Bangladesh News

Bangladesh will hold talks with neighbouring countries to work out effective measures to fight militancy and terrorism for ensuring peace and stability in South Asia, said newly appointed Foreign Minister Dr Dipu Moni yesterday.

Dipu Moni, the country’s first woman foreign minister, made the remark at her office while replying to a query from journalists about the anti-terrorism Joint Task Force in South Asia proposed by Sheikh Hasina.

“Militancy and terrorism are not limited to geographical boundary. For that reason, we will take effective steps to fight it in consultation with our neighbouring countries as we want peace and stability in the entire region,” she said.

When asked about the trial of war criminals, Dipu Moni, who has academic background in both medical science and law, said the war criminals could be tried under the laws of the land as well as the international laws, adding that they would make a decision after considering all the aspects.

Commenting on delimitation of maritime boundary with India and Myanmar within the set timeline, she said the time is short but the matter will be resolved through negotiations with the neighbouring countries.

Asked whether the present government would pursue the previous BNP-Jamaat alliance government’s ‘Look East’ policy, the new foreign minister said it would not be correct to focus on a particular region in this globalised world.

“In one region, there may be potential for exporting Bangladeshi manpower while in another there may be a need for improving trade relations,” she said.

In a reaction to her appointment as the country’s first woman foreign minister, Dipu Moni said the prime minister has given the responsibilities of the home and the foreign affairs ministries to two women as part of the implementation of the party’s election manifesto — Charter for Change.

“She (Hasina) has given the responsibilities after considering all the aspects,” Dipu Moni said, adding that she would be able to perform her duty with the help of all including the media.

State Minister for foreign affairs Dr Hasan Mahmud and Foreign Secretary Touhid Hossain, among others, were present.