Foreign ministry explains after opposition leader's query on Iran

Jamaat Ameer and Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Dr Shafiqur Rahman said in parliament on Thursday, April 30, "Why does our friendly country say, 'We did not get Bangladesh by our side during this time of deep sorrow?'" In response to his statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a clarification on Friday, May 1.

The ministry said the reality is that Bangladesh's policy regarding the ongoing Gulf war has been praised by countries in the region. For instance, the Iranian embassy in Bangladesh recently issued a statement praising Bangladesh's balanced and constructive policy.

In the same statement, the Iranian embassy expressed displeasure at the arbitrary propagation of selective snippets of statements made to the media, the foreign ministry said.

Additionally, at a ceremony on April 23 at the Iranian embassy in Dhaka for handing over emergency medical supplies from Bangladesh to the Iranian people, Iranian Ambassador Jalil Rahimi Jahanabadi mentioned the deep and friendly relations between Bangladesh and Iran and thanked Bangladesh for its sympathy and sincere support for the Iranian people during this difficult time, the ministry added.