FROM PAGE 3

The foreign minister paid solemn tribute to the millions of victims of slavery and the transatlantic slave trade and honoured the courageous resilience of those who resisted it.

Describing the transatlantic slave trade as a permanent scar on humanity, Dr Rahman reaffirmed Bangladesh’s firm stance against slavery, apartheid, genocide and all forms of oppression.

He said the Constitution of Bangladesh rejects imperialism, colonialism, racism and discrimination, reiterating the country’s solidarity with oppressed peoples worldwide.

Recalling the centenary of the 1926 Slavery Convention and nearly 80 years since the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, he noted that although slavery has been abolished, its legacy persists in modern society, economy and politics, with various forms still existing worldwide.

The foreign minister stressed that action must go beyond remembrance, calling for renewed efforts to combat human trafficking, coordinated measures in digital forensics and greater investment in education and dialogue on the human and civilisational costs of slavery.