Dhaka, Dec 11: Bangladesh rejected a Canadian intelligence report today that the Muslim-majority South Asian nation was possibly becoming a sanctuary for Islamic terrorists. "The contents of these reports are far from the reality on the ground," Bangladesh foreign ministry said in a statement. "The government remains firmly committed to combating terrorism."
The Canadian security intelligence service expressed concern about serious attacks by radicals on cultural groups in Bangladesh, hints of collusion with Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida network and the government's alleged unwillingness to crack down on terrorism.
The CSIS report also suggested there could be dangers to Canadian aid agencies in Bangladesh, the third-largest Muslim country in the world.
The foreign ministry rejected the claims, saying "some quarters are bent on tarnishing the peaceful image of Bangladesh”.
The CSIS report, carried by Dhaka media today, said Prime Minister Khaleda Zia's ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party was not doing enough to quell political violence.
Bureau Report