Bangladesh backs UN Secretary-General’s call for global ceasefire

Bangladesh and nine other countries handed over a joint statement supporting UN Secretary-General Antonio Gueterres' appeal for global ceasefire.

The statement, which received the overwhelming endorsement by 172 UN member states, non-member observer states and observers, was the strongest yet political support that the appeal has received so far.

"It sends a strong and clear message of solidarity and compassion with those impacted by the hostilities amid the Covid-19 pandemic," said a press statement of the Permanent Mission of Bangladesh to the United Nations in New York. 

Bangladesh, Ecuador, Egypt, Jamaica, Japan, Malaysia, Oman, Senegal, Slovenia, and Sweden of the Joint Statement of Support to the Secretary-General's Appeal for Global Ceasefire virtually met António on Monday to officially hand over the statement.

In her conversation with the UN Secretary-General, Bangladesh Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Rabab Fatima praised him for his leadership role in guiding the global efforts to address the pandemic especially in conflict situations. 

"Your appeal has had important salutary effect on many conflict situations, yet, many are not paying heed and some are applying it selectively," she said.

She shared Bangladesh's contribution to maintenance of international peace and security particularly through peacekeeping.

In his response, the SG termed the joint statement as 'one of the best and most important endorsements to his appeal in the UN' and thanked all the co-initiators for this. 

While referring to some significant and successful impacts of the appeal, he also admitted that much more remains to be done and implementation remains the key. He stressed the importance of continued global solidarity and its expansion to other areas. 

The appeal has been the high point of the secretary-general's efforts in garnering political support for pandemic response. Bangladesh was also among the first rank of countries to have endorsed the appeal once earlier through another platform when it was made on 23 March.