United News of Bangladesh

Describing India and Pakistan as China’s neighbours, Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen on Thursday said China opposes ‘all forms of terrorism’ and calls for an impartial investigation at an early date, noting that tensions between India and Pakistan continue to escalate. “We urge both sides to act in the interest of peace and stability, stay calm, exercise restraint and refrain from taking actions that may further complicate the situation,” he said. Speaking at a programme here, Ambassador Yao said India and Pakistan are and will always be each other’s neighbors. “They’re both China’s neighbours as well.” He mentioned that India launched military strikes on targets in Pakistan on the early morning of May 7 and China finds that “regrettable” and is “concerned” about the ongoing situation. Ambassador Yao said the world today is full of turmoil, instability and uncertainty. “No matter how the international landscape may evolve, China will stand firm on the right side of history and on the side of human progress, serving as the most stable, certain and peaceful force in the world,” he said. He noted that there are also ongoing negotiations between the United States and other economies, and pointed out that compromise does not earn respect and only by holding firm to principles and fairness and justice can countries safeguard their interests. With a strong signal, Dhaka-Beijing set to elevate trade ties to new level: Ambassador Yao Ambassador Yao said China stands ready to work with Bangladesh and all parties to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, enhance coordination and jointly resist unilateral protectionism and hegemonic bullying practices, in order to uphold free trade and multilateralism and promote an inclusive economic globalisation. He said they need to defend international fairness and justice and China will continue to pursue peace, development, cooperation and mutual benefit and build a peaceful, safe, prosperous, beautiful and amicable community with a shared future with neighboring countries. The Ambassador said China stands ready to support Bangladesh on matters including cooperation in South Asia, regional connectivity, the Rohingya issue and to coordinate positions in the United Nations and other multilateral forums to release the positive effects of China-Bangladesh friendship to the region and the world, maintain peace and stability in South Asia, and safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries. Moving forward, he said, they will walk side by side on the path toward their respective national modernisation. Guided by the consensus reached by the two leaders, the envoy said, China is ready to work with Bangladesh to start anew from the 50th anniversary, to renew their traditional friendship, strengthen strategic communication, deepen practical cooperation, promote people-to-people bonds and advance high-quality Belt and Road cooperation. “Let’s work together to lift the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership to a new level, and embark on the next golden 50 years of China-Bangladesh relations,” said Ambassador Yao. Prof Yunus welcomes investment proposals from UAE in various sectors Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) organised the country lecture on ‘Five Decades of Bangladesh-China Relations: Towards a New Height’ at the BIISS auditorium. BIISS Director General Major General Iftekhar Anis delivered welcome remarks while its Chairman AFM Gousal Azam Sarker chaired the session. Executive Director of the Centre for Alternatives, Bangladesh Imtiaz Ahmed made a presentation.

Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain on Sunday said Bangladesh wants peace in South Asia, noting that tensions between India and Pakistan can be eased through dialogue. He also said Bangladesh does not want to see any major conflict that might become a source of danger for the people in the region. "Our position is very clear. We want peace in South Asia. We do not want any major conflict to arise, which can become a source of danger for the people of this region," Hossain told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs while responding to a question. There is an escalating tension between two South Asian countries- India and Pakistan - following the killing of 26 tourists in a terrorist attack in Indian-administered Kashmir last week. Asked whether Bangladesh would consider mediating between India and Pakistan, Hossain said Bangladesh does not want to mediate at the moment. "We should not try to play any role of mediation at this moment. We do not want to do anything prematurely," he said. Hossain said Bangladesh wants to see tensions between India and Pakistan to ease through mediation or bilateral talks, in any way. As Bangladesh has good relations with both India and Pakistan, Hossain said they want peace in the region.. Uruguay's FM meets Prof Yunus, seeks stronger economic collaboration India and Pakistan have long been in conflictive relations on various issues, Hossain observed. Noting that Bangladesh has good relations with both India and Pakistan, the Foreign Affairs Adviser said Bangladesh would like them to resolve the problem through talks. He said they have seen that proposals for mediation have already come from one or two countries. "Mediation or bilateral talks, whatever the case, we want tensions to be defused and peace to be maintained." Regarding the reported arrests of over 1,000 Bangladeshis in Gujarat and elsewhere in India, the Adviser said Bangladesh has not yet officially received any report from the Indian authorities. "Whether those arrested are Bangladeshis is subject to verification," Hossain said. "If it is confirmed that they are Bangladeshis, Bangladesh will cooperate in addressing the matter accordingly," he added. If any letter is given officially, he said they will have to see whether they are citizens of Bangladesh or not. "If they are citizens of Bangladesh, then we will definitely take them back. But whether they are citizens of Bangladesh or not is also subject to proof," Hossain added. Following the attack, India suspended a key water-sharing agreement, closed the sole land crossing with Pakistan, and revoked visas for Pakistani citizens. Pakistan responded by cancelling Indian visas, shutting its airspace to Indian airlines, and halting trade. Citizens on both sides began returning home via the Wagah border crossing. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif vowed to respond forcefully to any Indian moves to block water flows and expressed willingness to join an impartial investigation into the attack. The United Nations wants to create a humanitarian channel through Bangladesh to send humanitarian aid to Rakhine, and the interim government has agreed in principle to this subject to meeting some conditions. "Bangladesh has agreed in principle to provide a humanitarian channel to Rakhine as per the UN proposal. It will be a humanitarian passage. But we have some conditions. I will not go into details. If the conditions are met, we will definitely help," said Adviser Hossain. Asked about the government’s position regarding contact with the Arakan Army, he said establishing contact with the Arakan Army becomes inevitable. Though they are non-state actor, they have to contact them due to reality, and as they cannot contact them formally, informal contact was made, Hossain explained.