Bill Paterson, Foreign Secretary Mijarul Quayes and BEI President Farooq Sobhan addressed.
The Home Minister reiterated that terrorism knows no borders, no boundaries and urged the SAARC countries to engage in regional cooperation to counter terrorism.
The political roots of terrorism have caused great mistrust and misunderstanding among South Asian countries, she said and added that extremist influences, at times, polarised societies to the extent of hostility towards neighbours.
The minister said though South Asian region boasts of incredible tolerance and mutual respect, it faces threat as terrorism has taken different forms.