Formulate ‘practical roadmap’ to face global challenges resolutely: PM
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has urged the US (UN) to formulate a “credible and practical roadmap” for delivering on commitments and responding resolutely to global challenges.
“To take the UN on the proper course towards its centenary and beyond, the world body should give a credible and practical roadmap for delivering on commitments and responding decisively to global challenges,” she said.
While delivering a statement virtually at a special session of the 75th US General Assembly (UNGA) that began in NY on Monday (Bangladesh time Tuesday morning), Sheikh Hasina also known as upon the UN member states never to allow “geopolitical rivalries” to weaken the world body, reports BSS.
“We should not allow our geopolitical rivalries to weaken the UN … we owe it to the founding fathers and future generations to help make the UN a effective global body for humankind all together,” she told the UNGA’s high-level session titled “Mark the 75th Anniversary of US”.
She went on saying: “We have seen moments ever sold that made us re-group to improve the span of human civilization. [email protected] presents another such moment. Let’s seize this moment.”
Pointing out the COVID-19 pandemic, the premier said it has made the achievement of the 2030 Agenda more difficult.
“The challenges of today's time, like the current pandemic, go beyond borders and it has exposed the inadequacies of the existing international order,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina said as well, the pandemic has demonstrated that both developed and developing nations need the UN more than ever and multilateralism may be the way forward.
The prime minister said Bangladesh owes too much to the UN as the united states has benefitted from UN-led efforts for the development. “Also in our modest way, we are contributing to the UN in fulfilling its mandates,” she said.
About the peacekeeping, the prime minister said Bangladesh is committed to upholding peace across the world and it is the leading troops and police-contributing country in all peace operations.
She mentioned that as much as 150 of Bangladesh’s peacekeepers sacrificed their lives to secure peace in conflict-ravaged countries on the globe.
Talking about the UN’s 75th anniversary, Sheikh Hasina said in Bangladesh, the commemoration bears special significance since it coincides with the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
“Bangabandhu had said at this August assembly in 1974, … the United Nations remains the focus of man’s expect the near future. This encapsulates Bangladesh’s abiding faith and confidence in the UN and multilateralism,” she said.
In her speech, Sheikh Hasina commended UN Secretary-General for keeping the flag of multilateralism high. “I also pay tribute to all frontline UN staff and agencies because of their tireless efforts and dedication,” she said.
The 75th UNGA session kicked off at the UN headquarters practically in NY from Monday (Bangladesh time Tuesday morning).
“Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will deliver her pre-recorded speech like other world leaders at the UNGA general debate on September 26 in Bangla like each year,” said Foreign Minister Dr A K Abdul Momen told a virtual press briefing here on Monday.
The theme of the 75th UNGA is “The near future we want, the United Nations we are in need of: reaffirming our collective commitment to multilateralism”.
For the very first time in the UN’s 75-year history, the global leaders have joined nearly at the gross annual high-level session of the world’s apex platform because of the COVID-19 pandemic that has up to now infected over 30 million persons and killed a lot more than 950,000 globally.
As like the Bangladesh premier, other heads of state and government of UN member countries may also deliver pre-recorded speeches at the overall debate and other sideline events at the UNGA.
