Bangladesh will cautiously take its position on Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant and ongoing Syrian crisis against the backdrop of a resolution adopted by the UN Security Council on the issue last Wednesday.
“Terrorism and extreme violence are sensitive issues for Bangladesh. We will take position after analysing all the aspects,” said a senior official of the Foreign Ministry.
During a high-level UNSC summit chaired by US President Barack Obama, the 15-member body voted unanimously to adopt the text which called on member states to cooperate in efforts to address the threat posed by foreign terrorist fighters.
It was for the sixth time in 70 years that the Security Council had met at such a level. Kings and emirs, presidents, prime ministers and foreign ministers from about 50 countries took part in the meeting and about 40 of them spoke.
Bangladesh had sent State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam to the UNSC summit to get an update on the situation, the official said.
About any military support to the coalition of about 50 countries fighting against the ISIL, he said: “Bangladesh is yet to take any position on that.”
About the UNSC resolution, he said it is binding all member countries and Bangladesh would do whatever necessary to implement it.
There is a national committee headed by the foreign secretary to implement the UNSC resolutions on combating and financing terrorism.
About the position of Iraq and Syria, he said Bangladesh supports territorial integrity and stability of both countries. “It is our main position and we made it public,” he said.
AKA Momen, permanent representative to UN, said: “Bangladesh is reviewing the resolution. We are trying to keep pace with the things moving so fast.”
More than 50 countries, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Bahrain, Oman and Kuwait have joined the coalition to fight against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and ISIL.