Dhaka wants task force to prevent terror funding

August 23rd, 2009 DHAKA - Bangladesh has decided not to recognise Kosovo as an independent Balkan state, rejecting a request from the US. Dhaka has made it clear that it would like to keep away (from the Kosovo issue), New Age newspaper said Sunday quoting Foreign Secretary Mirajul Quayes.

July 17th, 2009 DHAKA - A top operative of a Indian terror group -Asif Reza Commando Force - has been arrested for trying to expand his network in Dhaka. "We have arrested ARCF operator Sheikh Obaidullah, who, according to our information, is wanted by the Indian authorities," Deputy Police Commissioner of Detective Branch Monirul Islam said.

May 3rd, 2009 DHAKA - Bangladesh's opposition leader Khaleda Zia has strongly opposed the setting up of a South Asian task force to combat terrorism, alleging that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was using it as a guise to bring foreign troops into the country. 'There is no militancy in Bangladesh,' Zia asserted at the May Day rally here, claiming that her government (2001-06) had successfully eliminated it.

April 26th, 2009 DHAKA - Over 33 Islamist militant outfits are active in Bangladesh of which only four are banned, the home ministry has indicated. The ministry is working to update information after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina twice rejected its report in recent weeks and constituted a 17-member task force to study measures to counter militancy.

February 25th, 2009 DHAKA - Bangladesh's border guards Bangladesh Rifles (BDR), whose troopers mutinied in Dhaka Wednesday, has a military history going back more than 200 years. Today a paramilitary force guarding the country's 4,427 km long border, the Bangladesh Rifles was raised in 1795 as the Ramgarh Local Battalion.

February 16th, 2009 DHAKA - Pakistan has described Bangladesh's proposal for a South Asian task force to combat terrorism as 'a new and good idea'. 'We have discussed the issue.

February 11th, 2009 DHAKA - 'Any bilateral mechanism' with India in the name of South Asian regional anti-terror task force could turn Bangladesh into 'Gaza', the country's main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)has warned. It could give rise to 'complications and possibilities of armed activities of other countries spilling over to Bangladesh', BNP secretary general Khandaker Delwar Hossain said Wednesday.

February 6th, 2009 DHAKA - US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia Richard Boucher has appreciated Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's proposal for setting up an anti-terrorism task force in South Asia. 'I think it is a very interesting idea,' he told reporters after meeting Home Affairs Minister Sahara Khatun and State Minister for Home Affairs Sohel Taj here Saturday.

February 6th, 2009 DHAKA - Dhaka has strongly condemned a Pakistani investigation agency's claim of a Bangladesh-based terror outfit's involvement in the Mumbai terror attacks. 'Militants and terrorists do not belong to any territory, country and nation.

February 2nd, 2009 DHAKA - Bangladesh may renew trade pacts and discuss transit facility and terrorism during the visit of Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee to Dhaka Monday. Bangladesh is as yet 'undecided' about acceding to India's long-pending plea for transit facility to the latter's northeastern region, and a minister has termed commerce 'a weapon in politics'.

February 2nd, 2009 DHAKA - Bangladesh may renew trade pacts and discuss transit facility and terrorism during the visit of Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee to Dhaka Monday. Bangladesh is as yet 'undecided' about acceding to India's long-pending plea for transit facility to the latter's northeastern region, and a minister has termed commerce 'a weapon in politics'.

January 19th, 2009 DHAKA - Newly elected Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has ordered fresh probes into terror attacks, including an attempt on her life, by suspected Islamist militants as the nation prepares for a coordinated effort to combat terrorism. Hasina juxtaposed the twin problem at the cabinet meeting she chaired, targeting in the process her political rivals - former prime minister Khaleda Zia and her Islamist allies who governed the country from 2001 to 2006, The Daily Star newspaper said Tuesday.

January 18th, 2009 DHAKA - A joint task force to combat terrorism in South Asia, which was proposed by Bangladesh, will top the agenda during Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee's visit here Feb 8. Although it is billed as a goodwill visit following the installation of a new government headed by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, India would like discuss the issue of terrorism as it pertains to the entire South Asian region.

January 7th, 2009 MANAMA - The US Navy's 5th Fleet Command which oversees all naval operations of the US-led coalition in the Middle East announced Thursday the establishment of a new task force specifically for counter-piracy operations. Combined Task Force 151 (CTF-151) would be composed of naval ships and 'assets' from more than 20 nations, the US military said in a statement.

January 6th, 2009 DHAKA - Bangladesh's newly-appointed foreign minister Dipu Moni has said Dhaka will take the initiative to form a Joint Task Force on terrorism in consultation with other South Asian nations. 'Terrorism (has) turned out to be a matter of worldwide concern,' said Dipu Moni after she took office, Star Online said.