We won’t tolerate any sorts of terrorism and militancy: PM

Reiterating her government’s ‘zero tolerance policy’ against terrorism and militancy, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday said none would be allowed to use Bangladesh’s soil for terrorist acts against any country.

‘We won’t tolerate any sorts of terrorism and militancy and won’t allow our land to be used for carrying out terrorist acts against any country,’ she told visiting Indian Defence Minister Manohar Gopalkrishna Prabhu Parrikar who called on the PM at her official Ganobhaban residence here this afternoon.

After the meeting, PM’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed reporters.

The prime minister recalled with gratitude the contribution of Indian armed forces to Bangladesh’s War of Liberation in 1971.

In this connection, Sheikh Hasina said she would honour those valiant Indian armed forces personnel who embraced martyrdom in the War of Liberation during her upcoming visit to India.

In reply, the Indian defence minister said: ‘It was our moral responsibility to extend help to Bangladesh in the War of Liberation as a friendly country and we provided that assistance.’

Sheikh Hasina thanked the Indian Coast Guards for rescuing Bangladeshi fishermen and handing over them to Bangladesh authorities recently.

The Indian defence minister offered training for Bangladesh Coast Guard personnel for increasing their capability further.

Parrikar highly appreciated Bangladesh’s tremendous socioeconomic development, particularly in women empowerment, under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

‘Bangladesh made impressive development in various sectors, especially women empowerment, which India could not do,’ he said.

The Indian defence minister later handed over to the Prime Minister a replica of a helicopter that India used in Bangladesh’s War of Liberation and photographs of paratroopers who took part in that war.

PM’s International Affairs Advisor Dr Gowher Rizvi, Principal Staff Officer of the Armed Forces Division Lt Gen Mahfuzur Rahman, PM’s Military Secretary Major General Mia Mohammad Joynul Abedin, PMO Secretary Surayia Begum and Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Harsha Vardhan Shringla were present at the meeting, among others.

Source: BSS