Bangladesh reaffirms commitment to NAM principles

'It is only when we stand together, we can better address our shared vulnerabilities and those of our individual member states," he said.

The Adviser made the remarks at the 19th mid-term Ministerial Conference of the Non-Aligned Movement, Kampala, Uganda.

The theme of the meeting was "Deepening Cooperation for Shared Global Affluence."

Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, President of the Republic of Uganda and Chair of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), delivered a pivotal keynote address at the 19th NAM Ministerial Meeting of the Coordinating Bureau, setting a decisive agenda for the Movement's future.

The meeting, held at Speke Resort Munyonyo, served as a platform to reaffirm NAM's core principles and outline a pragmatic path forward for its member states.

Adviser Hossain said they firmly believe that their future is a shared one even more than present."If we are to realise  shared prosperity, we must ensure that no one and no country is left behind. If we are to build a secured world, we must remember that no one is safe until everyone is safe," he added.

In a world scarred by conflicts, complete disarmament is indispensable, said Adviser Hossain.

"We strongly underscore the need for total elimination of nuclear weapons. The vast resources invested in weapons could be far better spent on health, education and social safety of our people in the developing world," he said.

Hossain said they reiterate their rejection of unilateral coercive measures imposed outside the UN framework.

Such measures violate international law, obstruct development and erode trust in multilateralism, he said.

The founding ideals of NAM-equality, solidarity and justice -still remain relevant and must guide our collective resolve today.

In a world marked by growing fragmentation and mistrust, unity of NAM members is essential for our own safeguard, said Adviser Hossain.

At a time when we are discussing reforms across the United Nations, he said, they should also consider streamlining NAM's decision making process to re-energize the group's unity.

Respect for sovereignty, equality, non-intervention, peaceful settlement, solidarity and justice are the bedrocks of the future they seek, said the Foreign Adviser.

Without realising these, he said, shared prosperity will remain elusive.

For the last eight years, Bangladesh has been hosting1.3 million Rohingya people forcibly displaced from Myanmar.

Their protracted displacement is now imposing significant socio-economic and environmental costs for Bangladesh.

"We urge the international community to deploy every means to ensure their early return to their own country, Myanmar, and relieve Bangladesh of this huge burden," Hossain said.

In the afternoon, Hossain participated in the NAM Ministerial Committee meeting on Palestine of which Bangladesh is a member. 

He reiterated Bangladesh’s unwavering commitment for the Palestinian cause. 

Welcoming the recently agreed ceasefire in Gaza, the Adviser reaffirmed Bangladesh’s support for a two-state solution based on the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as the capital of the State of Palestine.

The Foreign Adviser also drew attention to Bangladesh’s continued humanitarian burden in hosting Rohingyas for a long time and urged the international community to help ensure their return to their own country, Myanmar.

On the sidelines of the Conference, the Foreign Adviser also signed an instrument between Bangladesh and Uganda on the commencement of Foreign Office Consultations an arrangement establishing regular talks on full spectrum of bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

Hossain is leading a Bangladesh delegation to the 19th Mid-Term Ministerial Conference of NAM being held in Kampala which is expected to adopt a political declaration as well as a ministerial declaration on Palestine on Thursday, reports UNB.