In a message on the eve of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian people, the president said, 'The occupation of Palestine must come to an immediate end and persecution of the Palestinians and killing of innocent civilians must stop forthright. The observance of the day is a reiteration of the international community's resolve to work towards that end.'

He said Bangladesh strongly believes that there is no alternative to a comprehensive, just and lasting peace settlement and the exercise by the Palestine people of their inalienable right to self-determination to achieve the independent and sovereign State of Palestine. The relevant UN resolutions, the Arab Peace Plan and the Middle East Roadmap are before us as guiding principles, he added.

The president/chief adviser also expressed his satisfaction that the Palestinian government was formed following the parliament election in January 2006 and called for an end of the hardship being faced by the Palestinian people as a result of the increasing financial and economic restrictions and political isolation imposed on the Palestinian authorities.