Bangladesh PM voices support for nuclear-free world

SANS Correspondent, Hiroshima, November 30, 2010:

Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday expressed her country’s unwavering support for Japan in building a nuclear-free world.

“Our peace-loving people deeply respects the Hiroshima peace process, gathering under `Mayors for Peace Cities’, to consolidate Bangladesh’s unwavering support for Japan in building a nuclear-free world,” she said.

The prime minister was addressing a reception, arranged by Japan Bangladesh Friendship Association and Hiroshima Peace and Culture Foundation, at the International Conference Center of Hiroshima (ICCH) in the afternoon.

This was Hasina’s second visit to the historic city of Hiroshima.

Earlier, the prime minister and her delegation arrived at Hiroshima airport at 11:20am (local time). Then the Bangladesh delegation was taken to Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum and Parkin in a colorful motorcade.

Hasina went round the museum that houses exhibits on the catastrophic event of the atomic bombing, with the objective of contributing to the abolition of nuclear weapons throughout the world, and of promoting world peace.

The prime minister signed the visitors’ book kept at the Museum, where she expressed her deep sympathy for the innocent victims of the tragic atomic bombing during the 2nd World War and reiterated Bangladesh’s stand for world peace. She also placed wreath at the Cenotaph at the Peace Memorial Park.

Hasina then listened to a testimony given by an atomic bomb survivor at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum Hall.

Speaking at the reception function, she said Bangladesh is always ready to work with Japan towards reducing nuclear stockpiles, within respective regions, aiming ultimately for a denuclearised world.

“We also support Japan on the issues of human rights, democracy and socioeconomic development, neglect of which could easily ignite conflicts and wars,” she said.

Recalling her first visit here in 1997, Hasina said she felt the same sense of humility and sadness for those hundreds of thousands who had perished on that fateful day of 6th August 1945.

“It was a day never to be erased from human history. It was a day when from the peaceful blue skies descended a cataclysm that changed the course of human destiny,” she said.

The prime minister said Hiroshima Day is remembered today with remorse and anguish by all peace-loving people of the world. “I salute the thousands for their sacrifice and pray for the eternal peace of their departed souls.”

She remarked that she also observes with an immense sense of human pride and marvel at the rebirth of the shining city of Hiroshima, out of its rubble and ashes.

“The same is my feeling for Nagasaki that saw an identical fate, soon after Hiroshima,” Hasina said.

She said the first ever use of the two nuclear devices heralded a new era of destructive weapons with a capacity to end human civilizations and the planet, dear Mother Earth.

“Indeed, the sacrifice of those who have perished did not go in vain, for this sacrifice has flagged the imperative need of restraint of the use of such destructive power for the resolution of conflicts.”

The prime minister said the horror of Hiroshima is a constant reminder to urge for the pursuit of peace.

Thus, the Hiroshima Day is observed all over the world, including in Bangladesh.

Hasina said that in their efforts for global peace and stability, both Bangladesh and Japan have always worked closely to respect the provisions of the NPT.

She remembered the NPT provisions which in 1970 made a solemn pledge “to pursue negotiations in good faith on effective measures relating to cessation of the nuclear arms race at an early date and to nuclear disarmament, and on a treaty on general and complete disarmament under strict and effective international control.”

“As we do, I remember “The Russell-Einstein Manifesto” of 9 July 1955 in London… the last line read, “Remember your humanity, and forget the rest. If you can do so, the way lies open to a new Paradise; if you can not, there lies before you the risk of universal death.”

The prime minister said the leaders of the world, especially those in charge of those deadly nuclear devices, need to remind themselves of the thought-provoking words of two of the wisest.

“Truly, they need to stand at least for once before the Hiroshima Memorial to fully absorb the implications of what they yield - the ability to obliterate the world and all it nourishes.”

Hasina said she bows her head once again in humble honor of those who perished in Hiroshima. “I also wish that those who live and stand here as well as those around the world recognize their ultimate sacrifice, by pursuing the path of love and peace.”

She said as Bangladesh was born out of the blood of as many as three million people in 1971, its experience could not be different.

“Moved by the magnitude of our tragedy, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman enunciated his doctrine of `Friendship towards all and Malice towards none’,” the Prime Minister said.

She said Bangabandhu abhorred the use of force to settle any international and bilateral dispute, and rejected the idea of interference in the internal affairs of other states.

“Thereafter, Bangladesh began a series of commitments to the UN Charter, to all protocols related to disarmament, Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), to human rights and anti-terrorism,” Hasina said.

Finance Minister AMA Muhith, Foreign Minister Dipu Moni, Adviser to the Prime Minister Dr Mashiur Rahman and Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad, among others, accompanied the Prime Minister during her Hiroshima visit.