Diplomatic Correspondent :
Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain will represent Bangladesh at the High-Level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, to be held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York from 28 to 29 July.
Jointly organised by France and Saudi Arabia, the ministerial-level event is being convened in accordance with UN General Assembly Resolution A/RES/79/81, adopted in December 2024.
The conference seeks to revitalise international momentum toward achieving a viable two-state solution, amidst the escalating humanitarian and political crisis in Gaza.
Adviser Hossain, who is scheduled to depart Dhaka on Sunday, will join global leaders, including foreign ministers and senior UN officials, for discussions focused on establishing a credible and time-bound roadmap for lasting peace in the Middle East.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bangladesh will use the platform to reaffirm its unwavering support for the rights of the Palestinian people.
Hossain is expected to underscore the importance of upholding international law, the UN Charter, and relevant UN resolutions, while calling for the recognition of Palestinian statehood and sustained humanitarian access to Gaza.
Foreign ministry sources noted that Bangladesh has consistently championed the Palestinian cause in international forums, being among the first nations to recognise the State of Palestine following its 1988 declaration of independence. Hossain is scheduled to return to Dhaka on 1 August.
The conference comes amid one of the worst humanitarian crises in Gaza. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, more than 55,000 people have been killed and over 127,000 injured since the outbreak of hostilities.
The death toll continues to rise as Israeli military operations persist, with humanitarian conditions deteriorating daily.
In a significant development ahead of the conference, French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Thursday that France will recognise an independent State of Palestine during the upcoming UN General Assembly session in September.
His announcement has been welcomed by many Palestinians and pro-Palestinian advocates, who view it as a long-overdue step toward justice and sovereignty.
However, Macron’s position has drawn criticism from Israel and the United States, who remain opposed to unilateral recognition.
“The urgent need today is for the war in Gaza to end and for the civilian population to be rescued.
Peace is possible. We need an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages, and massive humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza,” the French President wrote on X.
The upcoming conference is expected to serve as a crucial diplomatic forum to rally international consensus on ending the conflict and advancing towards a just and lasting peace based on a two-state solution.
