Dhaka explains abstention from UN vote on Russia

Staff reporter :
Bangladesh has abstained from voting on the recent UNGA resolution on Ukraine conflict due to lack of intensive diplomatic engagement and dialogue between the parties involved in the conflict.
“While the ultimate objective of the current resolution is to seek a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine, we believe that any meaningful and sustainable solution to the current conflict must need intensive diplomatic engagement and dialogue between the parties involved in the conflict. To our opinion, this important practical point is missing in the resolution. Therefore, we were constrained to abstain,” Foreign Ministry said on Sunday.
Foreign Ministry made the statement on the resolution adopted by the United Nations to stop the war and withdraw Russian troops from Ukraine just after a day when Russia ‘thanked’ Bangladesh in a tweet on early Saturday for abstaining in voting.
“Guided by Bangabandhu’s philosophy of ‘Friendship to all and malice towards none’, Bangladesh pursues a peace-centric foreign policy, which is based on the principles of respect for sovereign equality and territorial integrity of all states, peaceful settlement of international disputes, and respect for the principles enunciated in the Charter of the United Nations,” Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Seheli Sabrin told the journalist in a press briefing.
Expressing concerns over the loss of lives and properties due to the conflict, Foreign Ministry said, “Bangladesh continues to remain concerned over the situation in Ukraine, particularly the loss of civilian lives, deteriorating humanitarian situation in conflict zone and consequential socio-economic fallout around the globe.”
Even Bangladesh has reiterated its stance on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter by saying, “We call for a cessation of hostilities and remain steadfast in our commitment that purposes and principles of the UN Charter should be upheld at any cost.”
Advocating for lasting peace in Ukraine, the press briefing said, “We see the importance of urging the UN Secretary-General and Member States to promote a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine in the proposed resolution.”
“We also firmly believe that peaceful settlement of international disputes must be complied with universally for everyone, everywhere under all circumstances, without exception,” the Spokesperson said.
Earlier on Thursday, 32 countries including Bangladesh, India, China, Iran, Pakistan and Sri Lanka abstained from voting while seven countries including Russia voted against the resolution. However, a total of 141 countries voted in favour of the resolution.
Following the resolution, Foreign Ministry expressed its arguments in favour of abstention from voting on UNGA resolution on just peace in Ukraine.