Jubeda Chowdhury

Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud lead the Bangladesh delegation at the 19th NAM Summit in Uganda from January 20-21, focusing on “Deepening Cooperation for Shared Global Affluence.” The Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), established in 1961, is a group of mostly developing countries working together to advance shared interests. The NAM summit, inaugurated by Ugandan President Iweri Museveni, adopted a declaration on Palestine and the ‘Kampala Declaration’ at the end of two days of talks. The two-day ministerial meeting on NAM ended on Thursday after finalizing the Kampala Declaration and declaration on Palestine. Bangladesh plays its role in crises solution at any international events.

During the US-Soviet Cold War in the middle of the last century, countries outside the two spheres chose a neutral policy for security and economic reasons outside the sphere of influence of the two superpowers. Yugoslavia’s President Marshall Tito, Ghana’s President Kwame Nkrama, India’s Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, Egypt’s President Jamal Abdel Nasser and Indonesia’s President Dr. Sukorn was the founder of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM). In 1955, the Non-Aligned Movement began at the Bandung Conference in Indonesia. However, the summit held in Serbia’s capital Belgrade in 1961 is seen as the founding period of the Non-Aligned Movement. At that conference five codes of conduct were drawn up for the members of this third alliance. These included independent conduct of foreign policy, acceptance of coexistence of different political systems, non-alignment of two military camps and non-entanglement in the Cold War.

There were many questions about the functionality of NAM. Many member countries were accused of leaning towards special rings. Many interpret this movement as ineffective. Moreover, during the Cold War, this organization added a new dimension to the discussion. At first America did not take the matter well, but later they also took this movement positively. However, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, this alliance remained largely out of the discussion. But NAM has not disappeared. At present the number of members of this alliance is 120. It is the largest international organization outside the United Nations. A non-aligned conference was held after three years.

Bangladesh became a member of this organization in 1973 after independence. That year, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman attended the Non-Aligned Conference on behalf of Bangladesh in Algeria. Participation in this conference played a positive role in gaining UN membership the following year.

The relevance of non-alignment can be understood from the voting equation in the resolution in UNGA. This equation of votes means that many countries are trying to maintain neutrality in many international events.  Bangladesh always stands at international justice.

Bangladesh called for greater unity and solidarity among NAM member states to ensure shared global prosperity. Mahmud also discussed the speech given by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at the NAM summit in Algiers, Algeria in 1973. He emphasized the legacy of peace, development, and human rights of Rahman and urged the international community to stand by the Palestinians. Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen referred to the statement of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at the NAM Summit in Algiers in 1973, emphasizing principles of self-reliance and effective economic cooperation among non-aligned countries.  The foreign secretary also highlighted the progress made under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s leadership and called for effective mechanisms within the NAM to help NAM countries from LDC graduation and deal with the aftermath. She also reiterated Bangladesh’s support for the Palestinian people’s legitimate right and just struggle for freedom from Israeli occupation and oppression.

Promoting India-Bangladesh ties: Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud held his first bilateral meeting with Indian counterpart Dr. S. Jaishankar on the sidelines of the 19th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in Kampala, Uganda. The leaders discussed mutual interests and ways to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries. Dr. Jaishankar congratulated Mahmud on his new role as Foreign Minister and discussed the upcoming visit of Bangladesh Foreign Minister to New Delhi. India-Bangladesh relations are growing stronger, and both countries look forward to Mahmud’s visit. The Bangladesh foreign minister is scheduled to visit New Delhi on February 7 as his first official bilateral tour, possibly staying for three days. The tour agendas or itinerary are yet to be prepared, but the meeting was discussed.

Rohingya issue and Myanmar-Bangladesh: Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud has called for the repatriation of the Rohingya people and peaceful resolution of global disputes at the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) summit in Uganda’s capital, Kampala. Mahmud also urged redoubled efforts to ensure a sustainable solution to the Rohingya issue and emphasized the need for constructive and peaceful dialogue to build a peaceful, just, and inclusive society Mahmud also held a meeting with Myanmar’s Foreign Minister Than Sue, discussing Rohingya repatriation and other bilateral issues.

He also held a sideline meeting with the foreign ministers of several other countries. In addition, the foreign minister held a bilateral meeting with the foreign ministers of Nepal, Botswana and Belarus, the state minister of Qatar and the deputy minister of Indonesia. Hasan Mahmud. Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Dr. Hasan Mahmood has called for peaceful resolution of global disputes and upholding the culture of peace. He referred to the 1973 speech of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and emphasized Bangladesh’s support for Palestinians and Rohingya repatriation. Mahmood urged the international community to stand by Palestinians and ensure a sustainable solution. Due to these meetings, as Bangladesh has been able to raise all the demands, it has also been possible to attract the attention of the countries. Besides, bilateral relations with different countries have been welded through side line meetings. Taking these aspects into consideration, it can be said that Bangladesh’s participation in NAM or Non-Aligned Movement Conference is definitely important.

The Bangladesh government has always attached importance to the Non-Aligned Movement’ or ‘NAM’, which is called the Non-Aligned Movement. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was also elected as the vice chairman in the 15th conference of the organization.

BD govt. has been giving more importance to NAM. But even though ‘NAM’ has small significance at present, the principles of this international organization and the principles of Bangladesh’s foreign policy are almost the same, so Bangladesh considers it a big forum. As a result, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina herself participated in the 18th ‘NAM’ conference organized in Azerbaijan on behalf of Bangladesh and this time in the ongoing 19th conference organized in Uganda, Foreign Minister Dr. Hasan Mahmud has been sent.

Those concerned said that NAM has been playing a role in maintaining freedom and sovereignty, eliminating racism, preventing small countries from being affected by the pressure of big powers, fighting against imperialism and avoiding any kind of blockade-threat in international relations and ensuring peaceful coexistence. Besides, according to some, attending the conference of the Non-Aligned Movement proves Bangladesh still believes in non-aligned policy, friendship to all and maline to non.

Bangladesh government has always played a positive role in taking active part in the activities. And it is considered necessary in the interest of Bangladesh. one thing needs to be remembered, Nam does ‘balance’ with everyone. On the other hand, the basic principle of Bangladesh’s foreign policy is friendship with everyone. Not a conflict. As a result, the principles of NAM and Bangladesh are almost the same, so it is important. Apart from this, there is another reason to give importance to NAM, there has been a new polarization in the world. This may last for many years. Bangladesh doesn’t want to fall into the polarization politics of international players.  For this reason, NAM is important to Bangladesh.