Foreign Minister and Joint General Secretary of Awami League Dr. Hasan Mahmud said that human rights in our country are better than many countries. No country in the world has human rights in an ideal position.
He said that all countries should work together for the development of human rights. We also want to work with our development partners to promote human rights.
He said this while speaking as the chief guest at the 'Baisakhi Utsav 1431' program organized jointly by the Ministry of External Affairs and the Foreign Office Spouses Association at the Foreign Service Academy on Bailey Road in the capital on Friday (May 10) evening.
He said that in the United States, we are seeing the way the police are suppressing the movement of students in favor of the Palestinians on the TV screen. We also see how the police are suppressing civil movements on behalf of the Palestinians in various European countries.
Asked about US President Joe Biden's nomination of David Slayton Mill as the new US ambassador to Bangladesh, Minister Hasan welcomed the nomination. He expressed hope that the new ambassador will further advance the cooperation of the United States with Bangladesh.
The foreign minister said, 'Secularism is the main driving force of our nation and the Pohela Boishakh festival is a symbol of secularism. Bangladesh was born in 1971 after breaking the communal state system of Pakistan with the aim of building a non-communal state under the leadership of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu. And under the leadership of Bangabandhu's daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the Pahela Baishakh festival, which became a universal festival regardless of caste and religion, is today the embodiment of our secularism.
Dr. Hasan said, 'Awami League, which led the war of independence, believes that our first identity is that we are Bengalis, and the second identity is who we are and what religion we belong to. And Bangabandhu's daughter Sheikh Hasina's mantra-religion is for individuals, the festival is for everyone. That is why people of all religions unite in Bangladesh today on Eid, Puja, Prabarana Purnima festivals.
Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs Dr. AK Abdul Momen and Foreign Secretary Masood Bin Momen addressed the event.
Members of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Shahriar Alam, ambassadors, High Commissioners and members of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Office Spouses Association (FOSA) attended the event and enjoyed the interesting cultural performance of FOSA artists.