Recalling the ambassador is the Foreign Ministry’s own decision: Shama Obaid Islam

Bangla Press Desk: State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaid Islam has stated that the decision to recall Bangladesh’s Ambassador to Tokyo—just ahead of the Head of Government’s visit—was an independent decision made by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Consequently, the Ambassador, Md. Daud Ali, will not be in Tokyo during Prime Minister Tareque Rahman’s visit to Japan; it has been decided that he will remain in Dhaka.

She shared these remarks with journalists on Saturday (October 24) at the CIRDAP auditorium in the capital, following a national dialogue and the official release of a position paper prepared by 33 civil society and development organizations in the country, ahead of the COP-31 summit to be held in Antalya, Turkey.

At the invitation of Sanae Takaichi, Prime Minister Tareque Rahman will pay an official visit to Japan from October 26 to 29. The State Minister expressed her expectation that this visit would pave the way for new investments.

Highlighting the global potential for jute-based products, Shama Obaid noted that Bangladesh continues to work on climate adaptation despite having a limited budget. At COP-31, Bangladesh intends to showcase the global prospects for eco-friendly jute products, alongside discussions on energy transition.

She stated, "Bangladesh believes that the global climate summit must prioritize increased transparency, while placing equal emphasis on both adaptation and mitigation. Developed nations must fulfill their financial commitments. This support should primarily be provided in the form of grants, ensuring that the debt burden on affected nations does not increase. A dedicated fund is essential to address the damages caused by climate change."

The State Minister added, "We must present a unified voice so that we can secure meaningful outcomes on the global stage and at the negotiating table. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change have established an inter-ministerial focal team. There is also an opportunity to integrate young people who are actively working on environmental issues."

BP/SP