Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina urges the US and its allies to eschew imposing sanctions as the world economy, already hard-hit by Covid and Ukraine war fallouts, now roils for the embargo against Russia.
Listing the grave impacts of the sanctions against Russia on other countries for no fault of their own, she said Thursday that a policy that punishes people of the whole world "in the name of punishing one should not be followed".
Likening it to human-rights violation, she notes that the global supply chains are heavily disrupted due to the sanctions, triggering crisis of essential commodities across the planet.
Suggesting withdrawal of the punitive measure, she observes that no nation can be controlled through imposing sanctions and it is evident now as those who imposed the sanction are also facing the blowback, coming in the form of flying inflation amid food and fuel shortages.
The Prime Minister made the remarks on the confrontational geopolitical situations while addressing a function organised to mark the inauguration of a new 8-storied office building of the Foreign Ministry.
"It is unfortunate that the entire world is in risk economically due to the war between Russia and Ukraine, and people across the world are affected, their condition is worsened," she says.
"On top of that the sanctions imposed by America cause severe constraints to supply of commodities we import," the Prime Minister told her audience, adding that it raises transportation costs and limits the area of sourcing.
Not only Bangladesh, the people of the whole world, including Europe and America, are suffering from the impact of sanctions.
The United States and the developed nations should realise that sanctions imposed by them are causing great havoc for people of their country, too, she notes in her comprehensive observations on the nagging global politico-economic front.
"You want to punish some people of a country by imposing this sanction but general people are being more affected than them.
"And people of all countries, no matter rich or lower-income, are suffering from this sanction," she says, directing her words towards the western leaders.
"The war and sanctions pose a serious challenge to our economy at a moment when we are on the path of post-pandemic recovery," the Bangladesh premier mentions.
She feels that sanctions ought to be lifted to make export-import as well as commodity- transportation activity easier so that common people's sufferings can be redressed.
Because food is the main need of people and many rich countries are in trouble on this account.
"Many of our people live in rich countries, and from them we learn that lives become unbearable in those countries also," the Prime Minister said.
Turning to the dos on home front at this crisis hour, Sheik Hasina said, "'We are always striving to raise our food production to be self-reliant in food. By doing so, we can fulfill our own demand and also help others. But to raise production we need fertilizer, irrigation and other inputs which we do not get now."
"So I do not know what it means to put general people in trouble, and I should say that this is one kind of human-rights violation," she observes about the endgame of the sanctions.
"It is not proper to deprive people of their rights so the policy to punish the people of the whole world 'in the name of punishing' should not be followed," she notes, adding: "I believe everybody also wants the same."
She also urged the international community to take proactive measures to ensure repatriation of Rohingyas to their home land.
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen, State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shariar Alam, Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen, top diplomats and envoys were present at the programme which the Prime Minister joined through virtual platform.
Later, 'Bangabandhu Medal for Diplomatic Excellence' was conferred on Japanese Ambassador in Bangladesh Ito Naoki and Bangladesh Ambassador in Poland Sultana Laila Hossain.
Ms Laila got accolade from all for her role in safe return of stranded Bangladeshis to home from war-torn Ukraine.
And Mr Naoki played a very active role in deepening the Bangladesh- Japan ties in recent years.
mirmostafiz@yahoo.com