Momen dismayed at vaccine inequalities

Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen has expressed his disappointment over the global inequalities in access to Covid-19 vaccines.

“Our remarkable progress in vaccine development failed to contain the deadly virus due to vaccine nationalism and vaccine politicisation,” he said while addressing an event marking the 60th anniversary of Non-Aligned Movement in Serbian capital Belgrade on Monday.

Momen also asked the global community to address the vaccine gap immediately by treating Covid-19 vaccine as a global public good.

He called upon the NAM countries to work together towards post-pandemic sustainable recovery and proposed to strengthen the South-South and triangular cooperation through establishment of a forum of ministers of foreign, finance and development of the global south nations.

“The forum will provide a platform to explore potentials of the southern countries and share experience, expertise, technology and resources to promote sustainable development,” he said.

“NAM should allow free mobility of capital, technology and labour within its membership to ensure socio-economic prosperity,” said the foreign minister.

He stated that it is imperative for the NAM members to put less restriction on mobility of resources to help boost economic growth, reduce poverty and a more equitable distribution of income to achieve the major goals of SDGs.

Referring to the life-long struggle of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman for ensuring equality, humanity and justice, Momen iterated the strong conviction of Bangladesh to the founding principles of the NAM.

“Our peace-centric foreign policy echoes the very spirit of Non-Aligned Movement,” the foreign minister added.

Stressing the relevance of NAM, Momen highlighted the emerging challenges such as, climate change, terrorism, violence etc those warrant a collective action by the NAM members.

The basic rights of human beings are still unmet in many parts of the world, the minister added.

He highlighted the long persecution of the Rohingyas in Myanmar which call for an urgent action.

Momen is leading a Bangladesh delegation to the 60th anniversary event of the NAM being held on October 11-12.

President of Ghana, prime minister of Algeria, foreign and other ministers of different NAM countries, including Indonesia, Nepal, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, India, Iraq, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Gabon, Gambia, Sudan, Haiti, Angola, Palestine, and high-level representatives of over 70 countries are attending the meeting.

The meeting is co-chaired by the president of Azerbaijan and the president of Serbia.

The UN secretary general and the president of the 76th session of the UNGA also spoke at the occasion.