foreign minister
NAM Summit: FM Hasan Mahmud leading Bangladesh delegation
Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud is leading the Bangladesh delegation in the 19th NAM Summit that began on Friday in the Ugandan capital city Kampala.
The 19th NAM Summit themed: “Deepening Cooperation for Shared Global Affluence”, will continue till January 20 at the Speke Resort Munyonyo Convention Centre.
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Hasan was scheduled to embark on the multilateral tour to Uganda on January 17 but his departure was delayed by a day due to flight cancellation amid fog and poor visibility.
Established in 1961, the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) – which shares 44 of its 120 members with the Commonwealth – is a grouping of mostly developing countries working together to advance shared interests.
NAM Summit: Dhaka calls for greater unity, solidarity for shared prosperity
At the ministerial level meeting, Bangladesh called for greater unity and solidarity among the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) member-States to ensure shared global prosperity.
Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen, leading Bangladesh at the ministerial-level meeting, referred to the statement of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at the NAM Summit in Algiers in 1973 where Bangabandhu emphasised the principles of self-reliance and effective economic cooperation among the non-aligned countries which is still relevant after 50 years.
The two-day ministerial meeting on NAM ended on January 18 after finalising the outcome document, Kampala Declaration and declaration on Palestine which are expected to be adopted in the 19th NAM Summit scheduled to be held on January 19-20.
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The foreign secretary also highlighted the progresses achieved under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and mentioned that the people of Bangladesh re-elected her through a "free, fair, peaceful and participatory" election, to continue her march towards development and prosperity.
He also called for establishing effective mechanisms inside the NAM to help the NAM countries from LDC graduation and also to deal with the aftermath of the graduation.
The foreign secretary also attended the meeting of the NAM Ministerial Committee on Palestine and reiterated Bangladesh’s unequivocal support for the legitimate right and just struggle of the Palestinian people for their freedom from Israeli occupation and oppression.
He also urged the members of the Movement to use all tools available to secure an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
Foreign Minister Momen wins Sylhet-1 constituency
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has been elected MP from Sylhet-1 constituency for the second consecutive term in the 12th parliamentary election held on January 07.
He was elected by a margin of more than 1,00,000 votes.
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AK Abdul Momen got 1, 15, 546 votes with boat symbol where his nearest rival Faizul Haque got 2,193 votes.
Abdul Momen has described the just-held national election as "very transparent, free and fair without any intervention" and thanked the Election Commission for taking tight measures.
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"There was no fake vote, no violence. This is a very free, fair, transparent and credible election," he told reporters on Sunday evening.
Despite threats from the BNP, Momen said that people came out from homes and cast their votes.
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"It is people's success. We don't take credit out of this," he said.
Momen also thanked the law enforcement agencies for their "independent, free and standard" procedures.
Timing of train burning just a day before election shows an absolute intention to hinder democratic process: Foreign Minister
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has said they will leave no stone unturned to identify the perpetrators of the heinous crime of setting a train on fire.
"Each and every one will be brought to justice and exemplary punishment shall be rendered to the culprit(s), according to the law of the land," he said in a statement today.
Momen said this blatant attempt to instill fear and panic among the masses is an affront to the spirit of the democracy and the enthusiastic participation of Bangladeshi citizens in the upcoming election.
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"This act of setting a train on fire, with people burning inside is characteristic of the pattern of violence that we have witnessed before as well. This has shocked the conscience of our whole society — and indeed — the whole world," he said.
When people of Bangladesh are eagerly preparing for a festive national election, a horrifying act of arson took place on the evening of January 5, 2024, when the Benapole Express train was intentionally set on fire by miscreants, Momen observed.
This deliberate and heinous act, which occurred at approximately 9 pm around Gopibag Kacha Bazar area when the train was on its way to Kamalapur Railway Station, has resulted in the deaths of four people including two children and scores were injured, he said.
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“This reprehensible incident, undoubtedly orchestrated by those with malicious intent, strikes at the very heart of our democratic values,” Momen said.
