foreign minister
Global food crisis won't seriously harm Bangladesh: Momen
Foreign Minister Dr. AK Abdul Momen said the government can ensure food security in the country despite the fear of a global food crisis.
“Though there is a fear that a global food crisis might be seen in the future because of the Covid-19 pandemic and Russia-Ukraine situation, it will not harm Bangladesh much,” he said.
The foreign minister made the remarks responding to a question from journalists after he inaugurated the works for upgrading the Ambarkhana-Tukerbazar part of Sylhet-Sunamganj road into a four-lane one on Friday afternoon.
He said not a single inch of arable land in Bangladesh will remain uncultivated as the government is trying to ensure food security. “If you can manage food, you can manage anything else,” he added.
Read: We won’t fall prey to Myanmar provocations: Momen
The minister said the GDP growth is above 6 percent in Bangladesh whereas it is around 3 percent in many other countries in the world.
"Bangladesh always works on the basis of reality. So, there is no reason to worry,” he said.
Dr Momen arrived here on Friday afternoon on a two-day tour to Sylhet.
We won’t fall prey to Myanmar provocations: Momen
Bangladesh has reiterated that it will not step into any provocations by Myanmar, noting that what is happening inside the Buddhist-majority country is their internal matter.
“We never step into any provocations. We are facing the situation cool-headedly,” Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen told reporters at his office on Tuesday when his attention was drawn about the situation along the Bangladesh-Myanmar border.
Read: Firing inside Myanmar again rocks locals in Bangladesh's Reju Amtali
Asked whether Bangladesh will take the issue to the UN, Momen said there is scope, but mentioned that the UN has become much weaker now. “We are doing what we need to do.”
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned Myanmar Ambassador to Bangladesh Aung Kyaw Moe several times since August and he “acknowledged” the firing of multiple mortar shells into Bangladesh territory.
The envoy, however, tried to deflect blame by asserting that the insurgents were engaged in fighting, firing heavy artillery and mortars, some of which landed inside Bangladesh territory.
Bangladesh urged Myanmar to refrain from activities that inflict damage to the lives and livelihoods of people, noting that the ongoing situation is creating an atmosphere of “fear” among the innocent people living in the bordering areas with Myanmar.
The firing of shells from Myanmar caused human casualties, affecting the safety and security of the people and property inside Bangladesh and spreading panic among the residents of the bordering areas.
Bangladesh also briefed the diplomats stationed in Dhaka in two groups about the situation and sought their cooperation to stop the violence that may destabilise the whole region.
The Myanmar side was also reminded that the ongoing situation was detrimental to begin the repatriation process of the forcibly displaced Rohingya who are Myanmar nationals.
Read: Myanmar’s shelling inside Bangladesh “unintentional mistake”, Momen says in NY
The envoy was told that the government of Myanmar was responsible for maintaining security inside Myanmar, as well as for respecting the sovereign territory and airspace of Bangladesh.
Bangladesh also reiterated its zero tolerance policy on terrorism and non-harboring of any elements hostile to the security of the countries in the region.
On Tuesday, the Foreign Minister said that Bangladesh had a good discussion with the international partners at the UN about the Rohingya issue and everyone agreed that it is a “serious issue” and its solution lies in repatriation only.
Bangladesh is now hosting about 1.1 million Rohingyas in Cox’s Bazar camps and Bhasan Char Island and not a single of them had been repatriated since 2017 when the latest influx took place amid crackdown by Myanmar military.
“We conveyed the message of peace. We said we want peace. If there is instability, common people suffer and their welfare is disrupted,” Momen said, referring to their discussions at various levels at the UN.
Responding to a question, Momen said China has always extended its support to find a solution to the Rohingya crisis.
“They are interested to find a solution and they have sincerity,” he said adding that no outcome is seen as of now.
There is a tripartite mechanism among Bangladesh-Myanmar and China, and the three sides have had several meetings so far.
