Bangladesh, a country that has faced terrorism for several years, has reaffirmed its zero-tolerance policy against the menace in all its forms and manifestations, mentioning that terrorism cannot and should not be associated with any religion, race, faith, culture, ethnicity or society.

Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the UN, Ambassador Rabab Fatima said: "Bangladesh strongly condemns and rejects any attempt to associate terrorism with any particular religion or nationality."

The ambassador made the remarks while speaking in a High-Level UN Meeting on International Terrorism at the United Nations on Tuesday.

She highlighted the various national legislative and policy actions of the current government under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in curbing terrorism, violent extremism, terrorist financing and related menaces.

The envoy also mentioned Bangladesh’s close partnership with the UN entities, bilateral partners, civil society organizations in strengthening the country’s response to the threats of terrorism and violent extremism.

Referring to the impact of Covid-19 on global terrorism, Ambassador Fatima said the pandemic has disrupted national and global efforts to prevent and counter-terrorism.

She called for inclusive and resilient recovery and also increased investment in capacity building, intelligence sharing, raising awareness against hate speech, xenophobia, and infodemics and abuse of online platforms.  

Highlighting the gender aspects of terrorism and violent extremism, Ambassador Fatima drew attention to the disproportionate impacts of terrorism on women.

Bangladesh has been rocked by terror attacks In the early years of this century.

Ten people died and many more people were wounded in a series of bombings at the Ramna Park in Dhaka during Bengali new year celebrations in April 2001. The incident followed a grenade attack on a Communist Party of Bangladesh rally at Paltan ground in Dhaka leaving Five people dead and dozens injured.

On August 21, 2004,  Sheikh Hasina, then opposition leader, narrowly survived a grenade attack on her anti-terrorism rally on Bangabandhu Avenue, Dhaka. The attack left 24 Awami League leaders and workers dead and more than 500 injured.

There were also serial bomb blasts in four cinema halls of Mymensingh district in 2002, and simultaneous series of bomb attacks at 511 places in 63 districts on August 17, 2005.

In 2016, terrorists struck in a popular Dhaka cafe, Holey Artisan Bakery, that left 23, including 18 foreigners, dead.

(SAM)