Stop genocide in Gaza: PM to world leaders

MUNICH, Feb 18, (UNB): Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has urged world leaders to stop genocide in the Palestinian city of Gaza.
"Bangladesh has always stood against genocide. What is happening in Gaza I feel is a genocide. So, we never support it," she said in an interview with Turkey's state-run Anadolu Agency on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference 2024 on Saturday.
The prime minister said the Palestinian people have the right to live and have their own state. "The Gaza people have the right to live.... So, we should help them, and stop this invasion and war," she added.
She called upon the world community to extend support and help to the suffering children, women, and people of Palestine. At this time she cited that Bangladesh has already sent some assistance for them.
Replying to a question regarding a planned Israeli operation on the southern Gaza city of Rafah, the premier said Bangladesh never supports such an offensive. "Palestinian people should have the right to have their own state, that is clear," she said.
"There is a two-state theory in 1967 UNO resolution. It should be implemented," said Sheikh Hasina.
Prime Minister is scheduled to return home today (Monday) morning after attending the three-day Munich Security Conference in Germany, her first foreign tour since winning last month's national polls.
A regular flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines, carrying her and her entourage members is scheduled to depart Munchen Franz Josef Strauss Airport in Munich at around 9:10pm on Sunday local time (2:10am on Monday Bangladesh time), according to her itinerary.
She is expected to land at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, Dhaka at 11am today.
The prime minister arrived in Munich on February 15 on a three-day official visit.
During her stay in Munich, Hasina attended the Munich Security Conference and held meetings with several global leaders on the sidelines of the conference.
The premier held meetings with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte, Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev, Qatar Prime Minister Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen.
Besides, Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and former Prime Minister and President of Women Political Leaders (WPL) Silvana Koch-Mehrin, World Health Organization (WHO) Director General Pedro's Adhanom Ghebreyesus, President of Global Affairs at Meta and former Deputy Prime Minister of the UK Sir Nick Clegg, among others, met Sheikh Hasina there.
The prime minister also joined a community reception accorded to her by Bangladeshi diaspora in Germany and different European countries in Munich.