Dhaka clarifies its abstention from UNGA voting on Ukraine

UNGA vote on Russia to pay reparations

Jehangir Hussain

The Government in a statement on Sunday clarified why it had abstained from voting on UN General Assembly resolution on Ukraine.

“The ultimate objective of the current resolution is to seek a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine. We believe that any meaningful and sustainable solution to the current conflict must need intensive diplomatic engagement and dialogue between the parties involved in the conflict. To our opinion, this important practical point is missing in the resolution. Therefore, we were constrained to abstain,” says the statement read out to reporters by Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Seheli Sabrin.

The resolution adopted by the UN General Assembly on Thursday demanded Russian pullout from Ukraine.

Thirty-two countries including Bangladesh, India, China, Iran, Pakistan and Sri Lanka abstained from voting while seven countries including Russia voted against the resolution. 

“Bangladesh continues to remain concerned over the situation in Ukraine, particularly the loss of (civilian) lives, deteriorating humanitarian situation in conflict zone and consequential socio- economic fallout around the globe. We call for a cessation of hostilities and remain steadfast in our commitment that purposes and principles of the UN Charter should be upheld at any cost. In this regard, we see the importance of urging the UN Secretary-General and Member States to promote a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine in the proposed resolution. We also firmly believe that peaceful settlement of international disputes must be complied with universally for everyone, everywhere under all circumstances, without exception,” the statement said.

“Guided by Bangabandhu’s philosophy of ‘Friendship to all and malice towards none’, Bangladesh pursues a peace-centric foreign policy, which is based on the principles of respect for sovereign equality and territorial integrity of all states, peaceful settlement of international disputes, and respect for the principles enunciated in the Charter of the United Nations,” the statement reads.

However, 141 countries voted in favour of the resolution.

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