Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen
Prolonged Russia-Ukraine war to affect country’s transportation, agro production cost: FM
The price of fuel in the world market will increase further if the Russia-Ukraine war is prolonged, said Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen on Wednesday.
“And it’ll affect the cost of transportation and agricultural production in Bangladesh,” he said this in response to a question from ruling party’s MP Shafiul Islam from Dhaka-10.
Read:Bhutanese FM for early conclusion of agreement on use of Bangladesh’s inland waterways
With Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury in the chair, the question-answer session was tabled at the Parliament.
In the scripted answer, the foreign minister said the price of oil per barrel is now the highest in the last nine years.
Bangladesh currently imports 50 lakh tonnes of diesel, 13 lakh tonnes of unrefined oil, two lakh tonnes of furnace oil and 1,20,000 tonnes of octane every year.
Now the price at which Bangladesh is buying fuel and selling it in its own market, it has to calculate a loss of over $150 crore every day, said the minister.
Besides, although Bangladesh does not import much wheat from Russia and Ukraine, the supply will be affected due to the global market situation.
“If the war continues, there is a risk of an increase in cargo ships’ fare and insurance fee.”
Meanwhile, about transactions with Russia, he said organisations in Bangladesh which have agreements with Russia should be careful about paying their dues because of banning a number of banks in the Swift system related to global interbank transactions.
“If you pay through a bank under the ban, it may get stuck in the process. It may not be possible to recover the money.”
The minister also warned that the construction of Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant can be adversely affected by the war.
Read:BIMSTEC: FM Momen in Colombo to attend 18th ministerial meeting Tuesday
In 2018, Bangladesh had signed an agreement of loan of $138 crore with Russia for the construction of this power plant. The loan is issued through the US Federal Reserve Bank as Bangladesh wanted it in dollars instead of rubles.
Momen said the western sanctions on Russia's central bank may complicate the transaction. “Discussions are underway between Russia and Bangladesh on what can be an alternative approach to financing and repaying loans for ongoing projects.”
Dhaka undecided on Colombo's request for another $250m loan: Momen
Bangladesh is looking into cash-strapped Sri Lanka’s request for another loan of $250 million but no decision has been made yet, said Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen here on Tuesday.
“They’ve made another approach and we’ll look into it. It’ll be another loan but it’s not decided yet,” he said while responding to a question on the island nation’s deepening financial crisis on the sidelines of the 18th BIMSTEC ministerial meeting.
Read:Dhaka, Colombo for early conclusion of PTA to boost trade
Regarding the global uncertainty, he said it is not clear how things will work out (after the current situation in Ukraine) and mentioned that Bangladesh mostly depends on imported energy. “So, we’re watching it and seeing how we can help each other.”
Momen said when Sri Lanka faced difficulties Bangladesh, for the first time, went for a $250 million currency swap. “Sri Lanka is still finding difficulties. So, we extended the time for the repayment.”
It was the first-ever loan to any country from Bangladesh under the currency swap agreement inked by the BB and the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) on August 3 last year.
The island nation’s debt load is apparently becoming increasingly difficult to manage as it also struggles to pay for imports of fuel and other necessities, leading to power cuts and other shortages.
Read:3rd Bangladesh, South Korea FOC to be held in Dhaka
The South Asian country of 22 million people is struggling to pay for essential imports after a 70% drop in foreign exchange reserves in two years.
Sri Lanka has also sought an additional credit line from India to import essentials.
1971 Genocide: FM says it’s a shame for Pakistan
Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen on Friday hoped that the new generation of Pakistan will understand Pakistan Army’s genocide in Bangladesh in 1971 and raise their voice for perpetrators' punishment.
“Pakistani junta who committed the genocide went unpunished. It’s very unfortunate and shameful. It’s a shame for Pakistan, too. They should have tried them,” he told reporters after attending a seminar in the city.
Earlier, he spoke at a seminar titled “Bangladesh Genocide in 1971” as the guest of honor jointly organised by Ministry of Liberation War Affairs and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, held at Liberation War Museum Auditorium, Agargaon.
Read: Sampriti Bangladesh demands global recognition of 1971 genocide
Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque spoke as the chief guest. Founding President of Genocide Watch Professor Gregory Stanton, renowned genocide expert Dr Helen Jarvis and Trustee of Liberation War Museum Mofidul Hoque also spoke.
