Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen on Monday said Bangladesh has been promoting a culture of peace following Bangabandhu’s philosophy through its leadership role in UN peacekeeping and peace building for sustainable peace and stability.
He made the remarks while addressing the 4th Bangabandhu Lecture Series titled “Bangabandhu: the Soul of Bangladesh” at Foreign Service Academy in the city as the chief guest.
Bangladesh Embassy in South Korea and Bangabandhu Birth Centenary Cell of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs jointly organised the function.
Former secretary general of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon delivered his speech online while State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam, and Senior Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen also addressed it.
Foreign Minister Momen said Bangladesh is contributing towards world peace through its active participation in UN peacekeeping missions and continued to be the top troop-contributing country for more than the last three decades.
Mentioning Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as the name of an ideology, philosophy, and realisation, he said the Father of the Nation was the most courageous soul the world has ever produced.
“He was firmly committed and dedicated to his mission to free the country from oppression and subjugation.”
Momen said Bangabandhu placed humanity above all issues and always fought for the people's rights as well as their well-being.
He said the father of the nation dedicated his whole life to ensure people’s economic emancipation to end economic disparity and injustice and to build a “Sonar Bangla”- a ‘Golden Bengal’- an equitable and just society.
“Bangabandhu always pursued the rights of exploited and oppressed people, not only of Bangladesh but across the world as well,” Momen said adding that in his maiden speech at the UN in 1974, he eloquently spoke against apartheid in South Africa, denial of rightful aspirations of Palestine and for ending killing in Vietnam and Cambodia.
He said Bangabandhu not only dreamt of an independent nation-state named Bangladesh but also materialised the centuries-old dream of Bengali nation- that is establishing an independent nation-state.
“Many political stalwarts, who came before and after Bangabandhu, tried to inspire the Bengali nation. But no one could awaken the Bengalis or unite the whole nation the way our Father of the Nation did,” he said.
For example, he said, when Mahatma Gandhi called for non-cooperation, only 2 percent Indians joined his non-cooperation movement. But when Bangabandhu called for non-cooperation, nearly 99.9 percent of all Bangalees joined his non-cooperation movement.
“His charismatic and iconic leadership inspired them with the spirit of independence,” he said.
Foreign Minister Momen said the Father of the Nation was not only a visionary of the Bengali nation, but he was the epitome of democracy, secularism, peace, harmony, and tolerance.
He said that after independence, Bangabandhu set up the bedrock of the foreign policy framework that was based on his ideals of peace and tolerance and thus ingrained a culture of peace into our foreign policy fundamentals.
“If you look at Bangladesh, you will notice that it is pursuing a balanced and friendly foreign policy. It has no adversaries, no foes in the international arena.”
Momen said the core principle of Bangladesh’s foreign policy categorically spelt out by Bangabandhu is ‘friendship to all, malice to none’.
“He emphasised peaceful resolution of all disputes as the mainstay of his foreign policy,” said the Foreign Minister.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Alam said that following principles and ideology of Bangabandhu to establish world peace, Bangladesh has become a remarkable example of women empowerment and gender equality- a role-model for sustainable and inclusive development.
In addition, he said, Bangladesh is a glowing example of humanity – for temporarily sheltering 1.1 million forcibly displaced Rohingyas from Myanmar for quite some time.
He said Bangabandhu remains one of the most passionate and fearless advocates for world peace as his historic speech delivered on March 7, 1971 continues to enthrall our people and will continue to inspire succeeding generations in their quest for freedom and emancipation.
