2024-05-09 01:12:06
Foreign Minister and Joint General Secretary of Awami League called BNP’s decision to boycott Upazila Parishad elections as suicide politics. Hasan Mahmud.
He said this in response to questions from journalists at a press briefing at the Foreign Ministry’s auditorium in Segunbagicha in the capital on Wednesday (May 8). After returning home on Tuesday (May 7) after an official visit to five countries in Asia, Europe and Africa, the foreign minister briefed the journalists on the matter.
Hashan Mahmud said, the situation is such that those who are involved in BNP politics cannot participate in the country’s Parliament, City Corporation, Upazila and even Union Parishad elections. My question to BNP leaders and workers, if you can’t participate in any election, then why do BNP politics?
In response to the question why BNP is distributing leaflets in Dhaka city even though the elections are held at the upazila level, the joint general secretary of Awami League said that these are their people show programs. When they go to the embassies to distribute leaflets boycotting the upazila elections, that is a matter to be seen. Because they picket foreign embassies literally.
At this time, the journalists asked for comments on the attacks of the law enforcement forces on the student protests in the United States schools against the attack of the Israeli forces on Gaza, Palestine. In this regard, the foreign minister said, ‘Not only in the United States, there have been protests in Europe and in various countries around the world. And we have seen, even if someone punches Hero Alam or a mayoral candidate here, they make a statement. And the way the police are using force to suppress their protests there, thousands of students are being arrested, teachers are not spared, what will they say about this, that is my question.
Summary of five country tour
In the press briefing, the foreign minister detailed the official visit to five countries from April 24 to May 6.
The Foreign Minister visited Thailand from April 24 to 27 with the Prime Minister. There, the visa exemption agreement for official passport holders, three memorandums of understanding on energy, tourism and customs cooperation and the letter of intent to start negotiations on a free trade agreement were signed. Minister Hasan Mahmud attended the international conference titled ‘Humanity at the Crossroads: Autonomous Weapons Systems and the Challenge of Regulation’ in Vienna, Austria from 28 to 29 April.
A meeting with Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg in Vienna discussed the speedy signing of the proposed agreement to increase bilateral trade and investment in Austria and avoid double taxation. The Foreign Minister discussed non-proliferation and peaceful use of nuclear energy in a meeting with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi. He inaugurated Awami League’s own office in Austria.
On 30th April and 1st May respectively in Brussels, Belgium and Bangladesh Embassy in London, United Kingdom, the Foreign Minister attended the Independence and National Day program as the chief guest. Hasan Mahmud. The event in Brussels was attended by Ambassador Jeroen Kurman, Director-General of Bilateral Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belgium, Niklas Cavernsturm, Managing Director for the Asia Pacific Region of the European Union’s External Action Service and distinguished guests.
Speaker of UK Parliament Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Leader of House of Commons Penny Mordant, Minister Lord Tariq Ahmed, Shadow Secretary for Environment Steve Reed, Chairman of All Party Parliamentary Group on Bangladesh Affairs Rushnara Ali MP and others congratulated Bangladesh on Independence and National Day.
Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmoud highlighted the country’s representation at the 15th OIC Summit in Gambia’s capital Banjul on May 3-5. He said, in the opening session, I especially called for those responsible for war crimes in Palestine to be held accountable. As you know, Gambia has filed a case against Myanmar at the International Court of Justice for genocide. We are helping them. At the conclusion of the OIC conference, we called on OIC members to cooperate in the Rohingya genocide case.
In the press briefing, besides the conference, the foreign minister gave a brief overview of the meeting with 10 ministers and heads of organizations of various countries and international organizations.
Gambia’s foreign minister. Mamadou Tangara, Minister of Justice and Attorney General Dawda A Jalao, Foreign Minister of Egypt Sameh Hassan Shukri, Foreign Minister of Malaysia Dato Seri Utama Haji, Foreign Minister of Indonesia Retno LP Marsudi, Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Zeihun Bairamov, Minister of Justice of Bahrain Nawaf bin Mohamed Al-Mawadeh, Brunei Darussalam Sec. Minister for Foreign Affairs Dato’ Seri Seita Haji Erwin, UN Permanent Observer of Palestine Riyad Mansour, Secretary General of Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO) Dima Al Yahya discussed mutual cooperation as well as joint efforts to end the war in Gaza and Rohingya repatriation. Hasan Mahmud.
British Minister of State Anne-Marie Trevelyan’s meeting with the Foreign Minister
Indo-Pacific Minister of State Anne-Marie Trevelyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the UK Foreign Office visiting Bangladesh on Wednesday afternoon. Hasan met with Mahmud.
Regarding the meeting, the Foreign Minister told reporters that Anne-Marie Trevelyan highly praised the development and progress of Bangladesh under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. He expressed interest in traveling by Metrorail.
Highlighting the contribution of expatriate Bangladeshis to the UK economy, Minister of State Trevelyan expressed satisfaction with the trade between the two countries and emphasized on its expansion.
In the meeting, the foreign minister informed about various bilateral issues including buying Airbus from the UK, immigration, combating climate change and Rohingya repatriation based on prior agreement.