'Bangladesh committed to full disarmament'

Bangladesh is committed to full disarmament and is a major contributor to UN peacekeeping operations, reports BSS.

"Bangladesh's commitment to disarmament was total and unambiguous", Bangladesh Ambassador and Permanent Representative to UN Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury told the annual conference of disarmament which began in Geneva last week.

Dr Chowdhury said Dhaka's commitment to disarmament is reflected in the international scene through "Bangladesh's key contribution to UN peace-keeping operations," according to a message received her yesterday.

While making a fervent appeal to all delegates for flexibility in negotiations ambassador Chowdhury welcomed South African proposal for an ad hoc committee on disarmament to achieve the objective.

Besides, being seen in international arena, Chowdhury said Bangladesh's disarmament agenda was also reflected in domestic policies and mentioned the signing of a peace accord last December that ended over two decades of insurgency in Chittagong Hill Tracts.

He said the "historic accord which has initiated interalia decommissioning and surrender of weapons is born out of our resolve to fashion the proverbial ploughshares out of sword," the message said.