US will have ‘more engagements, presence’ in Bangladesh against terrorism, extremism, says Kerry in Dhaka

Secretary of State John Kerry has termed his short visit in Dhaka “good”, and said Bangladesh will see more US engagements in countering terrorism and violent extremism as a result of his visit.

Speaking before a select group of audience comprising politicians, former diplomats, members of civil society, young professionals and journalists, he also vowed to stand by Bangladesh in the fight against terror.

He arrived on Monday morning amid the US’s growing security concerns in Bangladesh following the July 1 terrorist attack at the Holey Artisan Bakery and O' Kitchen restaurant in which 20 hostages, including 17 foreigners, were killed.

Speaking at the EMK Centre before leaving Dhaka after 6.30pm, he said the attack was designed to “divide” Bangladesh and “cut off” from the rest of the world.

He said he had a “candid” conversation with the prime minister and the foreign minister.

As a result, he said, he was confident that “you will see more activity and more engagements perhaps…. more presence.”

The prime minister was “very clear” in working “very closely” with the US.

“We today agree on additional steps by which our intelligence, our law enforcements will work together in order to get out of this,” Kerry said.

This was his first visit to Dhaka amid perception that the US is not happy with the government as Washington had reservations about the last parliamentary elections that then the opposition BNP boycotted.

In his over half-an-hour speech that dominated security issues, Kerry also drew links between upholding democratic principles and addressing violent extremism. 

“To defeat terrorists, we have to uphold, not betray, the democratic principles that we cherish,” he said.

Democracy still provides the “most resilient and most reliable platform we have for preventing and responding the violent extremism”, he added.

The US secretary of state said some may argue that when countries face genuine threats, it is difficult to live up to the democratic values.

At that time even, he said, he believed it was “more important” to uphold the values of democracy.

“If you don’t, you may quickly feel the frenzy that can come with the opposition panic and hysteria.”

He stressed on reaching every aspect to fight off terror - from financing to communication to counter messaging and particularly prevention through education, jobs, fairness and transparency.

Kerry said the US-led coalition against the Islamic State had made “significant” progress in Syria and Iraq, but it leaves problems to other countries where people go back to or where the social media and propaganda of the group reaches out to.

His conversations with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali made it clear that “no nation can succeed without all of us sharing information, sharing best practices, sharing creative new techniques and approaches”.

“The most important weapon is communication between us,” he said.

“Good governance which all of you can demand is as important as any other steps we take in this fight against violent extremism.”

“We talked about all aspects including importance of inclusivity of working with people making sure they protect the democratic process even as you come down tough on the perpetrators themselves.”

Kerry said the US was already working in many areas with the government and civil society, and he was confident that “the US assistance to Bangladesh will increasingly be designed to help the government address terrorism threats from domestic and international organisations”.

“I am absolutely confident that we will build additional capacity that will be effective.”

On being asked, he said there was “no argument” with Bangladesh about the nature of terrorists as Dhaka terms them “home-grown”.

Kerry said they were home-grown as “it’s not foreign fighters coming to do it.”

“It’s somebody here in Bangladesh doing this,” he said, but they were influenced elsewhere by the internet, social media and so forth.

“There are connections with some of the operatives here. We made it very clear in our conversations. There is no argument about it.”

According to him, the US engagement with Bangladesh was “extremely open and broad”.

He mentioned the recent financing under a new project, GCERF, to help support grassroots efforts against terrorism. Bangladesh is a pilot participant in that effort.

The secretary of state also addressed the labour rights and factory safety issues over which the US suspended Bangladesh’s GSP trade privilege.

He said Bangladesh’s readymade garment industry could benefit “enormously” by empowering workers.

He lauded Bangladesh’s economic growth, but said growth alone is not a measurement.

“We are the largest economy in the world. We grew as a nation where everybody benefits. When everybody benefits, a nation does better,” Kerry said.