Newly appointed Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen on Thursday said the elections on December 30 were free, fair and participatory.
Momen also asked for everyone’s assistance on matters such as the Rohingya crisis, while briefing diplomats at the State Guest House Padma, according to meeting sources.
The foreign minister briefed the heads of diplomatic missions of different countries and organizations to apprise them of the new government’s vision and plans to engage with the international community.
“He (the minister) said the elections were free, fair and participatory,” an envoy told the Dhaka Tribune.
“It was kind of a one-way affair. He and State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam spoke and we listened,” said another envoy.
“On our side, the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, the Vatican Ambassador felicitated the Foreign Minister and the State Minister by presenting bouquets of flowers and delivered a small welcome address. There was, however, no questions from the heads of the missions regarding any issue,” he said, adding that some envoys were seen privately talking to the minister and the state minister.
Placing emphasis on implementing his party’s election manifesto, Foreign Minister Momen said that the government would stress “economic diplomacy” with the international community, said the sources.
The foreign minister also asked for help resolve the Rohingya crisis at the maiden briefing, which was attended by the Myanmar Ambassador to Bangladesh and 54 members of the diplomatic community including the ambassadors, high commissioners, or consul generals of all the foreign missions and representatives from the UN Offices based in Dhaka, they said.
The minister expressed his government’s desire to return the Rohingya refugees to their homes in Rakhine, and said it is not possible for Bangladesh to carry the burden of a such a huge population of displaced people for a long time, the sources added.
In addition to State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam and the foreign diplomats, Foreign Secretary Md Shahidul Haque and other senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were present at foreign minister’s maiden briefing to the diplomatic core.
Meanwhile, according to a press release issued by the Foreign Ministry, Momen said the government would continue its journey towards achieving its development agenda articulated in Vision 2021 at the briefing.
“He sought the support, cooperation, collaboration, and partnership of all the members present at the briefing to build the Sonar Bangla (Golden Bengal) as dreamt by Father of the Nation Sheikh Mujibur Rahman,” it said.
“The foreign minister reiterated the prime minister’s vow to eliminate corruption and ensure good governance in Bangladesh by maintaining a policy of zero tolerance. He also solicited the international community’s cooperation in the field of trade and investment, public-private partnership, empowerment of youths and women,” it added.
On the issue of the Rohingya, the foreign minister thanked the international community for their support and expressed his expectation that the international community would continue to play a constructive role in resolving the Rohingya crisis, the solution to which lies in the safe, sustainable and dignified return of Rohingya refugees to Myanmar, the release further said.
State Minister Shahriar Alam said the new government wants to build on the success so far achieved and expressed his hope that cooperation with friends and partners would become stronger, wider and deeper in the coming days, it said.
“The dean of the diplomatic core took the floor on behalf of all present, and congratulated the Foreign minister and the state minister for their success in the election and expressed their interest to continue cooperation with Bangladesh for achieving its agenda for progress, development and peace,” the press release added.