"The timing of this tragedy, just a day before the election scheduled for January 7, 2024, shows an absolute intention to hinder the festivity, safety and security of the democratic processes of the country," he said.
Momen said it is an affront to democracy, an attack on the democratic process, and a grave violation of the rights of citizens.
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"This deliberate act of setting a train on fire, where innocent passengers were subjected to unimaginable horror and forced to endure the unforgivable sight of fellow humans being burned alive, is an act of absolute abomination," the foreign minister said.
Millions of Bangladeshis gave up their lives for democracy, human rights: Momen
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen said that Bangladesh is a country where people sacrificed their lives for democracy and human rights, referring to the War of Liberation in 1971.
“In 1971, people's legal demands were denied. When the torture and genocide started, the whole of Bangladesh jumped into the war to establish justice,” Momen said.
The foreign minister said this while speaking as the chief guest at a 'Great Victory Day 2023' programme organized at the Dhaka Club on Saturday evening.
Decorated freedom fighters Masroor-ul-Haque Siddiqui Bir Uttam, Mahbub Uddin Ahmed Bir Bikram, M Habibul Alam Bir Pratik, and undecorated ones like Waliul Islam, Shahidullah Khan, Nasir Uddin Yusuf and Mohammad Hamid recalled their memories from the battlefields during the War of Liberation at the programme.
Member of Parliament (MP) Asaduzzaman Noor spoke on the occasion and recited poems. A special dance programme was presented by the artistes of Shilpakala Academy and a musical performance by the artists of Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra.
Momen mourns death of AL’s Sweden unit President Jahangir Kabir
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Thursday condoled the demise of Sweden unit of Awami League President Jahangir Kabir.
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In a condolence message, the foreign minister said Jahangir played a very positive role to highlight the image of Bangladesh abroad.
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Momen prayed for the salvation of the departed soul and expressed sympathy for the bereaved family members.
Jahangir Kabir breathed his last at a hospital in Stockholm, the capital of Sweden, on Tuesday morning (November 21).
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US-Bangladeshi religious minorities’ leaders meet foreign minister Momen in New York
US Bangladeshi religious minority leaders met with Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen in New York on Sunday.
They discussed issues related to religious minorities in Bangladesh. The leaders requested the foreign minister's assistance in facilitating the passage of a Hate Crime Act, according to a press release on Monday.
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At the time, the leaders thanked the foreign minister for his ongoing support, particularly amplifying security and protection for 2022 Durga Puja celebrations, and requested for a safe and peaceful Durga Puja celebration in 2023, it said.
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Dr Dilip Nath, New York Democratic leader; Dr Dwijen Bhattacharjee, general secretary of the Bangladesh Hindu, Buddhist, and Christian Unity Council, USA (BHBCUC, USA); and Dr Thomas Dulu Roy, president of BHBCUC, USA, were present at the time, among others.
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Momen emphasizes importance of targeted policy interventions for climate migrants
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has emphasized the importance of targeted policy interventions for climate migrants as part of the global commitment to ‘leave no one behind.’
He was addressing a high-level breakfast of the Climate Mobility Summit on ‘Harnessing Climate Mobility for Adaptation and Resilience’ held on September 20, on the sidelines of the 78th UN General Assembly in New York.
Dr. Momen also urged for mainstreaming of the issue of climate mobility in both climate change and migration discourses, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
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He further emphasized the need to establish international financing mechanisms to support climate migrants, including the proposed loss and damage fund.
The Foreign Minister also highlighted Bangladesh’s climate vulnerability and the challenges posed by climate-induced displacement of approximately 650,000 people every year.
He shared various actions taken by the government to address climate-induced displacements in the country, including the world’s largest climate migrants’ rehabilitation project in Cox’s Bazar.
Moderated by Amy Pope, Director General-elect of International Organisation for Migration (IOM), the event was co-hosted by Bangladesh, Tuvalu, Niger, Botswana, Tonga, Comoros, Guatemala as well as, IOM, President of the UN General Assembly and UN Global Centre of Climate Mobility.
