Sheikh Hasina asks Zelensky to stop the war

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has called upon all concerned to find ways to stop Russia-Ukraine war while holding a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Munich.

“Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina always says we are against all kinds of war. Today, she discussed time and again about how the war can be stopped while holding talks with Zelensky”, said Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud at a news briefing after the meeting.

The meeting between Sheikh Hasina and Volodymyr Zelensky was held at Hotel Bayerischer Hof on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference (MSC) 2024.

The Bangladesh Prime Minister reminded Zelensky that war cannot bring wellbeing for anyone.

“Others can be benefitted from the war. But the war cannot bring welfare for the countries  involved in war and their people have to be affected by the war”, said Sheikh Hasina.

In this connection, the Prime Minister recollected her memories about the sufferings of  the countrymen and she herself faced during Bangladesh’s War of Liberation in 1971.

She recalled her inhuman sufferings and the birth of her only son Sajeeb Wazed Joy under the captivity of the Pakistani occupation forces during the War.

“Bangladesh’s foreign policy – ‘Friendship to all, malice to none’ – prominently came up in the discussion between Prime Minister and Zelensky”..

Replying to a query, Bangladesh Foreign Minister Hasan Dr Hassan Mahmud said the friendly relations between Bangladesh and Russia which got foundation during the Liberation war , will not hamper at all.

“Our relationship with Russia is very wonderful. Russia stood beside us during the Liberation War and played a pivotal role in rebuilding Bangladesh after the war”, he said.

It may be mentioned here that, during 1971 war of independence of Bangladesh, Russia and India stood in support of Bengali freedom fighters while America made notorious bids in favor of Pakistani occupation forces.