Press Release Summary = US Peace Corps suspended its activities in Bangladesh fearing attack by the Islamist Radicals. The decision came at the time when Bangladesh Government very successfuly nabbed a number of top figures of the Islamist Radical group and continuing their operations. Government says, they do not see any chance of attack on US and Western establishments in Bangladesh.
Press Release Body = US Peace Corps has recently suspended its activities in Bangladesh. The report that the Peace Corps has decided to suspend its programme and its volunteers are going back has come as a shock to all who have a stake or interest in Bangladesh\'s development. The reason given is that the terrorists might try to attack the Peace Corps volunteers in Bangladesh in retaliation for the capture of five of the top seven JMB terrorists. It is further learnt that this is not a hasty decision on the part of the Peace Corps but a result of careful assessment of the prevailing security environment in Bangladesh. It may be mentioned here that, elite force Rapid Action Battalion very successfully captured notorious radicals extremists like Shaikh Abdur Rahman, Siddiqul Islam Bangla Bhai and their palls in recent operations. Commenting on the decision of the US government, Bangladesh Foreign Minister M Morshed Khan said in disagreement over the reasons shown for the step The suspension of US Peace Corps operation in Bangladesh on security grounds is \"unacceptable\",. \"It might have point if the decision was before the arrest of militants.After the arrest of over 700 militants and the two top-most leaders in particular the ground of security concern is unacceptable,\" he told reporters. Khan said after the crackdown on militants and capture of the most wanted JMB leaders foreigners started coming to Bangladesh in big numbers. He however said that US Peace Corps many times in the past had squeezed or expanded its programme not only in Bangladesh but in many other countries on the basis of their policy. State Minister for Home Affairs in Bangladesh, Lutfuzzaman Babar told the local press that, he did not see any potential threat on the US and western establishments. He also mentioned that, if the US government would inform them with their observations, it would help Bangladesh government is putting focus on that particular point to ensure much safety and security to the foreigners in the country. Many of the observers are surprised at the decision of the US government to withdraw the Peace Corps, at the time when Bangladesh was certainly on an advantageous position in combating Islamist radicals. The entire country stood against the rise of radicals, and people were jubilantly chanting anti radical slogans on the streets when two supremos of Jamiatul Mujahedin Bangladesh (JMB) were captured. It may also be mentioned here that, American establishments were under attack in countries like Kenya, Morocco and Jordan. But, despite such attacks, US Peace Corps never suspended their activities from these countries. Keeping eyes on this reality, it would be quite normal to ask question to the policymakers in Washington as to why Peace Corps decided to wrap up from Bangladesh, where till date no western or US establishments had come under attack of the Islamist terrorists. It is good news indeed to note that the second largest Muslim nation is standing up against Islamist radicals. Should other nations, especially the Arabs follow this path? Bangladesh deserves international appreciation for its courageous stand against the radicals. This is no doubt, a very important and timely step to ensure global peace and eliminate Islamist terrorists, who are still getting strength in secrecy to make an offensive on innocent people in the global village. Considering the above facts, US government should re-consider their decision to suspend Peace Corps activities in Bangladesh. Moreover, international community needs to extend support to Bangladesh in their ongoing anti Islamist radical operations.
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2022
