Ambassador Ziauddin meets Congressman James Sensenbrenner, Jr.

UsaNewsOnline.Com, Washington D.C. : Mohammad Ziauddin, Bangladesh Ambassador to the United States, met US Congressman James Sensenbrenner, Jr. in Washington D.C. on Monday and briefed him about the ongoing development activities in Bangladesh with special focus on counterterrorism, education and women empowerment.

Republican Congressman from Wisconsin James Sensenbrenner, Jr. currently serves on the House Committees on the Judiciary and Foreign Affairs. He formerly served as House Judiciary Chairman, and is the current Chairman of the Immigration and Border Security Subcommittee, as well as a former Chairman and current member of the Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security and Oversight Subcommittee. He is also a member of the Foreign Affairs Subcommittees of Europe, Eurasia, and Emerging Threats and Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations.

During the meeting, Ambassador Ziauddin briefed him on the existing communal harmony in Bangladesh and secular values on which the country has been founded. He highlighted the ‘zero tolerance’ policy of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina against all forms of terrorism and violent extremism.

The Ambassador said Bangladesh is closely working with the U.S.A., neighbors and other friendly countries to eliminate extremism and terrorism from Bangladesh. He mentioned about the existing counterterrorism cooperation between Bangladesh and the U.S.A., especially in intelligence sharing and other capacity building measures.

The Ambassador briefed the Congressman about modernization of madrasa education system in Bangladesh. He said the government has taken initiative to provide proper education to the madrasa students so that they can better adapt with society and can stay out of the extremist ideology.

The Ambassador highlighted on women empowerment in Bangladesh mentioning the women in key positions like Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition, Deputy Leader in Parliament, Speaker, five Cabinet Ministers and many more in other important positions. He mentioned about Bangladeshi Women Peace Keepers engaged in various UN peacekeeping operations. In RMG sector, 90% workers are women. These 4 million workers are transforming the society through alleviating poverty and containing the menace of terrorism, the Ambassador noted.

Ambassador Ziauddin mentioned about the brutal assassination of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman along with most members of his family on August 15, 1975. He briefed Congressman James about the subsequent usurpation of the state power by military regimes and how religious politics sneak into Bangladesh.

Congressman Sensenbrenner appreciated the Ambassador for the briefing. He said that exchange of information is very important to stop terrorist attacks before these take place. He was happy to know about the existing counter terrorism cooperation between Bangladesh and the USA. Mr. Toufique Hasan, Minister (Political) of the Embassy and Mr. Mark J. O’Neil, Jr., Legislative Assistant of the Congressman were present in the meeting.