Dr AK Abdul Momen
Oman lauds Bangladesh's development
Newly appointed Charge d’ Affaires (CDA) of Oman Abdul Ghaffar Bin Abdul Karim Al-Bulushi has appreciated Bangladesh’s development and uplifting of the lifestyle of its people.
While submitting his letter of credence to Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen at his office on Sunday, Karima was highly appreciative about the role of the present government under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in steering the country towards development.
The Foreign Minister congratulated him as the new envoy of Oman to Bangladesh with the rank of Minister Plenipotentiary.
Also read: Keep up pressure on Myanmar for Rohingya repatriation: FM to UK
He thanked the Omani government for quickly sending a highly qualified diplomat as the CDA.
The CDA expressed his gratitude for the kind support and assistance extended to him from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dhaka.
The CDA recalled with appreciation the role of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in giving an identity to the people of Bangladesh.
Dr Momen commended the judicious role and leadership of late Sultan Qaboos to the development of modern Oman.
He expressed his gratitude to the Sultanate of Oman for hosting over half a million of expatriate workers who have been diligently contributing to both the countries’ economic development.
The minister also urged the CDA to undertake new and emerging areas of cooperation like environment and climate change, agriculture and food security, blue economy and enhanced trade between the two countries.
The CDA listened to him carefully and apprised the minister about the great contributions made by Bangladeshi workforce in Oman.
He expressed his commitment that he would dedicate his office to the exploration and expansion of the cooperative areas that the minister suggested.
Also read: Govt wants greater coordination to brand Bangladesh abroad
The Foreign Minister assured him of all possible cooperation during the discharge of his duties.
He also presented a token gift to the CDA and wished him a productive tenure.
Momen discusses ways to enhance cooperation with Maldives
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen had conversations with Maldivian Health Minister Ahmed Naseem over phone on Tuesday; and discussed ways to enhance bilateral cooperation.
They also discussed cooperation between the two countries in the health sector, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
READ: Cambodian chairmanship of ASEAN to expedite Rohingya repatriation: FM
The two ministers lauded the recent “successful” State visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to the Maldives.
Dr Momen and Health Minister Naseem also exchanged New Year’s greetings during their conversations.
READ: Bangladesh to lobby, if required, anywhere in US: FM
20th DIFF begins showcasing creations of best contemporary filmmakers
The 20th edition of the Dhaka International Film Festival (DIFF), one of the most prestigious film events in Bangladesh, officially began in the city Saturday to showcase the creations of some of the best contemporary filmmakers – 225 films from 70 countries.
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen inaugurated the nine-day festival as the chief guest while the event was chaired by State Minister for Foreign Affairs and chief patron of the festival Md Shahriar Alam.
State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid, Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka Vikram Kumar Doraiswami and festival director Ahmed Muztaba Zamal also spoke.
Also raed: Doraiswami hopeful of commercial screening of Indian films in Bangladesh
Dr Momen said the DIFF has created space for young and aspiring filmmakers in Bangladesh and beyond to connect with global artistic trends – contributing immensely to shaping an increasingly healthy and positive national film culture.
Early repatriation of Rohingyas lead priority, FM tells UN expert
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Sunday laid emphasis on early repatriation of Rohingyas to Myanmar stressing that the prolonged stay of Rohingyas in Bangladesh is increasingly making the situation untenable both for the Rohingyas and the host community.
“Early repatriation of the Rohingyas to Myanmar is our lead priority,” he conveyed the message to the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar Tom Andrews during a meeting held at State guesthouse Padma.
Dr Momen said the prolongation of the stalemate in repatriation is making the Rohingyas more frustrated and susceptible to unlawful activities like smuggling of drugs, human trafficking and murder.
The Foreign Minister congratulated Tom Andrews on his important appointment and hoped his success to achieve the mandate of his position which is the human right violation in Myanmar, especially against Rohingyas.
He highlighted the extraordinary humanitarian gesture of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina by extending temporary shelters to the huge number of Forcibly Displaced Myanmar Nationals (FDMNs) Rohingya despite numerous constraints and challenges of Bangladesh.
Read: Bangladesh can't, shouldn't bear Rohingya responsibility alone: UN expert
To arrange early repatriation, Dr Momen said, both countries signed three instruments soon after the exodus in 2017 where Myanmar agreed to ensure safe early return of the Rohingya to Myanmar.
He regretted that not a single Rohingya could return to Myanmar despite Bangladesh’s multiple attempts for repatriation since 2017. “Creation of a conducive environment in Myanmar and confidence building mechanisms among the Rohingyas will pave the path for their voluntary and sustainable repatriation.”
He said the presence of ASEAN and UN representatives in Rakhine will contribute to building confidence among Rohingyas to return to Myanmar.
The Foreign Minister highlighted that Rohingyas are receiving informal education in Myanmar language following Myanmar curricula in Bangladesh through around 3,000 learning centres which would enable them to uphold their tradition and cultural values leading to their reintegration in Myanmar society in return.
He expressed frustration that some unauthorized privately run learning centering, madrasas and even coaching centres run by Rohingyas are promoting radicalism in camps following separate teaching materials and motives.
