Global leaders congratulating new govt is driving BNP insane

Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud on Tuesday said BNP has gone “insane,” from global leaders congratulating the new government under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

“I had 17 bilateral meetings during my visit to Ugandan capital Kampala, though we were there for two days only. And I exchanged greetings with at least another 17 as we were in the same hall. Each and every one has congratulated the government under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina," he told reporters in a post-visit press conference at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dhaka.

He said BNP leader Ruhul Kabir Rizvi used to “talk nonsense” but now that has intensified even more.

The foreign minister said all countries have expressed willingness to work together with the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Regarding Awami League Working Committee’s decision to not back candidates with the party's electoral symbol in the upazila elections, Hasan, also the ruling party’s joint general secretary, said such elections were held in the past without party symbols, including after AL's return to power in 2009.

Hasan returned home on Tuesday after attending the two-day 3rd South Summit that ended in Ugandan capital Kampala on Monday.

During his four-day visit, he also led the Bangladesh delegation in the 19th NAM Summit.

The foreign minister led the Bangladesh delegation in the third South Summit and delivered a national statement.

The South Summit is the supreme decision-making body of the Group of 77.

High-level representatives of nearly 100 countries and heads of United Nations agencies attended the meeting. The Summit was held with the theme “Leaving No One Behind”.

The statements delivered by the member states emphasized trade, investment, sustainable development, climate change, poverty eradication, and the digital economy in fostering South-South Cooperation and collaboration.

The member states including Bangladesh called for solidarity, unity, and complementarity in the Global South to achieve the ultimate goals of sustainable development.