India and Bangladesh jointly countering extremism: Islamic scholar

NEW DELHI: A Bangladeshi scholar, who is on a visit to India as part of a delegation, has praised New Delhi and Dhaka for jointly working to eliminate extremism and terrorism in the region.

The group of Bangladeshi Islamic scholars represented their country in the first edition of a religious conference titled ‘Role of Civil Societies in Strengthening Bilateral Relations’ held in New Delhi. The delegation also visited Ajmer Sharif Dargah in Rajasthan. In an interview with ANI, Mohammad Abdur Rahim, Joint General Secretary of the Bangladesh Islami Front, said the governments of both countries have been successfully countering extremism and terrorism. He also mentioned growing cultural and bilateral relations between India and Bangladesh.

Rahim said, “There are many Islamic pilgrimage sites in India like the Khwaja Garibnawaz situated in Ajmer, and there have also been numerous Islamic scholars from India like Ahmed Raza Khan Barelvi who have great influence in India and Bangladesh. People from both countries follow and live by the ideologies of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti”.

He further mentioned that the Bangladeshi government has been taking strict steps to counter extremism in Bangladesh. The current government has banned all activities of Jamaat-e-Islami, the largest Islamist political party in Bangladesh, which is responsible for promoting religious extremism and hatred.

Rahim said, “The Bangladeshi government has been keeping a close watch on terror organisations and their activities, for which India is providing great help on the technological front”. The Bangladeshi scholar said that India has been a trusted friend of Bangladesh, as during the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971, India sent forces to help the freedom movement.

Rahim added, "India had sheltered many Bangladeshi freedom fighters who were part of the country's liberation movement in 1971. And India has been home to thousands of Bangladeshi refugees; hence, Bangladesh and the people remember the help of India during the Liberation War". (ANI)

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