Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has reaffirmed Bangladesh’s firm commitment to combat all forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.
“Our principled and uncompromising stand against racial discrimination is aptly manifested in our Constitution as well as in our entire legal and administrative framework,” she said in a message on the eve of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination yesterday.
“Our Constitution prohibits discrimination against any citizen on grounds of race, religion, caste or creed, gender or place of birth. We promote international cooperation among and between nations irrespective of race, religion, ethnicity, culture and civilisation.”
She said: “Our flagship resolution in the UN on ‘culture of peace and non violence,’ which receives overwhelming support from the comity of nations every year, is a testimony of our commitment towards the principle of inclusion. Our adherence to the culture of pluralism, communal harmony, democracy, freedom, liberalism, peace and development is well-acclaimed by the international community.”
She lamented that people around the world are still facing discrimination, suppression and oppression on the grounds of their racial, religious or ethnic identify. “We are dismayed that hundreds of millions of human beings continue to suffer today from racism, discrimination, xenophobia and exclusion.”
The prime minister called for stronger international cooperation for elimination of racial discrimination from the world. She reiterated the importance of ratifying and fully implementing the international convention on the elimination of all forms of racial discrimination which is the universal foundation for efforts to prevent, combat and eradicate racism.
“As a state party to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD) and an active member of the UN Human Rights Council, we support comprehensive implementation of the provisions of the convention. We also must show political resolve and make further efforts to implement the recommendations, the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, for elimination of racial discrimination.”
