FM to attend White House-sponsored summit on countering extremism

Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali will attend a White House-sponsored international summit on countering violent extremism at the end of this week in the US.

Senior Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 14 Feb 2015, 04:45 PM
Updated : 14 Feb 2015, 04:50 PM

The 'White House Countering Violent Extremism Summit' will be held in Washington on Feb 18-19.

US Secretary of State John Kerry has invited Ali for this crucial summit, organised against the backdrop of recent attacks in Ottawa, Sydney and Paris.

Sources in the foreign ministry on Saturday told bdnews24.com the minister would leave Dhaka on Feb 17 to attend the summit.

This would be his first Washington visit after the Awami League formed government for a second consecutive term in January.

Senior foreign ministry officials said Dhaka would like to have a one-to-one meeting with Kerry on the sidelines of the summit.

Sources said the foreign minister would attend the summit in Washington, despite his busy schedule with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banarjee visiting Dhaka from Feb 19, considering the importance of the issue of the summit.

The ruling Awami League is globally known for its 'zero tolerance policy' to any form of terrorism, extremism and militancy.

Earlier, the White House in a statement said they would host the summit to highlight domestic and international efforts to prevent violent extremists.

The summit is aimed at inspiring individuals or groups in the US or abroad against acts of violence.

Foreign Minister Ali is also expected to have a bilateral visit in Washington in coming months.