Overview: Bangladesh (The People’s Republic of Bangladesh), as a nation always remained committed to world peace and stability and maintained its posture to counter any terrorist act both at home and abroad. Bangladesh effort in combating domestic and transnational terrorist groups, and its counterterrorism efforts made it harder for transnational terrorists to operate in or establish safe havens in Bangladesh. Bangladesh has its own laws and force to deal with domestic terrorism. Bangladesh and USA signed few MoUs under U.S. assistance supports programs for Bangladeshi law enforcement and military counterparts to build their capacity to monitor, detect and prevent terrorism in the country.

Government: Bangladesh is a democratic country since its birth in 1971. At present, it has parliamentary system of democracy with Prime Minister as the Head of the Government and President as Head of the State.

Bangladesh Economy: Bangladesh economy is based on agriculture, apparel industry, ship building industry, pharmaceuticals products, consumer goods etc. It is the second largest apparel exporter of the world and self-sufficient in rice. Bangladesh produces 96% of its medicine needs at home. For almost a decade, Bangladesh economy is growing over 6%. She is considered to be the pioneer in introducing micro-credit economy system through Grameen Bank – which won the Noble Peace Prize in 2006. Today, it stands 5th as Foreign Direct Invest ratings in the world (source: UNCTAD.org).

Bangladesh Army: Bangladesh Army was born through the War of Liberation in 1971. Since its birth, it became part of the nation building activities, disaster management, emergency response at home and world leader in bringing peace around the globe under the UN mandate. General Iqbal karim Bhuiyan, psc is the Chief of Army Staff of the Bangladesh Army. In this regard, more information can be derived from http://www.army.mil.bd/.

Law Enforcement: Bangladesh cooperated with the United States to further strengthen control of its borders and land, sea, and air ports of entry. Bangladesh continued to participate in the Department of State's Antiterrorism Assistance program and cooperated with the Department of Justice’s efforts to provide prosecutorial skills training to its assistant public prosecutors, encourage greater cooperation between police and prosecutors, and institute community policing in targeted areas of the country. Bangladesh has its own formal training institutions to train its law enforcement and military forces on counter terrorism.

Regional and International Cooperation: Bangladesh is party to various counterterrorism protocols under the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation and is bringing the country’s counterterrorism efforts in line with the pillars of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy.

Bangladesh Cooperation with USA: Bangladesh denounces the act of terrorism in US soil (9/11 attack) and remained committed by providing morale support initially, and later in 2007; sent a military officer to USCENTCOM as an embedded officer in Combined Strategic and Analysis Group (CSAG). Since then Bangladesh continued the same posture and presently Lt Col Md Main Uddin, psc, G is serving as an embedded officer in CSAG. Bangladesh also signed and enacted a mutual legal assistance law with US that will allow for greater international cooperation. It is committed to pursue peace around the world basing on the foreign policy “friendship to all, malice to none”.

Bangladesh in World Peace: Bangladesh is committed and actively participating in UN Peace Support Operations since 1988. Currently, Bangladesh is the top Troop Contributing Country (TCC) in the world. As of January 2013, it has participated in 58 missions in 38 countries. Bangladesh sacrifice to world peace is 110 deceased and 154 wounded.

Support to Afghanistan: Bangladesh also allowed its largest NGO (namely BRAC) to work widely in war torn Afghanistan. Since it began operation in Afghanistan in 2002, BRAC became largest NGO working in the country. BRAC Afghanistan now employs over 3,400 people across five programs – microfinance, health, education, capacity building & training, and the National Solidarity Program. BRAC has a nationwide footprint, with at least one program in all 34 provinces of Afghanistan. Afghans make up about 3,200 of the total staff, and their ethnic make-up is diverse – Pashtun, Tajik, Hazara, Uzbek, etc. Over 40% of the staff is comprised of Afghan women. BRAC Afghanistan’s work in aggregate impacts over 12 million people in the country.

BRAC is also a force in cultivating Afghanistan’s SME sector. In 2006 BRAC founded BRAC Bank Afghanistan (BBA), a full service bank with an SME focus. To date, the bank has made over $35 million in loans to 6,000 customers.