US-Bangladesh counter-terrorism deal

However, we would like to reiterate our position that US involvement in counter-terrorism -- while appreciated -- is not a silver bullet and that, in the final analysis, the responsibility for making the country safe from terror must lie solely with the government.

That the government has acquiesced to assistance from outside is a good thing. The simple fact of the matter is that at present the government is woefully unprepared to handle an investigation of such magnitude by itself without outside assistance. The US is one of the most knowledgeable countries in the world when it comes to combating terror, with a wealth of experience and resources, and there can be no doubt that availing ourselves of their expertise is a positive step for the August 21 investigation and the broader fight against terror.

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Nevertheless, we should not be lulled into thinking that signing a protocol or convening a joint working group will solve our problems. Ultimately, responsibility for keeping the country safe and secure lies in the hands of the government, and the focus on any collaboration with the US or any other country must be on capacity building so that we develop the internal resources not only to investigate terror attacks but also to stop them before they occur.

The eyes of the world are upon us. World leaders from Kofi Annan to President Bush have expressed concern at the situation in the country. In the past, successive governments have been unable to conduct an even minimally competent investigation of previous acts of terror, but this time we cannot afford to fail. The government's credibility is on the line -- not only domestically but internationally as well. This is the government's last chance to demonstrate that it has the will and the ability to fight terror and to preserve national security.