Riyadh: Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain condemned the deadly attack on a UN peacekeeping base in Sudan, affirming Bangladesh's unwavering commitment to global peace and multilateral cooperation despite the tragic loss of six Bangladeshi peacekeepers.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the foreign adviser addressed the 11th Global Forum of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) in Riyadh, emphasizing that the attack on the UN peacekeeping logistics base in Kadugli, Sudan, underscores the harsh realities of ongoing conflicts and humanitarian crises. He highlighted the spread of xenophobia, intolerance, racism, and Islamophobia across regions.
Touhid warned that in the digital age, division is spreading faster than ever, with misinformation, hate speech, and deep fakes posing significant threats to peace and shared humanity. He underscored Bangladesh's longstanding role as a leading troop-contributing country to UN peacekeeping operations and its firm support for intercultural and interfaith dialogue, tolerance, and mutual respect.
Referring to Bangladesh's annual UN resolution on the Culture of Peace, Touhid stated that peace is not merely the absence of conflict but rests on justice, compassion, and human dignity. He reiterated Bangladesh's humanitarian commitment in hosting over 1.2 million Rohingyas displaced from Myanmar, stressing the need for their safe and dignified return.
Calling for stronger global action, Touhid urged empowering youth, promoting intergenerational dialogue, investing in inclusive education, and expanding cultural exchanges to foster empathy and trust. He emphasized the need to uphold justice and accountability for victims of forced displacement and to reject all forms of incitement to hatred, including on digital platforms.
The 11th Global Forum of the UNAOC, hosted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Riyadh on December 14-15, 2025, focused on the theme 'UNAOC: Two Decades of Dialogue for Humanity - Advancing a New Era of Mutual Respect and Understanding in a Multipolar World.' The forum brought together political leaders, international and regional organizations, religious leaders, private sector representatives, civil society, academia, youth, arts, sports, and media to renew their shared commitment to dialogue, mutual respect, and understanding. It also marked the 20th anniversary of UNAOC and aimed to chart its future course toward lasting peace.