‘We will in no way patronise any terrorists’
Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen has said Bangladesh will decide on its policy towards Afghanistan independently after observing the situation, their attitudes and policies but no terrorists will be patronised.
"We have zero tolerance...we will in no way patronise any terrorists," he told reporters yesterday referring to the involvement of a few Bangladeshis in Afghanistan in the previous Taliban government.
The minister said he was asked whether Bangladesh would follow the policy of India or Pakistan, but he made it clear that Bangladesh's was not linked with that of any other country.
Briefing journalists at the foreign ministry, Momen said Bangladesh has historic relationship with Afghanistan and it is observing the situation in that country which is a member of Saarc.
"We believe in democracy. We should ensure people's welfare and we're yet to make any decision on the Afghanistan issue," he said.
The Taliban on Tuesday announced an all-male interim government for Afghanistan.
The foreign minister said Bangladesh always believes in a people's government that comes through a political and democratic process and it always extends support to governments which reflect people's desire.
VACCINE SHARING
Momen reiterated Bangladesh's call for making Covid-19 vaccine a public good noting that there are incidents of date expiry of vaccine doses for not sharing those with other countries on time.
He said some are attaching conditions to sharing vaccine doses which he sees as an "indirect pressure" on countries like Bangladesh.
Talking about his recent visit to Switzerland, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, the minister said, "We had a very busy schedule with some positive outcomes."
Referring to his meeting with UNHCR, Momen said the UN will soon get engaged in Bhasan Char.
He said they also discussed the climate issues as Bangladesh remains very vocal on those.
The minister said they want actions and delivery with fulfillment of commitments on the climate front.
Earlier, Momen said a successful pandemic recovery must involve universal vaccination ending vaccine inequality.
In this regard, he referred to the unfortunate manifestation of vaccine nationalism and called the world to stand united against such vaccine inequity.
"It is time for the development partners to be more humane and help the deserving without discrimination. Vaccine should be a public good," the minister told the United Nations high-level Forum on the Culture of Peace held at the UN General Assembly on Tuesday.
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