Bangladesh extremists to join Taliban? Speculations afloat

Bangladesh on Monday said it was "carefully observing" the developments in Afghanistan which may have an impact on the region and beyond, amid speculation by security experts here that some home-based extremists were trying to join the Taliban in the war-ravaged country. "Bangladesh is carefully observing the fast evolving situation in Afghanistan, which we believe, may have an impact on the region and beyond," the foreign ministry said in a statement. The foreign ministry said Bangladesh would be happy to continue to work "with the people of Afghanistan and the international community" for the socio-economic development of that country and recalled the invaluable Afghan support Bangladesh received in its 1971 Liberation War against Pakistan. Ahead of the Taliban militants capturing Kabul, a senior police official on Sunday said some Bangladeshis were trying to reach Afghanistan as Taliban gave a call to "join them in the war" "Some people from Bangladesh already left Bangladesh to join the Taliban. The non-government Bangladesh Institute of Peace and Security Studies Chairperson Retired Major General Muniruz Zaman said the changeover in Afghanistan would definitely impact Bangladesh and "we have reasons to be worried".