Counter-terrorism cell soon: Minister
NTV Online
Dhaka: In an effort to curb terrorism, the Home Ministry on Wednesday decided to set up a 24/7 anti-terrorism cell to monitor all the information related to terrorism and pass that on to relevant law enforcement agencies.
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal made the disclosure to reporters after American Ambassador Marcia Stephens Bloom Bernicat met him at the Secretariat.
The cell will be led by additional secretary (political) from the Home Ministry who will coordinate all the information to all the law enforcement wings within a short period of time.
The minister said the United States and Bangladesh will work together to put an end to terrorism in Bangladesh.
Ambassador Bernicat informed that although her meeting with the minister was fixed well beforehand, the recent murders including that of Xulhaz Mannan, Rajshahi University professor AFM Rezaul Karim Siddiquee and other bloggers are of great concerns.
She reminded the minister about Xulhaz's previous posting as her predecessor's protocol officer and was serving in USAID till his death.
The minister also informed the US envoy about the recent Bangladesh couple murder in San Jose, California. This gave the need for bilateral information-sharing, including training by US officials to Bangladeshi law enforcement officials.
He outlined that progresses have been made in 31 such sensitive cases and said those involved in the recent murders will be brought to justice.
The Home Minister reiterated that there is no base of Islamic State (IS) in Bangladesh and that those who claim the murders under different organisation names, such as the recent Ansar Al Islam, are all the same and will be investigated upon.
Asked about a remark Bernicat had made about the killers in Bangladesh getting away, he said it was said emotionally and she appreciated the progress and development the Bangladesh Police has made of late.
About the possibility of any FBI team coming to Bangladesh, he said an FBI team, stationed inside the American Embassy, is observing the investigation progress.