US Ambassador to Bangladesh, Marcia Bernicat praised Bangladesh’s promise to tackle militancy and offered assistance to combat the growing threats of terrorism in the country.
“We appreciate the honourable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s unflagging commitment to fighting terrorism,” the envoy said on Wednesday.
The diplomat said there are clear signs that the security condition is changing and added that additional tools and measures are needed to address the changes.
Bernicat made the comments at the monthly regular meeting of the American Chamber of Commerce in Bangladesh (AmCham) at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka.
Bernicat said Bangladesh and the US had been working jointly on countering terrorism for some time now.
“I assure you that we are both stepping up our efforts,” she said. The US government’s offer to help Bangladesh combat terrorism is genuine, and comes as assistance from a partner [US] who has been fighting terrorism for quite a long time,” she said.
She mentioned that US is looking to Bangladesh as a partner.
The US envoy said they were all greatly saddened, angry and frustrated in the aftermath of the tragic July 1 attack on Holey Artisan Bakery in Gulshan which took the lives of 20 innocent people, including one American citizen.
The bombing at the Sholakia Eid congregation had added to their pain, she said,
“This is not the Bangladesh I have come to know, and I know it is not the Bangladesh you are building.”
Bernicat also said Bangladesh needs to conduct a rigorous, open and thorough investigation of these attacks that coordinates closely with international partners.
The US ambassador said it was important that efforts of raising the confidence of foreign investors, the broader public and the business community remained non-partisan and welcomed all stakeholders to join in.
Bernicat further said that the US investors and the broader international community were greatly concerned about the recent attacks like local investors and the business community.
A strong response will be necessary to safeguard Bangladesh’s future and its economic progress, she added.
Source: Ittefaq
