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Morshed opens 'America Week' in Ctg
Probe if JMB is involved in other high-profile violence: Chammas
3/15/2006
CHITTAGONG, March 14: Chargé d'affaires of the American Embassy in Bangladesh Judith Chammas Tuesday said that police investigation into JMB should shed light on whether any elements of the organisation are involved with other acts of high profile violence in Bangladesh, report agencies.
"Bringing to justice in a transparent and lawful manner of all of the organisers, sponsors, perpetrators of all acts of extremist and political violence are inevitable for security and future of this country." Chammas said while addressing a press conference at the Hotel Agrabad in observance of the American Week in the port city.
Welcoming the capture of JMB kingpin Abdur Rahman and second in command Siddiqul Islam alias Bangla Bhai of the banned Islamist outfit, the US chargé d'affaires described it as an important step forward in the government response to the JMB campaign of terror.
On US help to enhance Bangladesh's counter-terrorism capacity, Chammas said the top priority of the United States is to work with Bangladesh closely to counter terrorism as she said the embassy supports the government's anti-terrorism activities by providing training for the police and the coastguard.
In reply to a question Chammas outright said America does not support any extra judicial killing that may hinder human rights and fair justice.
Speaking about democracy which is another integral part of her government's priority, she commented that the next election was critical for many reasons and underscored the need for continued dialogue between ruling and opposition parties to reach a consensus for free and fair election.
She said only fair and free election could give the winners legitimacy.
"Bangladesh can be proud of its democracy and Chittagong can be proud of its mayoral election last May - but maintaining that tradition requires constant diligence," she observed.
Welcoming the return of the opposition in parliament, Chammas expressed the hope that opposition would be able to contribute to public debate in meaningful ways through democratic means shunning the disruptive means such as hartals.
Speaking about trade and commerce of Bangladesh, Chammas said Bangladesh faces the challenge of promoting economic growth that would be shared by all sectors of society. "Americans would like to see Bangladesh grow and believe that trade is the most effective motor of economic development," she said adding that much of the trade flows through Chittagong port.
When journalists asked whether her country was thinking to set up any American port here, she ruled out the possibility and said, "But America is committed to giving all cooperation in developing Chittagong Port and making it dynamic."
Asked about the hand-over of the port management to the private sector, she said, "The management will be more committed when it will be transferred to private sector."
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister M Morshed Khan formally inaugurated Tuesday the 'America Week' here -- a three-day programme -- organised by the US Embassy in Dhaka.
Briefly speaking on the occasion, Morshed Khan said the America Week and subsequent programme series will definitely contribute to cementing further the existing bilateral relations between Bangladesh and the United States of America (USA).
Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) Mayor ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury and US Embassy in Dhaka Charge d' Affaires Judith Chammas were present at the inaugural function at a city hotel.
The CCC mayor thanked the US Embassy officials for organising such an important event in the port city for the second time and said it would help strengthen the people-to-people contact between the two countries. The first America Week was held here in 2002.
Some 49 stalls of different NGOs working under USAID and different commercial organisations have been set up there.
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