Lauding the government's efforts in combating terrorism, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said Bangladesh is safer than Europe and America.
She said: “Political will and firm commitment shown by the government to combat domestic and transnational terrorism, and its counter terrorism activities have made it harder for transnational terrorists to operate in Bangladeshi territory.
“Bangladesh is now safer than even Europe and America.”
The premier, also the chief of ruling Awami League was speaking at a party meeting at her official residence Ganabhaban on Thursday afternoon.
She said: “We have adopted zero tolerance policy towards any sorts of terrorism and extremism. However a vested quarter is trying to transform Bangladesh into a militant ground.”
Referring to the sensational 10-truck arms haul incident of 2004, the PM further said: “The BNP and its key political ally Jamaat-e-Islami wanted to use our country as a transit route for smuggling arms.
“They took the country on the brink of destruction, from where the current government rescued it.”
The PM noted that since the current government assumed power in 2009, the country ceased being a safe haven for national and transnational terrorists, a notoriety the country garnered during the first years of the 2000s.
“The Awami League government enacted the Anti-Terrorism Act 2009 for the first time and updated the act in 2011, a specific legislation designed to fight terrorism in line with the UN Action Plan on Counterterrorism Strategy and other resolutions,” she added.
Mentioning that Bangladesh is making growth, reducing poverty, and discrimination under the Awami League government, she said: Our government led the country to development and we have achieved the lower middle income country status.
“Bangladesh will be recognised as a middle income country by 2021.”