Dhaka, July 22 -- Bangladesh has strongly condemned the Houthis' declaration of a naval blockade against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

It believes such actions risk escalating tensions, undermining regional peace and stability, and disrupting international maritime trade, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Wednesday.

Bangladesh supports uninterrupted and lawful navigation of international maritime routes, including in the Red Sea, in accordance with international laws such as the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the statement said.

Any disruption in the Red Sea, which is a vital conduit of global trade and energy supply, will result in serious economic consequences for people around the world...