FROM PAGE 12

mutual respect and adherence to international law can resolve disputes,” the ministry said.

In the statement on Sunday, the Bangladesh government said that the continuation of hostilities in the Middle East will only endanger regional peace, stability and the wellbeing of civilian populations. In the context of the emerging situation in the Middle East, the foreign ministry yesterday convened an inter-ministerial meeting to assess the current situation, especially the security of the Bangladeshi citizens in the Gulf region and the fate of the stranded Bangladeshis who failed to fly because of air traffic challenges.

After the meeting, Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman said the deaths of two Bangladeshis and the injury of seven others in the ongoing conflict in the Middle East give a significant message.

The foreign ministry has already spoken to the officials of the concerned countries including the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain. The Bangladeshi diplomats in those countries visited the injured citizens.

The foreign ministers of Kuwait and Bahrain and the state minister for foreign affairs of Qatar have already called Khalilur and provided full assurance of security and protection of Bangladeshi citizens in those countries.

The government has all preparations to facilitate the travel of those who are stranded and bring back the two dead bodies home as soon as flight operations resume.

Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Humaiun Kobir said Bangladesh’s position on the Middle East crisis is clear.

“We want de-escalation of this situation. We are strongly calling for choosing the path of diplomacy. And, our citizens who have employment in the Middle East in various places and those stranded are our topmost priority. We are also taking initiatives to extend visas for those who are facing such issues,” he said.

All the relevant ministries are coordinating for safety, accommodation, visa and ticketing issues, said Shama Obaid, the state minister for foreign affairs.

In another development, four ministers of Gulf countries spoke to Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman and assured him of all necessary measures to ensure the overall security, protection, and welfare of Bangladeshi migrants living in their respective countries amid the conflict.

Those who called Khalilur include Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah, Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al-Zayani, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and Qatar’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi.