India influences BD policies: US report

Bangladesh's policy is "heavily" influenced by regional powers, especially India, says a US State Department report.
The 'Country Reports on Terrorism 2013' says that in the past few years, India-Bangladesh relationship has provided "openings for transnational threats", but the present Awami League-led government has "demonstrated strong interest" in regional cooperation to fight terrorism.
The US State Department submitted the report to the Congress Thursday.
It is an annual US assessment of "trends and events" in global terrorism during 2013, reports bdnews24.com.
It includes a strategic assessment, country-by-country breakdown of counter-terrorism efforts, and sections on state sponsors of terrorism, terrorist safe havens, and foreign terrorist organisations.
In its Bangladesh section, the State Department report described the country as an "influential partner" in counter-terrorism in the region and said the country has continued to take strides in the fight against global terrorism.
But the report says Bangladesh's foreign and domestic policies are "heavily" influenced by the region's major powers, particularly India.
"The government's ongoing counter-terrorism efforts have made it more difficult for transnational terrorists to operate in Bangladesh or use its territory," the report reads.
There were "no major terrorism-related incidents" in Bangladesh in 2013, it says.
Bangladesh government has demonstrated "political will and firm commitment" to combat domestic and transnational terrorist groups, the report adds.
"….and its counter-terrorism efforts made it harder for transnational terrorists to operate or establish safe havens in Bangladesh."
It has listed Bangladesh's measures in counter-terrorism.
"Significant improvements have been made in the law, including more extensive criminalisation of terrorist financing, prohibition on supporting individuals rather than simply organisations who engage in terrorist activity and an ability to promptly freeze funds and assets of those engaged in or supporting terrorism."
The report says Bangladesh uses "strategic communication" to counter violent extremism, especially among youth, citing the education ministry's initiatives to develop curriculum for madrasas."
The government is also "actively" expanding economic opportunities for women "as a stabilising force against violent religious extremism".
It also mentions the arrest of three suspected Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorists in January this year.
"Bangladesh is active in the full range of international fora," the report says, that brings the country's counter-terrorism efforts in line with "the four pillars of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy".
It has signed memoranda of understanding with a number of countries to share evidence regarding criminal investigations, including investigations related to financial crimes and terrorist financing.
The report also mentions the US and Bangladesh 'Counter-terrorism Cooperation Initiative' signed Oct 22 last year to enhance bilateral cooperation.
Globally, the report has found that the terrorist threat continued to evolve rapidly, with an increasing number of groups around the world - including both al Qaeda affiliates and other terrorist organisations.
It says those groups pose "a threat to the United States, our allies, and our interests".
South Asia, it says, remained "a front line" in the battle against terrorism.
It says al Qaeda maintained ties with other terrorist organisations in the region, such as Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan and the Haqqani Network.
These alliances continued to provide the group with additional resources and capabilities.
In 2013, according to the report, terrorists in South Asia carried out operations in heavily populated areas and continued to target regional governmental representatives and US citizens.
On number of occasions, civilians in South Asia were wounded or killed in terrorist actions.
The report says that India remained severely affected by and vulnerable to terrorism, including from Pakistan-based groups and their affiliates as well as left-wing violent extremists.
It says, in response, the Indian government continued to undertake efforts to coordinate its counter-terrorism efforts "more effectively" and expanded its cooperation and coordination with the international community and regional partners.