Bangladesh has expressed its deep concern over the recent announcement of the US recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the occupied Syrian Golan Heights.
"This is a clear violation of the Charter of the United Nations, principles of international law and relevant Security Council Resolutions," said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement on Wednesday (Mar 27).
It said Bangladesh has always urged the occupying State of Israel to immediately halt its actions to alter legal, physical and demographic status of the occupied Syrian Golan Heights in accordance with the Security Council Resolution 497.
"Bangladesh believes that changing the status of occupied Syrian Golan Heights by the US bypassing the Security Council is a direct violation of the UN decisions," reads the statement.
Bangladesh said it maintains its principled position on a comprehensive solution to the Middle-East question in accordance with the relevant Security Council Resolutions, the Arab peace initiative and the quartet roadmap.
On Tuesday (Mar 26), US President Donald Trump officially recognised Israeli sovereignty over the occupied Golan Heights, a region located about 60km (40 miles) south-west of the Syrian capital, Damascus, and covers about 1,200 sq km (400 sq miles).
Israel seized most of the Golan Heights from Syria in the closing stages of the 1967 Middle East war, and thwarted a Syrian attempt to retake the region during the 1973 war.
The two countries agreed a disengagement plan the following year that involved the creation of a 70km-long (44-mile) demilitarised zone patrolled by a United Nations observer force. But they remained technically in a state of war.
Israel annexed the Golan Heights in 1981, in a move that is not recognised internationally.
The US recognition, however, united Washington's Gulf Arab allies and regional foe Iran in condemnation, Reuters reports on Tuesday (Mar 26).
Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait criticised the US move and said the territory was occupied Arab land. Riyadh and Abu Dhabi said it was an impediment to peace.
A spokesman for United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Monday he was "clear that the status of Golan has not changed".
Meanwhile, Turkey - which has been supporting the Syrian opposition - said it was "impossible" to accept the US decree, adding it planned to take action against it at the UN.