Bangladesh to help South Korea fight terrorism

Bangladesh and South Korean flag

Bangladesh is committed to working closely together with South Korea in the fight against terrorism.

Former Ambassador to Korea and secretary of the Bangladeshi foreign ministry, Muhammad Zamir said, “We are all against terrorism. Bangladesh has very close relations with South Korea in fighting it.”

His remarks came in the wake of a series of killings of foreigners in the country, for which the Islamic State (IS) group claimed responsibility.

South Korea, for its part, is seeking to increase counter-terrorist efforts following reports that IS has listed the country as a possible target due to its role in the U.S.-led anti-IS coalition in Syria.

Zamir, also a foreign affairs analyst and an advisory council member in the ruling Awami League in Bangladesh, who visited Seoul at the invitation of the foreign ministry, said in an interview on Friday, “Any sort of terrorism is something that must stop, but in order to do so, we should not take sides. The U.N. is the only means to fighting terrorism without creating unnecessary controversy.”

Korea and Bangladesh established diplomatic ties in 1972, a year after Bangladesh’s Liberation War from Pakistan. Zamir also cited South Korea as a successful model for Bangladesh in pursuing social progress and economic development.

(This post originally appeared in the Korea Times)