Fighting extremism: Govt weighs what US help to take

The government said on Monday that it was assessing what type of assistance Bangladesh required to contain violent extremism as the US government renewed its offer of help in addressing the challenge both the countries were facing.
‘The US government has assured us all supports in addressing terrorism. We are assessing what sorts of help we need from them to fight terrorism here,’ home affairs minister Asaduzzaman Khan said after a meeting with visiting US assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asian affairs Nisha Desai Biswal at his secretariat office.
He said that the US assistant secretary had expressed her government’s firm commitment to Bangladesh in tackling violent extremism, now a global problem.
They would provide all support Bangladesh required to fight terrorism, the minister added.
‘I am here to offer US assistance and support for Bangladesh’s own efforts against terrorism,’ Biswal told reporters.
‘Sharing the concerns of Bangladeshis, we have taken steps to bolster the security of our staff. Our support for, cooperation with, and commitment to this country remains as robust as ever,’ she said.
Earlier on the day, she visited the Gulshan restaurant site.
Biswal arrived in Dhaka Sunday morning on a three-day visit to discuss security issues with the Bangladesh authorities after the deadliest militant attacks on a restaurant at Gulshan diplomatic zone in Dhaka and near a huge Eid congregation at Sholakia in Kishoreganj.
She said they wanted to share intelligence and lessons learnt so that they could be ‘partners in addressing the challenge’.
‘We are resolute that terrorism will not win,’ the US assistant secretary asserted.
She also met with prime minister Sheikh Hasina at Gono Bhaban.
Reiterating her government’s strong stance against terrorism, Sheikh Hasina vowed to find out the root causes of recent terror attacks in Bangladesh, United News of Bangladesh reported.
‘Children of rich families were involved in Gulshan terror attack. We’ll find out who’re behind this… who’re recruiting these youths,’ PM’s press secretary Ihsanul Karim Helal said quoting Sheikh Hasina as saying in the meeting with Biswal.
Biswal also said, ‘These youths are from well-to-do families…one of the things is to look in that they are indulged in adventurism; they are not doing it from religious spirit.’
‘We’ll have to face it together; we’ll have to work together; we’ll extend all sorts of assistance, including technological support in this regard,’ she said.
Nisha also offered training for Bangladesh law enforcement agencies to fight terrorism.
The prime minister also put emphasis on sharing information to face the terrorism.
At least 22 people, including nine Italians, seven Japanese, one Indian national, one Bangladesh-born American, two Bangladeshis, and two police officers were killed inside and outside the restaurant in the overnight terror attack at the Gulshan restaurant on July 1 .
On July 2, six people along with five suspected attackers were also killed in an army-led joint operation at the restaurant under siege.
At least three people were killed and 13 others, including 12 cops, were injured as suspected militants attacked a police checkpoint near Sholakia Eid congregation in Kishoreganj, the largest in Bangladesh, on July 7. A gunman was also killed during the gunfight with police.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation of the United States has reportedly started assisting Bangladesh law enforcing agencies in investigating the terror attack at the Gulshan restaurant.
Biswal will leave Dhaka today.

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net