2024-05-10 21:58:49
Foreign Minister and Joint General Secretary of Awami League. Hasan Mahmud said, secularism is the main driving force of our nation and Paola Baisakh festival is a symbol of secularism.
He said this while speaking as the chief guest at the ‘Baishakhi Utsav 1431’ program organized jointly by the Ministry of External Affairs and the Foreign Office Spouses Association at the Foreign Service Academy on Bailey Road in the capital on Friday (May 10) evening.
The foreign minister said, ‘Bangladesh was born in 1971 through the great liberation war after breaking the communal state system of Pakistan with the aim of building a non-communal state under the leadership of Bangabandhu, the father of the nation. The first Baishakh festival, which became a universal festival irrespective of caste and religion under the leadership of Bangabandhu’s daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, is today the embodiment of our secularism.
Dr. Hasan Mahmud said, ‘Awami League, which led the war of independence, believes that our first identity is that we are Bengalis, and the second identity is who we are and what religion we belong to. Bangabandhu’s daughter Sheikh Hasina’s mantra – Religion belongs to everyone, festival is for everyone. That is why today in Bangladesh people of all religions unite in Eid, Puja, Prabarana Purnima festivals.
Earlier, the foreign minister answered various questions of the journalists. US President Joe Biden has nominated the name of David Slayton Mill as the new US ambassador to Bangladesh, the minister welcomed the nomination in response to a question. He expressed hope that the new ambassador will further advance the cooperation of the United States with Bangladesh.
At this time recently in the briefing of the White House in response to a question about human rights in Bangladesh. Hasan Mahmud said that human rights in our country are better than many countries. Human rights are not in ideal position in any country of the world.
He said that in the United States, we are seeing on TV the way the police is suppressing the movement of students in favor of the Palestinians. We also see how the police are suppressing civil movements on behalf of the Palestinians in various European countries.
All countries should work together to improve human rights. We also want to work with our development partners for the development of human rights’ said the foreign minister.
Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs. AK Abdul Momen and Foreign Secretary Masood Bin Momen addressed the event. Shahriar Alam, Member of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassadors, High Commissioners of various countries and members of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Office Spouses Association (Fossa) were present on the occasion. Later there was an interesting cultural program performed by Fosa artistes.