Bangladesh lauds UN resolution over Red Sea vessel attacks

The government of Bangladesh welcomes the UNSC resolution 2722 demanding an immediate stop to the attacks on merchant commercial vessels in the Red Sea, said State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury.

The United Nations Security Council resolution was adopted on January 10 this year resolution, urging the Houthis in Yemen to immediately cease all attacks on merchant and commercial vessels and to release the captured ship Galaxy Leader and its crew.

“The persistent threat and attacks on merchant ships at the Red Sea posing severe risks to maritime and seafarers’ safety, security, and international commerce in this vital maritime trade route. Bangladesh expresses solidarity with the delegation of Bahamas as our thoughts and prayers are with the seafarers of MV Galaxy Leader for their immediate and safe release. Bangladesh welcomes in this regard UNSC resolution 2722 demanding immediate stop of attacks on merchant commercial vessels in the Red Sea,” the state minister said.

He was addressing the 132nd session of International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council at the IMO headquarters in London on Monday.

The Council is the executive organ of IMO and is responsible, under the Assembly, for supervising the work of the Organization. The Council is made up of 40 Member States, elected by the Assembly for two-year terms.

“It is a great honour for Bangladesh to be addressing the 132nd IMO Council as an elected member of this esteemed executive Council under your skillful stewardship and the dynamic leadership of Secretary General Arsenio Dominguez. Bangladesh remains grateful to all those member states that supported us during the 2023 IMO Council elections to bring us back on this August Council (meeting),” he said.

Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury said that Bangladesh reaffirms its unequivocal commitment towards realizing IMO’s mission, vision and strategic directions, and priorities of this Council working in close collaboration with fellow member states.

“We are profoundly thankful to Secretary General Arsenio Dominguez for his repeated condemnation and sustained awareness campaign against piracy attacks on international shipping and hostage taking of innocent seafarers. We are also thankful to the multinational naval force for their assistance in the rescue process and fellow IMO members for their solidarity with MV Abdullah and its crew,” he added.

“Bangladesh reaffirms its electoral pledge to this Council to voice the interest and concerns of the LDCs, SIDs and Small States, as well as of the Global South, especially the urgent need of addressing our capacity gaps and challenges in attracting greater investments and financing into infrastructure building and affordable technology transfer for our just transition to alternate and green fuel shipping, ship-building and ship recycling as per HKC,” he concluded.

The session of the council ends on July 12.