Source: Untitled Document
DHAKA, Dec. 28 (PNA/APP) -- Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chairperson and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia on Saturday night vowed to fight the menace of terrorism in South Asia through the framework of the eight-nation South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).
While addressing the nation over radio and television just ahead of the December 29 parliamentary poll in Bangladesh, Khaleda Zia outrightly rejected her arch rival Sheikh Hasinas poll commitment to set up a South Asian taskforce to deal with terrirism.
Khaleda Zia said there is no need of such a taskforce. It will make the weaker countries more vulnerable. BNP will work within the framework of SAARC.
Hasina, addressing the nation earlier Saturday night, repeated her plan to establish a South Asian taskforce.
Foreign policy experts associated with the BNP told APP that Khaleda Zias rejection of a South Asian taskforce stems from her fears that such a taskforce might involve powerful forces that have already resorted to terrorism in the name of curbing it.
Khaleda Zia referred to acts of terrorism in Pakistan and India and said, only SAARC alone could handle the issue effectively.
She called for examining the causes of terrorism to effectively deal with it.
Experts said, the SAARC Regional Convention on Suppression of Terrorism, which was signed on November 4, 1987 came into force on August 22, 1988 following its ratification by all member states including Pakistan.
At the 14th SAARC Summit held at New Delhi from April 3-4, 2007, the Heads of State or Government agreed to work on the modalities to implement the provisions of the existing SAARC Conventions to combat terrorism.
During the 12th SAARC Summit at Islamabad from January 4 to January 6, the Council of Ministers signed the Additional Protocol to the SAARC Regional Convention on Suppression of Terrorism.
The purpose of this Additional Protocol was to strengthen the SAARC Regional Convention on Suppression of Terrorism, particularly by criminalizing the provision, collection or acquisition of funds for the purpose of committing terrorist acts and taking further measures to prevent and suppress financing of such acts, experts said.
Additional Protocol to the SAARC Regional Convention on Suppression of Terrorism came into force on January 12, 2006 following its ratification by all member states. (PNA/APP)
DHAKA, Dec. 28 (PNA/APP) -- Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chairperson and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia on Saturday night vowed to fight the menace of terrorism in South Asia through the framework of the eight-nation South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).
While addressing the nation over radio and television just ahead of the December 29 parliamentary poll in Bangladesh, Khaleda Zia outrightly rejected her arch rival Sheikh Hasinas poll commitment to set up a South Asian taskforce to deal with terrirism.
Khaleda Zia said there is no need of such a taskforce. It will make the weaker countries more vulnerable. BNP will work within the framework of SAARC.
Hasina, addressing the nation earlier Saturday night, repeated her plan to establish a South Asian taskforce.
Foreign policy experts associated with the BNP told APP that Khaleda Zias rejection of a South Asian taskforce stems from her fears that such a taskforce might involve powerful forces that have already resorted to terrorism in the name of curbing it.
Khaleda Zia referred to acts of terrorism in Pakistan and India and said, only SAARC alone could handle the issue effectively.
She called for examining the causes of terrorism to effectively deal with it.
Experts said, the SAARC Regional Convention on Suppression of Terrorism, which was signed on November 4, 1987 came into force on August 22, 1988 following its ratification by all member states including Pakistan.
At the 14th SAARC Summit held at New Delhi from April 3-4, 2007, the Heads of State or Government agreed to work on the modalities to implement the provisions of the existing SAARC Conventions to combat terrorism.
During the 12th SAARC Summit at Islamabad from January 4 to January 6, the Council of Ministers signed the Additional Protocol to the SAARC Regional Convention on Suppression of Terrorism.
The purpose of this Additional Protocol was to strengthen the SAARC Regional Convention on Suppression of Terrorism, particularly by criminalizing the provision, collection or acquisition of funds for the purpose of committing terrorist acts and taking further measures to prevent and suppress financing of such acts, experts said.
Additional Protocol to the SAARC Regional Convention on Suppression of Terrorism came into force on January 12, 2006 following its ratification by all member states. (PNA/APP)
