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Apart from the Rohingya crisis, Sheikh Hasina, in her speech, also
highlighted her government’s position on different global issues such as safe
immigration, refugee crisis, climate change, SDGs and socioeconomic
developments.
The prime minister reminded the international community that Bangalees
endured extreme form of genocide in 1971 while during the nine-month
Liberation War against Pakistan, three million innocent people were killed
and two hundred thousand women were violated by the Pakistani occupation
forces and their local collaborators.
“Our painful experiences have emboldened us to continue to speak for the
oppressed people. We stand firm in our support for our Palestinian brothers
and sisters till their just and rightful struggle comes to fruition,” she
continued.
Extending her heartfelt thanks to the UN Secretary-General Antonio
Guterres for his dynamic leadership, Sheikh Hasina said that the value of the
UN’s role in maintaining international peace and security is enormous.
“We continue to promote the idea of ‘Culture of Peace’, which has now
transcended time and become a dominant theme at the UN —- Our stern
actions against extremism, terrorism, drug trafficking and corruption have
restored peace in the society and among people. We shall continue our
actions,” she said.
The premier vowed to continue Bangladesh’s support to the United Nations
as a strong multilateral body, which would be fully equipped to deal with the
tasks and responsibilities assigned to it under the Charter.
Mentioning Bangladesh’s contribution to UN peace keeping
missions, the premier said as the second largest troops and police
contributing country Bangladesh continues to respond to the appeal for
participation of troops for peacekeeping operations under the UN.
“We support the Secretary-General’s initiatives to make UN peace
operations ‘fit for future’. Responding to his call for implementation of the
Action for Peacekeeping Agenda, we have joined as one of the ‘champion’
countries. We have also been playing an important role in the evolution of
the conceptual framework of “sustaining peace,” she continued.
To this end, she said “As the world’s principal multilateral body, the
General Assembly is best positioned to steer the actions that would promote
international cooperation in achieving development, peace and security.”
In
this context, the premier recalled Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh
Mujibur Rahman’s speech in UNGA session in 1974.
She quoted Bangabandhu as saying “In a world that is marked by strife and
human misery, the United Nations remains the focus of man’s hope for the
future. Despite many difficulties and obstacles placed in its way, the United
Nations, during more than a quarter century of its existence, has
significantly contributed towards human progress in the political, economic,
social and cultural fields”.
The prime minister said Bangladesh is now preparing to celebrate the birth
centenary of this great leader beginning in March 2020, adding that
reflecting on his vision and aspirations, “we wish to bring this celebration
to the United Nations in the next year”.
On the climate change issue, the premier said “The global disposition for
climate action generated by the just concluded Climate Action Summit would
translate into real impetus for implementation of the Paris Agreement in the
broader context of 2030 Agenda.”
“Our long-term plan for adaptation and resilience is anchored in our Delta
Plan 2100, a comprehensive and long-term techno-economic plan for the
Bangladesh Delta. The Plan focuses on food security, water safety, climate
change, environment sustainability, disaster management and sustained
economic growth. Following the recent Dhaka Meeting of the Global Commission
on Adaptation, we are working on setting up a ‘Global Centre for Adaptation’
in Dhaka,” she added.
Regarding migration, the premier said “Bangladesh promotes safe, orderly
and regular migration — Irregular migration and human trafficking are
global menaces rooted in complex nets of syndicates and criminal networks. To
prevent and suppress human trafficking nationally and also to foster
international cooperation in tackling human trafficking, we have recently
acceded to the Palermo Protocol on Trafficking in Persons.”
The premier in her speech also highlighted the success of her government
for the massive overall socioeconomic growth in the last 10 years to achieve
the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that included achieving the highest
GDP growth among 26 countries, poverty reduction, education, health, power
generation and information communication technology as well.
“Our commitment and shared aspirations to realize SDGs are reflected in
the election manifesto of Awami League, which earned us the confidence of the
people for the 3rd consecutive term in office. Our 21-point political
commitment is dedicated to the wellbeing of people,” she continued.
Pointing out Bangladesh’s socio-economic development under the stewardship
of her government in the last 10 years, the prime minister said, “Bangladesh
has often been cited as a ‘development miracle’. Despite turbulence in the
rule-based international order, and apprehensions of gradual economic
slowdown, Bangladesh continued to prosper over last 10 years. ”
Referring to the Spectator Index 2019, she said that Bangladesh recorded
the highest economic growth among a list of 26 countries in the last 10
years, with 188% expansion of gross domestic product (GDP) at the current
prices. Our GDP has grown from $102 billion in 2009 to $302 billion this
year.
Crediting with taking pragmatic programmes for the rapid economic and
social development, she said “Poverty eradication, sustainable growth,
protection of the environment and human-resources development are some of the
key features of our development strategy.”
The premier went on saying, “Our exports grew 3 times from 2005-06 to
reach US$ 37 billion in 2017-18. Per capita income grew 3.5 times. Our GDP
growth has now reached 8.13%. Between 2005-06 and 2018-19, our investment
rose from 26% to 31.5% of GDP; private sector investment grew five times to
US$ 70.8 billion; foreign exchange reserve grew 9 times to US$ 33 billion.”
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