Bangladesh won't allow US military base, says FM
Foreign Minister Dipu Moni yesterday said Dhaka multifaceted cooperation with Washington, including in the field of defence and security, but would never allow US military base in Bangladesh.
“There is no question of allowing the presence of US military or its base in Bangladesh… this is not even in our thinking process and we do not want to keep it in our domain of thinking,” she said while replying to questions at a press conference at the foreign ministry yesterday afternoon.
She also made it clear that now there is no presence of the US military in Bangladesh, excepting six or seven US military personnel who are in the country for training purposes.
Asked about the April 19 security dialogue in Dhaka, she said Bangladesh and the US would review the entire range of existing bilateral defence cooperation at the dialogue.
She said Bangladesh had also big cooperation with the US to fight terrorism and militancy and all cooperation in the field of security and defence would be reviewed at the security dialogue.
US Assistant Secretary for Political and Military Affairs Andrew J Shapiro will attend the security dialogue on April 19 with Bangladesh.
TICFA AGREEMENT
Replying to a question about signing of a trade agreement styled “Trade and Investment Cooperation Framework Agreement (TICFA)” with US, Dipu Moni said Dhaka and Washington had reached the final stage of negotiation of the deal. Previously TICFA was known as Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA). MILITANCY
Replying to a question about the Indian prime minister's spokesman's recent remarks that terrorist outfits are still hiding in Bangladesh, Dipu Moni said the government would not allow any terrorist outfit to use an inch of territory to work against Bangladesh or any neighbour or any other countries. MARITIME
Asked about main opposition BNP's withdrawal of felicitation on the verdict with Myanmar, she said, “They (opposition) can't share joy with the nation and they are making various illogical statements just to hide their failures.” “It was the victory of both Bangladesh and Myanmar because the two countries got their just shares through the international court judgement.”
Replying to a question about signing of a trade agreement styled “Trade and Investment Cooperation Framework Agreement (TICFA)” with US, Dipu Moni said Dhaka and Washington had reached the final stage of negotiation of the deal. Previously TICFA was known as Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA). MILITANCY
Replying to a question about the Indian prime minister's spokesman's recent remarks that terrorist outfits are still hiding in Bangladesh, Dipu Moni said the government would not allow any terrorist outfit to use an inch of territory to work against Bangladesh or any neighbour or any other countries. MARITIME
Asked about main opposition BNP's withdrawal of felicitation on the verdict with Myanmar, she said, “They (opposition) can't share joy with the nation and they are making various illogical statements just to hide their failures.” “It was the victory of both Bangladesh and Myanmar because the two countries got their just shares through the international court judgement.”
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