Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen
Dhaka wants inclusive Indian Ocean, not unilateral dominance
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Sunday said they want to see an open, free, peaceful and inclusive Indian Ocean instead of any single country’s dominance noting that many have different types of interests towards the Indian Ocean.
“Indian Ocean is a huge issue. We’ve a policy that the Indian Ocean will be open, free, peaceful and inclusive. We don’t want to see any unilateral dominance in the Indian Ocean,” he told reporters at a media briefing at his ministry.
Bangladesh will host the 21st Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) Council of Ministers’ (COM) meeting on November 17 as it takes up the IORA chairmanship for the first time in 24 years. "Indo-Pacific Vision" will also come up for discussion.
IORA has six priority and two focus areas identified on the basis to promote sustained growth and balanced development in the Indian Ocean Region.
These are maritime safety and security, trade and investment facilitation, fisheries management, disaster risk management, tourism and cultural exchanges, academic, science and technology cooperation, blue economy, women's economic empowerment. “We’ll try to focus on those issues,” Dr Momen said.
Read: France to donate 2mn doses of Covid-19 vaccine to Bangladesh: FM
The 23rd Committee of Senior Officials (CSO) and its related meetings will be held on November 15-16 in a hybrid format (in-person & virtual).
The Foreign Minister said this is a great moment for Bangladesh and 12 ministers from 11 countries (two ministers from Tanzania) will be joining the IORA COM in person.
“Indian Ocean is very important for trading. It’s also dangerous with some associated risks like cyclones, typhoons, tidal surge. So, it’s an essential meeting,” he said.”
Dr Momen said they are looking at the future through the ocean as there are many things to achieve together through partnership and dialogue.
US announces another 14mn Pfizer jabs for Bangladesh
The US administration has declared another 14 million Pfizer vaccine doses for Bangladesh under the COVAX Facility, said Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Thursday.
"It's good news," he said in a message from Paris mentioning that US Secretary of State Antony Blinken moderated a high-level ministerial virtual meeting on Covid-19 and beyond on Wednesday.
Read: Pfizer asks FDA to OK COVID-19 booster shots for all adults
The Bangladesh Foreign Minister and his 25 other counterparts took part in it.
Bangladesh demanded that vaccines be made public good affordable to all countries, and pharmaceutical companies like that of Bangladesh be encouraged and assisted to produce it locally.
Dr Momen disclosed that Bangladesh has distributed 78 million doses, including the first dose of 46 million and 32 million as the second dose.
Read:Pfizer says COVID-19 pill cut hospital, death risk by 90%
He said Bangladesh needs more doses to vaccinate at least 80% of their 165 million people.
The good news is, Dr Momen said, the Covid-19 infection rate in Bangladesh is now around 1% as only two people died yesterday and the day before yesterday only one died of Covid-19.
No shortage of vaccines in Bangladesh: FM
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Saturday said there is shortage of vaccines in Bangladesh, adding that the vaccination drive in the country will go on as planned.
“There is no shortage of vaccines in Bangladesh. We are also ready to go into vaccine production,” he said while speaking as the chief guest at an award ceremony at the Sylhet District Press Club auditorium.
He also said that Bangladesh has been highly successful in ‘Vaccine Diplomacy’ under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and guidance of the Covid-19 management committee.
“Till now, we are providing free jabs to our citizens. This is a very rare feat compared to other parts of the globe,” the FM added.
The FM also spoke regarding the recent incidents of communal violence in the country in an earlier program at the office of Electronic Media Journalists Association (EMJA) in Sylhet.
Read: Nothing to worry about vaccine stock: FM -
Mentioning that there were provocations behind the recent communal violence in the country, the minister said,” A specific group is trying to destabilise the country ahead of the national election which is two years from now.”
“Bangladesh is 'number one' in the world in religious harmony. People of all religions are living in peace in this country,” he added.
Mentioning that there is no beef between Bangladesh and India over the recent act of violence, the FM said,” India (Indian government) is very happy with the steps taken by us on the issue of communal attacks.”
BBIN pact to boost Bangladesh-Nepal ties: Momen
Dhaka has underscored the need for the early implementation of BBIN (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal) motor vehicles pact for regional connectivity and cooperation with Kathmandu in the areas of energy and trade.
Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen raised the issue with the NepaleseAmbassador in Dhaka, Dr Banshidhar Mishra, at the Foreign Service Academy on Monday.
Dr Momen also highlighted the excellent bilateral relations between Bangladesh and Nepal during the meeting.
Read: Nepal can use Mongla and Paira ports, Hasina tells envoy
On his part, the Ambassador of Nepal underscored the necessity of enhanced trade and commerce between the two countries through early conclusion of Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA).
Unesco-Bangabandhu Prize: Hasina to visit France in mid-Nov
Attending the COP26 in Glasgow, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is likely to visit Paris, France in the second week of November to attend the prize-giving ceremony of “UNESCO-Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman International Prize for the Creative Economy.”
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen shared the information while talking to reporters at his residence on his recent visits to Romania and Serbia.
Read: Ties with Bangladesh to grow: Nepalese FM
Asked whether the Prime Minister will hand over the award, Dr Momen said they want the Prime Minister to hand over it. “We want the Prime Minister to hand over the award. Unicef is hosting the programme.”
Tentatively, the event will be held on November 11, said the Foreign Minister about the US $50,000 Prize that will be awarded on a biennial basis, initially for three iterations of the Prize.
