Terrorism still a concern in Bangladesh, says US envoy

July 24th, 2009 DHAKA - China is a victim of terrorism like Bangladesh and India and wants to join the UN-led campaign against terror, a Chinese diplomat has said. Chinese special envoy Zhou Gang met the Bangladeshi leadership Thursday to brief them of the developments in China's Xinjiang province that recently witnessed protests by the Uighur community.

June 29th, 2009 DHAKA - Bangladesh has sought British help for its land border management and maritime security as part of a string of joint working groups it seeks to set up within the South Asian region and outside with the US, Australia and Russia. The first such Joint Working Group (JWG) was set up with Britain Sunday to enhance counter terrorism cooperation between the two countries.

June 18th, 2009 WASHINGTON/DHAKA - Several newspaper reports across South Asia have claimed that Bangladesh is emerging as the haven of choice for South Asian terror operatives, and that there stay is being facilitated by both Bangladeshi and Pakistani intelligence services. According to the Christian Science Monitor (CSM), in recent days, Bangladeshi police have uncovered a plot that used Bangladesh to transit thousands of weapons to an Indian separatist group, and followed up by arresting key members of that group in Dhaka.

June 14th, 2009 DHAKA - A senior State Department official Sunday renewed US government's promise to help Bangladesh protect itself from possible terrorist threats. "We are here to help you to protect your people from those who wish to destabilise your democracy through terrorism and extremism," Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Robert O.

May 8th, 2009 DHAKA - The European Union Thursday stressed the need for better parliamentary partnership between Bangladesh's ruling and opposition parties for a healthy growth of the country's nascent democracy. 'Discussions, debates and critical analyses of the problems should be there [in parliament] in a healthy democracy,' Stefan Frowein, the head of the delegation of the EU's executive, the European Commission to Dhaka, told a press conference in Dhaka.

May 4th, 2009 DHAKA - Islamist militancy continues to be a threat in Bangladesh, the US ambassador to this country has said, adding 'we do have disturbing indications'. 'We do have disturbing indications.

May 3rd, 2009 DHAKA - New Delhi Sunday handed to Dhaka a list of suspected Indian terrorists believed to be hiding in Bangladesh, the Indian high commissioner here said. Speaking to reporters after a meeting with Bangladeshi State Minister for Home Affairs Tanjim Ahmed Sohel Taj, India's Pinak Ranjan Chakravarti said: 'We have also requested the authorities to step up vigil over them especially during the ongoing polls yet to be completed in the eastern states of India.' The envoy added that a number of issues, including extradition of prisoners, came up for discussion.

February 26th, 2009 NEW DELHI/KOLKATA - India and Bangladesh continued their first joint military exercise in West Bengal's Jalpaiguri district Thursday amid reports that the mutiny by Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) troopers, which saw the killing of at least 50 people, spread beyond Dhaka. 'The Indian Army, Air Force and Bangladesh Army have been participating in the exercise to test their battlefield tactics since Feb 22.

February 25th, 2009 DHAKA - Anyone financing or renting out accommodation to people linked with religious militancy or terrorism will be tried for abetment, a Bangladesh minister has said. 'Providing militants with either assistance - be it accommodation or finance - are offences of similar gravity.

February 8th, 2009 DHAKA - India and Bangladesh Monday rejuvenated their multi-faceted ties by signing two economic pacts and joining hands to combat the growing menace of terrorism in the region. External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, who is on a day-long visit to Dhaka, held talks with his Bangladeshi counterpart Dipu Moni on an entire gamut of bilateral issues, including security, terrorism, intensification of economic ties, border management and improving connectivity.

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 17th, 2009 DHAKA - Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has sought more cooperation from the US in the power and energy sectors, officials said Sunday. Hasina made the request to the US Ambassador in Dhaka, James F.

January 15th, 2009 DHAKA - The United States has told the new government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina that Bangladesh needs to work with neighbouring countries to fight terrorism. 'Terrorism is an issue confronting both the governments in Dhaka and Washington.

January 12th, 2009 DHAKA - Joint fight against terrorism and some of the long-pending bilateral issues will be discussed when Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee visits Dhaka in early February, an official said. Announcing Monday the tentative programme of the minister's visit, Indian High Commissioner Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty said the main concern of the Indian government was to ensure security in the region by eradicating terrorism, New Age newspaper reported.

December 30th, 2008 AGARTALA - Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar Wednesday expressed optimism that the new Bangladesh government led by the Awami League would help settle pending issues related to the northeast, including terrorism. 'We strongly believe that the Awami League government headed by Sheikh Hasina would resolve the northeast India's terrorism related problems and provide transit to transport men and materials between the northeast and the rest of the country via Bangladesh,' Sarkar told reporters here.