Former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Khaleda Zia has urged the US to "involve people" for sustainable and effective curbing of terrorism. On a visit to the US, Zia, currently leader of the opposition in Parliament and chief of main Opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), was honoured by the New Jersey State Senate.
The senate passed a resolution calling Zia “a fighter for democracy”, who was “a special leader of women's environment and a role model” for the American women, United News of Bangladesh (UNB) news agency reported. Zia said Bangladesh and the US had “identical views” on democracy and human rights issues, The Daily Star said.
During her second tenure as the Prime Minister (2001-06), Zia was criticised by American lawmakers and media for violent attacks on religious minorities by Islamist groups. BNP vice-chairman Shamser Mobin Chowdhury, a member of Zia’s entourage, said the honour to Zia was the first by New Jersey Senate to any foreign dignitary.