This was the observation made by Major General (Retd) Tariq Ahmed Siddique, Security Affairs Advisor to the Honorable Prime Minister at the inaugural session of a Regional Conference on Countering Violent Extremism through Strategic Communications, which concluded in Dhaka yesterday. His Excellency Mr. Dan W. Mozena, U.S. Ambassador to Bangladesh, who was the Special Guest, stated that the U.S. would continue its support towards Bangladesh in countering violent extremism. The Bangladesh Enterprise Institute (BEI) organized this conference in partnership with the U.S. Department of Defense’s Center for Civil-Military Relations (CCMR). This conference brought together 47 participants from Bangladesh, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. Participants included civilian government officials, senior military officials and officials of law enforcement agencies.

The objectives of the conference were to share best practices and explore ways to coordinate counter-radicalization efforts among the represented countries. The Chief Guest at the Inaugural Session was Major General (Retd) Tariq Ahmed Siddique, Security Affairs Advisor to the Honorable Prime Minister. Mr. Farooq Sobhan, former Foreign Secretary of Bangladesh, and currently President of BEI, Ambassador (retd) Humayun Kabir, Vice President, BEI, Dr. Paul Clarke and Dr. Tom Mockaitis from the Center for Civil Military Relations of the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School were the moderators of the three day workshop.

Five plenary and eleven breakout group sessions were held during the three days of the conference. The country presentations made by the participants highlighted that South Asian nations have begun adopting a more holistic approach in their counterterrorism strategies to counter the development of extreme attitudes and behaviors that can encourage acts of terrorism. This conference particularly highlighted the importance of strategic communication as a tool to counter violent extremism. Participants deliberated in detail on the use of strategic communication by their respective countries to counter violent and radical narratives perpetrated by extremist groups. Participants in the conference discussed the need for strengthening relationships among the organizations and agencies involved in counter-radicalization efforts and areas of cooperation and collaboration. Throughout the three days, conference participants heard from experts and fellow professionals on the challenges facing the region and their experience in countering messages of violence.

The conference facilitated the sharing of best practices in countering extremism through strategic communication, accentuated the need for a comprehensive strategy to counter-extremism in each country and strengthens oversight mechanisms.  The conference concluded with policy recommendations for follow up actions and the awarding of certificates to participants.

Signing of the delayed Teesta water sharing deal between Bangladesh and India will take place very soon, said Foreign Affairs Adviser to the Prime Minister Gowher Rizvi yesterday at a dialogue in the city.

Popular perception is that failure to sign the Teesta deal during the visit of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Bangladesh in September is a major setback to the improvement of Indo-Bangla bilateral relationship, he said.

The sooner it is signed the better, the adviser said.

Time is crucial in regard to signing the deal, Rizvi said adding three-fourth people of Bangladesh expect an improved relationship with India.

Bangladesh Enterprise Institute (BEI) and Delhi-based Observer Research Foundation (ORF) jointly organised the two-day dialogue on Bangladesh-India security, third of its kind, at a city hotel.

Though Indo-Bangla relationship experienced some success and progress in border demarcation, resolution of enclave issue, adversely possessed land, access to Teen Bigha corridor and duty-free export of 98 per cent commodities in recent times, signing of Teesta deal got stalled, said Rizvi.

The relationship could thrive further on water cooperation, joint river basin management and regional connectivity, he said.

Bangladesh and India share common aspiration for secularism, pluralism and peace, he said, and there is no such fundamental issue that should deteriorate the bilateral ties.

Farooq Sobhan, president of BEI, said that collaboration in combating terrorism can provide the bedrock of Indo-Bangla mutual relationship.

MK Rasgotra, president of ORF, said that people of both the countries should push their respective government for open border, free trade and common currency that would automatically resolve many discords in bilateral and regional relationship.

Unfortunately, he said, the Saarc has since the eighties amounted to nothing. It has made enormous progress on papers but not on the ground.

A number of retired ambassadors, former ministers and former government officials attended the dialogue.

Source:http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=215004

Gowher Rizvi, an adviser to the prime minister, speaks at a workshop on vocational training, jointly organised by British Council and Bangladesh Enterprise Institute, at The Westin Dhaka yesterday. Farooq Sobhan, extreme right, BEI president, is also seen.Photo: STAR

Star Business Report

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The country's private sector should contribute for training and skill building in human resources developing in collaboration with the government, said an adviser to the prime minister yesterday.

The government has facilitated the readymade garment sector by waiving various taxes and duties, said Gowher Rizvi.

"If a small fraction of that would have been done for developing the skills of RMG labourers and the labour force we send abroad would result in heavy returns," he said at a workshop at The Westin Dhaka.

The event titled "Improving social business and entrepreneurship through technical and vocational education training in Bangladesh" was jointly organised by British council and Bangladesh Enterprise Institute.

Farooq Sobhan, former ambassador and BEI president, moderated the programme.

The government has allocated a large amount of money in the budget for the first time for vocational training and skill development, said the adviser.

Every year one million new people are joining the job market, he said, adding that it is not possible for the government to provide skill building and employment development training to all the young population.

The government is committed to dissolve the disparity between the educational system and the labour market by developing proper technical and vocational education training systems, said Shafique Alam Mehdi, labour secretary.

The systems, he added, will be easily accessible, affordable and relevant to labour needs.

There are problems with social perceptions in the country which prompt people neglect studies at vocational training centres, said Nazrul Islam Khan, national director of Access to Information Programme of the Prime Minister's Office.

He said the negative perceptions should be shunned by raising social awareness.

He said the country has more than 7.50 crore mobile phone handsets but there is no training centre for repairing the device.