PM For Better Condition Among Intelligence Agencies Of Asia-Pacific

"The security challenges that confront the mankind today cannot be faced alone by any country. The world would have to work in unison and in a holistic manner to face the menace," she said.

The Prime Minister was inaugurating the 7th Asia-Pacific Intelligence Chiefs Conference (APICC) at Hotel Redison here today.

Chiefs of intelligence's of 27 countries are taking part in the five-day conference.

Sheikh Hasina said the terrorists and extremists are always innovating and improvising their ways and means for their very existence. Whenever intelligencies unearth some of their strategies and techniques, the terrorists switch to newer one. " So , it's really a very challenging mission," she said.

Director of Defence Intelligence Agencies (DIA) Douglas H Wise and director general of Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI) Major General Akbar Hossain also spoke on the occassion.

Cabinet members, PM's advisors, chiefs of three services, ambassadors of different countries and participating defence intelligence chiefs of the Asia-Pacific region were present.

Pacific Command of the USA and Directorate General of Forces Intelligence of Bangladesh jointly organized the 7th Asia-Pacific Intelligence Chiefs Conference.

The Prime Minister said under the present global context such conference bears an immense importance as the world is passing through a critical juncture amidst sprout of militancy and terrorism across the world.

"These terrorist groups are posing threat to the life and property of the common people alongside the world peace. It's a great challenge for the peace-loving people of today's world to face the terrorist groups," she said.

The Prime Minister said the people of Bangladesh, which emerged through an unprecedented bloodshed, are always in favour of peace.

The Greatest Bangalee of all time, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was a staunch believer of non-violent policy. So, soon after independence, she said Bangabandhu adopted his foreign policy with the theme- "Friendship to all and malice to none".

"Bangladesh is still adhering to this policy," she said.

Pointing out the brutal assassination of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Sheikh Hasina said her family is the victim of most terrible terrorism in the contemporary human history.

"Terrorists also made attempt on my life on August 21, 2004," she said adding that "yet today, I would like to declare once again that no amount of threat will be able to stop me from going after them."

"I will not step back even if it endangers my life. I would remain oblige till my death to the pledge on eradicating terrorism that I made at the United Nation General Assembly in 2009," she said.

The Prime Minister said political will is an important factor in combating terrorism, because, militancy spreads under the patronization of political parties.

Reaffirming her government's 'zero tolerance' policy towards terrorism, Sheikh Hasina said, Bangladesh is an active partner of all international pacts, conventions and initiatives dealing with terrorism and militancy. "Alongside, the country itself framed necessary laws and took measures to face terrorism," she said.

The Prime Minister said Bangladesh government has formulated a National Education Policy where massive reforms have been proposed for religious education in curriculum to motivate student against militancy.

In 2011, the government formulated a National Counter Terrorism Strategy. In that year Bangladesh acceded to the Palermo Convention against Transnational Organised Crimes, she said.

Underlining importance on action against terrorist financing, she said financing plays an important role in spreading militancy. "Bangladesh has enacted various laws and took measures to prevent financing to the terrorists in line with international laws and conventions," she said.

In this regard she mentioned about enactment of Money Laundering Prevention Act in 2012 with specific provisions to curb money laundering and terrorist financing.

Bangladesh Bank has taken effective steps to curb terrorism financing, she said adding in 2013, Bangladesh secured membership of Egmont group, a global body of 131 member nations to combat money laundering, financing of terrorism and other financial crimes. "Bangladesh also became a member of the 41-member Asia Pacific Group on money laundering," she said.

"Owing to Bangladesh's successful reforms to anti-money laundering and anti terrorist financing measures, the Financial Task Force, an inter-state organisation comprising 34 developed countries and two regional organisations, removed Bangladesh's name from their 'grey list'," the Prime Minister said.

Besides, separate bilateral deals and memorandums were signed with USA, UK, India, Australia and few other countries to combat terrorism and militancy. Bangladesh is also playing a very proactive role in implementing the SAARC anti-terrorism agreement, she said

Sheikh Hasina said enhancement of the capacity of the law enforcers is essential to combat terrorism. In view of this, she said, Bangladesh has taken measures to train and equip country's forces to prepare them better for fighting terrorism.

"At the same time Bangladesh also enforced strict compliance regulations to prevent human rights violations in our fight against terrorism," she said.

The Prime Minister said, "Terrorists do not have any boundary. They are the enemy of the country, its people and the entire humanity. They are the barriers to the world peace."

She said, "Main objective of intelligence activities is to establish world peace. In the past, the terrorists used to work in isolation and had hardly any coordination and cooperation with their associates in other parts of the world."

The prime minister added, "But today, due to the technological advancement, intelligence agents can work in a more coordinated manner with unprecedented cooperation among different groups all over the world."

Sheikh Hasina said security challenges that confront the mankind today cannot be faced alone by any country and the world would have to work in unison and in a holistic manner to face the menace.

She hoped that Conference would remove the dividing walls, reduce physical and psychological distance and develop better cooperation and understanding among the intelligence agencies of the Asia-Pacific region. "Remember, the terrorists and extremists are always innovating and improvising their ways and means for their very existence. Whenever you unearth some of their strategies and techniques; they switch to newer methods. So, you have really a very challenging mission," the Prime Minister said.

Sheikh Hasina said the theme of this Conference - "The Future: Challenges and Opportunities for Security Cooperation" is timely and befitting one under current global context.

-Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Photo: Saiful Islam Kallol