Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday termed Bangladesh's participation in the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) as “successful”.
“Our active participation at multilateral forums has strengthened Bangladesh’s position. Regarding international issues, I hope that it will expand the scope of cooperation. In overall consideration, I think Bangladesh's participation in this session (of UNGA) has been very successful,” she said.
The prime minister said this while addressing a press conference to brief the media about her recent visit to the United States to join the 78th UNGA.
The press conference is being held at her official residence Ganabhaban.
Sheikh Hasina said that Bangladesh’s unprecedented socio-economic advancement, generosity shown by sheltering Rohingya people, and country’s strong leadership on the issue of climate change were highly praised in this year’s session of the UNGA.
About her speech at the UNGA, the prime minister said, she put emphasis on unity, solidarity, and multilateralism over fragmentation, insularity and isolation to collectively address the common challenges of humanity to secure a peaceful, prosperous, and sustainable future for.
The prime minister said that she unequivocally mentioned that the government has been and will be working to ensure democracy, rule of law and freedom of expression in line with the country’s constitution.
Besides, the government’s concern over the impacts of climate change, Ukraine war, Pandemic as well as the issue of Rohingya crisis were also highlighted, she added.
She said that she renewed her call to the international community to ensure security and stability in the region through repatriation of the forcibly displaced Rohingyas to their homeland in Myanmar.
The prime minister said she noted continued prevalence of terrorist threats, misuse of information and communication technology for instigating violence and spreading hate speech and inflammatory rhetoric, and said, her government maintains a 'zero tolerance' policy against terrorism and violent extremism.
At the same time, the premier demanded that the issue of human rights should not be used as a political instrument to put pressure on developing countries.
Sheikh Hasina said that she also stressed the need for establishing regional “food banks” for emergency situation against the spiral of prices of essentials as well as for collaboration in research and development of climate-resilient crops.
On the sidelines, she joined other high-level events on climate change, Rohingya Reparation, pandemic, food collaboration to achieve SDG and on other issues.
About a high level event on community clinic, the prime minister said, she presented five specific priorities including reduction of treatment cost through community clinics, rendering digital and modern diagnostic services and providing mental health care services.
Besides, she also addressed another conference titled "SDG Summit –Leaders’ Dialogue 4 (strengthening integrated policies and public institutions for achieving the SDGs) at the Trusteeship Council Chamber in New York.
The prime minister said, in the side events, put a proposal for preparing a structure on international cooperation among the concerned parties under the leadership of the World Health Organisation to face any pandemic in future.
Apart from these, the premier held bilateral meetings with five heads of state and government, while high officials of the US government and heads and representatives of a number of international organisations also called on her.
Sheikh Hasina also joined a community reception accorded to her by the expatriate Bangladeshis living in the US, and held a press conference at the Bangladesh Permanent Mission.
During her stay in New York, the prime minister also signed a “UN Agreement on Deep Sea” to prevent extraction of fishes in large scale from the deep sea and protect marine bio-diversity.
Besides, three agreements and MoUs were signed with Hungary, while another document was signed with Kazakhstan on visa exemption for the diplomatic and official passport holders, she said.
During her stay in Washington DC, Hasina said, she held meeting with National Security Adviser of the US President and took part other programmes as well as gave interview with the Voice of America.
In London, Sheikh Hasina said, she held meetings with some dignitaries including a delegation of the All Party Parliamentary Group led by Rushanara Ali, chair of APPG on Bangladesh and Rohingya and the UK shadow minister for investment and small business.
