Recent attacks can undermine Bangladesh’s international reputation, warns EU

The heads of European missions in Dhaka have urged the government to break the cycle of recent attacks, warning that these could “undermine” Bangladesh’s international reputation.

The European Union Delegation to Bangladesh said they met Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali on Sunday and shared their “concerns” on the situation regarding the “multiplication of security incidents”.

The meeting took place at the state guest house Padma.

The envoys highlighted the recent barbaric attacks and growing numbers of innocent victims, including bloggers, religious minorities, human-rights activists, law-enforcing officers and foreigners.

They said these attacks constitute “an unprecedented threat” to human rights and freedom of expression and belief.

“These could undermine the international reputation of Bangladesh as an open and tolerant society and the stability and prosperity of the country,” a statement released by the EU said.

They urged the government to bring the perpetrators to justice and ensure the protection of all citizens at risk.

The envoys “equally supported that law enforcement operations should be pursued alongside a broader engagement towards countering violent extremism”.

They expressed their conviction that “an effective and comprehensive response to militancy includes promoting democratic accountability, freedom of expression, vibrant media, tolerance and the empowerment of civil society”.

The EU diplomats offered to strengthen their partnership and cooperation with Bangladesh to combat terrorism of which Europe is also a target.

‘Jamaat to blame’

The foreign minister has told the European diplomats that the Jamaat-e-Islami and its associate groups were involved in the recent targeted murders to “tarnish” the image of Bangladesh and to “discredit” the government.

In the meeting, Ali briefed them on the actions the government had taken, the progress made in maintaining law and order and in ensuring public safety in the aftermath of the recent spate of killings in Bangladesh.

Ali condemned the “senseless, pre-meditated and clandestine” killings, saying they were carried out by “some vested groups” to destabilise the country, according to a foreign ministry statement.

He informed the envoys that from the initial investigations, “it appeared that Jamaat-e-Islami and its outfits such as Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen (JMB), Ansar al-Islam, Ansarullah Bangla Team, Harkatul-Jihad-al-Islam (Huji-B), Hijbut-Tahrir Bangladesh, and the newly-formed Al Mujahid were involved in these killings”.

He said the BNP was “unfortunately” supporting them and that the party did not pay heed to the European Parliament’s January 2014 resolution asking BNP to sever ties with Jamaat.

The foreign ministry said the minister gave “a detailed account” of the progress made in individual cases and assured the envoys of the government’s resolve to bring all the perpetrators to justice.

Referring to Pakistan’s statement on Bangladesh’s war crimes trial and the 1974 agreement, the foreign minister said the agreement only referred to 195 prisoners of war who were taken into custody for heinous crimes including crime against humanity.

He hoped that EU would work together with Bangladesh in fighting common challenges of terrorism and violent extremism.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam was also present at the briefing.