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Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman highlighted the importance of multilateralism at the Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers Meeting in London, calling for concrete actions to confront existential global challenges, particularly climate change and growing economic uncertainty.
Dr Rahman led the Bangladesh delegation to the 26th Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers Meeting (CFAMM) held on Sunday 8 at Lancaster House in London, according to a message received here from London today.
The Bangladesh delegation included Prime Minister’s Adviser on Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir and other officials.
Foreign ministers and representatives from 56 Commonwealth member states attended the meeting, which set the agenda and policy direction for the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) scheduled for November this year.
In his deliberation, the foreign minister referred to Bangladesh’s recently held national election, describing it as free, fair, participatory and peaceful, and said he felt proud to represent the people of Bangladesh at the CFAMM.
He noted that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is strengthening Commonwealth values of good governance through humility in politics and innovative governance ideas.
The foreign minister also expressed gratitude to the Commonwealth Secretariat for sending a high-powered Commonwealth Observer Group that monitored the election across Bangladesh and commended its successful conduct.
The ministers also discussed the evolving global situation, including the erosion of the rules-based international order and the growing challenges facing international institutions and norms.
During the afternoon session, the foreign minister raised the issue of Bangladesh hosting more than 1.2 million forcibly displaced Rohingyas from Myanmar for nearly a decade.
He expressed concern over the gradual decline in humanitarian assistance for the Rohingyas and urged sustained international engagement to ensure their safe, voluntary and dignified repatriation to Myanmar.
On the sidelines of the meeting, the foreign minister and the prime minister’s adviser held a number of bilateral meetings with their counterparts.
Dr Khalilur Rahman held talks with UK Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs Yvette Cooper where key bilateral issues and future cooperation were discussed.
He also met Parliamentary Secretary of Canada Robert Oliphant, South Africa’s Deputy Minister for International Relations and Cooperation Alvin Botes, Antigua and Barbuda’s Foreign Minister E. P. Chet Greene and Ghana’s Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.
During these meetings, the foreign minister discussed issues of mutual interest and sought support for Bangladesh’s candidature for the presidency of the United Nations General Assembly.
The foreign minister is also scheduled to attend the Commonwealth Day celebration at Westminster Abbey and join a reception at St James’s Palace today.
