Dhaka denounces use of religion to justify extremism: Shahriar

Bangladesh has said it rejects any narrow and misinformed interpretation of Islam, religion of peace, and denounced the use of religion to justify violent extremist acts, reports UNB. “Violent extremists do not belong to any religion. We denounce the use of religion to justify violent extremist acts. We reject any narrow, misinformed interpretation of Islam, our religion of peace,” State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam told the “Geneva Conference on Preventing Violent Extremism-The Way Forward” held at the United Nations Office in Geneva.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon and Didier Burkhalter, Foreign Minister of Switzerland, delivered the keynote statements as co-chairs of the conference held on Thursday-Friday, said a Foreign Ministry statement received here from Geneva on Friday night.
The conference was attended by ministers from Belgium, Cameroon, Mauritania, Sudan, the United Kingdom, the Maldives, Malaysia, Czech Republic, Guinea Bissau and Luxemburg, and the representatives from international organisations.
Speaking at the high level segment of the conference, the Bangladesh State Minister said, “In Bangladesh, we maintain a zero tolerance approach to terrorism and violent extremism. We’re also making progress in stemming the flow of terrorist financing.”
Highlighting the need to address the root causes of terrorism and violent extremism, he highlighted Bangladesh’s pro-poor and pro-people development strategy that include sustained investment in human development to reduce poverty, enhance women’s social mobility, create employment opportunities, and strengthen human rights and the rule of law, and foster children with a tolerant and scientific outlook in aspiration to build a knowledge-based society.
Shahriar also underlined Bangladesh’s partnership with the Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund (GCERF) to further work through community-based organisations.

Dhaka denounces use of religion to justify extremism: Shahriar

Bangladesh has said it rejects any narrow and misinformed interpretation of Islam, religion of peace, and denounced the use of religion to justify violent extremist acts, reports UNB. Violent extremists do not belong to any religion. We denounce the use of religion to justify violent extremist acts. We reject any narrow, misinformed interpretation of Islam, our religion of peace, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam told the Geneva Conference on Preventing Violent Extremism-The Way Forward held at the United Nations Office in Geneva. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon and Didier Burkhalter, Foreign Minister of Switzerland, delivered the keynote statements as co-chairs of the conference held on Thursday-Friday, said a Foreign Ministry statement received here from Geneva on Friday night. The conference was attended by ministers from Belgium, Cameroon, Mauritania, Sudan, the United Kingdom, the Maldives, Malaysia, Czech Republic, Guinea Bissau and Luxemburg, and the representatives from international organisations. Speaking at the high level segment of the conference, the Bangladesh State Minister said, In Bangladesh, we maintain a zero tolerance approach to terrorism and violent extremism. Were also making progress in stemming the flow of terrorist financing. Highlighting the need to address the root causes of terrorism and violent extremism, he highlighted Bangladeshs pro-poor and pro-people development strategy that include sustained investment in human development to reduce poverty, enhance womens social mobility, create employment opportunities, and strengthen human rights and the rule of law, and foster children with a tolerant and scientific outlook in aspiration to build a knowledge-based society. Shahriar also underlined Bangladeshs partnership with the Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund (GCERF) to further work through community-based organisations.