“We would fight with Bangladesh to combat terrorism. we have enough experts in this regard and we could help Bangladesh by giving these experts”, USA secretary of state John Kerry was quoted to have said as he called on prime minister Sheikh Hasina at her office at noon.
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But speaking after meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on a one-day visit to the capital, Dhaka, Kerry said there was “no argument” that extremists operating in Bangladesh had links to counterparts in Syria and Iraq. In addition to this, an attack during which 22 hostages, including 18 foreigners, were killed in a restaurant in Dhaka took place on the first of July.
“Bangladesh can not truly meet the aspirations of its people and share prosperity if its workers are not safe and their rights are not ensured”, he added. Michael Kugelman of The Wilson Center, a Washington-based think tank, said the USA administration had not paid enough attention to the growing terror threats in Bangladesh, which is now impacting Americans.
When the prime minister raised the issue of getting money and arms by the IS terrorists, John Kerry said the IS terrorists are getting money through selling the oil from the areas that have been captured by them.
A USA state department statement had earlier said Kerry will also “focus on strengthening our longstanding bilateral partnership on democracy, development, security and human rights”. “Mass people are cooperating with us, religious leaders are also involved in this agenda and they are playing an important role”, she said. The group has claimed responsibility for several other incidents in Bangladesh.
Currently, the Bangladesh government is pursuing diplomatic and legal efforts to bring back six death-row fugitive killers of Bangabandhu, Dhaka Tribune reported.
The prime minister said her government made open the private sector in all fields and such initiative created huge opportunity for employment of the educated youth.
Investigators identified that militants involved in the restaurant attack were homegrown, and found no members of Islamic State in Bangladesh, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan said at an event on August 5.
“One of the things that has to happen is how we report on this has to maintain perspective, and not empower in any way these terrorist organizations or elevate them in ways that make it easier for them to recruit or make them stronger”, Obama said during a press conference in Malaysia.
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At least one of Bangabandhu’s fugitive killers, Rashed Chowdhury, was believed to be now living in the United States, said Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal. Before leaving Dhaka this evening Kerry had a meeting with main Opposition BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia. “The government should listen to disenchanted forces because these people may end up as militants”.
