(NSI News Source Info) April 13, 2009: The government yesterday decided in principle to form a Joint Working Group (JWG) on counter terrorism with the UK next month for exchanging information and training on counter-terrorism.
The decision came at an inter-ministerial meeting between Foreign Minister Dipu Moni, state ministers and high-ups of foreign and home ministries. 
A student reads from koran at a madrasa in Dhaka April 2, 2009. Bangladesh will bring thousands of unregistered Islamic schools under the education ministry to curb militancy, a government minister said on Wednesday.
A memorandum of understanding (MoU) will be signed between the two countries during UK Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Security and Counter-terrorism) Lord West of Spithead’s visit to Bangladesh next month, said government sources.
State Minister for foreign affairs Dr Hasan Mahmud and State Minister for home Tanjim Ahmed Sohel Taj, Home Secretary Abdus Sobhan Sikder and Foreign Secretary Md Touhid Hossain attended the meeting at the foreign ministry.
Various issues including counter-terrorism, border security, money laundering, the funding of militant organisations, human and drug trafficking were also discussed at the meeting.
“If everything goes along well, the memorandum of understanding will be signed next month,” the home secretary told The Daily Star.
The MoU will be based on five aspects — civil aviation security, international and regional cooperation on counter terrorism, border security and management, crisis and consequence management. Both the sides will share information on the matters after the MoU is inked.
But before signing the MoU, both the sides will exchange draft proposals on the JWG. Bangladesh will soon convey its decision to the home ministry of UK and seek a draft proposal on the matter. After scrutinising the UK proposal, the government will ask for the UK government’s opinion on the modality of the JWG, sources said.
Besides, Bangladesh will also evaluate the JWG that UK signed with India and Pakistan.
The home ministers of the two countries will lead the JWG comprised of officials from the foreign and home ministries, law enforcement and security agencies of respective countries.
Last year British Home Secretary Jacqui Smith stressed the need for a JWG for strengthening cooperation between Bangladesh and UK to combat terrorism.
“Terrorism is a regional and international problem and a single country cannot counter it alone. Joint Working Group with other nations can help a country check terrorism,” Home Secretary Abdus Sobhan Sikder told The Daily Star.
The proposal for forming a JWG came from the UK side during the tenure of the last caretaker government.
The main objectives of the JWG will be to share assessment of international terrorism situation, discuss measures to strengthen bilateral cooperation and multilateral efforts in combating terrorism, home ministry sources said.
Inspector General of Police Nur Mohammad, DGFI Director General (DG) Maj Gen Mollah Fazle Akbar, NSI DG Brig Gen (retd) Manzur Ahmed and Rab DG Hassan Mahmood Khandker, among others, were present.
A student reads from koran at a madrasa in Dhaka April 2, 2009. Bangladesh will bring thousands of unregistered Islamic schools under the education ministry to curb militancy, a government minister said on Wednesday.
A memorandum of understanding (MoU) will be signed between the two countries during UK Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Security and Counter-terrorism) Lord West of Spithead’s visit to Bangladesh next month, said government sources.
State Minister for foreign affairs Dr Hasan Mahmud and State Minister for home Tanjim Ahmed Sohel Taj, Home Secretary Abdus Sobhan Sikder and Foreign Secretary Md Touhid Hossain attended the meeting at the foreign ministry.
Various issues including counter-terrorism, border security, money laundering, the funding of militant organisations, human and drug trafficking were also discussed at the meeting.
“If everything goes along well, the memorandum of understanding will be signed next month,” the home secretary told The Daily Star.
The MoU will be based on five aspects — civil aviation security, international and regional cooperation on counter terrorism, border security and management, crisis and consequence management. Both the sides will share information on the matters after the MoU is inked.
But before signing the MoU, both the sides will exchange draft proposals on the JWG. Bangladesh will soon convey its decision to the home ministry of UK and seek a draft proposal on the matter. After scrutinising the UK proposal, the government will ask for the UK government’s opinion on the modality of the JWG, sources said.
Besides, Bangladesh will also evaluate the JWG that UK signed with India and Pakistan.
The home ministers of the two countries will lead the JWG comprised of officials from the foreign and home ministries, law enforcement and security agencies of respective countries.
Last year British Home Secretary Jacqui Smith stressed the need for a JWG for strengthening cooperation between Bangladesh and UK to combat terrorism.
“Terrorism is a regional and international problem and a single country cannot counter it alone. Joint Working Group with other nations can help a country check terrorism,” Home Secretary Abdus Sobhan Sikder told The Daily Star.
The proposal for forming a JWG came from the UK side during the tenure of the last caretaker government.
The main objectives of the JWG will be to share assessment of international terrorism situation, discuss measures to strengthen bilateral cooperation and multilateral efforts in combating terrorism, home ministry sources said.
Inspector General of Police Nur Mohammad, DGFI Director General (DG) Maj Gen Mollah Fazle Akbar, NSI DG Brig Gen (retd) Manzur Ahmed and Rab DG Hassan Mahmood Khandker, among others, were present.
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