'Bangladesh Is a Member of UN, Not an Employee'

Regarding Bangladesh's refusal to vote at the UN on the Ukraine issue, Planning Minister MA Mannan said, "Bangladesh is a member of the UN, not an employee. The interests of the country are more important to us than voting at the UN."

"We did not vote for the sake of the country," he said. We are not alone, many more states have abstained from voting.

He was responding to a question after inaugurating an internal road development work worth Tk 9.99 crore at Mina Bazar in Sunamganj's Shantiganj Upazila on Saturday (March 5) morning.

The UN General Assembly convened an emergency session on Wednesday (March 2nd) to protest Russia's military intervention in Ukraine. It passed a resolution calling for an end to Russian aggression in support of the majority country. Bangladesh abstained from voting on the proposal.

Asked about this, the planning minister said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina does not like war. We call on Russia and Ukraine to reach a peace agreement. Bangladesh will help as much as it can.

Addressing the BNP, he said, "Who is the BNP to say the farewell bell has rung?" Farewell bell is in the hands of the people of Bangladesh. If the farewell bell of Awami League rings, then we will take leave. We have come to power by the people's vote, if the people do not vote we will leave power. The Awami League cannot be intimidated by threats. The Awami League is not afraid of anyone's threat.

Chairman of Shantiganj Upazila Parishad Mohammad Farooq Ahmed, Chairman of Dargapasha Union Parishad Sufi Mia, Officer-in-Charge of Shantiganj Police Station Muktadir Ahmed, and others were present at the program.