India seeks greater security cooperation with Bangladesh

Describing Bangladesh as an "invaluable partner" in the fight against terrorism, India today sought greater security cooperation with the Muslim- majority nation to fight a "common battle" against the menace.
"New challenges call for enhanced security cooperation between our armed forces; police and law enforcement agencies; close coordination on the ground," Indian High Commissioner Harsh Vardhan Shringla said at the National Defence College here, referring to recent spate of terror attacks in Bangladesh.
He said the regional peace and stability was of "utmost importance" against the backdrop of enhanced economic cooperation that terrorism tried to undermine.
Speaking at the NDC session 'Contemporary India, its Foreign Policy, Security Strategy & Bangladesh-India Relations', he said that security perceptions had changed with terrorism emerging as "a major challenge".

In his maiden address to the NDC after taking up Dhaka assignment this year, Shringla condemned the terrorist attack on a Dhaka cafe this month and said the armed forces played "a valiant role in effectively subduing the terrorists".
"Our Prime Minister has already gone on record to convey that Bangladesh is not alone in its fight against terrorism. The people of India stand with you," he told the officers.

He said that in line with Prime Minister Modi's commitment, India "is willing to offer any support required in this regard".
Shringla appreciated Bangladesh army's role in "effectively subduing the terrorists" particularly after the July 1 terror attack on a Dhaka restaurant that killed 22 people, including an Indian girl. The subsequent security raid led by commandos neutralised the terrorists.

The envoy said a changed perception of security terrorism emerged as a major challenge while India particularly faced the "challenge of cross-border terrorism since the 1990s".
He said the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack was a "major eye-opener" and since then "there has been a marked expansion of India's global partnership on terrorism and India's strategic and security dialogues".
Shringla said India continued to build consensus on the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism at the UN.
It called for "strengthened efforts to prevent supply of arms to terrorists, disrupt terrorist movements, curb and criminalize terror financing, secure its cyber space and minimize use of internet and social media for terrorism and radicalization".

"Bangladesh has also faced some serious challenges from terrorism and is an invaluable partner in our fight against terrorism," he said.
He highlighted a whole range of bilateral engagements particularly after the visit of Prime Minister Modi last year.
"India and Bangladesh share a special relationship," the high commissioner said, adding that the "understanding in India is that India can only prosper if Bangladesh prospers".