Date: October 14, 2020:

''Following the footsteps of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, today I call upon our post-pandemic Commonwealth to demonstrate Commonwealth solidarity, connectivity and collective action to build back a more resilient, greener and sustainable post-covid recovery'', said Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr. A. K. Abdul Momen while addressing the 20th Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers meeting (CFAMM) held virtually in London this morning.

In his statement, the Foreign Minister briefed the meeting about the virtual Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF) Leaders Event presided by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina earlier this month, and reaffirmed Prime Minister's call for a green post-covid recovery and to tackle the climate emergency, a 31 December 2020 midnight climate survival deadline for submitting higher and ambitious NDC Paris targets. He also proposed a number of collaborative mechanisms between the UK, the Commonwealth Chair-in-office and the COP 26 Presidency and Bangladesh under the CVF Presidency. The Foreign Minister also called upon further collaboration between the Commonwealth and the CVF.

On the question of Rohingya, Dr. Momen made a strong case calling for the support of the Commonwealth including the the UK, Commonwealth Chair-in-Office, for intensifying their efforts and engagement with Myanmar including their compliance with the ‘Provisional Measures’ by the ICJ and finding a lasting solution to this protracted crisis. In the meeting the Foreign Minister categorically mentioned, ''Bangladesh is no longer in a position to shoulder this humanitarian burden of unprecedented magnitude any longer or for an indefinite period'' recalling Prime Minister's unequivocal reiteration at the 75^th UNGA, ‘'the Rohingya problem was created in Myanmar and its solution has to be found in Myanmar, not in Bangladesh'’. Foreign Minister thanked the Gambia, a fellow commonwealth country for pursuing the ICJ case against Myanmar and welcomed decision of Canada, another fellow Commonwealth member, for joining Gambia’s side.

Speaking on Bangladesh's wholehearted support to the Commonwealth’s 'No More Campaign' to tackle domestic and sexual violence, the Foreign Minister also briefed the meeting that under Sheikh Hasina’s bold and decisive leadership her government has enacted capital punishment or rigorous life imprisonment as the highest punishment for the crime of rape in Bangladesh most recently.

The Foreign Minister also informed the meeting that as the lead country for the Commonwealth Business-to-Business Connectivity Cluster, Bangladesh would be hosting the first virtual High-level B2B Connectivity Dialogue at the Commonwealth on 23 November 2020 to enhance knowledge-sharing and connectivity amongst Commonwealth businesses, chambers and entrepreneurs. 

Commonwealth Secretary-General Baroness Patricia Scotland and Foreign Ministers of more than 45 Commonwealth countries were present in the meeting with Dominic Raab MP, the UK Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs as Chair. Bangladesh High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and the Governor of the Commonwealth Board of Governors Saida Muna Tasneem also participated in the meeting to assist the Foreign Minister.