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Iraq war would have enormous impact on Bangladesh
Dhaka, Feb 20: Commonwealth secretary-general Don Mckinnon today said war in Iraq would have an enormous economic impact on the world and particularly on Bangladesh.
Dhaka, Feb 20: Commonwealth secretary-general Don Mckinnon today said war in Iraq would have an enormous economic impact on the world and particularly on Bangladesh.
He said Bangladesh would be the worst affected country
outside the middle east because of the large number of its
citizens employed there.
Some 1.7 million Bangladeshis work in the Gulf, sending millions of dollars home each year, including one million in Saudi Arabia, 300,000 in the United Arab Emirates and more than 150,000 each in Kuwait and Oman, according to the expatriate ministry.
"The economic impact will be enormous," Mckinnon told members of the Commonwealth society of Bangladesh.
He said he hoped the crisis would be solved peacefully as a war would have immense consequences for the world economy.
"Wherever the war may be, it takes the economy back ten times faster and the aftermath is always immensely costly."
He added: "obviously we are looking for a resolution rather than a war and there is also the question of weapons of mass destruction which might be threatening the region and beyond.
"By and large, Commonwealth members would obviously say stick to the United Nations and stick with United Nations resolutions."
Bangladesh has repeatedly called for a peaceful resolution to the latest Iraq crisis.
The secretary-general arrived here Tuesday on a three-day private visit to address members of the Commonwealth Journalists Association, which is holding its silver jubilee conference in the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka. Bureau Report
Some 1.7 million Bangladeshis work in the Gulf, sending millions of dollars home each year, including one million in Saudi Arabia, 300,000 in the United Arab Emirates and more than 150,000 each in Kuwait and Oman, according to the expatriate ministry.
"The economic impact will be enormous," Mckinnon told members of the Commonwealth society of Bangladesh.
He said he hoped the crisis would be solved peacefully as a war would have immense consequences for the world economy.
"Wherever the war may be, it takes the economy back ten times faster and the aftermath is always immensely costly."
He added: "obviously we are looking for a resolution rather than a war and there is also the question of weapons of mass destruction which might be threatening the region and beyond.
"By and large, Commonwealth members would obviously say stick to the United Nations and stick with United Nations resolutions."
Bangladesh has repeatedly called for a peaceful resolution to the latest Iraq crisis.
The secretary-general arrived here Tuesday on a three-day private visit to address members of the Commonwealth Journalists Association, which is holding its silver jubilee conference in the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka. Bureau Report