BNP terms govt’s position over Israel issue ‘unprincipled’

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party has blasted the government for its silence over dropping the words ‘except Israel’ in the new passport and termed it ‘unprincipled position of the government.’

“The government removed the words except Israel in the new passport when Palestinian’s Gaza city has been turned into a death valley by Israel. The entire world has been frustrated due to it,” BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said on Monday.

The foreign ministry has explained that Bangladesh dropped the words from the passport to make it in line with international standards.

But referring to the news, Deputy Director General for Asia and the Pacific at the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs Gilad Cohen tweeted saying Bangladesh has removed travel ban to Israel.

“Great news! Bangladesh has removed travel ban to Israel. This is a welcome step and I call on the Bangladeshi government to move forward and establish diplomatic ties with Israel so both our peoples could benefit and prosper,” he tweeted.

Hailing US President Joe Biden’s remarks over the Israel issue, Fakhrul extended his party’s greeting to the US president and the citizens who supported a peaceful end to the communal crisis.

“We believe that the path of establishing two separate states would be paved in light of the UN’s proposal and the Oslo Accords,” Fakhrul said while addressing a press conference at party’s Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s Gulshan office in Dhaka Monday afternoon.

He said his party will support the pro-Muslim brotherhood and humanitarian force of Palestinian citizens to their fight in establishing an independent and sovereign country.

“The BNP has already extended its solidarity to Palestine people and decided to send medical aid for those sustained injuries during the war,” he said.