The first award ceremony will be held on the occasion of UNESCO’s 41st General Conference in November 2021 and subsequent award ceremonies will be held on the occasion of the Conference of Parties to the 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions.
The Unesco-Bangladesh Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman International Prize for the creative economy will create a knowledge-sharing mechanism by capturing, celebrating, and communicating best practice in the development of creative entrepreneurship, according to Unesco documents.
The objectives of the Unesco-Bangladesh Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman International Prize for the Creative Economy are in line with strategic objective 8 of Unesco's Medium-Term Strategy for 2014-2021 and with the 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions.
The prize will be fully managed and administered by Unesco.
Meanwhile, Dr Momen said Romania has shown interest to recruit around 40,000 workers from Bangladesh.
Read: Bangladeshi’s conviction: FM says evidence to be shared with Saudi govt
'NAM should allow free mobility of capital, technology, labour within its member states'
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has called on the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) to allow free mobility of capital, technology and labour within its member countries to ensure socio-economic prosperity.
The Foreign Minister said it is imperative for the members to put less restrictions on the mobility of resources to help boost economic growth, reduce poverty and a more equitable distribution of income to achieve the major goals of SDGs (sustainable development goals).
Read:FM leaves Dhaka to join meetings in Romania, Serbia
Dr Momen was addressing the 60th anniversary event of NAM in Belgrade.
Referring to the life-long struggle of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman for ensuring equality, humanity and justice, Dr Momen reiterated the strong conviction of Bangladesh to the founding principles of NAM.
"Our peace-centric foreign policy echoes the very spirit of the Non-Aligned Movement,” the Foreign Minister said.
Want killing nowhere: Momen about Mohib Ullah murder
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Wednesday said they do not want a single killing anywhere mentioning that Rohingya leader Mohib Ullah’s killing is regrettable.
“We don’t want any such incident anywhere. We’ve taken action instantly,” he told reporters at his ministry.
Momen greets Mamata; hopes to have closer ties with WB
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has congratulated West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her party Trinamool Congress for her resounding victory in the by-polls. In a message to Mamata Banerjee, the Foreign Minister hoped that Bangladesh's relations with West Bengal would be closer and complementary in the days to come in the interest of mutual welfare and development.
Read: Mamata wins crucial Bengal bypoll Dr Momen said the landslide victory in the Bhabanipur constituency for the third consecutive term is a reflection of the people of West Bengal's continued confidence and deep faith in Mamata Banerjee's leadership. He wished the people of West Bengal all the betterment and prosperity under the able leadership of Mamata Banerjee. The Foreign Minister wished the Chief Minister of West Bengal good health and continued success and greeted her ahead of Durga Puja.
Read: Crucial bypoll begins in Bengal to decide Mamata's fate Mamata Banerjee won Bhabanipur Assembly by-polls on Sunday by a record margin of 58,832 votes against Priyanka Tibrewal of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). This victory makes Banerjee a member of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly and will allow her to continue as Chief Minister of West Bengal. She was unanimously elected Chief Minister by the Trinamool Congress legislature party in May 2021.
Momen vows to bring Mohib's killers to justice
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Saturday vowed to bring the killers of Mohib Ullah to justice soon, in his first remarks since the Rohingya leader's murder sparked global condemnation.
Dr Momen said that a vested quarter killed Mohib as he wanted to return to Myanmar, his home country. "The government will take stern action against those who were involved in the killing. Nobody will be spared," he said.
On Thursday night, police registered a murder case in connection with the killing of Mohib Ullah at Ukhiya camp in Cox's Bazar on Wednesday night.
The FIR for murder was filed against unknown persons at the Ukhiya police station on a complaint from Mohib Ullah’s brother Habib Ullah, officer-in-charge Sanjur Morshed had said.
Read: Mohib's murder: FIR lodged, probe in full swing, say police
Unknown assailants gunned down the 44-year-old on Wednesday night. He was first rushed to a local medical facility and later shifted to Cox's Bazar Sadar Hospital, where doctors declared him dead on arrival.
Also read: Mohib's killing, Rohingya repatriation: Bachelet for redoubling global pressure on Myanmar
He was buried in Lambashia camp-1 in Ukhiya upazila on Thursday afternoon after his namaz-e-janaza, which was attended by a large number of Rohingya refugees from camps in Ukhiya and Teknaf upazilas.
Also read: Rohingya leader Mohibullah assassinated
Formerly a teacher in Myanmar, the slain human rights activist was popularly known as Master Mohib Ullah among the Rohingya refugees. He was the head of Arakan Rohingya Society for Peace and Human Rights (ARSPH) at Kutupalong camp.
China a major partner in Bangladesh's development endeavors: Momen
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has said China has been a significant partner in the development endeavors of Bangladesh.
On the auspicious occasion of the 72nd anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, Dr Momen sent a letter of felicitation to his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi and extended his heartiest congratulations to Wang Yi and the friendly people of China.
Read:President greets his Chinese counterpart on China’s founding anniversary
The Foreign Minister appreciated China's assistance during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
He fondly recalled his meeting with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi during his visit to China in 2019, during which they reached broad consensus on different bilateral, regional and international issues.
Dr Momen expressed his willingness to work in close cooperation with Wang Yi to further deepen China-Bangladesh relations and promote peace and prosperity in the region and beyond.