Hence, Dr Momen said, the government has asked to stop those unauthorized activities.
However, the authorized learning centres are continuing the learning activities with the support of UNICEF and INGOs/NGOs following the government’s Covid-related guidelines, the Foreign Minister said.
Read: MoFA trashes reports on learning centre closure in Rohingya camps
Describing the conditions in Bhasan Char, the Foreign Minister mentioned that Bangladesh has developed the island as a temporary shelter for the FDMNs to de-risk and decongest the camps in Cox’s Bazar spending US$350 million from its own resources.
He hoped that the UN agencies will expeditiously engage to provide humanitarian assistance to the Rohingyas staying there.
The Foreign Minister underscored that humanities assistance is required but the ultimate solution lies in the sustainable repatriation of the Rohingyas and the international community must work to realize that goal.
He advised the Rapporteur to visit Rohingyas living in Myanmar and in other countries in order to carry out his mandate.
Tom Andrews thanked the Foreign Minister for receiving him and extending all cooperation during his visit.
Describing himself as a “Friend of Bangladesh”, the Rapporteur assured Dhaka of working in line with the priorities of Bangladesh for safe and dignified repatriation of the Rohingyas to Myanmar.
He promised to take efforts to visit Myanmar to see the ground realities prevailing there, engage with Rohingyas living in other countries and the humanitarian actors working in Myanmar.
US talks about humanity, but doesn’t deport killer Rashed Chy: FM
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has questioned the position of the United States as it talks about humanity pointing out that the country has been sheltering convicted killer Rashed Chowdhury instead of handing him over to Bangladesh.
He said the US talks about “law and humanity” but they sheltered the killer (Rashed Chowdhury) of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman which is not justified.
The Foreign Minister made the remarks while talking to reporters after an event at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in the city on Saturday.
Asked about any counter-action on the US, Dr Momen said they are not thinking in such a way and that is not the mentality of Bangladesh.
He said Bangladesh does not believe in blame games but wants to work together. "We want to work together.”
Dr Momen said they are discussing internally about the next course of action. “We’ll sit together soon to decide to move ahead.”
He said the Rabid Action Battalion (RAB) has been successful in addressing human trafficking, crime and drug trafficking in the country.
Earlier, Dr Momen, during a telephone conversation, conveyed to US Secretary of State Antony J Blinken that the people of Bangladesh did neither accept nor like the designated sanctions imposed on the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and its some of the present and former officials.
Read: Bangladesh to continue urging US to send back killer Rashed Chy: Shahriar
“I shared the spirit of the country’s people. They (people of Bangladesh) didn’t accept it. They didn’t like it,” he told reporters at a media briefing at Foreign Service Academy recently while responding to a question on his recent telephone conversation with the US Secretary of State.
US State Department Spokesperson Ned Price said Secretary Blinken reaffirmed their long-standing partnership with Bangladesh on development, economic growth, and security.
"The two leaders discussed the importance of human rights and agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation and address shared global challenges," said the Spokesperson.
Dr Momen explained why the people of the country did not accept it, noting that the two countries have around 50 years of trusted friendship.
Let’s dream of a better world, FM Momen tells peace conference
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Saturday hoped that there will be peace across the world following an end to violence, war and terror with the active support from the international community.
"These activities and violence, whether against Rohingyas or Palestinians, are manmade ones. Since these are manmade, I’ve a dream: One day with your active support, we can end violence, war and terror," he said.
Dr Momen hoped that no child will be without family, no soldier will lift his or her weapons to take another man’s life, disastrous bombs and hateful minds hopefully will be replaced by flowers of friendship and peace.
The Foreign Minister made the remarks at the inaugural session of the "World Peace Conference" at Hotel InterContinental in the afternoon.
Also read: Peace Conference testimony of Bangladesh's commitment to global security: FM
President Abdul Hamid joined the inaugural session virtually and delivered speech as the chief guest.
Peace Conference testimony of Bangladesh's commitment to global security: FM
Hosting the World Peace Conference here is the testimony of Bangladesh's "unflinching commitment" to the promotion of global peace, security, and development, said Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen.
"The country, under the pragmatic statesmanship of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, will continue to remain on the side of any initiative to promote peace as a fundamental premise for our pursuit of sustainable development," he said.
Dr Momen reiterated that Bangladesh continues to be inspired by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who firmly believed in democratic rights, people's welfare and social justice as the cornerstone for building a peaceful world.
He made the remarks welcoming the participants of the World Peace Conference at a dinner that he hosted at a city hotel on Friday.
Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam, State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak and Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen were, among others, present.
On behalf of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Chief Patron of the World Peace Conference and on his personal behalf, Dr Momen welcomed the participants in this historic city.
Read: Bangladesh’s World Peace Conference: Ban Ki-moon, Gordon Brown among global figures
The Foreign Minister paid deepest respect to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, whose unprecedented charismatic leadership and long struggle helped achieve long-cherished independence.
"Our enduring commitment to global peace has been best exemplified through the ‘People’s Empowerment and Development,’ a peace-centric model that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina proposed to the UN in 2011, leading to its adoption by a consensus by the comity of nations," Dr Momen said.
