DHAKA: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina reaffirmed her government’s unequivocal commitment to the realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian People to an independent homeland, and a sovereign and viable State of Palestine.
She came up with the commitment on the occasion of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, November 29.
In a message the Bangladesh Prime Minister said, “I reaffirm, on behalf of the Government people of Bangladesh, our unequivocal commitment to the realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian People to an independent homeland, and a sovereign and viable State of Palestine.”
Drawing inspiration from our Constitutional commitment, and in pursuance of our principled position, we have always remained steadfast in expressing our solidarity with their Palestinian brethrens in their just struggle for self-determination and statehood, Sheikh Hasina added.
The primer also said, “It is a matter of regret that for sixty-five years the people of Palestine are being denied of their fundamental rights to live freely in their own land in dignity and safety. There is no alternative to a comprehensive, just and lasting peace settlement in the Middle East, at the heart of which lies realization of an independent, sovereign and viable state of Palestine with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital, living side by side and in peace with all its neighbours.”
The occupation of Palestine must come to an immediate end and persecution of the Palestinian people and killing of innocent civilians in breach of international humanitarian laws and human rights standards must stop forthright. Bangladesh condemns the continued unlawful attacks on the Palestinian people in Gaza and West Bank and the deaths of innocent Palestinians, including women and children, she also opined.
The PM said that Bangladesh firmly believes that the relevant UN resolutions, the Road Map, the Arab Peace Plan and the efforts made by the Quartet (UN, USA, EU and Russia) remain the best guides for achieving a two-state solution. We hope that all concerned parties will take a pragmatic approach for the early implementation of the ‘Road Map for Peace’ in the Middle East. The glimmer of hope that we had seen earlier this year for the revitalization of the Middle East peace process must be kept alive by the concerned parties in the face of emerging political challenges and security threats in the region.
In anticipation of that, I would like to underline our firm conviction in mutual respect, harmonious coexistence of nations and peaceful resolution of disputes, and hope for a lasting solution to the Middle East crisis that our brotherly people of Palestine so well deserve to mark an end to their legitimate struggle for an independent statehood.
BDST: HRS, NOV 05, 2013
