DHAKA: Spain has sought the support of Bangladesh in the upcoming election that is being held on Thursday in New York, for the temporary membership in UN Security Council (UNSC) by writing a request letter in Bangla.

This innovative campaign for seeking vote has overwhelmed the Bangladesh Mission in the UN. The elaborate four page letter has reached the mission two days back.

The letter was written by the permanent representative of Spain to UN Roman Oyarzun to his Bangladesh counterpart Dr AK Momen.

Roman Oyarzun hoped that Spain as the candidate of Western Europe and Other Countries will get the support of Bangladesh in the poll.

The lucidly composed letter contained quotations from Bangladesh’s National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam’s famous poem ‘Gahi Samyer Gan (Let Us Sing the Song of Equality)’ where it is told that “there is no difference among the countries, time, persons and religion”. 

The letter described that poverty, climatic change, gender discrimination and armed struggle is our daily life challenge.

At the outset of the letter, Oyarzun, mentioning Bangladesh as a friendly state of Spain, reminded the commitment of Bangladesh Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmud to his Spanish counterpart about supporting Spain in the poll.

He also mentioned the friendship, sympathy and cooperation between the two countries.

Mentioning the contributions of Bangladesh in the UN peacekeeping missions, Oyarzun said Spain would evaluate Bangladesh if elected.

Bangladesh also will get a close friend in UNSC, he the latter said.

The letter concluded with the immortal lines of Kazi Nazrul:

Come Brother Hindu! Come Muslim! Come Buddhist! Come Christian! Let us call each other brother crossing the boundary of limitations, narrowness, and falsehood and, sacrificing all interests.

Speaking on the letter, sent by Spain, Bangladesh’s permanent representative Dr. AK Momen told banglanews that in this election season the letter of Spain, handed over by Spanish Foreign Minister José García-Margallo, has made us overwhelmed.

In today’s tough election New Zealand, Spain and Turkey are contesting for two seats, he added.

There will be tough contest, he observed.

Bangladesh was also a contender for the temporary post from Asia region but sacrificed that in favor of Japan.

However, Bangladesh, in the upcoming election of UN Human Rights Commission, is a strong candidate.

BDST:  1713 HRS, OCT 16, 2014