STAR REPORT

Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen, who generally loves to talk to the media, avoided journalists yesterday as he was under pressure from Awami League leaders and facing criticism from opposition politicians and international relations analysts for his recent comments.

They say the statements are disgraceful and embarrassing for the country and politically damaging to the ruling party.

“No, I am not going to talk to you. You misinterpret my comments,” Momen told reporters in front of the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum on Dhanmondi-32 after paying respect to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. He took part in a discussion near the museum, marking National Mourning Day.

Minutes before the foreign minister left around 1:00pm, AL Presidium Member Abdur Rahman MP told reporters that the foreign minister “didn’t belong” to AL and so his statements didn’t reflect the party’s position.

Momen, an AL lawmaker from Sylhet-1, is an adviser to Sylhet District Awami League and also the “number-1” member of the ruling party’s Sylhet city unit.