Momen said the parliament adopted the resolution to commemorate 25th March as the ‘Genocide Day’, marking day of the beginning of Bangladesh’s glorious nine-month long Liberation War.
He said efforts are on to get international recognition of genocide and it was the day when the Pakistani army and its collaborators started one of the most heinous genocides of world history.
Momen defends Dhaka's yes vote on Ukraine resolution as humane
Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen on Friday defended its voting in favour of the latest resolution adopted by the UN General Assembly on the humanitarian situation in Ukraine saying Bangladesh remains very vocal on humanitarian issues.
“We voted on humanitarian grounds. We’re known as a humane country in the world. We remain very vocal on humanitarian issues. So, we agreed and voted in favour of the resolution,” he told reporters after attending a function in the city.
Momen referred to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s generosity in hosting over 1.1 million Rohingyas and said she is now known as “mother of humanity.”
Read:Diplomats visit Tungipara to pay tribute to Bangabandhu
Asked why Bangladesh abstained in the previous resolution (March 2), the FM said that one was one-sided in which Russia was accused squarely.
“But war does not take place by one side. You can’t clap in one hand. We felt it was very much partisan and war will not stop with such a resolution. To stop war both parties need to come forward with equal sincerity,” Momen said.
At a media briefing on Thursday morning, Ambassador of Russia to Bangladesh Alexander Mantytskiy said Russia highly appreciates Bangladesh’s “responsible and balanced” attitude towards the earlier resolution.
“We express gratitude to the Bangladeshi side for its neutral position taken despite the enormous external pressure during the said voting,” he said.
US announcement on Rohingya Genocide: Dhaka hopes it helps repatriation
Bangladesh has welcomed US announcement acknowledging Rohingya genocide noting that it might expedite efforts on accountability and repatriation fronts. "Though late, it's a good news. We welcome it," Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen told reporters at his office while responding to a question. He said if genocide takes place anywhere it should be acknowledged and the perpetrators should not go unpunished.
Read:UN members urged to acknowledge Rohingya genocide, refer Myanmar to ICC "That's why we say never again. We don't want to see any genocide. Unfortunately, genocide is taking place," said Momen. Terming the US a good friend of Bangladesh, Momen hoped that will put more pressure on Myanmar so that they take back Rohingyas to their homeland in Rakhine State. "If the repatriation efforts are expedited through this US announcement, we will be very happy," he said, adding that they are focusing on two goals - welfare of Rohingyas through repatriation and prevent repetition of genocide. Momen said the victims of genocide must get justice and hoped that the genocide case against Myanmar filed by The Gambia at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) will get momentum. Matthew Smith, chief executive officer at Fortify Rights, termed US Secretary of State Antony Blinken's announcement "historic" for the Rohingya and all people of Myanmar and also for wider efforts to prevent and remedy genocide. "To prevent genocide, governments must at least acknowledge it when it happens, which is precisely what the US government did today.
United Nations member states should publicly acknowledge the Rohingya genocide in Myanmar and ensure that the UN Security Council refers the situation to the International Criminal Court (ICC),” said Fortify Rights Monday.
FM not going to Pakistan; FS to represent Bangladesh in OIC CFM
Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen will not be joining the forty-eighth session of the Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to be held on March 22-23 in Islamabad.
Instead, Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen will lead the Bangladesh delegation, said an official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday.
Read:Bangabandhu named peace as a prerequisite for development: FM
The OIC said the CFM represents the second most prominent OIC activity following the extraordinary meeting of foreign ministers held last December on the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan.
Earlier on Saturday, FM Momen indicated his non-participation at the OIC meeting. "We always attend OIC meetings. I said before I'll go. But recently I got a little sick and the doctor suggested that I take some rest."
On several occasions, the OIC Secretary-General Hissein Brahim Taha expressed solidarity with the people of Afghanistan.
He reiterated the commitment of OIC Member States to help bring peace, security, stability and development to this country.
Furthermore, he called on members, Islamic financial institutions and partners to expedite humanitarian assistance for the needy.
Since August 2021, Afghanistan has continued to witness a difficult humanitarian situation with uncertainty about its future.
Read:Saudi companies want to invest in Bangladesh energy sector: Saudi FM
This prompted the OIC to take several steps towards containing the situation and playing its role in mobilizing support from the international community to the Afghan people, given the specificity of the Organization, which highlights its responsibility in addressing the issues of the Islamic world, according to a message from the OIC.
