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Bangladesh–Palestine relations

From Wikipedia - Reading time: 9 min
Bangladesh-Palestine relations
Map indicating locations of Bangladesh and Palestine

Bangladesh
Palestine
Diplomatic mission
Embassy of Bangladesh, AmmanEmbassy of Palestine, Dhaka
Envoy
Ambassador Nahida Sobhan[1]Ambassador Yousef S. Y. Ramadan
Protest in support of Palestinians in 2023 Israel–Hamas War, Kishoreganj, Bangladesh

Bilateral relations between Bangladesh and Palestine are close and cordial. Bangladesh has been a consistent supporter of the Palestinians right to an independent state, and has no diplomatic relations with Israel. Furthermore, Bangladesh offers scholarships to young Palestinians, and the two countries co-operate on military affairs.[citation needed]

History

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Prior to Bangladeshi independence, many East Pakistanis (Bengalis) volunteered to fight in the 1948 Arab–Israeli War.[citation needed] The relationship between Bangladesh and Palestine, particularly the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO), can be traced back to the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971. Bangladesh refused recognition from Israel.[2][3] At first, most Arab states were hesitant to recognize the newly established state of Bangladesh, but relations warmed in 1973, when Bangladesh supported the Palestinians' against Israel during the Yom Kippur War in 1973 including sending a medical team and relief supplies for Palestinians.[4][5]

The first high-level meeting between the two countries took place in 1974, when Yasser Arafat met Prime Minister Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in Lahore at the second summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).[6] A relationship with the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) was established around that time period, in which Bangladesh opened a PLO office in the capital, Dhaka, and PLO officials were frequent guests at events hosted by the Bangladeshi political and diplomatic corps.[4]

In 1980, a postal stamp was created depicting a Palestinian freedom fighter, the Al-Aqsa mosque in the background shrouded by barbed wire, and text celebrating Palestinian fighters as "valiant" in English and Arabic.[4]

Yasser Arafat visited Bangladesh several times between the 1970s and 1990s including accompanying Nelson Mandela and Süleyman Demirel for Bangladesh's 25 year Anniversary of Independence. He usually received a warm welcome from Bangladeshi media, political circles and the general public. According to a September 1988 US Library of Congress report, the Bangladeshi government reported in 1987, that 8,000 Bangladeshi youths had volunteered to fight for the PLO following this visit. Since the 1980s under International Military Education and Training (IMET), There has been development of military ties between the PLO and Bangladesh, with PLO soldiers attending one-year courses at the Bangladesh Military Academy in Chittagong.

476 Bangladeshis were also captured and tortured by Israeli forces in prison camps. Bengalis reportedly shot down 29 Israeli aircraft and inflicted dozens of casualties in the 1982 Lebanon War. Some Bangladeshis were reported missing and Kamal Mustafa Ali, who was a Bangladeshi was martyred during a battle in 1982.[7]

Current relations

[edit]

Relations between Bangladesh and Palestine are cordial; Bangladesh is a strong and consistent advocate for an independent Palestinian state and firmly opposed to Israeli occupation. Bangladesh has a complete ban on trade (direct and indirect) with Israel and does not have any diplomatic relations with Israel.[2] Bangladesh supports the establishment of a Palestinian state drawn on the 1967 boundary with Jerusalem as the capital.[8]

Bangladesh offers scholarship for Palestinian students in medical colleges in Bangladesh and Palestinian army officers are provided training in Bangladeshi military facilities.[9]

In December 2016, Bangladesh signed a memorandum of understanding with Palestine on trade and energy cooperation.[10] Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas visited Dhaka in February 2017.[11]

In the ongoing Israel–Hamas war and Gaza Genocide, Bangladesh showed support for the Palestinians.[12][13][14][15] and also called for a ceasefire several times.[16][17][18] Bangladesh sent relief aid including food and medical supplies to Gaza in Ramadan.[19][20] Palestine also sent relief aid to Bangladesh during the August 2024 Bangladesh floods.[21][22]

