The foreign and domestic policies of Bangladesh are heavily influenced by the region’s major powers, particularly India, says a US State Department report.
The report said: “In past years, the India-Bangladesh relationship has provided openings for transnational threats, but the current government has demonstrated its interest in regional cooperation on counterterrorism.”
The State Department has submitted Country Reports on Terrorism 2013 to the US Congress on Thursday.
This report, available on www.state.gov/j/ct, provides the Department of State’s annual assessment of trends and events in international terrorism that occurred from January 1 to December 31, 2013.
It includes a strategic assessment, country-by-country breakdowns of counterterrorism efforts, and sections on state sponsors of terrorism, terrorist safe havens, and foreign terrorist organisations.
In its Bangladesh section, the State Department report has praised the role of the government in combating counterterrorism in the region and its continuous efforts in fighting global terrorism.
The report said: “The government of Bangladesh has demonstrated political will and firm commitment to combat domestic and transnational terrorist groups.”
“Its counterterrorism efforts made it harder for transnational terrorists to operate or establish safe havens in Bangladesh.”
Bangladesh has achieved significant improvements to tackle terrorist’s financing.
“Significant improvements have been made to the law, including more extensive criminalization of terrorist financing, prohibitions on supporting individuals (rather than simply organisations) who engage in terrorist activity, and an ability to promptly freeze funds and assets of those engaged in or supporting terrorism” reads the report.
In January, Bangladesh police arrested three suspected Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorists, it is cited in the report.
The report mentioned that Bangladesh has developed curriculum for madrassas with a view to using strategic communication to counter violent extremism, especially among youth.
The government of Bangladesh is also actively expanding economic opportunities for women as a stabilizing force against violent religious extremism.
Bangladesh is active in the full range of international fora that is bringing the country’s counterterrorism efforts in line with the four pillars of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy.
The report mentioned that Bangladesh has signed memoranda of understanding with a number of countries to share evidence regarding criminal investigations, including investigations related to financial crimes and terrorist financing.
Bangladesh and the United States signed a Counterterrorism Cooperation Initiative to enhance counterterrorism cooperation as an important element of its bilateral partnership and engagement.
In 2013, US assistance supported programs for Bangladeshi civilian, law enforcement, and military counterparts to build their capacity to monitor, detect, and prevent terrorism.
Source: Dhaka Tribune
