Bangladesh reaffirms support for Palestinian state

By Mainul Islam Khan

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AA) – Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina reaffirmed Bangladesh’s support for a Palestinian state in talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the capital Dhaka Thursday afternoon, according to local media.

Abbas, who is on his first three-day visit to the country, arrived in the country Wednesday and is scheduled to leave on Friday.

Foreign Minister Mahmood Ali and his Palestinian counterpart Riyad al-Maliki also signed a memorandum of understanding Thursday in the presence of Hasina and Abbas to form a joint committee at the foreign ministerial level to boost ties between two sides.

The state news agency, Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, quoted Foreign Secretary Shahidul Haque as saying: “Bangladesh reaffirmed its everlasting support for a Palestinian state”.

Haque added the country also renewed its support for a "two-state solution" to the dispute between Palestinians and Israelis.

Earlier, Abbas visited the National Memorial in Savar near the capital to pay tribute to the martyred who gave their life during Bangladesh’s War of Independence. He also visited the Bangabandhu Museum in Dhanmondi in Dhaka.