Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman. File Photo

DHAKA, March 26, 2026 (BSS) - Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman has called for intensified global efforts to confront slavery and oppression, urging renewed international action while addressing a UN General Assembly commemorative meeting.

He made the call while speaking at a meeting marking the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade at the United Nations headquarters in New York on Wednesday, according to a message received here this morning.    

The foreign minister paid solemn tribute to the millions of victims of slavery and the transatlantic slave trade and honoured the courage and resilience of those who resisted it.

Describing the transatlantic slave trade as a permanent scar on humanity, Dr Rahman reaffirmed Bangladesh’s firm stance against slavery, apartheid, genocide and all forms of oppression.

He said the Constitution of Bangladesh rejects imperialism, colonialism, racism and discrimination, reiterating the country’s solidarity with oppressed peoples worldwide.

Recalling the centenary of the 1926 Slavery Convention and nearly 80 years since the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, he noted that although slavery has been abolished, its legacy persists in modern society, economy and politics, with various forms still existing worldwide.

The foreign minister stressed that action must go beyond remembrance, calling for renewed efforts to combat human trafficking, coordinated measures in digital forensics and greater investment in education and dialogue on the human and civilisational costs of slavery.

Reaffirming Bangladesh’s commitment, he urged the global community to work together to build a world free from slavery and oppression.