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FRIDAY, 12 OCTOBER 2012
DHAKA, OCT 11: Describing the Ramu incident as a shameful chapter in the country's national history, the Foreign Minister has said that the government is determined to detect the motives behind the incident and address all its negative fallout. “We consider the Ramu incident to be a shameful chapter in our national history and will not let our guard down till we have found the underlying motives behind the incident and addressed all its negative fall-out,” Dipu Moni said while briefing the members of the diplomatic corps and representatives of UN and other international organizations at the Foreign Ministry on Thursday.
She also informed that the government would take appropriate measures to rebuild and restore the destroyed Buddhist religious sites and temples.
“We look forward to the continued cooperation and understanding of our international friends and development partners in our efforts to address the many implications of this crisis in a purposeful manner,” she added.
The Foreign Minister expressed Dhaka’s concern over reports of protest rallies being organised in front of some Bangladesh Missions abroad where Bangladesh’s chancery buildings and being subjected to mob violence or attacks.
“I would like to request concerned host governments to ensure adequate protection for our diplomatic Missions in the face of any such provocation or attacks,” she said.
Dipu Moni went on to say, “Most importantly, I would like to assure all our friends aggrieved by the incident that our government remains fully sensitized to your concerns and would spare no stone unturned to ensure justice and protection for the affected Buddhist community members and rebuild the lives of the affected families and the sacred religious sites.”
“We would share, in due course, the outcome of the ongoing inquiry and investigations with the international community, and would continue to working towards mobilizing international public opinion against such communal tension or strife taking place anywhere in the world, including at the UN,” she said. Dipu Moni requested the diplomats to exercise restraint in their diplomatic movements in Ramu and surrounding areas, the situation on the ground in these areas are being closely monitored by concerned law enforcement and intelligence agencies and any untoward development may upset the ongoing investigations and eventually destabilize the prevailing calm and peace.
“We would also request your kind cooperation in keeping the Foreign Office informed of all diplomatic and UN or other international agencies’ movements near Cox’s Bazar so that appropriate security can be arranged,” she said.
However, she added, “The affected areas have been kept open to all in line with our principle of transparency and freedom of movement.”
Detailing the measures taken after the incident on September 29, the Foreign Minister expressed the government’s determination to remain steadfast in its effort to uphold communal peace and harmony in the country.
“Our Government enacted the 15th amendment to the Bangladesh Constitution, which, among others, reinstated secularism as a fundamental state principle, as enshrined in the original Constitution of 1972,” she said.
Dipu Moni further said, “The Ramu incident has been a direct affront to our government’s efforts to restore these ideologies in our statecraft and promote the principles of secularism, religious freedom and communal harmony in the country.
“We are resolved to deal with such incidents in keeping with our zero tolerance policy towards any attempt to undermine or breach these principles. We are committed to ensuring that the Buddhist community continues to enjoy their traditional freedom of religion and belief with unstinting support of the State and in a spirit of accommodation and peaceful co-existence with other religious communities,” she said.
“We look forward to the continued cooperation and understanding of our international friends and development partners in our efforts to address the many implications of this crisis in a purposeful manner,” she added.
The Foreign Minister expressed Dhaka’s concern over reports of protest rallies being organised in front of some Bangladesh Missions abroad where Bangladesh’s chancery buildings and being subjected to mob violence or attacks.
“I would like to request concerned host governments to ensure adequate protection for our diplomatic Missions in the face of any such provocation or attacks,” she said.
Dipu Moni went on to say, “Most importantly, I would like to assure all our friends aggrieved by the incident that our government remains fully sensitized to your concerns and would spare no stone unturned to ensure justice and protection for the affected Buddhist community members and rebuild the lives of the affected families and the sacred religious sites.”
“We would share, in due course, the outcome of the ongoing inquiry and investigations with the international community, and would continue to working towards mobilizing international public opinion against such communal tension or strife taking place anywhere in the world, including at the UN,” she said. Dipu Moni requested the diplomats to exercise restraint in their diplomatic movements in Ramu and surrounding areas, the situation on the ground in these areas are being closely monitored by concerned law enforcement and intelligence agencies and any untoward development may upset the ongoing investigations and eventually destabilize the prevailing calm and peace.
“We would also request your kind cooperation in keeping the Foreign Office informed of all diplomatic and UN or other international agencies’ movements near Cox’s Bazar so that appropriate security can be arranged,” she said.
However, she added, “The affected areas have been kept open to all in line with our principle of transparency and freedom of movement.”
Detailing the measures taken after the incident on September 29, the Foreign Minister expressed the government’s determination to remain steadfast in its effort to uphold communal peace and harmony in the country.
“Our Government enacted the 15th amendment to the Bangladesh Constitution, which, among others, reinstated secularism as a fundamental state principle, as enshrined in the original Constitution of 1972,” she said.
Dipu Moni further said, “The Ramu incident has been a direct affront to our government’s efforts to restore these ideologies in our statecraft and promote the principles of secularism, religious freedom and communal harmony in the country.
“We are resolved to deal with such incidents in keeping with our zero tolerance policy towards any attempt to undermine or breach these principles. We are committed to ensuring that the Buddhist community continues to enjoy their traditional freedom of religion and belief with unstinting support of the State and in a spirit of accommodation and peaceful co-existence with other religious communities,” she said.
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