Stop terrorist financing to uproot extremism: Speaker

Jatiya Sangsad Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury underscored the need for stopping terrorist financing to uproot extremism from the country.

"No one is born a terrorist. We must find out the reasons why they are taking this path. The prime minister has taken a zero-tolerance policy against extremism," the speaker said at the two-day National Convention Against Extremism 2019 today.

Dr Shirin inaugurated the convention at the Bashundhara Convention Centre in the capital.

"Terrorist financing must be stopped. The Bangladesh Bank is already working on the matter," she added.

The event is jointly organised by the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime unit of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and the United Nations.

Monirul Islam, chief of the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime unit, said, "The platform for taking action against extremism was not created in a coordinated way. This conference is the beginning of that process."

Mia Seppo, the resident coordinator of the UN, said, "Extremism is a threat to the world. Women can contribute to uproot extremism."

She emphasised the need for media freedom to fight militancy.

Dr Gowher Rizvi, the international affairs adviser to the prime minister, said, "Extremism tried to rise in the country three years ago. But the situation has improved. The action against extremism must be continued."

US Ambassador to Bangladesh Earl R Miller said, "The United States has been working with Bangladesh to fight extremism since 2016. The US has provided $35 million for fighting extremism [in Bangladesh]."