INVESTIGATING FOREIGNERS� KILLINGS

US ready to help

The measures taken by the government following the death of an Italian aid worker on September 28 have made US citizens living in Bangladesh feel safer, US ambassador Marcia Bernicat said yesterday. She, however, added that the travel advisory issued by her government after the killing would remain in place unless the situation changed. It is not meant to tell US citizens not to come to Bangladesh or leave it; rather, it asks them to remain cautious, she clarified.
Underscoring the “vital importance” of Bangladesh-US joint efforts to address violent extremism, she offered Washington’s assistance in investigating the incidents.
“We do feel safer today,” Bernicat said at a programme titled ‘DCAB Talk’, organised by the Diplomatic Correspondents’ Association Bangladesh at the National Press Club, on being asked if she and her fellow US citizens in Bangladesh felt safer now than the day on which the Italian citizen was murdered.
“But we don’t ever take it for granted that it is up to someone else to provide all the security. Security starts with the individuals,” she reminded.
Replying to a volley of questions regarding the issuance of the travel alert, Bernicat
said, “My very first responsibility as an
ambassador is to protect US citizens in my country of assignment. We know three things. We know there were credible threats issued before the first killing took place”. “What constitutes a credible threat? If there are sufficient details, if there is a timing involved, a targeting involved and there is a methodology involved. On those credible threats, Australians, Brits (British), the US and other nations issued advisories.
“Our advisory does not say not to come to Bangladesh. It certainly does not say to leave Bangladesh. What the advisory says is, ‘please exercise caution’.”
When asked if the “credible threat” was shared with the government and what the response from the government was, Bernicat said, “We are in constant dialogue with your government at different levels on these issues. Yes, we share our concerns.”
The Bangladesh authorities, police in particular, are well responsive to the security concerns raised by the US, she said. To a question on lowering the advisory, Bernicat said, “We will leave our security advisory in place until we feel the threat is passed (sic).”
On being asked to elaborate her statement in Chittagong on Sunday that the US was verifying the claims that the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, another name for ISIS) killed the two foreigners, the ambassador said, “You may have noticed that when ISIL, or al-Qaeda for that matter, takes credit for any terrorist activities anywhere in the world, we seek to verify that information and we are in the process of doing that so we can verify that those claims are accurate. It helps us and all our partners to track terrorist activities around
the world.
“We are absolutely committed to helping Bangladesh government, if that asks for help, and we are absolutely committed to helping to get to the bottom of these killings whatever
their origin.
“Both of the attacks took place in a similar manner. And, both of the attacks are seemingly unusual in Bangladesh.”
Complimenting Bangladesh on its “legendary” hospitality towards foreigners, Bernicat said, “Your law-enforcing officials are very efficient in arresting terrorists, including people who have been suspected or charged for recruiting for ISIL for acting on behalf of ISIL in some capacities.”
She went on, “Let me also underscore the vital importance of our joint efforts to address violent extremism. We have everything we need to fight the emergence of ISIL in Bangladesh.
“Bangladesh has a Prime Minister who has taken a zero-tolerance approach to terrorism. As partners over the years, we have developed the resources, the commitment and the shared experiences we need to counter terrorism and violent extremism. “And, we are determined to work together with our shared partners for the safety and security of our countries. This is a global issue that requires a coordinated, global approach.”
When asked to comment on the remarks of the Prime Minister and the home minister that there was no existence of ISIS in Bangladesh, she said, “We always verify the claims. We
will continue to work if we can verify these claims.”
To a question, the ambassador reiterated Washington’s concerns about human rights violations in Bangladesh, emphasising the need for transparent and thorough investigation into
such cases.
On restoration of the generalized system of preferences (GSP), she said significant progress had been made, but more work was needed to be done. She hoped that GSP facilities would be restored at some point when the US-provided action plan would be suitably addressed.

INVESTIGATING FOREIGNERS� KILLINGS

US ready to help

The measures taken by the government following the death of an Italian aid worker on September 28 have made US citizens living in Bangladesh feel safer, US ambassador Marcia Bernicat said yesterday. She, however, added that the travel advisory issued by her government after the killing would remain in place unless the situation changed. It is not meant to tell US citizens not to come to Bangladesh or leave it; rather, it asks them to remain cautious, she clarified. Underscoring the vital importance of Bangladesh-US joint efforts to address violent extremism, she offered Washingtons assistance in investigating the incidents. We do feel safer today, Bernicat said at a programme titled DCAB Talk, organised by the Diplomatic Correspondents Association Bangladesh at the National Press Club, on being asked if she and her fellow US citizens in Bangladesh felt safer now than the day on which the Italian citizen was murdered. But we dont ever take it for granted that it is up to someone else to provide all the security. Security starts with the individuals, she reminded. Replying to a volley of questions regarding the issuance of the travel alert, Bernicat said, My very first responsibility as an ambassador is to protect US citizens in my country of assignment. We know three things. We know there were credible threats issued before the first killing took place. What constitutes a credible threat? If there are sufficient details, if there is a timing involved, a targeting involved and there is a methodology involved. On those credible threats, Australians, Brits (British), the US and other nations issued advisories. Our advisory does not say not to come to Bangladesh. It certainly does not say to leave Bangladesh. What the advisory says is, please exercise caution. When asked if the credible threat was shared with the government and what the response from the government was, Bernicat said, We are in constant dialogue with your government at different levels on these issues. Yes, we share our concerns. The Bangladesh authorities, police in particular, are well responsive to the security concerns raised by the US, she said. To a question on lowering the advisory, Bernicat said, We will leave our security advisory in place until we feel the threat is passed (sic). On being asked to elaborate her statement in Chittagong on Sunday that the US was verifying the claims that the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, another name for ISIS) killed the two foreigners, the ambassador said, You may have noticed that when ISIL, or al-Qaeda for that matter, takes credit for any terrorist activities anywhere in the world, we seek to verify that information and we are in the process of doing that so we can verify that those claims are accurate. It helps us and all our partners to track terrorist activities around the world. We are absolutely committed to helping Bangladesh government, if that asks for help, and we are absolutely committed to helping to get to the bottom of these killings whatever their origin. Both of the attacks took place in a similar manner. And, both of the attacks are seemingly unusual in Bangladesh. Complimenting Bangladesh on its legendary hospitality towards foreigners, Bernicat said, Your law-enforcing officials are very efficient in arresting terrorists, including people who have been suspected or charged for recruiting for ISIL for acting on behalf of ISIL in some capacities. She went on, Let me also underscore the vital importance of our joint efforts to address violent extremism. We have everything we need to fight the emergence of ISIL in Bangladesh. Bangladesh has a Prime Minister who has taken a zero-tolerance approach to terrorism. As partners over the years, we have developed the resources, the commitment and the shared experiences we need to counter terrorism and violent extremism. And, we are determined to work together with our shared partners for the safety and security of our countries. This is a global issue that requires a coordinated, global approach. When asked to comment on the remarks of the Prime Minister and the home minister that there was no existence of ISIS in Bangladesh, she said, We always verify the claims. We will continue to work if we can verify these claims. To a question, the ambassador reiterated Washingtons concerns about human rights violations in Bangladesh, emphasising the need for transparent and thorough investigation into such cases. On restoration of the generalized system of preferences (GSP), she said significant progress had been made, but more work was needed to be done. She hoped that GSP facilities would be restored at some point when the US-provided action plan would be suitably addressed.