DHAKA, 10 August 2021, (TON): The foreign secretary said that there can be nothing more important than the elimination of the scourge of terrorism and ethnic strife.

Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen said “the United Nations should step up efforts at this critical juncture in Afghanistan as Bangladesh does not want to see people in Afghanistan suffer anymore.”

He said "while we welcome peace talks involving important players, I think, the United Nations as a neutral broker should step up efforts at this critical juncture. Bangladesh wants to see a fellow South Asian State, a fellow member of Saarc and its people remain free from any sufferings.”

Bangladesh thinks the strengthening of democratic institutions, including endogenous ones and unimpeded socio-economic development in Afghanistan, with the active participation of the international community remain important.

The Foreign Secretary said "the daunting task ahead is to build an efficient public service delivery system suitable for the Afghan people given the geography and ethnic divide and millennium old, decentralized structure."   

Masud Momen was addressing a webinar titled "Current Afghan Situation and Bangladesh" organized by North-South University.