Zerbo lauds Bangladesh role in disarmament advocacy

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DHAKA, Oct 4, 2018 (BSS) – Visiting Executive Secretary of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) Dr. Lassina Zerbo has lauded Bangladesh’s commitment and role in disarmament issues and thanked the government for continuing to advocate for complete and general disarmament.

He made the remark while called on the Foreign Minister A. H. Mahmood Ali, MP at the foreign ministry here today.

Dr Zebro is currently on a four-day official visit to Bangladesh from 03-06 October. It is the first ever visit by Zerbo after taking office of the Executive Secretary of CTBTO for the second term on 1 August 2013.

During the meeting, the foreign minister stated that Bangladesh has an impeccable non-proliferation record and said “we are committed to full compliance of the NPT and the CTBT.”

He said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina strictly adheres to its constitutional obligation of general and complete disarmament in defining its national, regional and international engagements on disarmament and non-proliferation.

Ali also referred to the special initiative of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina (during her tenure in office from 1996-2001) to play a constructive mediating role following the nuclear test by the neighboring countries– India and Pakistan (1998).

She (Prime Minister) also advocated for declaring South Asia as a Nuclear Weapons Free Zone to maintain peace and stability in the region, the minister said.

Zerbo thanked Bangladesh for its efforts towards contributing to regional stability by maintaining friendly relations with the neighboring countries.

In the morning, the executive secretary visited the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi and paid tribute to the memory of the Father of the Nation.

Later, he gave a lecture at the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies.

Zerbo will leave Dhaka on 06 October 2018.