US State Dept lauds Bangladesh's counter-terrorism measures

Continuation of a marked progress in the country’s criminal justice system was also evidenced, given that a strong commitment was demonstrated “in fully implementing the Antiterrorism Act of 2009”; as amended in 2012 and 2013, says the report.

Released on last Thursday, in reference to the current role in international and regional level, the “Country Reports’, reads “Bangladesh is active in several international fora and is party to various counterterrorism protocols under the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation and is bringing the country’s counterterrorism efforts in line with the four pillars of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy.”

According to the findings, signing of a number of instruments with several countries to share evidence regarding criminal investigation stood as a testament to the government’s “strong interest”, throughout last year, to root out the global problem.

On countering the financing of terrorism, observations have surfaced that, “Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU), the financial intelligence unit/anti-money laundering section, continued its effort to increase capacity with various training programs for its own officials and of officials of other stakeholders”

On countering Violent Extremism, the report mentioned about formation of the Community Support Mechanism (CSM) under the Global Fund for Community Engagement and Resilience (GCERF), a public-private global fund to support local, grassroots efforts to counter violent extremism and an application, submitted by CSM, got approval from GCERF Board of Directors in last December.

Moreover, efforts as put in place by the Ministry of Religious Affairs and the National Committee on Militancy Resistance and Prevention to work hand in hand with imams and religious scholars to build public awareness against terrorism, alongside a similar plan by Police, were drew effusive praises.

“Government forces reportedly arrested numerous members of ISIL and of domestic terrorist groups, including suspected supporters of Jamaat ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) and Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT), mentions the report.

About the intensified security cooperation between Bangladesh and USA, the report said “ the country cooperated with the United States to further strengthen control of its borders and land, sea, and air ports of entry and continued to participate in the Department of State’s Antiterrorism Assistance program and received counterterrorism training for law enforcement officers in such areas as crisis response, explosive ordnance disposal, aviation security and others.”