DHAKA, Jan 23, 2024 (BSS) - Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud said BNP has became insane as all global dignitaries have greeted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for her victory and expressed keen interest to work with the new Bangladesh government.

"Each and everyone has congratulated the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina ... BNP has became insane after seeing these, they (BNP) started saying more nonsense" he told reporters at a briefing on outcomes of his Uganda post visit at the foreign ministry.

Mahmud led the Bangladesh delegation to the 19th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) from January 19-20 and the Third South Summit of the G77 and China from January 21-22.

Apart from presenting the country statements at the two summits, Mahmud said, he held 17 bilateral meetings including with Secretary Generals of UN and Commonwealth in only two days.

"I held 12 bilateral meetings in the very first day of my visit. I exchanged greeting with representatives of many countries and all welcomed the new Awami League government," he said.

On the sideline meetings, the foreign minister said, he put emphasis on a number of issues including economic diplomacy, trade expansion and Rohingya crisis.

Thanking UN Secretary General Antony Guterres for his call to seize fire in Gaza, Mahmud urged UN to take further steps to resolve the ongoing wear in Palestine.

The foreign minister also urged UN intervention in resolving the Rohingya crisis.

The UN general secretary congratulated Prime Minster Sheikh Hasina for her reelection and lauded her leadership role in poverty reduction and women empowerment, Mahmud said.

Recalling the meeting with his Indian counterpart Dr Jayshankar, Mahmud said, they discussed regarding his upcoming maiden bilateral visit to New Delhi to be held on February 7.

Hasan said he also discussed the Rohingya issue with the Indian external affairs minister.

Regarding his meeting with his Myanmar counterpart, Masud said, he urged the Myanmar foreign minister to commence the Rohingya repatriation.
 
In reply, the Mahmud said the Myanmar foreign minister gave positive response to starting Rohingya repatriation.
 
Hasan said they also discussed to increase bilateral business between Bangladesh and Myanmar as the trade volume has been dropped since the latest influx of Rohingyas since 2017.
 
They also talked about the ways to combat with drug traffickers, the minister said.
 
Regarding other bilateral meetings with his counterparts, the foreign minister said he discussed cotton and palm oil farming opportunities with Uganda and trade expansion with Belarus, Brazil and Indonesia.
 
The foreign minister also discussed on challenges and way forward on human resource export during his bilateral meetings with Singapore, Saudi Arabai and Qatar.

Hasan also mentioned about his bilateral meeting with Palestine, Nepal, Benin, and Botswana on the sideline of the NAM summit.