BD welcomes four western nations’ recognition of Palestine

Al Mamun Harun Ur Rashid :

Bangladesh has welcomed the decision of four influential Western nations – Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom and Portugal – to formally recognize the State of Palestine.

Foreign affairs adviser Md Touhid Hossain, speaking to reporters at the United Nations headquarters in New York on Sunday, described the move as a positive development that strengthens Palestine’s long struggle for independence.

“We have always stood by Palestine and supported its people,” he said, adding that Dhaka views the decision of these countries as good news, even though the Palestinian people still have a long road ahead.

Recognition from these four countries marks a departure from past policy in the Western bloc, which for decades resisted such moves in order to avoid friction with Israel and its closest allies.

For years, only developing nations, post-colonial states, and a handful of European countries such as Sweden took the leap.

Now, with Canada, Britain, Australia and Portugal joining that list, the political map has shifted in ways that could reshape the debate at the United Nations and beyond.

As of September 2025, the State of Palestine is recognised as a sovereign state by 151 of the 193 member states of the United Nations (UN), or just over 78 per cent of all UN members.

France has already indicated that it intends to move forward with recognition in the near future.

If Paris acts, Palestine would be acknowledged by four of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, leaving only the United States opposed.

For decades, that American position helped discourage other Western capitals from extending recognition. Today, recognition of Palestine as a state is breaking different blocs.

Talking to the New Nation on Monday, Imtiaz Hossain, former professor of International Relations at Dhaka University, said, “The fact that these countries are recognizing Palestine is undoubtedly a positive step. But we have to see whether this is only symbolic or genuine.”

He noted that these governments may have acted under internal political pressure as their citizens, having witnessed Israel’s atrocities against Palestinians live, took to the streets demanding their leaders stop supporting Israel.

According to him, the real test now lies in whether these countries follow up by halting the genocide, cutting trade, or stopping arms supplies to Israel.

He added that the move also carries a message for the United States, since these countries are close allies of Washington.

“There is a strong conservative lobby in favor of Israel in the US. Now Trump may say that since his allies are shifting, he can use that as a position.

At the same time, there could be Trump’s own maneuvering involved. We have to wait and see,” Prof Imtiaza, an international analyst, opined.

He also thinks that these recognitions would help Palestine to enter in treaties with different countries to put additional pressure on Israel as the western governments have framed their decisions as a way to keep alive the possibility of a two-state settlement.

However, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the recognitions, calling them a reward for terrorism and warning that they would undermine security.

His government maintains that Palestinian statehood can only emerge from direct negotiations that address Israel’s security concerns.

But many governments now argue that decades of waiting for such negotiations have only entrenched occupation and violence, leaving recognition as a necessary push rather than a premature prize.

For Bangladesh, the issue is clear as Dhaka has consistently supported Palestinian rights in international forums and has maintained strong ties with Arab and Muslim countries over shared concern for Palestine.

Touhid Hossain stressed that recognition by four Western nations is encouraging, but he also noted that Palestine’s road to full independence remains long and difficult.

In his view, recognition represents a milestone but not the end of the struggle.

For Palestinians, the recognition by four Western nations brings a measure of hope at a time of ongoing hardship.