Saudi FM in city; meetings with PM, FM Wednesday
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal Bin Farhan Al Saud arrived in Dhaka on a brief official visit Tuesday evening.
Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen received his Saudi counterpart at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at around 6:07pm.
Read: Saudi FM due Tuesday; meetings with PM, FM Wednesday
Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen and Saudi Ambassador to Bangladesh Essa Yussef Essa Al Dulaihan were also present.
In his less than 24-hour visit at the invitation of Momen, the Saudi Foreign Minister will meet Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at Gonobhaban on Wednesday morning, according to his programme schedule.
The Foreign Minister will hold a “tete-a-tete” with his Saudi counterpart at a city hotel the same day which will be followed by bilateral “political consultation” between the two countries at the same venue.
We voted for peace, says FM on Bangladesh’s abstention from UN resolution on Ukraine
Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen has said that Bangladesh abstained from the UN General Assembly vote on a resolution over the Ukraine crisis for the sake of peace.
“We voted for peace,” he said, adding that the resolution was not meant for stopping the war but apparently to blame somebody.
Read:Hadisur’s body kept in Ukraine, 5 youths still in detention centre: FM
Four South Asian countries - Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan - were among 35 abstentions as the UN General Assembly voted at an emergency session Wednesday on the Ukraine issue. The vote on the “Aggression against Ukraine” resolution was 141-5, with 35 abstentions.
The abstentions included China, as expected, but also some surprises from usual Russian allies Cuba and Nicaragua.
"If you read the resolution wording, it’s not a call for stopping the war but to blame someone apparently," said Dr Momen while responding to a question at a media briefing at the state guesthouse Padma on Sunday.
He said Bangladesh is a country for peace.
"We want peace. We don't want war anywhere in the world. We said we’re deeply concerned about the war. So, we expect the UN charter to be followed by all," he said.
The foreign ninister said the dispute should be resolved through discussion and dialogue.
“We said we’ve enough confidence in the UN Secretary General and that he should take an initiative to resolve this dispute through dialogue and discussion peacefully. We upheld this position in the UN,” Momen said.
Few days ago, Bangladesh urged restraint by all parties and to immediately resume diplomatic efforts and dialogue in order to settle all disputes by peaceful means, and refrain from taking any action that may endanger international peace and stability.
Read:28 Bangladeshi crew to return home soon: FM
Unlike Security Council resolutions, General Assembly resolutions are not legally binding, but they do have clout in reflecting international opinion.
Under special emergency session rules, a resolution needs approval of two-thirds of those countries voting, and abstentions don’t count.
Clear interpretation of languages, expressions important during pandemic: FM
Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen has laid emphasis on the importance of "clear and unambiguous" interpretation of languages and expressions in the time of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In that context he said that some populist leaders used the pandemic as a "punching bag to ignite more nationalistic or sectarian firestorm of denial and division.
Whereas, Momen said, leaders like Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina or former German Chancellor Angela Merkel “spoke the language of compassion, solidarity, responsibility and inclusion.”
He made the remarks in a video message at the two-day virtual event celebrating the International Mother Language Day themed "Language in the Time of the Covid-19 Pandemic" organized by Bangladesh High Commission in Kuala Lumpur in collaboration with the Centre for Genocide Studies, Dhaka University and School of Liberal Arts & Sciences, Taylor’s University, Malaysia that ended on Friday.
Read:Shimla dialogue: Dhaka reiterates firm commitment to ensuring regional peace
Momen accuses BNP of destroying caretaker government system for lust of power
Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen on Tuesday said BNP is responsible for destroying the caretaker government system and there is now no scope to restore it.
“BNP has destroyed the caretaker government system and they tried to come to power forcibly. There is no scope to come to power through the backdoor,” he told reporters after inaugurating a cath lab at Mount Adora Hospital in Sylhet.
Read: BNP-Jamaat hired lobbyists to stop US development assistance to Bangladesh: Momen
Momen said BNP was formed in a democratic way, while Awami League, being a democratic party, has established and consolidated democracy in the country.
If the BNP wants to come to power it has to come through the election process, he said.
The minister also hoped that a transparent Election Commission will be formed to hold a free and fair election.
Noting that many countries don’t have election commission, Momen said Bangladesh has such a body to make voting free and transparent.