Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has urged all to work together for establishing a secure and prosperous region by uprooting all sorts of terrorism.
"We must root out terrorism in its all forms to build a secure and prosperous region," she said when national security chiefs from the member countries of Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (Bimstec) met her at her official residence Ganabhaban on Wednesday.
PM’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed reporters after the meeting.
The national security chiefs of the Bimstec member countries are now in Dhaka to discuss the issues of security cooperation among the seven states of the regional grouping.
The prime minister hoped that the Bimstec countries will further strengthen their cooperation to stamp out terrorism from the region.
She said containing drug abuse, human trafficking, cybercrime, maritime space threat and sea-level rise due to climate change are the major challenges for the region.
"We must find out a system to face these challenges in a coordinated way," the PM said.
She also reaffirmed her government's firm stance not to allow anyone to use Bangladesh's soil for terrorist acts against other countries.
Regarding problems with neighbouring countries, the prime minister put emphasis on solving the problems bilaterally. "If there is a need to do more, we could solve those multilaterally."
The PM also stressed the importance of united efforts of the Bimstec countries for maintaining economic development and sustainable growth of the region.
As a founding member of Bimstec, Bangladesh attaches priority to regional cooperation. "We're firmly committed to deepening our relations with Bimstec member countries, and we're very much active to strengthen this process."
Hasina underlined the need for signing and ratifications of some conventions of security cooperation. "These framework agreements will ensure security of trade, economy and investment in this region, and help increase the economic growth of people."
She pointed out that the Bimstec countries, including Bangladesh, will arrange some programmes like ministerial-level meeting in 2018 to further strengthen their cooperation.
PM's Security Adviser Major General (retd) Tarique Ahmed Siddiq apprised the prime minister of different aspects of the meeting of the national security chiefs of the Bimstec countries.
Bimstec Secretary General Shahidul Islam, Indian National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, Tarique Ahmed Siddiq, Thang Tun of Myanmar, Nepalese Ambassador Chop Lal Bhusal, Brig HKACR Kodi Phuwakkul of Sri Lanka and Chalida Chochai of Thailand were present at the meeting, among others.
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