Formulate ‘Practical Roadmap’ to Face Global Challenges Resolutely: PM

Prime Minister Sheik Hasina has urged the United Nations ( UN) to devise a "credible and realistic roadmap" to deliver on promises and to reply resolutely to global challenges, reports BSS.

"To take the UN on the right track towards its 100th anniversary and beyond, the world body should have a reliable and realistic roadmap to deliver on commitments and respond decisively to global challenges," she said.

While delivering a statement digitally at the Special Session of the 75th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) that began in New York on Monday (Bangladesh time on Tuesday morning), Sheik Hasina also called on UN member states not to allow "geopolitical rivalries" to undermine the world body.

"We must not allow our international rivalries to undermine the UN ... we owe it to the founding fathers and future generations to make the UN a genuinely powerful global body for humanity as a whole," she said at the UNGA High Level Session entitled "The 75th Anniversary of the United Nations."

She went on to say, "We've seen times in history that have made us re-group to change the direction of human culture. UN@75 is introducing another such moment. Let's take advantage of this moment.

Pointing out the COVID-19 pandemic, the Prime Minister said it made the achievement of the 2030 Agenda more challenging.

“The challenges of the present time, including the current pandemic, go beyond borders and it has exposed the inadequacies of the current international order,” she said.

Sheikh Hasina said at the same time, the pandemic has shown that both developed and developing nations need the UN more than ever and multilateralism is the way forward.

The Prime Minister said Bangladesh owes a lot to the UN, as the country has benefited from UN-led development efforts. "We also make a small contribution to the UN in meeting its mandates," she said.

She mentioned that as many as 150 of Bangladesh’s peacekeepers sacrificed their lives to secure peace in conflict-ravaged countries in the world.

Talking about the UN’s 75th anniversary, Sheikh Hasina said in Bangladesh, the commemoration bears special significance as it coincides with the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

"Bangabandhu said at this August meeting in 1974 that ... the United Nations remains the focus of man's hope for the future. This encapsulates Bangladesh's continued confidence and trust in the UN and multilateralism, "she said.

In her address, Sheikh Hasina commended the UN Secretary-General for keeping the flag of multilateralism high. "I also pay tribute to all UN frontline workers and agencies for their tireless efforts and commitment," she said.

The 75th session of the UNGA started at the UN headquarters digitally in New York on Monday (Bangladesh time Tuesday morning).

“Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will deliver her pre-recorded speech like other world leaders at the UNGA general debate on September 26 in Bangla like every year,” said Foreign Minister Dr A K Abdul Momen told a virtual press briefing here on Monday.

The 75th UNGA theme is "The future we want, the United Nations we need: reaffirming our mutual commitment to multilateralism."

For the first time in the UN's 75-year history, global leaders have entered the annual high-level meeting of the global apex forum due to the COVID-19 pandemic that has so far affected more than 30 million people and killed more than 950,000 globally.

As like the Bangladesh premier, other heads of state and government of UN member countries will also deliver pre-recorded speeches at the general debate and other sideline events at the UNGA.