STAR REPORT

Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen has said that Bangladesh is mature enough and there is no need to take help from the United Nations for the country’s national election.

He, however, said the government has no objection to election observation by foreign observers.

“There is no need for us to take any cooperation from the United Nations. We are mature enough. We have founded those institutions that are needed for a fair, transparent and acceptable election,” he said.

The minister made the remarks while speaking to reporters after a meeting with UN Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh Gwyn Lewis yesterday, reports UNB.

Momen said foreign observers should see how fair and transparent elections are held in Bangladesh in a festive atmosphere. He said that foreign observers can learn from the polls in Bangladesh.

Responding to a question about the detention of Prothom Alo reporter Shamsuzzaman Shams, the minister said he was arrested for “child exploitation”.

“The second issue is that he made fun of our independence. The people of Bangladesh won’t accept it,” he added.

Talking about the Rohingya issue, he praised the US for providing continuous support to the refugees.

“United States has been cooperating since the first day, and it is still doing so. They have showed no negligence. But many other countries gave a lot of aid in the past, and now they have cut much of the aid.”

‘RAB NOT USED FOR POLITICAL PURPOSES’

Asked about a recent Deutsche Welle (DW) documentary that claimed that the Rab was “used politically”, Momen said it was “a source of fun”.

“They are not used for political purposes. They are used for security purposes,” the minister said.