Dhaka: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday hailed his Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina's "unshakable resolve" to fight the menace of terrorism with a "zero tolerance approach" despite being a woman leader.
Complimenting Hasina, he said when major countries were confused about dealing with the challenge, her firmness was an inspiration for other countries to defeat terrorism.
"The countries in the world are unsure about how to tackle terrorism. The UN is also not in a position to guide them. It is heartening that Prime Minister of Bangladesh despite the fact that she is a woman is openly saying that she has zero tolerance for terrorism. I would like to congratulate Sheikh Hasina for her firmness to deal with the menace," he said.
Modi was delivering a lecture at Dhaka University.
At a joint media interaction with Modi, Hasina yesterday had categorically said that her government was adopting a "zero tolerance" approach in dealing with terrorism and extremism, and will continue to do so.
Bangladesh and India share a 4,096-km-long border, most of which is porous. Ties between India and Bangladesh are on an upswing ever since the Hasina government came to power in January 2009.
The Hasina government has taken steps against militants who take refuge in Bangladesh.
There has been perceptible decline in activities of Pakistan-backed fundamentalist elements in Bangladesh and Modi would like to further cement bilateral ties with the Hasina government considering India's strategic interests.
"Terrorism has no region, terrorism has no boundary. In fact we have been suffering for last 40 years because of terrorism. So many innocent people have lost their lives. There has been so many bloodsheds," Modi said calling for united efforts to defeat the menace.
Calling terrorism enemy of humanity, Modi said the world must realise its challenge and deal with it effectively.
"Terrorism does not have any culture, values and tradition. If at all anything is there, they have only one intention which is enimity to humanity. Terrorism is enemy of humanity," he said.
Heaping praise on Hasina, Modi said, "The thought process of your PM (Hasina) and my thought process perfectly matches. All we think of is development, development and development."
