Dhaka and Washington have agreed to broaden and deepen their partnership in countering terrorism and violent extremist groups, including Dae’sh – or the so-called Islamic State – and al-Qaeda, which constitutes a global challenge, according to a joint statement of the fifth Bangladesh-US partnership dialogue.
Issued yesterday, the statement said both the countries recognise the threats posed by terrorism and violent extremism around the world.
The fifth Bangladesh-US partnership dialogue took place in Washington last month.
This is the first time a joint statement was issued after the Bangladesh-US partnership dialogue.
“As a way to deepen our cooperation, we are announcing Bangladesh’s participation in the US Counter-Terrorism Partnerships Fund (CTPF), which would enable Bangladesh and the United States to expand our bilateral counter-terrorism partnership and support programs to advance the collaboration,” the statement said.
CTPF-supported programmes for capacity building would strengthen Bangladesh-US cooperation in responding to evolving radicalisation and terrorist threats, help to improve partnerships between civilian-led counter-terrorism elements, and address the conditions that give rise to extremism.
“We are also developing career civil servant prosecutors that can specialise in bringing violent extremists to justice, and prevent, address and counter transnational crime,” the statement said.
The upcoming security dialogue of the two sides will discuss future opportunities for defence and security collaboration.
Nisha Biswal to arrive in Dhaka today
Assistant Secretary Nisha Desai Biswal of the United States Department of State will arrive in Dhaka today for a two-day visit to discuss security issues in Bangladesh and possible security cooperation between Bangladesh and the US.
A senior government official said security issues are expected to dominate the talks.
This will be Biswal’s second visit to Bangladesh in two months: She visited Dhaka in the first week of May following the brutal killing of USAID official Xulhas Mannan in April, and put forward a proposal to enhance security cooperation between the two countries.
During her last visit, she met with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali.
The government official, requesting anonymity, said this time the format is likely to be the same.
The terrorist attacks on July 1 in Gulshan, Dhaka and July 7 in Sholakia, Kishoreganj killed at least 25 people, including 17 foreigners and one Bangladeshi American.
The US Department of State issued a travel warning on Thursday and urged US citizens to consider Bangladesh for travelling with caution.
Earlier, US Secretary of State John Kerry, on behalf of President Barack Obama, called Prime Minister Shekh Hasina on July 3 to offer support in the wake of the terror attack on Holey Artisan Bakery in Gulshan, Dhaka on July 1.
“The secretary encouraged the government of Bangladesh to conduct its investigation in accordance with the highest international standards and offered immediate assistance from US law enforcement, including the FBI,” stated a Department of State press release.
Kerry reaffirmed US support for Bangladesh’s efforts to bring those responsible for planning and conducting the attacks to justice as well as to prevent future attacks.
He expressed condolences for the loss of innocent lives at the handa of terrorists who threaten the US, Bangladesh and the international community.
Source: Dhaka Tribune