He said peace is more than a suspension of war and peace covers everything that contributes to lowering international tensions: cooperation that eases competition for scarce resources, institutions that channel power rivalries and allow better management of global public goods, regulation that responds to new abuses power or inequalities born of globalization, bridges between generations as well as equality between women and men for peaceful societies.
"Peace can only be sustainable through appropriate and effective global governance to respond to global challenges," Dr Momen said.
He said the Prime Minister’s remarkable efforts to establish a culture of peace not only in her own country or in the region, but in the world, made her one of the Champions of Peace of the present days.
Her commitment towards fulfilment of the dream of Bangabandhu to make Bangladesh a Sonar Bangla- the Golden Bengal, has resulted into current day’s Bangladesh – a prosperous and peaceful country, said the Foreign Minister.
Read: World Peace Conference: Dhaka to adopt ‘Peace Declaration’
President Abdul Hamid will inaugurate the "World Peace Conference-2021" on Saturday that will bring together global thinkers, political personalities and peace promoters.
The conference will look back on Bangabandhu’s vision and political struggle for peace.
Hasina will attend the closing ceremony of the two-day conference on Sunday as the chief guest. Both the President and the Prime Minister will join the event virtually.
The conference, to be held in a hybrid format through both physical and virtual participation, will also shed light on the legacy being carried forward by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in her “untiring quest” of building a peaceful, just, rights-based, inclusive and prosperous nation.
“Bangladesh will get a special document through adoption of – “Dhaka Peace Declaration” – which will work as a reference for Bangladesh’s all peace and security-related global initiatives to be taken in the future,” said the Foreign Minister.
Contract Farming: Bangladesh looks for signing framework with potential African countries
Bangladesh is looking for ways to sign a framework with potential African countries to explore untapped contract farming opportunities and identify particular countries in Africa for initiating a pilot project.
An inter-ministerial meeting co-chaired by Agriculture Minister Dr Abdur Razzaq and Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on taking lands one lease in African countries for contract farming by Bangladeshi entrepreneurs was held at the Foreign Service Academy on Tuesday.
The meeting was attended by the Executive Chairman, BIDA, Foreign Secretary (Senior Secretary), representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture, Commerce and Foreign Affairs, representatives of the Armed Forces Division, the Prime Minister Office and Bangladesh Bank.
The meeting focused on identifying ways and means for establishing contract farming in African countries by Bangladeshi farmers and entrepreneurs.
The Foreign Minister said by leasing land in the African countries, employment opportunities may be created for a very large number of Bangladeshi workers and farmers.
He suggested that peacekeeping Missions in the African countries may establish contacts with local authorities for contract farming opportunities.
The Foreign Minister also suggested that exchange of training on agriculture may be made with the African countries to make them familiar with our advancements made in the field of agriculture.
Myanmar to take back Rohingyas gradually, hopes Foreign Minister
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Saturday hoped that Myanmar will take back Rohingyas gradually as the pressure on Myanmar will be mounted following the recent adoption of resolution in the United Nations. "I believe the pressure will be mounted on Myanmar as the resolution has been passed by consensus," he told reporters after paying tribute to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in Tungipara. Dr Momen said Myanmar did not say they will not take back their people. "We hope Myanmar will create a conducive environment for the voluntary return of the Rohingyas." The Foreign Minister said every country wants a peaceful solution to the Rohingya crisis. “It’s great news for us that all the countries want the Rohingyas to go back to their country," he said.
Bangladesh, Kenya explore cooperation in blue economy
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has proposed that both Bangladesh and Kenya can establish cooperation in the blue economy.
Both sides agreed to establish cooperation in tourism, IT and agriculture sectors in addition to developing the existing trade and commerce.
Chief Administrative Secretary for Foreign Affairs of Kenya Ababu Namwamda met Dr Momen at State Guest House Padma on Thursday and discussed the issues.
He congratulated the Bangladesh government on the occasion of celebration of the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the 50th Anniversary of the Independence of Bangladesh and termed the events as a very special moment for Bangladesh.
The Chief Administrative Secretary for Foreign Affairs of Kenya was accompanied by the diplomatic officer of Kenyan High Commission in India.
Namwamda appreciated the efforts maintained by Bangladesh in climate change areas as well as its achievements earned towards attaining Sustainable Development Goals.
The Foreign Minister apprised the Kenyan Chief Secretary about the development march of Bangladesh and the remarkable achievements of Bangladesh in socio-economic areas.
He mentioned that Bangladesh is now a vibrant economy under the prudent leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
The Foreign Minister stated that despite the effect of the Covid pandemic, Bangladesh is maintaining a robust economic growth.
He said Bangladesh has expertise in the IT & ICT sector and the government is offering various types of digital services to people.
Dr Momen underlined that both countries may cooperate in various areas, including agriculture, defence and IT & ICT.
READ: Junior World Athletics: Sumaiya leaves for Kenya to represent Bangladesh
The Chief Administrative Secretary commended the contribution of Bangladesh peacekeepers at UN Missions across the globe.