US ambassador to Dhaka Marcia S Bernicat on Sunday said Bangladesh was ‘very publicly’ under the radar of ISIS and Al Qaeda.
‘Developing regional connectivity under legal framework will help the [South Asian] countries to share more information and fight terrorism. Bangladesh is a country which is very publicly under the scrutiny or radar of the ISIS or Al Qaeda,’ she said while responding to a question at a luncheon organised by Foreign Investors’ Chamber of Commerce and Industry at Westin Hotel.
When asked whether the move to boost regional connectivity in South Asia and South East Asia will also facilitate the movement of terrorists, Marcia said, ‘terrorist or the transnational criminals are already enjoying this facility as they don’t believe in borders or sovereignty. They have developed a highly successful business model.’
She also observed that Bangladesh’s location between South and Southeast Asia, consistent six per cent growth and a burgeoning ready-made garments sector positioned the country well to facilitate economic connectivity.
The US ambassador said her government praised the motor vehicle agreement between Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Bhutan which will address cross regional trade challenges in the coming days.
‘We applaud Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal motor vehicle agreement for the regulation of passenger, personal and cargo vehicular traffic, due to be signed in Bhutan tomorrow,’ she said.
Marcia said the agreements signed by Indian prime minister, Narendra Modi, and Bangladeshi prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, were historical.
‘This underscored the positive trajectory for economic development across borders in South Asia through enhanced regional connectivity. South Asia in particular, however, remains one of the world’s poorest and least integrated regions,’ she said.
She also said that the agreements have laid the groundwork for cheaper and more reliable energy, better roads and bridges, the increased flow of people and trade and better use of precious resources.
FICCI president Rupali Chowdhury said businesses in Bangladesh still suffer from lack of adequate infrastructure.
‘We also have to face bureaucratic problems, corruption, power crisis and political instability,’ she said quoting a research finding of an independent organisation.
Rupali called on the US and the government to help the business community overcome these problems and create a favourable business environment.
Source: New Age
