'Zero tolerance' against terrorism

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday reiterated Bangladesh’s “zero tolerance” policy against terrorism.

"We won't allow our land to be used for carrying out terrorist acts in other countries," she said when US Acting Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Alice Wells paid a courtesy call on the premier at her office.

Wells, also acting special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, expressed the US's interest in working with Bangladesh to combat terrorism and highly appreciated Bangladesh government's initiatives for curbing terrorism.

Pointing out that the country's media is enjoying total freedom, she said the media is freely criticising the government and there is no interference from the government here.  

Hasina said there are 750 daily newspapers in the country. "We have given permission to 44 TV channels in the private sector and 24 of them are now functioning," she said.