Sahara for regional cooperation in fighting terrorism

Home Minister Sahara KhatunUNB, Dhaka

Home Minister Sahara Khatun on Sunday called on the South Asian nations to engage in regional cooperation urgently in countering terrorism.

“The political roots of terrorism have caused great mistrust and misunderstanding among South Asian countries. Extremist influences have, at times, polarised our societies to the extent of hostility towards neighbours,” she said.

The home minister was addressing the opening session of a three-day regional workshop for senior police officers and prosecutors in South Asia on Effectively Countering Terrorism.

Eighteen participants, including senior police officers and prosecutors, from eight South Asian countries have been participating in the workshop at Sonargaon Hotel.

Bangladesh Enterprise Institute (BEI) with the help of the governments of Australia and Denmark organised the workshop, while the government of Bangladesh and the United Nations Terrorism Executive Directorate (CTED) jointly hosted the programme.

As terrorism knows no borders and boundaries, the home minister said the South Asian countries have to urgently realise the need for a sincere commitment to countering terrorism.

Referring to the various initiatives of Bangladesh to combat terrorism, she said Bangladesh would strictly ensure that its territory is not used by terrorist elements or outfits for activities against neighbouring countries.

Sahara Khatun said the present government has also advocated for the formation of a South Asian Joint Task Force to foster regional cooperation in countering terrorism.

As terrorism has taken different forms -- either religious or separatist militancy -- militant Islamic extremism has emerged as the most powerful and threatening force of all, she added.

“Bangladesh has also launched a comprehensive socio-political program in order to build the immunity of rural communities to Islamic extremism and terrorism,” the Home Minister said.

She mentioned that this year the law enforcement agencies already arrested a number of wanted militants, including foreign nationals residing here illegally.

Chaired by Home Secretary Abdus Sobhan Sikder, the function was addressed, among others, by CTED executive director Mike Smith, Danish Ambassador Einar H Jensen, Australian Ambassador for Counter Terrorism Bill Paterson, BEI president Farooq Sobhan and Foreign Secretary Mohamed Mijarul Quayes.

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