Press reports ‘orchestrated campaign’
Foreign Minister Dr Dipu Moni defended her foreign visits in last four years and half, saying that significant success had been achieved during her tenure and that it
would not have been possible without the visits.
“My foreign travel is the most talked about issue at the moment,” said an annoyed Foreign Minister, describing the reports appeared on a section of Bengali and English newspapers on her overseas visits as untrue, fabricated, motivated and baseless.
“An orchestrated campaign is going on against the Foreign Minister. I do not know the motive behind it,” she told a press conference on Sunday at the Ministry when asked to comment on the media reports about her frequent overseas visits. The briefing was organised to apprise journalists about some recent diplomatic activities.
“Many get jealous when they see the success (of the Foreign Minister). One has to face criticism due to outstanding success,” Dipu Moni said, detailing successes achieved during her tenure including improvement of the country’s image, ITLOS verdict on maritime dispute with Myanmar and human rights.
She also said that Bangladesh had done well with regards to relations with US, China, European, India, Middle East and other international organisations during her time.
No visit has taken place without the approval of the Prime Minister, who gives permission considering the overall needs, she said.
“I have been honest to myself,” Dipu Moni said and that as a citizen she would take steps to establish her rights.
She, however, would not elaborate the steps she intends to take.
“The successes we achieved in last four years and a half would not have been possible if the Foreign Minister stayed home,” Dipu Moni emphatically said, adding that the Foreign Minister would have to be allowed to work to make Bangladesh familiar in the face of the world.
She said, “We are a political people. You can criticise us, but that has to be based on information and objective. Otherwise it will hinder honest politics.”
Providing an account of her overseas visits, the Foreign Minister said, “It has appeared in the newspapers that I have undertaken 180-190 foreign visits. But I went abroad 114 times of which 36 were VVIP tours. It has been written that the number of my bilateral visits was 17 but the number of my bilateral tours was 62.”
“It has been reported that I was out of the country for 600 days. But I was out of the country for a total of 517 days including travel time and overseas visits. This (517 days) was 31 per cent of my total 1,660 days in the Ministry,” she said.
About the reported comparison between herself and United States Secretary of State, Dipu Moni mentioned that the US Secretary of State used his or her own jet and flew directly to different places.
“But I have to take 2 to 3 flights to go to some western and African countries. I have to wait even 6 to 8 hours in transit. And, that has automatically increased my number of days abroad,” she said.
The Foreign Minister, flanked by Labour Secretary Mikail Shipar and Commerce Secretary Mahbub Ahmed, also talked about some issues including GSP, TICFA, Anup Chetia, LBA, Teesta agreement and the EU initiative on RMG sector.
She said the government had been engaged actively with all the stakeholders to improve the working environment and labour standards in the country to have GSP benefits restored.
Dipu Moni said that three reasons – Rana Plaza collapse, Opposition Leader Khaleda Zia’s article on Washington Times and recent remarks of Professor Yunus in different forums – might have been linked with the GSP suspension.
She said that she did not consider GSP suspension as a government failure.
“Still, we’ve very good relations with the USA. Even US says that the relationship is very good,” she added.
-With The Independent input