1971 genocide by Pakistani military most heinous crimes in human history: Momen
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has said Bangladesh genocide committed in 1971 by the Pakistani military is one of the most heinous crimes in human history and regretted that the Bangladesh genocide is yet to be recognised by the international community to the extent the genocide warrants.
“We do not know of another instance of such barbarism of such intensity and mayhem,” Momen said while speaking at a virtual seminar as the chief guest.
The Foreign Minister said on 25 March 1971 the Pakistan junta undertook the cruel and enormous mayhem of innocent civilian people of Bangladesh in order to suppress the nation's democratic aspirations by sheer force of fear and terror.
He informed that Bangladesh declared 25 March as the Genocide Day and Bangladesh is working for getting the date recognized as the International Genocide Day by all the countries in the world.
Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momenn said 1971 has been the most significant year in the history of Bangladesh.
In one hand, Bangladesh achieved her independence in this very year, on the other hand, the nation experienced the ugliest chapter of brutality, atrocities, indiscriminate killing, raping, looting, and arson to achieve independence, he said, adding that the world witnessed genocide within three decades of the Second World War.
Read: Momen in NY: No specific info given by US on Rab sanctions
The High Commission for Bangladesh in Canada and the Bangabandhu Centre for Bangladesh Studies (BCBS) in Canada, Liberation War Museum, Bangladesh, Genocide Studies Centre, University of Dhaka, Refugees Resilience Centre and Rotary Club Canada jointly organized the day-long seminar on remembering and recognition of the case of Bangladesh Genocide on 1971 at the Human Rights Museum, Winipeg, Canada on September 21.
High Commissioner of Bangladesh to Canada and the Chief Patron of the BCBS in Canada Dr Khalilur Rahman and Dr Kawser Ahmed, Chief Coordinator of the BCBS, Canada, delivered introductory remarks.
Dr. Gregory Stanton of Genocide Watch delivered the keynote speech.
David C Newman, Rotarian and Peace-Builder and Canadian Patron of the BCBS, Dr. James Waller, Cohen Professor of the Holocaust and Genocide Studies of Keene State College, New Hampshire, USA, Dr. Adam Muller, Professor and Director of Peace and Conflict Studies, University of Manitoba, spoke at the seminar.
In addition, Dr. John Adam of University of British Colombia, Vancouver, Canada, gave a verbal illustration of the Bangladesh Genocide which pictures the heinous crimes committed in Bangladesh in 1971.
Joining virtually, Mofidul Hoque, Trustee, Liberation War Museum of Bangladesh, and Director of Centre for the Study of Genocide and Justice explained the case of genocide in Bangladesh in 1971.
His statement was followed by presentations by post-genocide generation researchers.
Professor Dr Imtiaz Ahmed, Director of Center for Genocide Studies, University of Dhaka, presented a paper delineating the Bangladesh genocide.
Professor Ahmed said that the Bangladesh genocide fulfills all criteria declared by the UN to get the global recognition.
Some members of the victim families of the Genocide also spoke at the Seminar.
Professor Dr. Nuzhat Chowdhury described the abduction of her father Dr Alim Chowdhury by collaborators of the Pakistan military, the Rajakars, and his subsequent brutal killing just before the independence of Bangladesh.
Read: Myanmar’s shelling inside Bangladesh “unintentional mistake”, Momen says in NY
She explained the international politics behind the dilemma of getting Bangladesh Genocide recognised and urged for end to such realpolitik.
Dr Towheed Reza Noor, son of Sirajuddin Hossain, described his father's abduction and killing. Martyr Mr. Sirajuddin Hossain was a prominent journalist.
He described how the Bengali intellectuals were made victim of genocide committed by Pakistani military.
Asif Muneir, son of Professor Munir Chowdhury, gave the description of his father's abduction and killing during the Bangladesh Genocide of 1971 by the collaborators of Pakistan military, Rajakar, Al Badr and Al Shams.
Momen, Canadian High Commissioner welcome formation of CBAA
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has welcomed the formation of the Canada Bangladesh Alumni Association (CBAA), as an effective public as well as economic diplomacy tool to augment bilateral relations between the two countries.
