Bangladesh urges calm, protection of 8m expats
Bangladesh has urged all parties involved in the ongoing tensions in the Middle East to exercise restraint, return to dialogue and pursue a diplomatic solution.
Speaking to journalists at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs after a meeting with Iranian Ambassador to Bangladesh Jalil Rahimi, Foreign State Minister Humaiun Kobir on Wednesday said de-escalation had remained Bangladesh’s clear and consistent diplomatic position since the beginning of the latest conflict.
“We have again called for de-escalation. This has been our consistent and clear diplomatic position from the very beginning so that the conflict in the Middle East can be eased,” he said.
He stressed that the safety and security of Bangladeshi nationals in the region remained a major priority for the government.
“According to statistics, around eight million Bangladeshis are working in different countries across the Middle East,” Kobir said, adding that Bangladesh wanted all sides to resolve their differences through negotiations and peaceful diplomatic means.
The state minister also highlighted Bangladesh’s longstanding relations with Iran, saying Dhaka wanted to continue cooperation with Tehran on issues concerning bilateral relations, regional stability and the safety of Bangladeshi citizens.
He thanked the Iranian government on behalf of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman for its cooperation in helping Bangladeshi nationals stranded in Tehran return safely to Bangladesh.
Kobir also clarified Bangladesh’s position regarding its security cooperation with Saudi Arabia, saying Bangladesh’s support for Saudi Arabia’s maritime security efforts should not be interpreted as support for any military action against Iran.
“There is no support, involvement or call from Bangladesh for any attack, aggression or military action against Iran,” he said.
He explained that Bangladesh’s assistance to Saudi Arabia was aimed at addressing security challenges posed by the Houthis and helping ensure maritime security in the Red Sea and the wider Middle East.
Kobir said the issue was particularly important for Bangladesh because Saudi Arabia is the custodian of Islam’s two holy mosques and maintaining a stable environment there was of clear importance.
The discussions with Iran also covered the movement of Bangladeshi cargo, with Dhaka requesting that the transportation of stranded Bangladeshi containers be resumed as quickly as possible once tensions in the region ease.
Asked about the situation surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, Kobir said keeping the strategic waterway fully open could not be viewed as a matter solely dependent on one party.
“The conflict in this region involves a number of complex issues and multiple parties, both directly and indirectly,” he said.
He added that Bangladesh therefore did not believe responsibility for keeping the Strait of Hormuz open or closed could simply be attributed to a single country.
Regarding Bangladeshi ships and fuel consignments currently stranded in the region, Kobir said vessels from many countries were facing similar difficulties amid disruptions to global trade and energy supplies.
He said that Bangladesh had made its interests clear to Tehran and requested that Bangladeshi cargo and container vessels be allowed to move smoothly and on a priority basis once conditions in the Strait of Hormuz return to normal.
“Given the longstanding historical and friendly relations between Bangladesh and Iran, we hope the Iranian government will consider our request positively and sympathetically,” he said.
