Former Foreign Secretary Shahidul Haque on Tuesday said Bangladesh's position on Russia-Ukraine issue is so far "neutral and fairly balanced" but it might require a review in the coming days with evolving situation. "Neutrality may not always be the preferred path," he said as he felt the necessity for revisiting the policy when it is required. Analyzing Bangladesh’s position so far, Haque said Bangladesh is still watching how the war evolves and has apparently taken an “interim” position. “In every aspect we’ll feel the impact whatever position we take.” The former foreign secretary was addressing a seminar titled "Russia-Ukraine War: Whose Profits and Whose Losses?" organized by the Center for Peace Studies (CPS) of the South Asian Institute of Policy and Governance at North South University. Brigadier General (Retd) Sakhawat Hossain, Dr. Mohammed Nuruzzaman, Professor, Department of Political Science and Sociology, North South University, Dr. Helal Mohd. Mohiuddin, Professor, Department of Political Science and Sociology, North South University, Raheed Ejaz, Diplomatic Correspondent, Daily Prothom Alo and Dr. Ishrat Zakia Sultana, Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science and Sociology, North South University took part in the discussion moderated by Professor Sk. Tawfique M. Haque, Director, CPS and SIPG, North South University. Haque said the "global military complex" will be the most beneficiary of the Russia-Ukraine war while everyone will be affected more or less, including the loss of humanity. Haque, also a fellow at South Asian Institute of Policy and Governance, North South University, said the UN Charter was created for establishing peace and stopping war but it is not functioning. “It seems to me that this UN charter is becoming useless, isn’t it?” he said, though the UN Secretary General is pronouncing tough words.

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Sunday said there has been no change in Bangladesh's position towards Israel as it still does not recognise Israel.  He said removing the words like valid for travelling except Israel in the new passport does not mean that there has been a change in Bangladesh’s position.  Dr Momen made the remarks when his comment was sought by UNB on media reports in this regard.  The Foreign Minister said the Home Ministry saw many passports of other countries around six months ago when new passports were ordered for Bangladesh.  Also read: Israeli military says it bombed home of a top Hamas leader Dr Momen said no passport in the world contains such words which is true.  "The changes have been made to maintain the global standards," he added. Passport is a national identity and it does not reflect any foreign policy, said the Foreign Minister.  Earlier, Deputy Director General for Asia and the Pacific at the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs Gilad Cohen tweeted saying Bangladesh has removed travel ban to Israel.  "Great news! Bangladesh has removed travel ban to Israel. This is a welcome step and I call on the Bangladeshi government to move forward and establish diplomatic ties with Israel so both of our peoples could benefit and prosper," he tweeted.  Also read: AP 'horrified' by Israeli attack on its office Bangladesh has ruled out it keeping its position unchanged The ban on travel of Bangladeshi passport holders to Israel remains unchanged, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement clearing Bangladesh’s position on Israel’s tweet.  The government of Bangladesh has not deviated from its position on Israel and Bangladesh remains firm on its longstanding position in this regard, it said. It said the attention of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has recently been drawn to a twitter issued from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel welcoming removal of ban on travel to Israel on E-passports being issued by Bangladesh.  The MoFA said the confusion appears to have emanated from the new booklets of E-passports which does not contain the observation “all countries excepting Israel”.  The removal of the observation has been done to maintain international standard of Bangladeshi e-passports and does not imply any change of Bangladesh’s foreign policy towards the Middle East, it said.  The government of Bangladesh has condemned the recent atrocities inflicted upon the civilians by the occupation forces of Israel in Al-Aqsa mosque compound and at Gaza.   Bangladesh reiterates its principled position concerning the two-State Solution of the Palestine-Israel conflict in light of the UN resolutions recognizing pre-1967 borders and East Jerusalem as the capital of the State of Palestine, said the MoFA.