‘Dhaka closely working with US to root out terrorism’

Bangladesh is diligently working with the United States to root out violent extremism, said Bangladesh Ambassador to the US Mohammad Ziauddin.

A press release of Bangladesh High Commission in US yesterday quoted the ambassador as saying: “Dhaka is closely working with Washington, neighbours and other friendly nations to eliminate extremism and terrorism as the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina vowed ‘zero tolerance’ against all forms of terrorism and violent extremism.”

Ziauddin made the remarks during separate meetings with Congressman Lee Zeldin, who is a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Congressman Adrian Smith, a member of the US House Subcommittee on Ways and Means, held at the Capitol Hill.

During the meetings, they discussed wide range issues of mutual interests with particular reference to the restoration of GSP for Bangladesh, the release added.

Ziauddin mentioned that most of the workers in Bangladesh’s RMG industry are women. “These women have stepped out of their homes, contributing to poverty alleviation, literacy, and above all weakening the extremist network, and thereby reinforcing the government’s efforts to eliminate extremism and terrorism.”

Regarding bilateral trade, the ambassador mentioned that Bangladesh does not enjoy any trade preference from the US while US Preferential treatments to the trans-pacific partners shall chip away the competitiveness of Bangladeshi products in the US market, the press release reads.

Ziauddin also said Bangladesh apparels are subjected to high tariff in the US as opposed to zero tariffs to almost all other developed countries in the world. This would adversely impact the export of Bangladeshi RMG to the US market, women empowerment, poverty alleviation and above all, country’s war against extremism and terrorism.

Taking careful note of the briefings by Ziauddin, Congressman Adrian Smith said he would look into the issues.