US should focus on homegrown terrorism, says Hasan Mahmud; bins Al-Qaeda presence in Bangladesh
Information Minister Hasan Mahmud today said Al-Qaeda has no presence in Bangladesh, adding that the USA should focus more on tackling homegrown extremism.
He also said US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's remark on Al-Qaeda's presence in Bangladesh was "thoughtless".
"Our foreign ministry has strongly protested against the remark. It's unfortunate when such thoughtless statements come from the secretary of state of a country like the USA," he told reporters during a briefing at the Secretariat.
Mahmud referred to the January 6, US Capitol insurrection in which five people were killed, and said no such attack took place in Bangladesh or neighbouring countries.
"Considering the current situation of the US, I think they should focus more on tackling homegrown extremism," the minister said.
On January 14, President Donald Trump was impeached by the US House for a historic second time and charged with "incitement of insurrection" over the deadly mob siege of the Capitol.
The FBI has warned of armed protests ahead of Wednesday's inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden.
READ MORE: Pompeo's remarks on Al Qaeda in Bangladesh irresponsible: Foreign ministry
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