Dr AK Abdul Momen
PM’s presence in UNGA important for critical issues: Dr Momen
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s in-person presence in the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) is very important to give an impetus to campaigns for equitable access to Covid-19 vaccine, climate change and food security amid the global pandemic, said Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen.
“One of the major reasons behind her in-person presence is that Covid-19 vaccine will be our big issue. The Prime Minister has been campaigning from the day one that the Covid vaccine should be public good and each country should get it without any discrimination,” he said while briefing reporters in New York.
He said the Prime Minister would strongly put emphasis on the vaccine issue in her speech in the UNGA.
Besides, creating a momentum to the climate change campaign is very important ahead of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 26) to be held in Glasgow, Scotland from October 31 next, said the Foreign Minister, adding that Bangladesh is adversely affected by global warming.
He said around 30 million people would be displaced as some 17-25 percent of the country’s lands would submerge. “So, it’s a big problem for us, which should get focused in the upcoming COP 26. It needs to create a momentum for it and the Prime Minister’s presence in person is very significant,” he added.
Read:Vaccine should be a public good without any conditions: FM
Another reason is that there might be a food crisis in the future, he said, adding that the PM will focus on food security as well.
Describing the Prime Minister as a brave lady, he said she came here at this tough time amid risks. “She came for the welfare of the country’s people,” said Dr Momen, adding that she did not travel anywhere in the last 19 months and rather she attended some 1500 virtual events staying indoors.
Read:Hasina seeks SDGs roadmap for countries falling behind
Meanwhile, Barbados Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley called on Sheikh Hasina at her hotel suite.
She presented a copy of Bangabandhu's ‘Unfinished Memoirs’ to her Barbados counterpart.
UK removes Bangladesh from travel red list
After repeated requests, the UK has removed Bangladesh from its travel red list.
Bangladesh is moving to the amber list from 4am Wednesday (September 22).
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen welcomed the decision and thanked the British government for considering Bangladesh’s request.
Apart from Bangladesh, seven more countries have been removed from the harshest restrictions (red list) on travel.
Read: FM reiterates call for removing Bangladesh from UK's Covid red list
FM seeks Commonwealth solidarity for Rohingya repatriation
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has sought Commonwealth solidarity for smooth repatriation of the Rohingyas to their place of origin in Rakhine State.
Leading the Bangladesh delegation in the 21st Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers’ meeting (CFAMM) virtually, he urged Commonwealth to assist in persuading the government of Myanmar to follow their commitments.
Foreign Minister Dr Momen highlighted the current impasse over the FDMNs voluntary repatriation to Myanmar and their partial relocation to Bhashan Char.
He also sought efforts to boost-up intra-Commonwealth trade, ensure vaccine equity and result-oriented climate action.
Commonwealth leaders have commended Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s humanitarian role in taking bold decision to give shelter to a huge number of Forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals (FDMN) and thus saving thousands of innocent lives.
READ: FM gifts masks to journalists at media briefing
They also appreciated her leadership of the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF).
They made these comments during the 21st Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers’ meeting (CFAMM) held virtually in London on Thursday.
The Foreign Minister informed the Commonwealth leaders of the initiatives undertaken as the Chair of the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF) .
It's unfair, discriminatory: FM on UK's Covid red-listing
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has reiterated Bangladesh’s call to remove it from the red-listed countries with travel restrictions terming UK's decision unfair and discriminatory.
"It's unfair and it's discrimination (to Bangladesh)," he said while talking to a select group of journalists at his office on Monday.
Referring to the sufferings of more than 7000 British-Bangladeshis currently stranded in Bangladesh, Dr Momen said the UK government is doing disservice to its own citizens.
He said the UK government argued that the vaccination rate is low in Bangladesh but Bangladesh says the UK is allowing people from other countries having lower vaccination rate.
READ: Policy towards Afghan depends on its attitude: FM
Responding to a question, Dr Momen said Bangladesh has lined up for 24 crore vaccine doses, and over 2.22 crore people have already been vaccinated.
Asked about Rohingya issue as the UNGA is approaching, Dr Momen said many countries are much interested to see restoration of democracy in Myanmar and Bangladesh also wants it.
But, he said, Bangladesh wants the repatriation of Rohingyas too without any delay. "Our priority is repatriation."
READ: FM reiterates call for removing Bangladesh from UK's Covid red list
Rohingya repatriation: Dhaka seeks Moscow's support
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has sought support from Russia for the early repatriation of Rohingyas to their homeland in Myanmar's Rakhine State.
The minister made the request as newly appointed Russian Ambassador to Bangladesh Alexander Vikentyevich Mantytskiy met him at his office at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sunday.
Bangladesh continues to bear the burden of over 1.1 million Rohingyas as no repatriation took place over the last four years amid a "lack of initiative" from Myanmar and "inadequate steps" by the international community.
Policy towards Afghan depends on its attitude: FM
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Thursday said Bangladesh will decide its policy towards Afghanistan independently after observing the situation, their attitudes and policies but no terrorists will be patronized.
“We’ve zero tolerance...we'll in no way patronise any terrorists,” he told reporters referring to the involvement of few Bangladeshis in Afghanistan in the previous Taliban government.
Dr Momen said he was asked whether Bangladesh will follow the policy of India or Pakistan but he made it clear that the decision of Bangladesh is not linked with the decision of any other country.
