United Nations Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh Robert Watkins

Blogger killings unfortunate

Says UN resident coordinator in Bangladesh

United Nations Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh Robert Watkins yesterday described the killings of bloggers as unfortunate, saying that these types of terrorist incidents seriously threaten the ability of a state to maintain the capacity to ensure a free and open environment to accommodate ideas.
“We have had a number of unfortunate incidents in Bangladesh…Four incidents of bloggers who have been assassinated by extremist groups,” he told the inaugurating session of a two-day workshop on ‘Designation and Asset Freezing under United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1267 and 1373’ jointly organised by Counterterrorism Implementation Taskforce and the United Nations. The UN Security Council Resolutions 1267 and 1373 mainly deal with the financing of terrorism.    
Foreign Secretary Shahidul Haque also spoke on the occasion. “And, Bangladesh, nonetheless, remains formally a secular state and a state dedicated to preserving free thinking and free expression. We know that these types of terrorist events and larger threats behind them are serious threat to ability of any state to maintain the capacity to keep free and open market place of ideas,” the UN Resident Coordinator said of the killings of the bloggers. “There is a huge debate as you know about how free people should be to express their views and that is an interesting debate,” he said.
“We all agree that people should have at least the right to express their ideas without threat and violence,” he added.
Watkins went on to say, “If they break the law that’s another thing. But, to face death or threat as consequences are unacceptable.”
On the issue of terrorism, the UN official said, “In Bangladesh, we have been blessed not to have a serious terrorism problem, yet.”
But, he laid emphasis on building capacity by Bangladesh to make people more aware of the threats and also more aware of the tools available to try to counter these threats.
Acknowledging that it is a challenging job to combat terrorist financing, he hoped that this workshop, attended by officials of Finance Ministry, Home Ministry, Bangladesh Bank, intelligence agencies, scheduled and private banks, will help the officials concerned achieve this.   “We know there are networks out there...there are networks that are funding illegal immigration that has been very much in the headlines in Bangladesh. Not necessarily, these are terrorist networks, these are criminal networks. The line between criminality and terrorism is very very fragile. Terrorism and criminality often work hand in hand,” said the Coordinator.
About the scenario regarding terrorism in the region, he said, “South Asia is largely peaceful. Thankfully, that is to a large extent true in terms of actual terrorist activities. But, South Asia, nonetheless, remains not only potential for greater terrorism but also great source of finance for terrorist activities which take place in different places of the world.”
Emphasising the need for understanding the UN Security Council Resolutions, Foreign Secretary Haque told the officials that the government is planning to bring amendments to the laws of the country related to terrorism and it’s financing to counter the rise of violent extremism and terrorism.

 

United Nations Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh Robert Watkins

Blogger killings unfortunate

Says UN resident coordinator in Bangladesh

United Nations Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh Robert Watkins yesterday described the killings of bloggers as unfortunate, saying that these types of terrorist incidents seriously threaten the ability of a state to maintain the capacity to ensure a free and open environment to accommodate ideas. We have had a number of unfortunate incidents in BangladeshFour incidents of bloggers who have been assassinated by extremist groups, he told the inaugurating session of a two-day workshop on Designation and Asset Freezing under United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1267 and 1373 jointly organised by Counterterrorism Implementation Taskforce and the United Nations. The UN Security Council Resolutions 1267 and 1373 mainly deal with the financing of terrorism. Foreign Secretary Shahidul Haque also spoke on the occasion. And, Bangladesh, nonetheless, remains formally a secular state and a state dedicated to preserving free thinking and free expression. We know that these types of terrorist events and larger threats behind them are serious threat to ability of any state to maintain the capacity to keep free and open market place of ideas, the UN Resident Coordinator said of the killings of the bloggers. There is a huge debate as you know about how free people should be to express their views and that is an interesting debate, he said. We all agree that people should have at least the right to express their ideas without threat and violence, he added. Watkins went on to say, If they break the law thats another thing. But, to face death or threat as consequences are unacceptable. On the issue of terrorism, the UN official said, In Bangladesh, we have been blessed not to have a serious terrorism problem, yet. But, he laid emphasis on building capacity by Bangladesh to make people more aware of the threats and also more aware of the tools available to try to counter these threats. Acknowledging that it is a challenging job to combat terrorist financing, he hoped that this workshop, attended by officials of Finance Ministry, Home Ministry, Bangladesh Bank, intelligence agencies, scheduled and private banks, will help the officials concerned achieve this. We know there are networks out there...there are networks that are funding illegal immigration that has been very much in the headlines in Bangladesh. Not necessarily, these are terrorist networks, these are criminal networks. The line between criminality and terrorism is very very fragile. Terrorism and criminality often work hand in hand, said the Coordinator. About the scenario regarding terrorism in the region, he said, South Asia is largely peaceful. Thankfully, that is to a large extent true in terms of actual terrorist activities. But, South Asia, nonetheless, remains not only potential for greater terrorism but also great source of finance for terrorist activities which take place in different places of the world. Emphasising the need for understanding the UN Security Council Resolutions, Foreign Secretary Haque told the officials that the government is planning to bring amendments to the laws of the country related to terrorism and its financing to counter the rise of violent extremism and terrorism.