Palestine is represented in Bangladesh by the Embassy of the State of Palestine in Dhaka.[23] Yousuf S Ramadan is the incumbent Palestinian Chargé d'Affaires in Dhaka.[24]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Brief Curriculum Vitae of Nahida Sobhan, Ambassador of Bangladesh
  2. ^ a b "Israel's infatuation with Bangladesh's recognition". The Business Standard. 25 May 2021. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
  3. ^ "From the Archives (April 20, 1971): Bangla Desh rejects Israeli offer". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
  4. ^ a b c "Palestine Embassy in Bangladesh". Retrieved 24 December 2023.
  5. ^ Chowdhury, Umran (14 July 2023). "Bangladesh's Palestine Policy". Dhaka Tribune. Dhaka. Archived from the original on 17 August 2023. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
  6. ^ Karim, M. M. Rezaul. "Currents and Crosscurrents". The Daily Star. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
  7. ^ Siddiqui, Kamran (1 November 2024). "Meet the Bangladeshi volunteers who went to war for Palestine". The Business Standard. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  8. ^ "Palestine President Abbas likely to arrive in Feb". The Financial Express. Dhaka. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
  9. ^ "Bangladesh will expand cooperation with Palestine: FM". bdnews24.com. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
  10. ^ "Bangladesh, Palestine ink MoU on trade, power generation". The Daily Star. 13 December 2016. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
  11. ^ "Palestinian President Abbas in city". Dhaka Tribune. 2 February 2017. Retrieved 10 June 2018.
  12. ^ "Activists in Bangladesh march through universities to demand end to Israel-Hamas war". AP News. 6 May 2024. Archived from the original on 6 May 2024. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
  13. ^ "An open letter on Gaza from Bangladesh". The Daily Star. 25 May 2024. Archived from the original on 25 May 2024. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
  14. ^ Sakib, SM Najmus (9 October 2023). "Pro-Palestine demonstration held in Dhaka as Bangladesh calls for cease-fire". Anadolu Agency. Archived from the original on 11 October 2023. Retrieved 28 August 2024. A rally by Bangladesh's major religio-political party Jamaat-e-Islami on Monday condemned the Israeli attacks on Gaza and urged the Muslim world to ensure the safety of Palestinians and their rights. The party brought out the procession in the capital Dhaka where the party leaders condemned Israel for suspending power and water supply to Gaza. The rally participants also criticized the UN for its silence on the rights of Palestinians, not taking measures, and not recognizing the 75-year Palestinians' struggle for building a peaceful sovereign state.
  15. ^ "Bangladesh demands immediate end to Israeli brutalities in Palestine". Dhaka Tribune. 29 October 2023. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
  16. ^ "Yunus calls for immediate ceasefire to protect Palestinians". Prothom Alo. Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha. 27 September 2024. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
  17. ^ "Bangladesh endorses US initiative on Gaza". Dhaka Tribune. 6 June 2024. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
  18. ^ "Bangladesh urges immediate ceasefire of armed conflicts between Palestine-Israel". The Business Standard. 8 October 2023. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
  19. ^ "Bangladesh sends relief to Gaza during Ramadan". Dhaka Tribune. 13 May 2024. Archived from the original on 13 March 2024. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
  20. ^ "80 countries, including Bangladesh, send Ramadan aid to Gaza". bdnews24.com. 13 March 2024. Archived from the original on 13 March 2024. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
  21. ^ "Palestine sends aid for Bangladesh flood victims". Somoy Television. 29 August 2024. Retrieved 21 September 2024.
  22. ^ "Palestinian envoy sends relief aid to flood victims". The Daily Star. 31 August 2024. Retrieved 21 September 2024.
  23. ^ "President Abbas likely to arrive in Dhaka in Feb". The Daily Star. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
  24. ^ "Ties with Israel would be 'political suicide' for BNP, says Palestine envoy". bdnews24.com. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
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