Naming of ‘ISIS-BD’ does not indicate its existence here: Bernicat
US Ambassador Marcia Bernicat on Wednesday said Washington's designation of 'ISIS-Bangladesh' as foreign terrorists does not indicate the existence of the terrorist outfit in Bangladesh.
"The designation is not about saying ISIS is here...these groups have individuals who have declared or claimed their violent acts in the name of ISIS," she said at an event co-hosted by the US Embassy and EMK Center in Dhaka to mark the end of the African-American History Month.
The US envoy also said they have done it to strengthen the ability of their legal system and the government to investigate and prosecute people who are aiding and abetting terrorism, reports UNB.
On Tuesday, US State Department announced the decision to designate seven ISIS-affiliated groups: ISIS-West Africa, ISIS-Somalia, ISIS-Egypt, ISIS-Bangladesh, ISIS-Philippines, the Maute Group, and Jund al-Khilafah-Tunisia.
It has also designated two ISIS-affiliated leaders: Mahad Moalim and Abu Musab al-Barnawi.
