‘US will demonstrate wisdom before imposing fresh sanctions’

Diplomatic Correspondent :
Foreign Minister Dr. AK Abdul Momen has stated that the United States will act with wisdom and refrain from any new sanctions on Bangladesh.
“I have no idea that there will be any new sanctions. It depends on the individual government. If it happens it will be unfortunate. The US has been imposing numerous sanctions on various countries. We sincerely hope that they will act with wisdom and refrain from such measures,” he said.

The minister came up with the remarks while replying questions from journalists during a curtain raiser held at the Foreign Ministry ahead of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s visit to Qatar from May 23-25.

Regarding a speculative news published in a national daily about the sanctions, Dr Momen stated that they have provided false information. He also expressed utter surprise and doubt as no reference was given in the news item.

He also clarified that he had never worked for any Chinese company throughout his life and, in fact, he was in the United States for the entirety of his career. It is truly astonishing that they have disseminated such false information.

In the context of recent remarks by the Prime Minister regarding the United States, the Foreign Minister explained that politicians often make statements as a precautionary message for other countries.
“I cannot explicitly state the exact meaning of her

words. However, I can say that it implies Bangladesh is a victorious nation. We are not a country to be underestimated or taken lightly,” he added.
He further said, “We are not impoverished, dependent, or reliant on charity as we used to be. As a nation, we take pride in our position. We have achieved victory despite various adverse circumstances.”

“If anyone tries to intimidate us, we will not be deterred. We will not be perturbed by any unfavorable situation. We possess the capacity to face challenges. When problems arise, we believe that we will undoubtedly find a solution. We believe that this message (the Prime Minister’s message) has been conveyed,” said Momen.
In a recent event on May 13, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina stated, “We are witnessing a trend of imposing sanctions on those whom we use to eliminate terrorism. We have made a decision. I declare that I will not buy anything from those who impose sanctions.”

Abdul Momen stated, “When problems arise, we will surely find a way to seek solutions. I believe this message has been delivered.”
“When faced with challenges, we will not retreat. We have many problems. We were extremely poor, but we have risen from that state. We were a ‘basket case’ but we have risen from that state. We have an indomitable spirit, and it is reflected in the Prime Minister’s remarks,” he said.