BNP slams govt for its stance over Ukraine attack

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir today alleged that the Bangladesh government’s stance regarding Russia's attack on Ukraine is against the UN Charter and the country’s Constitution.

“BNP considers this attack as a war imposed on Ukraine and a clear violation of the independence and sovereignty of the country,” said Fakhrul.

Speaking at a press conference at BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office, he also said Russia’s such hegemonic and imperialist activities are a crime under the UN Charter. “This attack is a threat to independence and sovereignty."

The BNP leader said they think the spontaneous opinion of the people of Bangladesh is in line with the entire world’s values on democracy and human rights, reports UNB.

“But our country's government has abstained from voting in favour of a UN resolution on the Ukraine issue, taking a stand against popular opinion of the country’s people only to secure its power. This is against the principles of democracy and human values ​​enshrined in the constitution of Bangladesh,” the BNP leader said.

Fakhrul said their party expects all the powers of the world to take a strong stance in favour of the world opinion for the protection of democracy and human rights under the leadership of the United Nations.

The BNP leader also urged all the parties concerned to be sincere to end the war and restore peace immediately through the ongoing talks between the two warring countries.

He also expressed deep sorrow and concern over the death of a Bangladeshi sailor along with hundreds of innocent Ukrainians and the displacement of one million people by Russia's 'inhumane' attack on Ukraine over the last seven days.

"The people of Bangladesh respect the fundamental rights to independence and sovereignty of any country, including Ukraine, and oppose the violation of its borders," Fakhrul said.

The BNP leader said their party is always in favour of the protection of the independence and sovereignty of all countries and in favour of the prevailing world opinions for the sake of the protection of democracy and human rights.

He also alleged that the government had similarly acted against the hopes and aspirations of people in the case of UN’s resolutions condemning the ethnic cleansing of the Rohingya people in Myanmar and their human rights violations. “They (govt) have failed to take effective steps as per people’s expectations regarding the Rohingya issue.”

Fakhrul said the action of the Bangladesh government regarding the Ukraine issue demonstrates that it is pursuing a knee-jerk foreign policy, threating the independence and sovereignty of the country.