A delegation led by the President of the Executive Council (EXCO) of CBAA Khorshed Khastagir met the Foreign Minister at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs recently.
Director General (Public Diplomacy) Toufique Hasan, Director General (Foreign Minister’s Office) Emdadul Islam Chowdhury of the Ministry and CBAA Vice President Saiful Islam, Treasurer Eazaz Mohammed, EXCO members Kazi Muinur Rahman and Ehtesham Jilhan Bin Salim were present during the courtesy call on, said a media release on Thursday.
Read:Outgoing Indian envoy meets Momen, extends Jaishankar’s invitation for event during UNGA
Foreign Minister signs book of condolence for Queen Elizabeth II
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has signed the book of condolence for Queen Elizabeth II.
British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Robert Chatterton Dickson received the Foreign Minister at his residence on Wednesday.
In his condolence message, the Foreign Minister wrote that the Queen "left a legacy incomparable in human history and lived with honor and dignity."
Read: PM Hasina visits British High Commission to pay tribute to Queen
The Foreign Minister gracefully recalled his meeting with the Queen twice; once in 1961 when the Queen visited then East Pakistan and again in 2010 when the Queen paid a visit to the UN in New York.
The High Commissioner thanked the Foreign Minister for visiting his residence to show respect to the Queen.
FM urges Palestinian and Jordanian students to highlight development stories of Bangladesh
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Sunday urged the students of Palestine and Jordan who have obtained MBBS and other degrees from Bangladesh to uphold the development image of Bangladesh to others.The minister also called them goodwill ambassadors of Bangladesh.He said these in a video message given at a reception organized in honor of Palestinian and Jordanian students who have obtained MBBS and other higher degrees from Bangladesh recently at the initiative of the Bangladesh Embassy in Jordan's Amman.Momen said, "Bangladesh has always been supporting the Palestine issue and Jordan".He said to the students that you have got the opportunity to know Bangladesh better than the citizens of many other countries. As you have spent the most important time of your life in Bangladesh you will always be considered as true friends of us and believe that you will be by our side in any situation, Momen hoped.Ambassador Nahida Sobhan welcomed everyone at the beginning of the event and said that Bangladesh has a historical relationship with Palestine and Jordan. She also said that Bangladesh is now being considered as a "role model" of development in various fields including education, health, agriculture, information, technology, women's empowerment, under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. She urged all those who completed their education from Bangladesh to illustrate the real image of Bangladesh to the world.A video on the development and culture of Bangladesh was screened on the occasion.
Momen to be part of PM’s entourage during upcoming UK, US visits
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen will be accompanying Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during her upcoming visits to London, New York and Washington, said an official of the foreign ministry.
Momen was not part of the PM’s entourage during her just-concluded state visit to India (September 5-8), citing “health reasons”.
The Prime Minister is scheduled to visit the United Kingdom and the United States from September 15 to September 30, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The seventy-seventh session of the UN General Assembly opens on September 13 with the theme, “A watershed moment: transformative solutions to interlocking challenges.”
Read: Momen not accompanying PM in India: Dipu Moni questions media’s use of “dropped”
The theme stems from the recognition that the world is at a critical moment in the history of the United Nations due to complex and interconnected crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, humanitarian challenges of unprecedented nature, a tipping point in climate change as well as growing concerns about threats to the global economy.
At the UN General Assembly, on September 20, heads of states and governments will explore solutions to the outstanding global challenges.
This year’s general debate, which runs through September 26, is expected to be fully in-person.
Read: Dhaka, Delhi likely to sign 7 deals, MoUs during PM's India visit: FM
Momen not accompanying PM in India: Dipu Moni questions media’s use of “dropped”
Education Minister Dipu Moni today (September 5, 2022) said that anyone can be dropped from PM’s entourage due to Covid-19 precautions.
Talking to reporters, she said that before meetings with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina or attending Parliament sessions, they are always anxious over Covid-19 tests – wondering whether they will test positive.
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen did not accompany Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during her India visit citing “illness”.
