Australian ambassador for counter-terrorism explores 'effective ways' in Bangladesh

Australia’s Ambassador for Counter-Terrorism Paul Foley is visiting Bangladesh to explore “effective ways” of preventing and countering violent extremism, regardless of its origins.

Senior Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 20 March 2019, 06:42 PM
Updated : 20 March 2019, 06:42 PM

The Australian High Commission said the visit from Mar 19 to Mar 21 “underlines the importance Australia places on its security engagement with Bangladesh, including to tackle, together, the global scourge of terrorism and violent extremism”.

High Commissioner Julia Niblett has welcomed the visit.

The visit follows the terrorist attack on two mosques in New Zealand in which five Bangladeshis have been killed.

Bangladesh issued a travel advice cautioning citizens on both New Zealand and Australia.

An Australian identified as Brenton Tarrant has been charged for killing total 50 people and injuring 48 others in the gun attack on worshippers in the mosques in Christchurch on Mar 15. The Australian man charged over the twin mosque attacks identified himself as a ‘white supremacist’.

Before perpetrating the attacks on worshippers, he declared himself a “racist” in his 73-page manifesto containing slogans, poems and diatribes against immigrants and Muslims.

Hours after the mosque attacks, Australian Senator Fraser Anning issued a statement blaming mosque massacre on Muslims and expressed growing fears within the Australian community of the increasing Muslim presence in Australia and New Zealand.

Such an extremist stand from an Australian lawmaker triggers fears of hatred and racism in Australia, the Bangladesh foreign ministry had said when they issues travel advice against Australia.

The Australian high commission said Ambassador Foley’s visit is a “timely opportunity to explore with senior Bangladesh government law enforcement and public security officials effective ways of preventing and countering violent extremism, regardless of its origins.”

Foley extended his heartfelt condolences to the Bangladeshi victims of the shocking terrorist attack in Christchurch, and their families.

He highlighted the statements of the Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison condemning this atrocity in the strongest possible terms.

“As the Prime Minister said, Australia shares the grief of Muslim communities the world over, and will not tolerate the rightwing extremist ideology that fuelled this terrorist attack.”

During his visit, Foley emphasised that terrorism and violent extremism are challenges shared by all countries, the High Commission said in a statement.

“As a longstanding development and security partner, Australia will continue to support Bangladesh and its people to address these threats.”

Foley will accompany the High Commissioner, the Executive Director of the Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund (GCERF) Khalid Koser, and the Chair of the GCERF Governing Board Carol Bellamy to visit GCERF-supported activities and engage with participants, including women and youth.

He leads Australia's international engagement on counter-terrorism and counter violent extremism as an Ambassador for Counter-Terrorism.