Bangladesh is important partner of UN: Guterres

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres commented that Bangladesh is an important partner of the United Nations. Foreign Minister at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on Thursday (May 30) afternoon local time. He made this comment during a meeting with Hasan Mahmud.

Antonio Guterres said, 'Bangladesh is making a significant contribution to international peace and security, sustainable development, combating climate change, and many other activities of the United Nations. That is why we consider Bangladesh as an important partner of the United Nations.

The UN Secretary General expressed deep gratitude for Bangladesh's generosity towards the Rohingyas. He expressed concern over the current situation in Myanmar's Rakhine State, particularly the forced recruitment of young Rohingya into the army.

The UN Secretary General praised Bangladesh's ability to adapt to climate change and cope with adversity. When Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud sought the cooperation of the United Nations to deal with the challenge of Bangladesh's transition from Qatar, a low-income country, Antonio Guterres expressed his full support, saying, “Bangladesh should be rewarded for this, not punished”.

The Foreign Minister expressed gratitude to the UN Secretary General for his leadership in tackling the world's toughest challenges, including the Gaza conflict in Palestine. He said that the way the UN Secretary General personally appeared there to avoid conflict in Rafah, the peace-loving people of the world appreciated him.

At this time, the foreign minister called for maintaining the world's spotlight on the Rohingya crisis, safe and sustainable repatriation with the status of about 1.3 million Rohingya sheltered in Bangladesh, and continuing the strong role of the United Nations in resolving the conflict in Myanmar's Rakhine.

The United Nations Secretary General praised the outstanding progress of Bangladesh in the last decade. Hasan Mahmud told him that due to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's foresight and efficient leadership, Bangladesh has surpassed Pakistan in all indicators including social, economic, human indicators and India has also surpassed India in many indicators in the past few years. According to International Monetary Fund statistics, India also surpassed India in per capita income in 2021.

Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud thanked the UN Secretary General for the strong partnership between Bangladesh and the United Nations for the last 50 years and for their assistance in development and invited Antonio Guterres to visit Bangladesh on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Bangladesh's accession to the United Nations.

Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the United Nations Muhammad Abdul Muhith, foreign minister's travel companions and mission officials were present in the meeting.

Foreign Minister at UN Headquarters on International Day of Peacekeepers
Before this, the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Hasan Mahmood attended the joint reception of Bangladesh and Austria at the UN Headquarters as the Chief Guest on the occasion of International Peacekeepers Day.

In his speech, the Foreign Minister reiterated the commitment of Bangladesh's continued support and cooperation as one of the highest contributors to UN peacekeeping operations. He said, 'According to the foreign policy of our Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Bangladesh has always been at the forefront of peace efforts at the United Nations. Bangladeshi peacekeepers are performing their duty with utmost sincerity, professionalism and devotion.

Expressing deep condolences to the families and relatives of those killed in peacekeeping operations, the foreign minister said that the continuous increase in global conflict and violence is a growing threat to peace and therefore there is no alternative to strengthening peacekeeping operations.

At the end of the speech, the Minister of Foreign Affairs said. Hasan Mahmoud, accompanied by the Under-Secretary General of the United Nations Peacekeeping Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, and Austria's Charge d'Affaires, Stefan Preterhofer, paid deep tribute to the names of 64 soldiers, police and civilian peacekeepers from 34 countries who sacrificed their lives in 2023 for international peace and security.

Before this ceremony, the Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the United Nations, Muhammad Abdul Muhith, received the 'Daag Hammershold Medal' from the UN Secretary General in 2023 on behalf of the two martyred peacekeepers of Bangladesh.

Foreign Minister's briefing to ambassadors of OIC countries on Rohingya issue
This afternoon in the conference room of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) at the UN headquarters, Foreign Minister Dr. Hasan Mahmood informed the ambassadors of the OIC countries about the situation of the Rohingyas. He praised the OIC for being at the forefront of international efforts to alleviate the plight of the Rohingya.

Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud expressed deep concern over the escalation of conflict in Myanmar's Rakhine state and urged the OIC ambassadors to continue their solidarity in efforts to ensure the safe and sustainable repatriation of the approximately 1.3 million Rohingya displaced from Myanmar and sheltered in Bangladesh with full citizenship rights to their motherland Myanmar.

Permanent representatives of OIC countries Saudi Arabia, Gambia, Pakistan, Malaysia, Turkey, Iran, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Algeria, Egypt, Indonesia thanked the Foreign Minister of Bangladesh for the timely briefing. They appreciated Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's generosity in providing shelter to Rohingya refugees and expressed full support to Bangladesh's demand for repatriation of Rohingyas.

Foreign Minister staying in New York on a two-day official visit from May 30. Hasan Mahmud will hold further meetings with top UN officials and representatives of member countries.

Why didn't Khaleda Zia prosecute Zia's murder, foreign minister asked
Awami League's Joint General Secretary and Foreign Minister asked why BNP and Khaleda Zia did not prosecute Ziaur Rahman's murder even after being in power for two full terms. Hasan Mahmud.

He raised this question in the speech of the chief guest at the exchange meeting organized by New York State Awami League at Gulshan Terrace, New York, USA.

Hashan Mahmud said, 'BNP gave various speeches on the death anniversary of Ziaur Rahman on May 30. But, they did not prosecute this murder even from the power, rather Awami League leader Sheikh Hasina protested this murder.

Some have raised the question whether someone close to him and his family had a hand in Zia's murder, Hasan Mahmud said, 'because the way his family benefited from Zia's murder is unprecedented. Begum Zia got a house on 7 acres of land and huge bank facilities. And many ships and businesses came out of Ziaur Rahman's broken briefcase which was shown to the nation.'

At this time, Awami League joint general secretary and foreign minister called on everyone to be active and united to keep Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's hand strong and stop the propaganda against the country. Hasan Mahmud.

President of New York State Awami League Mojibur Rahman Mia presided over and general secretary Shaheen Ajmal moderated and spoke – United States Awami League President Siddiqur Rahman, General Secretary Abdus Samad Azad, Nizam Chowdhury, Fazlur Rahman etc.