Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)- The United States on Sunday assured Bangladesh of all cooperation in combating terrorism.
The assurance came when Visiting U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Robert Blake called on Foreign Minister Dipu Moni and Home Minister Sahara Khatun at their respective offices in the capital, Dhaka.
During his meeting with the home minister, the issue of border security force, community police and training of Bangladesh law enforcement agencies came up for discussion, The Daily Star, a local newspaper, reported quoting sources.
As for U.S. support for enhancing the country’s border security, the home minister said it was a preliminary discussion and the foreign ministry would be able to explain the matter in details after further discussions with the US authorities on the issue.
The US official raised the issue of the February 25–26 rebellion and killing in the Bangladesh Rifles’ headquarters, saying the government should conduct proper investigation into the incidents to bring the perpetrators to justice, the New Age, a local newspaper, reported quoting a home ministry official, who attended the meeting.
Foreign Minister Dipu Moni said the government was committed to establishing human rights in the true sense of the term. She also said the government would show zero-tolerance towards extra-judicial killings.
Referring to climate change, she said steps had to be taken to rehabilitate the environmental refugees.
The issue of the trial of the war criminals also came up in the discussion during the meetings with the ministers.
The foreign minister said as per the mandate of the people, the government had taken steps to try the perpetrators against humanity during the War of Independence in 1971.
She said on this issue the international community was beside Bangladesh. Transparency and international standard would be maintained in this respect, she added. She also sought US assistance in this regard.
Earlier, the visiting U.S. diplomat called on State Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Hasan Mahmud at the Foreign Ministry in Dhaka and discussed bilateral and international issues of common interest.
BBN/SS/SI/AD-15June09-4:04 am (BST)