Dhaka, Washington pledge to fight violent extremism together

Bangladesh and the United States have renewed their pledge to fight violent extremism together and counter radicalism “to protect people, homeland and advance democracy”.

“We will be there in the ongoing fight against violent extremism and terrorism, which threaten Bangladesh, the United States, and many other societies that cherish human freedom,” US Assistant Secretary for South Asia Nisha Desai Biswal said.

She was speaking at the Independence and National Day reception at Bangabandhu Auditorium in Bangladesh embassy in Washington on Tuesday.

Bangladesh Ambassador Mohammad Ziauddin who hosted the reception said, “Act of terrorism and the culture of impunity of the defeated anti-liberation communal forces challenge Bangladesh’s development and democratic-secular way of life."

He said the ongoing collaboration between Bangladesh and the US in fighting terrorism was “on firm footing”.

Biswal in her speech said both countries were facing “challenges of extremism and terrorism”.

She said both Dhaka and Washington were “increasingly” working together, sharing information for countering radicalism “to protect our people, our homeland and advance our democracy”.

She praised Bangladesh’s success in reducing poverty, enhancing food security and ensuring maternal health as well as contributing to global economy and international peace.

Referring to Bangladesh’s important geo-strategic location between South Asia and South East Asia, she said Bangladesh and the US were working together to enhance bilateral trade.

“The United States is a proud partner of Bangladesh in many of these successes,” she said, adding USAID mission in Dhaka invests nearly $200 million every year to help Bangladeshis live healthy and more productive lives.

She said that every year Americans purchase more than $5 billion worth of goods made in Bangladesh.

“The American people have long been with Bangladesh. And, today, I am here to underscore that we will remain by your side,” she remarked.

Mentioning that the people and the civil society are vibrant in Bangladesh, she said “we will be there in support of the rights of every citizen to speak openly, practice their faiths freely, assemble peacefully, and vote in honest and fair elections, because democracy lives in the DNA of both our peoples”.

Biswal also said that the coming decades would present “us with new challenges of growing complexity, requiring that we find novel approaches and solutions”.

The embassy said the reception was largely attended by foreign diplomats, senior officials of the state department, former US ambassadors to Bangladesh, politicians, members of academia and civil society, senior journalists, artists, high civil and military officers and members of the Bangladesh community.

Two local cultural groups - Dhrupad and Bornomala- performed dances and rendered songs at the reception.

Modern art by artists, Kalidas Karmakar and Mustafa T Arshad, was also in display. The exhibition will continue until Mar 31.