ZCZC
BSS-03
PM-SPEECH-UNGA-3 LAST NEW YORK
Terming poverty and inequality are two major obstacles for development,
Sheikh Hasina said “Bangladesh has achieved one of the fastest poverty
reduction rates in the world with poverty rate dropping from 41.5% in 2006 to
21.4% in 2018 and extreme poverty from 24% to 11.3%.”
She said extensive rural development, embedded in the concept of ‘My
Village My Town’ and home-grown and pro-poor village projects like ‘Ashrayan,
‘Amar Bari Amar Khamar’, have contributed to our inclusive development.
Bangladesh has been ranked 34th in World Economic Forum’s Inclusive
Development Index leaving other South Asian countries way behind, she added.
On social safety net programme, the premier said that a key development
strategy in Bangladesh has been addressing inequality through social
security, decent work and financial inclusion.
“Current safety net system gives special consideration for the vulnerable
groups. Support comes in the form of cash, food, asset, wage-employment,
training, savings and community support. Social safety net programmes are
expanding, now covering nearly a quarter of the population and accounting for
2.58% of our GDP”, she added.
Regarding education, she said “Having achieved the milestones of gender
parity and cent percent enrollment, we are now focusing on enhancing the
quality of education with emphasis on e-learning, and qualified teachers.”
“Our school drop-out rate has gone down from 50% to 18%. In 2010, we
started the free book distribution programme for all students up to Grade 10.
Till date 2.96 billion text books have been distributed free of cost out of
which about 352.20 million books were distributed in 2019 alone. 2.3 million
students in primary and higher studies were awarded scholarships. 12.3
million mothers are receiving stipends through mobile phone,” she continued.
The premier said that they have created an extensive network of 18,000
community clinics and Union Health Centers to bring the entire population
under health coverage.
“These centers provide 30 different types of medicine free of cost and
free primary health services to the rural people, 80% of whom are women and
children. Maternal, infant and child mortalities, malnutrition, stunting,
low-weight, all are continuously reducing because of these actions,” she
said.
Sheikh Hasina said that they have put special emphasis on the inclusion of
persons with autism, disabilities and special needs in our development
journey. “Currently, 1.645 million people with such disabilities and needs
are receiving allowances from the government,” she added.
On ensuring equal access to technology, she said “We are investing in
human capital to create an inclusive society through equal access to
technology. Country-wide 5800 digital centers are taking 600 e-public
services to people’s doorsteps. Number of internet users has crossed 90
million, tele-density has crossed 93%”.
“Bangabandhu Satellite-1, which we launched last year, has eased the
expansion of broadcast-based services in remote areas and improved
communications for development,” the prime minister said.
Describing the ‘Blue Economy’ as a new frontier of opportunities, the
premier said, “We have developed a policy and a Plan of Action to tap our
marine resources in the Bay of Bengal. We are contributing to UN’s norm-
setting exercises on protecting marine biological diversity in the areas
within and beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ).”
On setting up the nuclear power plant, she said “We are building our first
ever nuclear power plant in Rooppur leveraging on the principle of peaceful
use of nuclear energy. Ninety three percent of our population has already
been brought under electricity coverage. Bangladesh is now the second largest
user of solar home system in the world.”
To this end she said “Bangladesh’s commitment to peaceful use of nuclear
energy is fortified by its consistent position against nuclear armament. We
have just ratified the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons as the
26th country of the world.”
BSS/SH/AHJ/GMR/KU/0652 hrs