International Workshop on Countering The Financing of Terrorism

The International Workshop on Countering the Financing of Terrorism (CFT), organized by Bangladesh Centre for Terrorism Research (BCTR), a specialized organ of Bangladesh Institute of Peace and security Studies (BIPSS), in collaboration with International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research (ICPVTR), Singapore and WORLD-CHECK, London, was held at Dhaka. This is the first workshop on this critical area of study in Bangladesh.

The International Workshop on Countering the Financing of Terrorism (CFT), organized by Bangladesh Centre for Terrorism Research (BCTR), a specialized organ of Bangladesh Institute of Peace and security Studies (BIPSS), in collaboration with International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research (ICPVTR), Singapore and WORLD-CHECK, London, was held at Dhaka. This is the first workshop on this critical area of study in Bangladesh. BIPSS conceptualized this workshop to emphasize on and to highlight the issue of terror financing. Prominent, local and international, experts on the CFT spoke in the workshop. The 2-day long workshop held on August 5 and 6 began with the inaugural speech by President of BIPSS, Major General ANM Muniruzzaman, ndc, psc, (Retd). He with his apt proficiency and professional deliberation introduced to the participants to the complex pattern of terror financing. He said, “Money in the hand of terrorists is the money that kills innocent people and therefore there is an urgent need to fight it.”

The key note paper was presented by Brig Gen ATM Amin, psc, Director of CTIB, HQ DGFI. He said that Bangladesh crucially needed to introduce digital accounting system to sharpen the vigil to combat terror financing. Brig Gen Amin also said when a criminal activity generates substantial profits the individual or group involved must find a way to hide the funds without drawing attention from others. Internationally acclaimed experts on CFT; Mr. Arabinda Acharya (Manager Strategic Projects, ICPVTR, Singapore), Ms. Sujoyini Mandal (Research Analyst, ICPVTR, Singapore), Mr. Jolene Jerard (Manager Analyst, ICPVTR, Singapore), Mr. Jay Jhaveri (Director, Asia World-Check, UK) and John Solomon (Head, Terrorism and Insurgency Research Unit, World Check, UK ), presented extensive resource papers on the varied aspects of CFT in this workshop. Nominated professionals from Banks, financials institutions, ministries, law enforcement and intelligence agencies, academia, media and foreign missions in Bangladesh participated in this workshop, meant to play a critical role in building capacity of the related institutions in countering money laundering and terrorist financing. Each participant was awarded a certificate of participation after the concluding session. After the workshop Gen. Muniruzzaman, President of BIPSS, told a press briefing that the workshop was organized to help professionals in private and public sectors to have knowledge of financing of terrorism. He said that one of the best ways to combat terrorist groups is to cut off their flow of money and deny the source of fund.