US State Department Deputy Assistant Secretary for South Asian Affairs John Anthony Gastright Jr expressed concern about Bangladesh's future. Mr. Gastright spoke about the different measures that Dhaka can take to confront terrorism including closing institutions, organizations and facilities linked with Islamic extremists and capture and prosecute Bangla Bhai and Abdur Rahman. The official spoke to reporters on an online discussion on the current state of US-Bangladesh relations.
Mr. Gastright said "We remain eager to assist and urge the government of Bangladesh to cooperate fully with the US and others and expand its capacity -- with US and other outside assistance if necessary -- to take on these terrorists and other violent extremists...The US has offered to assist and we remain eager to help, but we need to be a full partner in this effort.”
Mr. Gastright also said, "We welcome the recent arrests of senior Jamatul Mujahedin Banglades (JMB) figures and the seizure of huge arms and explosives caches. But, note that most of the JMB's senior leadership remains at large and the actual impact of these developments on the JMB's operational capabilities is unclear," during the online discussion with a group of Bangladeshi journalists.
Amir Jhasru has more on the story.
