UNB, Dhaka :
Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali on Monday said the spirit of vibrant, progressive, tolerant and peace-loving people has remained to be Bangladesh’s ‘biggest asset’ to fight against terrorism, extremism and non-state actors.
“The peace-loving people of Bangladesh have time and again rejected terrorism, extremism, violence and intolerance as a nation,” he said.
The Foreign Minister was speaking as the chief guest at the inaugural session of a two-day workshop on ‘Implementation of UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1540’ on measures against proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) at the Foreign Ministry.
Mahmood Ali said, the government is deeply committed to the full implementation of UNSCR 1540 as Bangladesh unequivocally supports all international efforts, aiming to promote a more peaceful and safer world.
He mentioned that Bangladesh’s greatest strength remains ‘unremitting’
political commitment of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her government to root out terrorism and the use of WMDs (Weapons of Mass Destruction) by terrorists and non-state actors from Bangladesh.
The Foreign Minister also laid emphasis on international cooperation and collaboration to root out terrorism from South Asian region and the world.
He said, Bangladesh remains conscious of its national actions that need to be further strengthened under the 1540, especially in implementing appropriate national measures, including national criminal laws and penalisation, national plans of action, export controls, border controls, law enforcement, physical security and nuclear materials accounting techniques.
Mahmood Ali said, the workshop would provide an excellent opportunity to discuss, identify and address the gaps.
“We should, however, not forget that while workshops are very helpful to create awareness, identify gaps and device what needs to be done to bridge the knowledge and capacity gaps, they are not the answer on their own to countering terrorism and proliferation of WMDs,” he said.
Principal Staff Officer (PSO) of Armed Forces Division Maj Gen Abu Belal Muhammad Shafiul Huq, Foreign Secretary M Shahidul Haque and Foreign Ministry DG (UN) Saida Muna Tasneem, among others, spoke on the occasion.
