Joint working group on counter terrorism launched<\/span><\/strong>
\nBangladesh and UK yesterday launched a joint working group (JWG) to enhance counter terrorism cooperation between the two countries for building capacity of combating terrorism.
\nAt the first meeting of JWG, high officials of the two countries primarily identified the areas of cooperation, including sharing intelligence and training of law-enforcers.
\nThey agreed to hold the next meeting of the group by the end of this year to finalise the modalities of their cooperation under the\u00a0group.
\nState Minister for Foreign Affairs Hasan Mahmud and UK Minister for Security and Counter-Terrorism Lord West led their respective sides at the day-long meeting at state guesthouse Meghna.
\n\u201cBangladesh sought UK support for strengthening the coast guards to protect maritime boundary, border management and training of our law enforcers,\u201d Hasan Mahmud told reporters after the meeting.
\nHe said activities of joint working group began at its first high-level meeting.
\n\u201cTerrorists have no boundary and they have connection among themselves, they assist each other. If we want to combat them, we must have a network and cooperation among ourselves. That’s why, the UK-Bangladesh joint working group was formed,” he said.
\nThe state minister said they asked UK side to form a cell under JWG for our border management. \u201cThey (UK) have responded positively in this regard,” he added.
\n“We have sought assistance to enhance the capacity of our coast guards to protect our sea boundary, border management and in detection of explosive at the airports,\u201d he said, adding that the UK assured him of giving necessary equipment.
\nMahmud said they also discussed how the two countries can cooperate in crisis management or when there is a security threat.
\nLord West, who came here Saturday on a three-day visit said, “Both of our nations sadly have been victims of terrorism and I think it is very important that we work together in the face of that, counter-terrorism.”
\n“We are in discussion with many countries of the world. Because, terrorism is a global threat,” said West, terming terrorism an international phenomenon which he said should be resolved bilaterally and internationally.
\nThe UK minister said terrorists in Bangladesh and UK could have linked sometimes using information and communication technologies.
\nAsked about specific assistance for Bangladesh under the JWG, he said they are in a dialogue with the government and more dialogues would take place in future.
\nAsked if Bangladesh is under international security threat, Lord West said all countries are under threats.
\nThe first meeting of JWG is a follow up of the proposal made by UK Home Secretary Jackie Smith during her trip to Bangladesh in April last year.
\nTalking to The Daily Star after the meeting, Home Secretary Abdus Sobhan Sikder said the two sides discussed the areas of cooperation. \u201cWe also discussed from where security threats could come,\u201d he said.
\nHe said both sides placed their recommendation in this regard and finalised the areas of cooperation. He also said Bangladesh look forward to form such group with US, Australia and Russia.
\nForeign ministry officials said both UK and US have proposed Bangladesh and other countries in this region to form JWG to counter terrorism. \u201cLike some other countries, we have also responded to their proposal,\u201d said a foreign ministry official.
\nSecretary to the PMO, defence secretary, chairman of Civil Aviation Authority, director generals of NSI, BDR, Rab, DGFI and Coast Guard, acting IGP, representative of Armed Forces Division, joint secretary (political), home ministry, and director general (Europe) of the foreign ministry, among others, were present at the meeting from the host side.
\nBritish High Commissioner Stephen Evans, Head of Counter Terrorism Department Robert Chatterson Dickson Sian Price, Head of International Security Section Mark Clayton, Office of Security and Counterterrorism Paul Waters and Alaric Bonthron of Metropolitan Police Service, Jon Chorrley from Cabinet Office, Philip Spicer from Defense Advisor and James Hopkins from the ministry of defence accompanied Lord West in the meeting.<\/p>\n

Courtesy of The Daily Star<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Joint working group on counter terrorism launched Bangladesh and UK yesterday launched a joint working group (JWG) to enhance counter terrorism cooperation between the two countries for building capacity of combating terrorism. At the first meeting of JWG, high officials of the two countries primarily identified the areas of cooperation, including sharing intelligence and training … Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_editorskit_title_hidden":false,"_editorskit_reading_time":0,"_editorskit_is_block_options_detached":false,"_editorskit_block_options_position":"{}","footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n