Dhaka: Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the United Nations Masud Bin Momen said Bangladesh will continue to work with the United Nations in implementing the UN Secretary-General's new action plan to prevent violent extremism and militancy.  

‘In line with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's 'zero tolerance' policy towards radicalism, Bangladesh will continue to work with the UN to implement its new action plan to prevent violent extremism and militancy,’ Momen said during a day-long discussion at the UN General Assembly on Friday, said a press release here on Saturday.  

He said the 7-point of the UN Secretary General's action plan is similar to the measures and initiatives taken up by Bangladesh to resist and curb militancy and extremism.  

‘The present government of Bangladesh is determined not to allow the presence of any local or external terrorists or militant outfits on Bangladesh soil,’ he said, adding that only law enforcement or defense system are not enough in facing terrorism, rather the internal causes or driving forces of militancy will have to be uprooted.  

He also laid emphasis on solving not only the local causes but also the international long term cause of terrorism and militancy.  

Mentioning different programmes taken up by the government for prevention of terrorism, Momen said programmes such as promotion of education and religious values at grassroots level, empowerment of women and youths have been taken to resist the spread of militancy.  

Permanent representatives of 70-member states took part in the discussion with UNGA President in the chair.  

Prior to the discussion, the UNGA unanimously accepted a resolution on UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism.

High-level talks on this Plan of Action will be held in Geneva in April and at the UN office in New York in June.