Bangladesh Pushes Back as Warnings of ISIS Expansion Gather Steam
By
ELLEN BARRYOCT. 30, 2015
The disconnect between Bangladesh and foreign intelligence agencies has confused Bangladeshis and foreigners alike, and could complicate anti-terrorism efforts. Credit A.M. Ahad/Associated Press
DHAKA, Bangladesh — Last month, United States officials told Bangladeshi authorities that they had information suggesting that terrorists linked to the Islamic State were preparing to ramp up activity within
Bangladesh’s borders.
But Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh’s prime minister, has responded to the developments with suspicion and outright skepticism. Even as foreign embassies informed their citizens that they could become terrorist targets, Bangladeshi officials have insisted that the Islamic State, also known as ISIS or ISIL, does not exist in their country. They have noted, pointedly, that the United States has promulgated flawed intelligence in the past, as in the run-up to the Iraq invasion.
Instead, Ms. Hasina has described the episodes as a conspiracy by domestic opposition leaders to tarnish her government’s reputation.
“Bangladesh is moving ahead and it’ll do so,” she said on Wednesday. “Let me say one thing: The march forward of Bangladesh can’t be stopped by hurling two bombs or five eggs. Those who are thinking this are making a mistake.”
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No evidence of ISIS' presence in Bangladesh: Shahriar Alam
Alam refuted US intelligence's observation that the Islamic State (ISIS) could expand their presence in the country
Press Trust of India | Washington February 13, 2016 Last Updated at 13:57 IST
Bangladesh is determined to deal with terrorists and shares intelligence with countries like India and the
US to address the menace, a senior minister has said as he refuted the US intelligence's observation that the Islamic State (ISIS) could expand their presence in the country.
"On the ground, in the investigations that we have carried out, we did not get any evidence of ISIS links as yet," Bangladesh's State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam.
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He dismissed the analysis of the American intelligence community that ISIS could gain ground in Bangladesh by exploiting attempts by the ruling Awami League to undermine the political opposition.
"I do not think, any terrorist or groups would ever gain permanent or semi-permanent ground in Bangladesh," Alam, who is the first foreign leader to meet the new US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Thomas Shannon, said.
During their meeting, Alam and Shannon reviewed the strength and breadth of Bangladesh-US relationship.
"Our relationship with the United States in the last two years has reached a new height. Both sides agree that we are happy with the level of co-operation with each other," he said after his meetings with State Department officials including Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Nisha Desai Biswal.
During his meetings at the State Department, Alam said he raised Bangladeshi government's disappointment on recent statement of James Clapper Director of National Intelligence that the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's continuing efforts to undermine the political opposition in Bangladesh will probably provide openings for transnational terrorist groups to expand their presence in the country.
Alam said that terrorism of Bangladesh in the past during BNP-Jamaat regime flourished under State sponsorship.
Investigations into the recent killings of bloggers and two foreigners certainly indicate that those behind these heinous killings had links with Jamaat-e-Islam or were active member of Jamaat-e-Islamic or to some extent were linked with greater alliance between Bangladesh National Party (BNP) and Jamaat.
He said Hasina Government has a "zero tolerance policy" and would continue to pursue that beyond its borders also.
"That means supporting and working in tandem with the neighbouring countries and exchange intelligence information with countries like US or India or European countries," he said.
"The government is determined to deal with them (terrorists)," he said.