Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday denounced the security clampdown in the Myanmar’s western Rakhine state saying the way of actions by Naypyidaw was causing problem for neighbouring Bangladesh, reports BSS. “Bangladesh never supported the acts (reported attacks on police check posts) that previously happened in Myanmar (Rakhine state),” PM’s press secretary Ihsanul Karim quoted her as saying as regional grouping BIMSTEC’s outgoing Secretary General Sumith Nakandala called on her at the PMO. She added: “But the way Myanmar government is reacting, it is creating problem for Bangladesh.”

He said on the point of terrorism the premier described it as a contemporary global phenomenon while “all countries should work together against the menaces”.

The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) is an international organisation involving a grouping South and South-East Asian nations including Myanmar.

Nakandala said BIMSTEC members were working through mutual cooperation in 14 socioeconomic areas and in certain fields like transport and connectivity it made remarkable progress.

He put emphasis on holding a ministerial level meeting on agriculture to boost up cooperation in this sector. As well, he put emphasis on promoting traditional medicines like Ayurvedic and Unani medicines.  Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh laid importance on BIMSTEC for the development of the region as her government’s main focus was to eradicate poverty and hunger from the region.

“Countries of the region are getting developed, but it (BIMSTEC) has to be more,” she said.  Prime Minister’s International Affairs Adviser Gowher Rizvi and PMO Senior Secretary Surabaya Begum were present.