Foreign Minister Dr. AK Abdul Momen on Sunday lauded Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s role in global diplomacy and said she had taken Bangladesh to a “new height of international diplomacy” with her “conviction and patience”.
“Many accolades showered on her by prominent world leaders during our Golden Jubilee celebrations speak for themselves,” he said in a video message marking the Foreign Service Day.
On this day in 1971, Bangladeshi diplomats and staff stationed in Kolkata took over the Pakistan Deputy High Commissioner’s Office and hoisted the Bangladesh national flag atop and thus established the first Bangladesh Mission abroad.
The foreign minister said that the Prime Minister settled disputes peacefully, opened up new avenues for regional connectivity, took lead for the climate vulnerable countries and gave shelter to millions of persecuted Rohingya in a rare humanitarian gesture.
“The geo-political significance of Bangladesh’s economic rise and development credentials are now unmistakable to foreign policy pundits,” he said.
He said the Bangladesh Foreign Service carries this proud legacy as its innate source of inspiration and guidance.
“It stands tall on the foundational dictum of ‘Friendship to All, Malice towards None’, boldly asserted by our Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.”
He thanked the officials of his ministry and diplomats stationed abroad for arranging 147 congratulatory messages plus 30 video messages from the leaders of the world during the golden jubilee celebration.
“On this Foreign Service Day, we owe a debt of gratitude to all our officials and their family members serving missions for their contributions to upholding the image of our nation abroad over the last five decades,” he said.
He reaffirmed the commitment of Bangladeshi diplomats to face the challenges of Covid-19.
