Govt to find out roots of terrorist attacks
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said her government was trying to trace the roots of recent terrorist attacks in Bangladesh.
In a meeting with her Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe on the sidelines of Asem Summit, the PM said a national consensus has been developed in Bangladesh and the country's intelligent people are very active to overcome the situation.
Briefing reporters after the meeting, PM's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim said the Japanese premier expressed strong determination and solidarity with Bangladesh to combat terrorism.
Hasina offered condolences for the Japanese victims of the recent terror attack at a Gulshan restaurant in Dhaka.
Abe assured Hasina of his government's pledge to continue all official development assistance projects and share information to know the background of the terror attacks in Bangladesh.
He also expressed gratitude to Bangladesh PM for showing sympathy and solidarity with the families of the Gulshan attack victims.
Condemning the barbaric attack, Abe said the Asem summit will deliver a strong message that its member countries would not tolerate terrorism and would act in voice to denounce terrorist activities.
Hasina said Bangladesh considers Japan a tested friend. “So I have given instructions to all the authorities concerned to ensure safety and security of the people including Japanese who are working in various sectors in Bangladesh.”
Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali, PM's Principal Secretary Abul Kalam Azad, Foreign Secretary Shahidul Haq, Bangladesh Ambassador to Mongolia Fazlul Karim and Bangladesh envoy to Belgium and EU Ismat Jahan were present.
PM FOR SMOOTH CONNECTIVITY
The Bangladesh PM yesterday stressed the need for smooth connectivity among all countries and communities to secure peace, stability and prosperity.
“Connectivity is indeed no longer a 'choice' for any community; it is about seizing a strategic opportunity,” Hasina told the second plenary session of 11th Asem Summit.
On the theme of the session, 20 Years of Asem: Partnership for Future through Connectivity, she said whatever be the modality of connectivity frameworks, these should aim at accelerating sustained and inclusive growth and sustainable development.
“At the turn of 20 years, Asem reflects on deepening connectivity here in Mongolia in the wake of multiple transformations that we are witnessing now,” the PM added.
Hasina, who arrived in Ulaanbaatar yesterday to attend two-day Asia-Europe Meeting (Asem), joined the inaugural session of the Summit at Shangri-La Hotel.
President of Mongolia Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj received the premier at the summit venue.
“Today, new growth hubs and nodes are emerging across Asem landscape,” the PM said, adding that long-known business patterns and industries have been giving way for new ones.
Development initiatives need to be based on core values and principles like solidarity, friendship, mutual trust and equitable sharing of benefits, she observed.
Pointing out the advancement in multi-modal connectivity among the countries in Asia-Pacific region, Hasina said in South Asia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal (BBIN) and Bangladesh, China, India, Myanmar - Economic Corridor (BCIM-EC) are worth noting.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. The premier, however, mentioned that for connectivity to yield greater advantage and improvements in peoples' living and livelihoods, countries need to seriously explore greater resources, further capabilities and newer partnerships.
Highlighting Bangladesh's progress in e-services, she said 4.5 million under-served citizens receive over 70 e-services from 5,300 Digital Centres across the country and around 43,000 government offices are connected under a single national e-portal.
She hoped that Asem would be able to bring greater result orientation on connectivity, especially under Asem Working Group on Connectivity.
The PM appreciated excellent arrangement and gracious hospitality offered to her and the Bangladesh delegation to Mongolia.
MEETINGS WITH ASEM LEADERS
Hasina on the first day of her visit to Mongolia passed a busy day yesterday. Besides joining the Asem Summit, she held bilateral meetings with some Asian and European leaders at the Summit venue.
She met Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and Italian Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni Silveri.
Foreign Minister M Shahidul Haq briefed reporters in the afternoon about the Summit and bilateral meetings. PM's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim was present.
The premier reassured the Italian foreign minister that the Bangladesh government and its people would jointly resist evil forces. In this regard, she pointed out the initiatives taken at the community level to combat terrorism, said the foreign secretary.
The Italian minister expressed satisfaction over the quick steps taken for tackling the situation in the aftermath of the Gulshan attack and sending the bodies of Italian citizens home.
Haq said the Italian foreign minister expressed his government's firm resolve to strengthen the relations with Bangladesh. The minister added that in no way the Gulshan incident would harm the bilateral ties.
In the meeting with her Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev, Hasina discussed various bilateral issues.
The foreign secretary said both the leaders expressed satisfaction over successful progress in the construction work of a nuclear power plant in Bangladesh with Russian support and decided to take steps for rapid implementation of the project.
The Russian PM offered his government's support to stand beside Bangladesh in its fight against terrorism and provide necessary technical and other assistance in this regard.
Terming Russia a friendly nation, Hasina said Dhaka would not hesitate to receive any assistance from Moscow which would be deemed necessary to fight terrorism.
The Bangladesh PM also talked to Swiss President Johann Schneider-Ammann and other leaders.
In the afternoon, the PM along with other heads of state and government joined Mongol Naadam Festival at Chinggis Khaan Khuree tourist complex on the outskirts of Ulaanbaatar.
Naadam Festival is a major Mongolian festival to experience the culture and people of Mongolia. The festival has its roots in the nomad wedding assemblies and hunting extravaganzas of the Mongol Army.
Later, Hasina joined a dinner hosted by Mongolian President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj in honour of the Asem leaders.
The foreign secretary said Asem leaders in a stock-taking session discussed the progress achieved over two decades in three pillars -- political, economic and people-to-people contact.
“The leaders discussed relevance of the forum and focused on four areas of cooperation in next decade, such as reinforcing the partnership between Asian and African continents, strengthening cooperation in anti-terrorism activities and radicalisation, human development and taking substantive initiatives to achieve sustainable development goals,” he added.
Today, Hasina will take part in the retreat session of the Asem Summit and also hold bilateral meetings with a number of world leaders.
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