Visiting US Secretary of State John Kerry has said that the US wants to join forces with Bangladesh in the fight against terrorism and expressed the desire for additional intelligence sharing between the security agencies of both countries.
Kerry was on a day-long visit to Bangladesh today enroute to his India visit later in the day. In separate meetings with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali, the US Minister discussed security issues among other matters. Briefing the press after the meetings, Mahmood Ali said a host of issues including security matters were discussed.
The US secretary of state also showed his country’s eagerness to work closely with Bangladesh in other sectors like climate, health and energy.
While talking about the ongoing anti-IS drive in the Middle East, he said the IS has been cornered in the region due to the operation and many IS terrorists are now returning home on the face of the attack.
When the premier recalled the assassination of Bangabandhu and most of his family members in 1975 and requested the USA to extradite Bangabandhu’s killers living in the United States, the US secretary of state said he understands the concern of Sheikh Hasina.
“The issue (of extradition) is under review by the US government,” he said.
When the premier wanted to know the source of money of the IS terrorist outfit, the US secretary of state said the group is earning money by selling oil from the fields that it captured and imposing levy on the general people of the IS-dominated regions.
About his visit to the historic Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi-32 in the capital, Kerry said he was really impressed to see the historical evidence in the house.
Sources said Kerry told Hasina that US believes that elements of IS are connected to terror operatives of Bangladesh, and praised the leadership of the premier in fighting terrorism and militancy in her country. Before leaving Dhaka this evening Kerry had a meeting with main Opposition BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia.