ZCZC
BSS-51
UN-VACCINE-EQUALITY
UNGA president advocates vaccine for all
DHAKA, May 25, 2021 (BSS) – Visiting United Nations General
Assembly (UNGA) Volkan Bozkir today advocated for ensuring Covid-19
vaccines to all while Dhaka pointed that it is UN’s responsibility to
ensure fair and equal distribution of inoculation globally.
“We’ll make all the efforts. We’ll push all the countries (for equal
vaccine distribution),” he told reporters after addressing Bangabandhu
lecture series at Foreign Service Academy here.
Mentioning that the countries lacking vaccine production capacity
are now facing a very difficult situation, he said, “No one is safe
until all are safe. Vaccine is the solution to this problem.”
While speaking the Bangabandhu lecture series on “Bangabandhu,
Bangladesh and the United Nations”, foreign minister Dr Momen said
although multiple vaccines have now been developed, access to
vaccines, particularly by the countries of the global South has been
dismal.
“The United Nations has a responsibility to ensure just and
equitable distribution of vaccines so that we are not back to the
square one,” he said.
The foreign minister said no one should not forget that the pandemic
is such a crisis that necessitates vaccines made available for all.
“During this challenging time, the UN can guide us in chartering a
roadmap and shaping our future where our security would be guaranteed,
environment protected, development ensured, pandemics defeated, and
human rights respected,” he said.
The foreign minister said Bangladesh remains committed to working
together with the United Nations to foster reinvigorated global action
to ensure the future leaving no one behind.
Inspired by the vision of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh
Mujibur Rahman, Momen said, Bangladesh has been partnering with the UN
as a strong promoter of the world peace, active contributor to global
development and faithful upholder of the universal values of human
rights.
Bangabandhu’s peace-centric Foreign Policy dictum “Friendship to
all, Malice to none” shaped Bangladesh’s engagement with the United
Nations. “Together with the UN we are working for a peaceful and
prosperous world,” he added.
Momen said peacekeeping and peace building are pre-eminent features
of Dhaka’s foreign policy objectives while Bangladesh has consistently
been one of the top troops and police contributing countries.
He said Bangladesh government has made exemplary achievements in
implementing the SDGs, increasing women empowerment, enhancing access
to economic and social rights, achieving food security, and reducing
inequalities.
The foreign minister noted that Bangladesh today is acclaimed as a
‘role model for development’, ‘a star of women empowerment,’ ‘a
Champion of the Earth,’ and ‘a standard-bearer of the South.’
BSS/ASG/TA/MRU/2043hrs