Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said we have curved terrorism engaging people from all walks of life. Addressing a press conference at her official residence Ganabhaban on Sunday, she stressed that people’s engagement and mass awareness are a must to combat a vicious virus like militancy and terrorism.
She reminded all that after the tragic incident at Holey Artisan two years back, foreigners including Japanese were afraid to come to Bangladesh. But, seeing the way we crushed militants and terrorism in the following months they started to come and do business with us. In this regard, she urged the people to remain alert about any sort of militant plot against the country.
“We are very concerned over frequent militant threats. But our main force is our people. And our people are also conscious and they always remain alert in this regard. So, such threats will have no impact,” she said. The press conference was convened to brief journalists about the outcomes of her just-concluded 11-day tri-nation official visit to Japan, Saudi Arabia and Finland.
The prime minister returned home on Saturday morning winding up her visit to the three countries from May 28 to June 7. Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader and Foreign Minister A K Abdul Momen were present on the dais, while PM’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim moderated the press conference.
Cabinet members, advisors to prime minister, lawmakers, senior journalists were present, among others. Sheikh Hasina said as intelligence agencies have obtained all information relating to militant threat, they are constantly informing the different law enforcement agencies including police and elite force Rapid Action Battalion.
“Yet I was outside the country during the holy Eid-ul-Fitr, I got detailed information about the militant threat. As our different law enforcement and intelligence agencies worked cordially with dedication, country’s people celebrated the holy Eid-ul-Fitr comfortably and peacefully,” she said.
Replying to a query about the role of India, Japan and China over Rohingya issue, the prime minister said that she talked to the heads of those countries. “I have held talks with India, Japan and China. And they assured us of putting tremendous pressure on Myanmar to take back their people from Bangladesh. In this regard, the Myanmar is main problem as the country is reluctant to take back its citizen,” she said.
She also said that she would visit China by July to talk about repatriation of Rohingyas. “And I’m very much hopeful that I will be successful in dealing with the Rohingya issue with China,” she said adding the Chinese president has invited her to visit his country in July and she would go there and talk to him about the issue.
Responding to a query, she said the issues of terrorism and Rohingyas were discussed during the 14th Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Summit and all have put their heed to reach immediate solution to the crises. Apart from this, some organisations are also against the repatriation of the Rohingyas as they will lose fund if the refugees are repatriated voluntarily.
Sheikh Hasina, also President of ruling Awami League said the government has a plan to dedicate some tourist spots in Cox’s Bazar exclusively to foreign tourists. “We’ve a plan to dedicate some tourist spots in Cox’s Bazar exclusively to foreign tourists. If we can do this, the tourism sector will flourish,” she said, adding her government has taken steps to upgrade Cox’s Bazar airport to international standard and work is going to connect it with global routes.
“There will be a refueling station in Cox’s Bazar and the flights of international routes will not only refuel here but also see the beauty of the sea beach if it could be developed properly,” the Prime Minister said. The 127-km sandy beach, which has special significance to tourists, will be developed, she said.
Replying to a question about the previous technical glitch of her special flight and travel of a pilot of her special flight without passport, she said why such issues appear frequently? “Whoever he or she might be like VVIP or VIP he must maintain all procedures before departing the airport,” the prime minister said, adding the people who are responsible should be careful in these regards.
He said the existing relations between Bangladesh and other foreign countries have been strengthened further through her just-concluded tri-nation official visit to Japan, Saudi Arabia and Finland. On May 28, the prime minister reached Tokyo, the capital of Japan, the first destination of her tri-nation visit.
During her four-day stay in Japan, the two countries signed the 40th ODA deal involving US$ 2.5 billion after a bilateral meeting between Sheikh Hasina and her Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe. Besides, the premier attended the Nikkei International Conference on ‘The Future of Asia’ as a keynote speaker, joined a community reception accorded to her and attended a breakfast roundtable meeting with Japanese business leaders.
The Japanese family members of the Holey Artisan victims and JICA president Shinichi Kitaoka separately met Sheikh Hasina there. Concluding her visit to Japan, the prime minister went to Saudi Arabia on May 31 on the second leg of her tri-nation tour to attend the 14th OIC Summit held in Makkah at the invitation of Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.
During her three-day stay in Saudi Arabia, Sheikh Hasina also performed the holy Umrah in Makkah and offered Ziarat at the Rawza Mubarak of Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) in Madina. Wrapping up her visit to Saudi Arabia, the premier went to Finland, the third and final destination of her tri-nation tour, on June 3. During her five-day stay in Finland, Sheikh Hasina had a meeting with Finnish President Sauli Niinisto on June 4 and joined a community reception accorded to her by All European Awami League and Finland Awami League on June 5.
