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US-Iran row: Bangladesh wants peace


Published : 07 Jan 2020 09:46 PM | Updated : 07 Sep 2020 09:53 AM

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Tuesday said that Bangladesh, that takes a ‘balanced and non-aligned’ position at the international level, wants to see ‘peace and stability’ across the world. “Our Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman showed us the path of ‘friendship to all and malice towards none’. So we have good relations with everybody,” he said when asked about Bangladesh’s position on the ongoing US-ran situation. But he said the government is concerned over the issue because about 3 lakh Bangladeshi workers work in Iraq. “Our mission is in touch with them. So far, everything is okay,” he said.

The foreign minister was talking to reporters at the International Mother Language Institute after a meeting of sub-committee of the yearlong celebration of the birth centenary of Bangabandhu. The situation in Iraq became volatile after US rocket attack killed Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani, a top Iranian military official on January 3. It triggered furious responses from both Iraq and Iran.

As the tension escalates, many saw the possibility of the world war III. “I don’t think there’ll be a third world war,” the foreign minister said when asked. He hoped that Bangladesh nationals will remain safe since there are some targeted attacks in Iraq. “Peace and stability are must in this globalised world. There will be negative impacts if the peace and stability are hampered in any part of the world,” he said, adding that the foreign office is in touch with the Bangladesh Mission in Iraq.

Bangladesh Ambassador in Baghdad Abu Maksud M Forhad earlier in a message assured expatriates of providing all sorts of support and urged them not to get worried and lose their mental strength. The embassy will remain available round the clock for their service, he said in a video message.