Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today urged the international community to be pragmatic in their approach and to walk together hand-in-hand to restore the legitimate rights and aspirations of the Palestinian people to live in safety, dignity and justice in an independent homeland.
“Bangladesh joins the international community in reaffirming its unwavering pledge to support the inalienable rights of the people of Palestine and recognition to establishing the State of Palestine on the basis of two-state solution with pre- 1967 borders and Al Quds Al Sharif as its capital,” she said in a message on the occasion of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.
The premier said from the very beginning of its nationhood, Bangladesh has continued to show unconditional solidarity to the just and rightful struggle of the Palestinian brothers and sisters for self-determination.
“Our firm stand in favour of the Palestinians is inspired by our own struggle for liberation from the oppressors,” she said.
The Prime Minister said this has been aptly reflected in the statement of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in his 1973 NAM Summit speech, where he stated, “The world is divided between those who are the oppressors and those who are the oppressed…. I would like to make it very clear that what we stand for is the solidarity of the progressive forces of’ the world- that is for those who are oppressed”.
She said: “Our stance on this longstanding legal and humanitarian issue is also consistent with our constitutional pledge to support oppressed peoples throughout the world waging a just struggle against imperialism, colonialism or racialism.”
“On this day, we join the international condemnation against the atrocities, oppression and systematic and repeated violation of human rights and international humanitarian principles in Palestine by the occupying Israeli forces, including the recent demolition of dozens of houses in Wadi Hummus area of the town of Sur Baher in AI Quds,” she said.
The premier said any attempt or action to alter the historical and legal status of Jerusalem violating relevant UN Security Council resolutions is unacceptable.
She urged the world community to ask Israeli occupying force to refrain from such acts.
“We maintain our principled position in favour of a comprehensive and durable solution of ‘the Palestinian question in accordance with the relevant UN resolutions, the Arab Peace Initiative and the Quartet Road Map, which envisaged an independent Palestinian State,” she said. She urged the international community to put pressure on Israel to implement it without any precondition.
(BSS)
