Minister Hasan misquoted by CNN-IBN

The remarks of State Minister for Foreign Affairs Hasan Mahmud on exchange of terrorists between Bangladesh and her neighbouring countries were not reported correctly by local and international media, said a foreign ministry official yesterday.
The official further said Mahmud's comment on alleged links between Bangladesh and the recent terrorist incidents in the region was also not reported properly.
Indian TV channel CNN-IBN reported that during an interview with the channel Hasan said Bangladesh has agreed to hand over Ulfa leader Anup Chetia to India and also admitted Huji-B's secret camps in Bangladesh. The CNN-IBN broadcasted the interview last Wednesday and some Bangladeshi media reproduced the report quoting a local on-line news service.
Syed Muntasir Mamun, assistant secretary to Dr Hasan Mahmud, said he talked to the state minister at Nairobi last night regarding the misquotes in some of the media reports.
A clarification issued by Muntasir said regarding the exchange of terrorists, discussions are underway to institute a regional facilitating mechanism for exchange of convicted criminals in the South Asian region.
It said, “No specific individuals or elements stands prominent in these discussions. Therefore, the report of decisions and so-called promises made with regard to handing over specific individuals is not only misrepresentation of what was actually said (in any interview) by the State Minister Hasan Mahmud MP, but was also factually incorrect.”
The clarification said indeed multi-party consultations have long been going on as to how to facilitate apprehension and transfer of criminals -- convicted in one country -- but crossing and fleeing borders and hiding in other neighbouring countries.
Regarding Huji, it said Bangladesh has been taking strong and specific deterrence measures for a very long time. Huji activities are not only banned in Bangladesh but also all possibilities of its underground activities are actively monitored showing a zero tolerance.
The clarification noted that Bangladesh is committed to take action against any terrorist and terrorist organisation found active in this part of the world.
It said the Bangladesh government is sponsoring initiatives for instituting a regional cooperation and coordination mechanism to prevent linkages and cooperation amongst the terrorist elements in the South Asian region.
“Bangladesh rejects all allegations that terrorists are carrying out attacks in the region from Bangladesh. Such misreporting is not only factually incorrect but also unfortunate and disheartening,” it said.