“He (Momen) is feeling unwell. He didn’t go with the PM,” an official told UNB earlier today.
Read:Momen not in PM’s entourage in India, cited “illness” as reason: Official
When asked for comments over it, the education minister said, “Choice of words is a dangerous thing. You said (Momen has been) ‘dropped’. If you know the reason, you can say whether he was ‘dropped’ (from PM’s entourage) or he couldn’t go due to a certain reason.”
At the invitation of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Bangladesh PM Hasina is on a state visit to New Delhi from today to September 8.
Foreign Minister Momen briefed the media yesterday afternoon at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in detail about PM’s India visit and was scheduled to accompany her.
Hasina, now in New Delhi, is visiting India after three years.
Requested US, UK, Japan to take Rohingyas from Bangladesh: FM
Bangladesh has urged the United Kingdom to take one lakh Rohingyas from Bangladesh in addition to its request to the USA and Japan for sharing the burden.
“I had requested the US Secretary of State and Japan to resettle some (Rohingyas). They have agreed to some extent which is a good news for us,” Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen told reporters.
The foreign minister made the remarks after attending a views exchange meeting on post-flood development programme organized by Sylhet district administration at the Sylhet Circuit House on Friday.
Mosharraf Hossain, Sylhet Divisional Commissioner, Mohammad Mofiz Uddin Ahmed, Deputy Inspector General of Sylhet range, Md Nisharul Arif, Commissioner of Sylhet Metropolitan Police, Shafiqur Rahman Chowdhury, President (acting) of Sylhet district Awami League and General Secretary Nasir Uddin Khan spoke at the event as special guests.
Earlier, US Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken said as an essential component of an international, comprehensive humanitarian response, they are working to "significantly increase resettlement" of Rohingya refugees from the region, including from Bangladesh, so that they can rebuild their lives in the United States.
Read: Rohingya Crisis: Japan for considering third-country resettlement in parallel to repatriation
Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Ito Naoki has said it is "vital to consider third-country resettlement" in parallel to repatriation of the Rohingyas to their place of origin in Myanmar.
“Accepting refugees through third-country resettlement is one of the permanent solutions. It is a way to share the burden of the refugee crisis among the international community,” said the ambassador.
In December 2008, Japan decided upon a pilot programme to accept refugees from Myanmar through third-country resettlement as the first country in Asia.
Until today, 54 families and 200 people, including Rohingya, were resettled through this scheme, said the Japanese Ambassador.
Momen is none of AL central committee: Hasan
Information Minister Hasan Mahmud on Sunday said since foreign minister AK Abdul Momen is none of Awami League’s central committee, the party give him no responsibility to advocate for it in the foreign lands.
“He is an MP of Awami League but none of the party’s central committee. So, Bangladesh Awami League has not given that responsibility to anyone (him) to say something on behalf of the party going abroad,” he said while exchanging views with journalists in his ministry here in the capital.
Hasan, also an AL joint general secretary, said this when his attention was drawn to the comments of AL presidium member Abdur Rahman that Momen is none of the party and his recent statement (seeking Indian support for Sheikh Hasina) is not the party’s stance.
Also read: Momen comments: AL expects PM to formally look into it
Hasan said they believe in the power of the people. “We believe that none but the people can sustain the government,” he said.
He said the party is not responsible if someone shares his personal views with someone. “If someone talks to someone, it is his responsibility. Neither the government nor the party gave him any such responsibility,” he added.
"I think if you are in a responsible position, you need to speak responsibly,” he continued.
Hasan claimed that BNP doesn’t believe in the power of the people, rather curries favour with the European Union, the United States and China regularly to come in power. “In this country, no one can put someone in power,” he said.
Also read: Momen's India remarks have no link with AL: Quader
In reply to a question if there is any initiative to bring back BNP leader Tarique Rahman to the country, the minister said Tarique has been convicted with life-term imprisonment in the August 21 grenade attack case. “We continue talks with the United Kingdom. But they have some domestic laws where there are complexities (to bring him back),” he added.