Dhaka:State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir announced that Bangladesh will actively seek US intervention in response to the harassment of former chief adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus. Kobir emphasized the importance of taking legal action against those responsible for the incident.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Kobir condemned the harassment, labeling it as completely unacceptable. He urged US law enforcement agencies to review footage of the incident, identify the perpetrators, and implement appropriate measures.
Kobir highlighted that harassment of any Bangladeshi citizen abroad is unacceptable and vowed that the government would address the matter with urgency. He stressed the need for accountability for those involved.
When questioned about the protocol for Yunus during overseas trips, Kobir explained that Prof Yunus attended private events and the arrangements often depended on governmental notification of his travel. Regardless of prior notice, he asserted that harassment of a former chief adviser must be taken seriously.
Kobir also pointed to individuals who had fled Bangladesh and were allegedly inciting violence and funding efforts to destabilize the country. He emphasized the need for cooperation with bilateral partners to counter these activities.
Turning to the Middle East, Kobir noted the region's significance to Bangladesh due to its expatriate workforce and economic ties. With about eight million Bangladeshi workers residing there, their safety and welfare are national priorities. Recent deaths of Bangladeshis in Saudi Arabia underscore the importance of protecting workers in conflict zones.
Kobir assured that the government maintains contact through relevant channels to provide assistance to affected workers, keep families informed, and extend necessary consular services.
On diplomatic efforts to resolve regional conflicts, Kobir mentioned ongoing formal and informal discussions among stakeholders. He stressed that the economic and energy interests of affected countries necessitate a collective approach to achieving peace.
The state minister expressed Bangladesh's willingness to consider proposals for contributing to regional peace and stability, leveraging its experience in UN peacekeeping missions.
Kobir outlined his upcoming visits, starting with a trip to Azerbaijan for a conference on interaction and confidence-building measures in Asia. The event will gather ministers focused on foreign affairs and security. From there, he will head to Baghdad to attend an OIC foreign ministers' meeting and lead the Bangladesh delegation. The visit to Iraq is seen as an opportunity to enhance engagement due to its history of conflict and emerging prospects.
In an interministerial meeting on consular affairs, Kobir discussed improving service delivery. He noted the Prime Minister's keen interest in enhancing consular services to ensure efficiency for the people.