Govt's anti-terrorism successes remarkable, says UN official

Bangladesh has registered notable successes in the struggle against terrorism through determined leadership and visionary policies, a senior UN official said yesterday.
He also said, “The leadership of Bangladesh has voiced its strong support for regional cooperation, and the United Nations stands with Bangladesh in this effort”.
Muhammad Rafiuddin Shah, officer-in-charge of Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force Office (CTITF), made the remarks at the concluding session of a two-day workshop in the capital.
The government and CTITF jointly organised the workshop on the Implementation of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy in South Asia.
Diplomats, government officials, law enforcement officials, experts, civil society representatives of eight Saarc nations and observers from different countries across the world took part in it.
The participants of the workshop, Rafiuddin said, placed special emphasis on the need to focus on measures to address conditions conducive to the spread of terrorism, which was noted for its particular relevance in the South Asian context.
In her key-note speech, Foreign Minister Dipu Moni said the government had taken different initiatives, including the Anti-Terrorism Act and Money Laundering Prevention Act, and made them fully compliant with all provisions of UN Counter-Terrorism conventions.
“Our government is following and will continue to follow a 'zero tolerance' policy towards terrorism and religious extremism. We have made history in the world by penalising both categories to face legal consequences and death penalty”, she said.
The government has banned all the terrorist groups designated by the UN Security Council Committee and dismantled their networks, the minister said.
“We remain confident but not complacent. Ideologically as a nation we hold a strong forte against terrorist and extremist elements, which are involved in international terrorism.
"We are determined to continue our crusade against both categories of criminals without any compromise”.
Dipu Moni also said Bangladesh would continue to promote democracy, secularism, free media, as well as interfaith and intercultural tolerance and all other things that represent the progressive aspirations of mankind and humanity, to fight the menace of terrorism.
The regional workshop also discussed the role of effective and credible criminal justice systems and national legal regimes, while the participants highlighted the importance of maintaining and improving good governance, rule of law and respect for human rights in all national and regional counter-terrorism efforts.
Training and capacity building of criminal justice and law enforcement officials was also raised, and the sharing of best practices and technological expertise, such as in forensics and investigative techniques, were cited at the workshop.
UNDP Resident Coordinator in Dhaka Neal Walker and Director General (UN) at the Foreign Ministry Saida Muna Tasneem also spoke on the occasion.