While briefing journalists at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he said Bangladesh has a historic relationship with Afghanistan and is observing the situation in Afghanistan which is a member of Saarc.
“We believe in democracy. We should ensure people’s welfare and we’re yet to take any decision on the Afghanistan issue,” he said.
The Taliban on Tuesday announced an all-male interim government for Afghanistan.
The Foreign Minister said Bangladesh always believes in a people's government that comes through a political and democratic process and Bangladesh always extends support to such a government where people’s desire is reflected.
On Wednesday, State Minister for Foreign Affair M Shahriar Alam said Bangladesh is still waiting for a permanent government in place in Afghanistan without hurriedly reaching a decision whether it will welcome the interim government or not.
“We’re still observing the situation very closely. Our focus still remains on peace and stability fully free from any war,” he told reporters at his office.
Responding to a question on progress over bringing back BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman and other criminals, the Foreign Minister said he cannot tell it exactly as the government is following the issues as per the laws. “I don’t have any such progress report.”
Read: Bangladesh to take its policy towards Afghanistan independently
Dhaka seeks unity against vaccine inequity to accelerate economic recovery efforts
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has said a successful pandemic recovery must involve universal vaccination ending vaccine inequality.
He referred to the unfortunate manifestation of vaccine nationalism and called the world to stand united against such vaccine inequity.
“It’s time for development partners to be more humane and help the deserving without discrimination. Vaccine should be a public good,” said the Foreign Minister while speaking at the United Nations high-level Forum on the Culture of Peace held at the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday.
This year’s high-level Forum on the Culture of Peace focused on the transformative role of the Culture of peace in promoting inclusion and resilience in the post Covid recovery. The daylong event included an inaugural session, a plenary session and a virtual panel discussion.
“An essential component of our recovery effort from the pandemic must involve a peaceful environment in which all of us irrespective of our caste, creed, colour, race and religion can meaningfully contribute to our re-building efforts. There is no alternative to inculcate the Culture of Peace in our efforts to build back better in the post-Covid recovery,” Dr Momen said.
The Foreign Minister recalled Bangladesh’s pioneering role in the adoption of the UN General Assembly Resolution on the Culture of Peace since 1999 and organization of the high-level forum since 2012.
Read: 'Vaccine inequity' concerns IMF, WB, WHO, WTO
Apart from the Foreign Minister, the President of the General Assembly, High Representative of UN Alliance of Civilization, Chef de Cabinet of UN Secretary General and the Representative of UNESCO delivered remarks at the inaugural session.
Dhaka seeks support to address climate change challenges
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has sought support in the form of climate financing, rehabilitation of climate migrants, and transfer of green technology to address the challenges of climate change.
He made the request when he met the Head of IMF and the Dutch Ministers in separate bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the meeting of the Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) in Rotterdam, the Netherlands on Monday.
During his bilateral meeting with Barbara Visser, Dutch Minister for Infrastructure and Water Management, he requested support from the Netherlands in implementation of the different projects under the Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100
Also read: Climate emergency demands policy shift to adaptation: Global leaders on COP26
Dr Momen also explained the necessity of embankments to protect from sea-level rise, river erosion and floods.
He sought Dutch advice and assistance in building embankments and dykes in this regard.
Bangladesh to take its policy towards Afghanistan independently: FM
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has said Bangladesh will decide its policy towards Afghanistan independently noting that what India or Pakistan is doing is not that much important to Bangladesh.
“Bangladesh always decides its foreign policy in the interest of its own and very independently,” he told BBC Bangla in an interview making it clear that the decision of Bangladesh is not linked with that of any other country.
The Foreign Minister said Bangladesh always believes in a people's government that comes through a political and democratic process, and it always extends support to such a government where people’s desire is reflected.
“We’ll extend support if people’s desire is reflected in the new Afghan government. At this moment, we don’t know as we’re yet to understand the situation in Afghanistan,” Dr Momen said, adding that things will depend on how the new Afghan government acts and what policy it adopts after the formulation of the government.
The Foreign Minister, however, said there is a perception to get about the people in Afghanistan as what they want.
Read: Bangladesh observing Afghanistan situation, in touch with stranded citizens
Pay compensation to climate vulnerable nations: FM to developed countries
Bangladesh has called upon the developed countries -- responsible for the highest rates of global carbon emissions -- to pay compensation to the poorer nations for the losses and damages incurred through climate change.
In an interview with ITV News, Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen said it is fair and just for these bigger countries to pay compensation because they are the ones that abuse the resources and spoil planet Earth.
The G20, which is made up of most of the world’s largest economies, accounts for more than 80% of global carbon emissions.
Meanwhile, developing countries like Bangladesh often emit the lowest amounts of global emissions but are forced to endure the disproportionate wrath of climate change.
Bangladesh is only responsible for 0.4% of the planet’s total carbon discharge yet loses around 2% of its GDP yearly to extreme climate events, says the ITV News.
Six million Bangladeshis have so far got displaced as a consequence of climate change and by 2050, the country fears 17% of its coastline will vanish underwater creating 30 million climate refugees.
“This is an existential problem for Bangladesh,” Momen said, adding that the climate change issue is not a national issue, not a regional issue, it is a global issue. "We all have to work together in collaboration and partnership to save this planet."
Read: Bangladesh to be voice of climate vulnerable countries: FM