Assuring safety and security of diplomats, the interim government has sought the international community’s support as they embark on charting a new future for Bangladesh.
“We believe that all our friends and partners in the international community would continue to stand by the interim government and our people as we embark on charting a new future for Bangladesh,” Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain told diplomats stationed in Dhaka during a briefing at state guesthouse Padma, reports UNB.
He said they can assure that the safety and security of the diplomatic and consular premises and persons will remain one of their core priorities.
“We also remain sensitized to the need to ensure protection of all foreign citizens residing in our territory,” Touhid said.
He said the government has taken quick and decisive measures to restore law and order and bring back normalcy.
“It is pledge-bound to ensure safety and security of all religious and ethnic groups and will not tolerate any violence or intimidation against them,” said the adviser.
Touhid said the most pressing task before this interim government is to bring normalcy to the overall law and order situation.
“We are working on creating an environment conducive to resumption of the full-fledged operations by the police force. The patriotic armed forces will continue to serve the nation with its hallmark responsibility as the situation warrants,” he said.
Some of the diplomats wanted to know about security measures and Rohingya issues apart from issues related to the prevailing situation.
Emerging from the briefing, one of the diplomats told UNB that the main discussion was centred on the present situation of Bangladesh.
Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen termed the present condition of Bangladesh as its internal affair and added that China welcomes the formation of the interim government.
“China will continue to work with Bangladesh," the ambassador told reporters after the meeting.
Adviser Touhid said one of the diplomats expressed his desire to see the representation of youths in the future elected government.
He conveyed to the diplomats that the interim government is very serious about human rights issues. He referred to the inclusion of advisers who have track records of working on human rights issues.
He said they shared the objectives of the interim government and explained the context of forming the interim government.
The Rohingya issue was also discussed in the briefing.
To reflect the desire of the people, including the youth, the government is committed to working on essential policy and institutional reforms towards ensuring a democratic and prosperous future for the country, said Touhid.
“We remain mindful of the pressing demand for security sector reform,” he added.
Touhid said the interim government remains committed to promoting and protecting the fundamental rights and freedoms, including the right to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression.
“The government is committed to upholding the independence of the judiciary and the freedom of press, including in the cyber domain,” he said, adding that it will make sincere efforts on promoting national reconciliation through inclusive dialogue and accountability.
In a drastically changed scenario, Touhid said, all political parties are now free to voice their views and opinions.
The interim government makes it a priority to ensure justice and accountability for all deaths and violence committed during the recent mass uprising through nationally-led, independent investigation and judicial processes.
In the process, the government shall remain engaged with relevant international partners, including the UN, to avail itself of appropriate support for facilitating such processes in a sound and seamless manner, Touhid said.
“As part of our renewed nation-building efforts, Bangladesh would need the unstinting support and cooperation of the international community. The interim government appreciates the positive and constructive remarks of our international partners after its formation,” he said.
The government affirms that it will nurture friendly relations with all countries in the spirit of mutual respect, understanding and shared interests, he said.
The adviser affirmed that the government shall uphold and promote all its international legal obligations, including international humanitarian law and international human rights law.
He said the government will continue supporting the Rohingyas sheltered in Bangladesh. “We seek continued support of the international community in Rohingya humanitarian operations and their sustainable repatriation.”
“The multifaceted challenges the government is faced with include, among others, restoring macroeconomic stability and good governance,” he said.
The interim government will give particular attention to far-reaching financial sector reform, with priority attached to combating corruption, mismanagement and anomalies, Touhid said. “We feel encouraged to see some early signs of renewed confidence in the market in the aftermath of the uprising.”
The government urged all the development partners, including the multilateral development banks and other international financial institutions, to extend meaningful support to Bangladesh to help tide over the economic challenges.
The government called upon international trade and investment partners to maintain their trust in Bangladesh, and work in partnership with Bangladesh to help improve the labour sector, environmental standards and logistics efficiency.
The adviser said it would be their role in the government to allow the young people to build a new Bangladesh following their dreams. “The government will remain focused on a smooth transition to inclusive and pluralistic electoral democracy as soon as possible.”
“We remain confident of the innate resilience of our people, along with their yearning for true emancipation and freedom. The interim government stands pledge-bound to live up to the people’s renewed expectations in the wake of the nation’s second liberation,” Touhid said.
