“Bangladesh believes that the only absolute guarantee against the use of nuclear weapons is their total elimination” – Ambassadar Masud Bin Momen at UN Headquarters

UsaNewsOnline.Com, New York : “Bangladesh believes that the only absolute guarantee against the use of nuclear weapons is their total elimination. With a view to achieving that overarching objective, Bangladesh supported the adoption of the Nuclear Weapons Prohibition Treaty on 07 July 2017 and was among the first group of Member States to sign the Treaty last week”, said the permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the UN Ambassador Masud Bin Momen, today (26 Septembe), at the High-level Plenary Meeting to Commemorate and Promote the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons at UN Headquarters.

In this context, Ambassador Masud recalled the words of our Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the High-level Meeting on Nuclear Disarmament in September 2013, and he quoted: “Bangladesh believes that nuclear weapons cannot guarantee ultimate security and peace. These can, on the other hand, be guaranteed by people empowered through education, socio-economic progress, and preservation of democratic values, and realization of human faculties by peaceful means. There is no doubt that a price has to be paid for the promotion and the maintenance of peace. But, we are convinced that it is much less than that of making nuclear weapons and fighting a war with these, and then going for peace.”

He underscored further the importance of the early commencement of negotiations on, and conclusion of, a comprehensive Convention on nuclear weapons, as envisaged by the General Assembly Resolution 70/34. Ambassador Masud Said, “In order to keep momentum in discussing all relevant issues in a holistic manner, Bangladesh supports the General Assembly’s decision to convene, no later than 2018, a UN High-level Conference on Nuclear Disarmament”.