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uK envoy wants top priority to grenade attacks probes

UNB, Dhaka
British High Commissioner in Bangladesh Anwar Choudhury has called for giving top priority to concluding all the high-profile investigations into grenade attacks, which he said have a stake on Bangladesh's image abroad.
"...Those attackers must be brought to justice. It must be given the highest priorities because I feel, perhaps not unduly, it does have a huge impact on Bangladesh's image abroad, and that is a shame," he told diplomatic correspondents at Dhaka Sheraton Hotel yesterday.
Choudhury, himself a victim of one of the grenade attacks, which occurred in Sylhet on May 21 last year, expressed his disappointment about the progress of investigation and said Britain would continue to help Bangladesh government combat terrorism.
"Terrorism affects us all. It is not a problem of Bangladesh; it is not a problem of my country--it is a global problem," said the Bangladeshi-born British high commissioner.
"If Bangladesh believes that it does not have international terrorists, it is lucky. If it is believed that it is immune from international terrorism, it must be the only country in the world that it is," he told the journalists in his diplomatic manner of speech.
During the one and a half hour 'DCAB-Diplomat Talk' organised by the Diplomatic Correspondents Association Bangladesh (DCAB), the high commissioner explained his government's positions on Dhaka-London bilateral relations, starting from democracy to development and trade to terrorism.
In reply to a question, Choudhury said it is "absolutely" necessary that political parties should talk and resolve the political issues and offered British assistance in ensuring the process of holding free and fair elections, as they did in the past.
"All we say as a true friend and as a true partner of Bangladesh, we will assist in whatever way that parties and people find it useful" so that people enjoy a free and fair election.
Choudhury declined to make any comment on the opposition plea for reform of caretaker government and the Election Commission, saying that these are "internal issues" that need to be settled by political parties and people of this country.
He said political parties should engage themselves and discuss and come to consensus as all agree on the question of democracy,
economy and development in this country. " We don't want any deadlock. we hope the people will find space and time and courage to resolve all those issues."
On hartal, the envoy said it is true that hartal causes inconvenience and damage to economy, but "when killings happen, people feel frustrated" and " we also have to understand that people need a way of protesting. It is the democratic right to protest."
However, he said, " we are hoping for better ways of doing that (protest) and I hope people of this country will consider that in the days to come."
On the question of Rab's antiterrorism operation, Choudhury appreciated the popularity of the anticrime elite force as people seem to be fed up with the law-and order situation and they wanted rapid action. But, he clearly said that the terrorists must be put in the process of justice instead of being killed in 'crossfire'.
"When we come to the point of human rights, despite what happened to me, even the person who threw the grenade at me still deserves justice. He should not be killed in crossfire," Choudhury told a questioner.
The British government, he said, sponsored a project of police reforms in Bangladesh and put in $10 million through UNDP to enhance the capacity building of the police force.
Describing law and order as one of major challenges for Bangladesh, he said it is not easy to improve the situation in a country like Bangladesh of 120 million people but assured that the UK would remain engaged with Bangladesh government to make the situation better.
He hoped that Bangladesh would make effort to address some of the areas that cause concern and it is the first duty of the government to get right law and order for making progress in every sector.
On human rights condition in Bangladesh, Choudhury said the British government has undertaken several projects in conjunction with Bangladesh government to protect the interests of minoritiestribal people in Chittagong, Ahmadiyyas, Biharis and the Hindus.
Asked about fundamentalism and extremism, the high commissioner said this needs to be checked and be vigilant against the rise of these forces. He noted that Islam stands for peace, but it has been "hijacked by some extremist groups".
Asked if Labour Party defeat in the Bangladeshi-British-dominated East London seat in this month's general election on Iraq issue would affect the bilateral relations, he replied in the negative.
Admitting that the war on Iraq is a divisive issue in Britain, he said George Galloway's win would not affect the ties with Bangladesh. " That's the strength of our democracy. Democracy produces interesting results and that is the beauty of democracy."
On bilateral ties, he said the bilateral relationship is now stronger than ever before. " Bangladesh is an important country that deserves our full attention and engagement."
He said Britain remains engaged to strengthen democratic foundations and promote constructive engagement between political parties and encourage positive use of democratic institutions, including parliament.
The United Kingdom is the largest bilateral donor to Bangladesh, Choudhury said, adding the annual aid programme increased to $250 million last year, which is a 50 percent increase, to support the government's PRSP and reduce the level of poverty in the country.
Calling corruption a cancer that stops growth, he hoped that the Anti-Corruption Commission would start taking action against the menace.
DCAB President Shamim Ahmad chaired the function.