Bangladesh News

Visiting British Home Secretary Jacqui Smith yesterday said there are links between British and Bangladeshi terror networks.

She said the two countries will form a high level joint working group that will meet in June to thrash out details of ‘practical programmes’ on counter-terrorism, which might include sharing of information and counter-terror training.

Smith also said during her meetings with Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed and Army Chief Gen Moeen U Ahmed yesterday, she received ’strong reassurances’ from them that the stalled ninth parliamentary election will be held by the year’s end.

The UK home secretary made the comments during a news conference at the British high commission wrapping up her three day visit.

“Yes there are linkages between terrorism in Britain and Bangladesh,” she said when asked if there is any link between terror groups in the two countries, but refused to divulge specific name of any militant group in either country.

“Linkages are highly likely because of the nature of international terrorism…terrorists travel widely, use dual nationalities,” said Smith adding, the countries have a shared interest in helping each other tackle terrorism in both short and long terms.

When asked if her government feels that Harkat-ul Jihad al-Islami, Bangladesh (Huji-B) is a threat to Britain, she answered, “Yes.”

Asked if the UK is wary of any link between Al-Qaeda and Bangladeshi militant groups, she did not dismiss the notion, and said the global terror network does have the ability to work in a wide range of countries.

Smith said the vast majority of Britons, Bangladeshis, and British-Bangladeshis ‘abhor’ terrorism and are united to ‘protect shared values of peace and freedom’.

The counter-terrorism joint working group will be comprised of personnel from both government’s ministries on security, foreign affairs, intelligence and police.

Earlier in the day, after her meeting with Home Adviser MA Matin, Smith said a strong and stable democracy cannot be built without defeating terrorism, while Matin said the two sides discussed cooperation, especially potential British training of Bangladeshi counter-terrorism teams, to prevent terrorist attacks on the country’s aviation industry.

Currently, Britain provides counter-terror training, and finances and organises counter-terror research by local think tanks, while having undisclosed counter-terrorism defence ties with Bangladesh.

During her meeting with the chief adviser earlier in the day, Fakhruddin told Smith that the emergency power rules will be gradually lifted before the planned local government elections next month, reported UNB.

He also told her that informal talks with political parties had already started to move ahead with the election roadmap.

At the news conference Smith told reporters that she received ’strong assurances’ from the chief adviser, the army chief, and the home adviser that institutional reforms and voter registration, among other preparations, are on track for the general election to be held by December.

Smith said she thinks, along with the international community, that holding free, fair, credible elections is a very important pre-requisite for Bangladesh’s international role.

She said Britain has always been more comfortable working with democratic governments.

The British home secretary said fair trials must be ensured for detained political leaders, maintaining the highest of standards and without fear or favour, adding that protection of human rights is an imperative for all law enforcement and security agencies.

Smith also said 54 cases of British nationals having been brought to Bangladesh under ‘forced marriages’ were reported to the high commission. The UK secretary had also attended an event on ‘forced marriage’ and ways to tackle the problem.

She earlier laid the foundation stone for a new model police station in Habiganj and met British-Bangladeshis in Sylhet yesterday.

Smith’s visit has been the third high level trip by a British minister within the last four months, following visits by International Development Secretary Douglas Alexander in December and by Foreign Secretary David Miliband in February.