“Dhaka for peace, steps to de-escalate Iran-Israel tension”

“Dhaka for peace, steps to de-escalate Iran-Israel tension”

Dhaka, Apr 15 - Bangladesh wants to see an effective role from those countries that are supposed to play an active role in de-escalating the Iran-Israel tension.

Bangladesh also wants to see killings in Gaza are stopped.

"Bangladesh is in favour of peace, not for war," said Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud on Sunday evening at the state guest house Padma. 

The people of the Middle East are facing a real danger of a devastating full-scale conflict, António Guterres said on Sunday, urging “maximum restraint” across a region “on the brink”, hours after Iran launched attack drones and missiles against Israel overnight Saturday. 

“It is vital to avoid any action that could lead to major military confrontations on multiple fronts in the Middle East...Now is the time for maximum restraint,” the UN Secretary-General told delegates at the opening of an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council.

Bangladesh Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud said because Israel attacked the Iranian embassy in Syria, Iran got the opportunity to attack. "Otherwise it would not have happened. Iran has 'retaliated' - that is what Iran says."

"We hope that all the countries that are supposed to play a role will immediately take effective measures to resolve the Iran-Israel tension and stop the indiscriminate killing of people in Gaza. We are never for war, we are for peace," he said. 

The foreign minister wished the journalists present there on Bengali New Year. 

Responding to a question on Bangladeshi ship MV Abdullah, the foreign minister said that the hostage sailors and the ship were safely rescued due to the all-out efforts of the government and those concerned. 

Earlier, he had a bilateral meeting with Foreign Minister of Antigua and Barbuda E. P. Chet Greene who is now on a five-day official visit to Bangladesh.

They discussed issues of mutual interest and ways to strengthen ties in the coming days. -UNB