Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has urged the international community not to confuse Islam with terrorism.
She made this comment at the recently concluded Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) held in Milan on October 16-17.
“She made a strong statement on terrorism in ASEM summit and said it is the enemy of development,” Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali quoted Hasina as saying at a press briefing at the ministry yesterday.
Hasina urged the global community not to identify terrorists on the basis of religion or nation, he said.
“The prime minister said terrorism can be curbed by a great deal if global arms trade can be controlled.”
The soil of Bangladesh will not be allowed to use for terrorist activities against any country, Mahmood said quoting the prime minister.
Terrorism has become a burning issue in recent times after the emergence of Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) that has created anarchy in Syria and Iraq.
The global leaders discussed the ISIL issue in the ASEM retreat where Hasina said Bangladesh opposes all forms of terrorism.
Bangladesh believes in territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Iraq and Syria and wants to see a peaceful solution in those countries, he said.
Earlier, the foreign minister made it clear that Bangladesh would only be engaged in Syria and Iraq crisis if the United Nations takes any humanitarian assistance programme in those countries.
Free movement of people
The minister said Bangladesh is ready to host the 9th Global Forum of Migration and Development (GFMD) next year.
In the forum meeting, over 100 expatriate ministers and about 1,000 foreign experts, academicians and NGO activists will take part.
The prime minister has flagged the demand for free movement of people between Asia and Europe, Mahmood said.
“When we are talking about connectivity between Asia and Europe we must consider free movement of people from one country to another,” the minister quoted Hasina.
About 10 million Bangladeshis are working abroad and the remittance they send contribute to the economy of the country, Mahmood said.
“Bangladesh is working with Sweden and Switzerland to incorporate migration issue in the post-2015 development agenda.”
Climate change
Bangladesh has drawn the attention of global leaders to the danger of climate change and urged them to take the responsibilities to finance and implement different projects, Mahmood said.
Cyclones, floods and tidal surge frequently hit the coastal belt every year and due to rise in the sea level about 30 million people lose their homesteads.
The prime minister also had meetings with German chancellor, prime ministers of Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden and Greece.