Dhaka determined to eliminate extremism, ensure democratic dispensation: Envoy
UNB
Bangladesh Ambassador to the United States Mohammad Ziauddin has said the governments present struggle is against extremists, perpetrators of the crimes against humanity and anti-liberation forces in Bangladesh, reports UNB. Bangladesh under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is working closely with the USA, neighbours and other friendly countries to eliminate extremism and terrorism from Bangladesh and even beyond, he said. The Bangladesh envoy made the remarks when he met Democrat Congressman Mike Honda at the Capitol Hill on Thursday, said a press release yesterday.
The diplomat discussed current political situation in Bangladesh with particular reference to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasinas pledge to root out extremism and ensure democratic dispensation in the country.
Discussing the political situation in Bangladesh, Ambassador Ziauddin explained the genesis of Bangladesh Awami League as a political party established in late 40s soon after the creation of Pakistan.
Among the principal founding pillars of the party were democracy and secularism, which reflected the peoples aspiration. In due course the peoples party became vibrant under the leadership of the then young and promising leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman; he subsequently led the Bangalee people to their freedom and independence struggle, Ambassador added.
On the contrary, he said, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Jamaat-e-Islami were created under the patronisation of a military ruler after the brutal killing of the Father of Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
The post-1975 military autocrats systematically provided impunity to the killers of the Father of the Nation and deliberately reinstated the religious and the anti-liberation forces into politics, Ziauddin added.
He said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasinas government has vowed to show zero tolerance against all forms of extremism and terrorism.
The Ambassador discussed the constitutional obligations and other perspectives of holding the 10th national parliamentary elections in 2014.
Ziauddin said Bangladesh has been implementing the US Action Plan to ensure workers rights and safety in the RMG sector. The government is steadfast to ensure the labour rights and safety in the RMG sector to make the industry productive and sustainable.
The Ambassador explained the context of creation of International Crimes Tribunals and said these trials will end the culture of impunity and ensure justice to the victims who had been in a trauma for the last four decades.
