Dhaka: Bangladesh has said the United States’ recent announcement to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and to transfer of US Embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv might trigger grave consequences and threats to international peace by inflaming the Muslim world and raising new waves of tension.

Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the UN Ambassador Masud Bin Momen said this mentioning that this announcement might also trigger hostility and violent extremism in the already volatile region of the Middle East as well as other regions of the world.

He made the remarks while addressing a meeting of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People at UN Headquarter on Thursday.

Ambassador Masud expressed his deep concern at this announcement and said, ‘It would impose Israeli control over the holy city of East Jerusalem and contribute to changing its historical and legal status, its demographic structure and historic Arab-Islamic character.’

He reiterated Bangladesh position in favour of establishing the State of Palestine on the basis of the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

He said Bangladesh stresses on preserving the legal status of Jerusalem within the framework of relevant UN resolutions.

Ambassador Masud urged all parties concerned to take a pragmatic approach to the Middle East Process in reaching a two-state solution for peace and stability in the region.

He mentioned that Bangladesh’s President recently attended the sixth extraordinary OIC summit held in Istanbul on December 13 to show solidarity with the Palestinian people at this critical juncture.

The Permanent Representative of Senegal Ambassador Fodé Seck chaired the meeting while the Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine to the UN Ambassador Riyad H. Mansour delivered his statement among others.

The unilateral, irresponsible and reckless decision of USA regarding the status of Jerusalem is a clear violation of International Law, said Ambassador Riyad H. Mansour.

He praised the diplomatic efforts made by several Member States at UN, particularly in the Security Council condemning the US decision and supporting the peace process in Middle East.

In his statement, Permanent Representative of Turkey Ambassador Feridun Hadi Sinirlioglu made brief remarks on the recent extraordinary OIC summit of Istanbul convened by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on this issue.