DHAKA: Reacting to remarks made by US director of national intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, the interim govt on Monday said linking Bangladesh to the idea of ‘Islamist caliphate’ without any valid ground undermines the hard work of the countless people of the country and their friends and partners around the world who are committed to peace, stability, and progress.
In a statement shared by chief adviser Muhammad Yunus’s press wing, the govt said Bangladesh “strongly condemns” any efforts to link the country to any form of ‘Islamist caliphate’.
The govt also noted with “deep concern and distress” the remarks made by Gabbard, in which she alleged “persecution and killing” of religious minorities in Bangladesh and that “the threat of Islamic terrorists” in the country is “roo ted” in the “ideology and objective” to “rule and govern with an Islamist caliphate”.
This statement, the interim govt said, is both misleading and damaging to the image and reputation of Bangladesh, a nation whose traditional practice of Islam has been famously inclusive and peaceful and that has made remarkable strides in its fight against extremism and terrorism.
“Gabbard’s comments are not based on any evidence or specific allegations. They paint an entire nation with a broad and unjustified brush,” said the govt in its statement.
Her comments on religious violence were unfounded and risked fanning sectarian tensions, it added. Bangladesh, like many countries around the world, has faced challenges of extremism, but it has continuously worked in partnership with the international community, including the US, to address these issues through law enforcement, social reforms, and other counter-terrorism efforts, the govt said.
Political leaders and public figures should base their statements, especially about the most sensitive issues, on actual knowledge and take care not to reinforce harmful stereotypes, to fan fears and potentially even stoke sectarian tensions, the statement reads.
“In support of our shared global efforts to combat extremism and terrorism, the interim govt of Bangladesh remains committed to engaging in constructive dialogue based on facts and on respect for the sovereignty and security of all nations,” it mentioned.
