PM’s ‘Culture of Peace’ proposal at UN can ensure peace in world: Momen

ZOOMBANGLA DESK: Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen today said implementation of the resolution “Culture of Peace” placed by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the United Nations (UN) proposing to create a mindset of tolerance and respect towards others could bring sustainable peace across nations.

“In order to achieve sustainable peace across nations, she (Sheikh Hasina) proposed a resolution at the UN known as “Culture of Peace” that proposes to create a mindset of tolerance and respect towards others irrespective of color, ethnicity, background, race or religion. If we can create such a mindset, sustainable peace across nations is likely to achieve,” he said.

The foreign minister made the remarks at the inaugural session of the “World Peace Conference” at Hotel InterContinental here in the afternoon.

Following Bangabandhu’s path, Momen said, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resolved most of critical issues of Bangladesh with its neighbors like land boundary demarcation, maritime boundary and water sharing through peaceful means.

Sheikh Hasina allowed nearly 176,000 of the country’s men and women to work as UN peacekeepers in many missions abroad, he said, adding Bangladesh is a brand-name in the UN peacekeeping.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is organizing the two-day conference as part of twin celebrations- the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the Golden Jubilee of the country’s independence.

President M Abdul Hamid addressed the inaugural session as the chief guest with President of the Organizing Committee of the World Peace Conference and Jatiya Sangsad (JS) Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury in the chair.

Momen said, “Since his early childhood, Bangabandhu was a benevolent social activist. The principal objective of his life was to ensure the wellbeing of people. His lifelong struggle was for establishing people’s right in a peaceful manner”.

Bangabandhu’s active participation in all the democratic movements for Bangladesh from 1948 to 1971 had transformed him into the most charismatic and undisputed leader of the Bangalee nation, the minister said, adding that he was fondly given the title of ‘Bangabandhu’ by his people which means friend of Bengal.

“Our total commitment to peace is born of the realization that only an environment of peace would enable us to mobilize and concentrate all our energies and resources in combating the scourges of poverty, hunger, diseases, illiteracy and unemployment,” Momen quoted Bangabandhu as the Father of the Nation stated in 1974 at the UN General Assembly while defining the peace.

“Peace is imperative for survival of mankind. It represents the deepest aspirations of men and women throughout the world. Peace to endure must, however, be based on justice”, he again quoted Bangabandhu.

Noting that Bangabandhu had desired that Bangladesh would be a land of peace that would emit the practices of peace across nations, the minister said, “No wonder he designed our foreign policy, the cardinal principle of which is ‘Friendship to all, malice towards none”.

Unfortunately, people in many parts of the world are undergoing atrocities, persecution, venom of hatred and deprivation, violence and wars, the foreign minister said, adding, “We cannot end violence and atrocities alone”.

Mentioning that the violence and atrocities carried out on Rohingyas or in Palestine are man-made, he said, “Since these are man-made, I have a dream, one day with your active support, we can end violence, war and terror, no child will be without family, no soldier will lift his or her weapons to take another man’s life, disastrous bombs and hateful minds hopefully will be replaced by flowers of friendship and peace”.

Urging all to join the campaign for spreading the messages of peace across the globe, Momen said, “We have to rise to the occasion and walk together in partnership and collaboration to end venom of hatred, ignorance and violence across nations. Let’s dream and dream for a better world for all”.

Six guest speakers – Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, former President of Timor-Leste Nobel Laureates Jose Ramos-Horta, politician and former Indian Minister for Civil Aviation, Railways, Commerce and Industry Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu, former Foreign Minister of Egypt and former Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa, former Chairman of the World Islamic Economic Forum Foundation and Former Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs, Home Affairs and Defense of Malaysia Tan Sri Dato Seri Syed Hamid Albar and UN Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on Prevention of Genocide Alice Wairimu Nderitu also virtually and in person spoke at the inaugural session. (BSS)