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Heads of states/governments, ministers and the high officials of various UN agencies took part in the discussion.
The leaders underscored the gravity of the climate crisis, pointing out that by 2050, over 200 million people could be forced to leave their homes due to climate change impacts.
The leaders stressed that women and girls, young people, individuals with disabilities, and indigenous communities suffer disproportionately from these effects.
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The timely mobilization of resources for climate finance and the implementation of early warning systems and data management were highlighted as crucial aspects of any solution.
Govt would reward those providing info on Bangabandhu’s fugitive killers: Momen
Bangladesh's Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Monday (August 14, 2023) said the government would reward those who can provide information on the killers of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
“If you can give us information, you will be rewarded,” he said while speaking at a discussion at Jatiya Press Club.
Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud, Daily Observer Editor Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury and senior journalist Monjurul Ahsan Bulbul, Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) President Omar Faruk, former Secretary General Abdul Jalil Bhuiyan,among others, spoke at the discussion.
Momen also called for unmasking those who kept mum for 21 years about the killers and the persons behind the killers. “All those people should be unmasked.”
Describing Canada and the USA as countries with very strong rule of law, the foreign minister said they should not shelter murderers.
The five killers who remain fugitives are Khandaker Abdur Rashid, Shariful Haque Dalim, Nur Chowdhury, Rashed Chowdhury and Moslehuddin Khan.
Read: ‘Want Bangabandhu's killers to be deported to Bangladesh’: FM
Nur Chowdhury and Rashed Chowdhury have been traced in Canada and the US and Bangladesh wants them back to implement the conviction.
Momen said the government will be very happy if all the killers are brought back to face justice. “But we are yet to do it. If we can, we will feel that it is a great achievement.”
Momen said the government has written many letters to the US and Canadian governments seeking steps for returning the killers; even the PM wrote to the US president.
He encouraged the Bangladeshis living in Canada and the US to stage demonstrations routinely in front of the two killers’ residences.
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The foreign minister laid emphasis on writing more research-oriented books with solid facts so that they can provide more documentary evidence.
The National Mourning Day will be observed on August 15. On this day in 1975, the greatest Bangalee of all time, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman along with most of his family members was brutally assassinated.
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Momen asks visiting congressmen whether US govt would step down prior to election there
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Sunday (August 13, 2023) conveyed to visiting US congressmen Ed Case and Richard McCormick that there is no scope for reaching any consensus as BNP wants the government to step down.
He conveyed the message when the congressmen wanted to know whether there is any way to reach consensus with the opposition.
Momen also asked them whether the US government would step down prior to the election there. “Certainly not,” Momen said, adding that, “Will you sit in discussion if there is such a demand? Certainly not.”
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Dialogues between parties not held in other countries, including in the US: Momen
Bangladesh's Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen today (July 08, 2023) said he is not aware that dialogue between political parties over election brought any results in the past.
He said the government will not talk to “any terrorists.”
The foreign minister said such dialogues are not held in other countries, including in the US, and referred to those as "useless" discussion.
Momen was responding to questions on political dialogue at ‘DCAB Talk’ at the Foreign Service Academy.
He said foreigners can come and observe the elections. "We remain transparent. We have nothing to hide."
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Momen said the next election will be held as per the constitution. "We have a good track record of holding good elections. We are doing our best."
Responding to a question on recent remarks by China and Russia, he said those are their remarks. "You may ask them."
Momen said democracy is a dynamic process and it becomes mature through practice.
He said the next election will be a model election in the world. "We want all parties, who are willing, to join the elections."
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The foreign minister also said there is no problem if any “terrorist party” does not join the election.
Foreign Minister Momen has said that he fears there are efforts of hindering the national elections.
“We have indication some are trying to hinder the election process,” he said, without elaborating further whether they are from Bangladesh or outside the country.
Asked who are those making such efforts to hinder elections, he sad, “You know it better. You are journalists."
Diplomatic Correspondents Association, Bangladesh (DCAB) hosted the event. DCAB President Rezaul Karim Lotus and General Secretary Emrul Kayesh also spoke on the occasion.
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