Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday termed her participation in the 69th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and visit to the United States ‘very successful and fruitful’, saying the world leaders have once again recognised Bangladesh as a role model for the developing countries.
“From all aspects, my participation in the UNGA and visit to the US were very successful and fruitful,” she said.
The Prime Minister was addressing a press conference at her official residence Ganobhaban on the outcome of her recent US tour to attend the UNGA.
The Prime Minister said her visit to the United States was the first after the formation of the government for the second consecutive time on January 12 through the January-5 polls.
During the visit, she said, Bangladesh was acclaimed in the UN, the prime stage of world politics, for the country’s extraordinary positive role in the socioeconomic and environmental development alongside maintaining the continuation of democracy.
“During my talks with leaders of different countries, the issues relating to politics, economy and social aspects of Bangladesh got special importance,” she told the press conference.
Hasina also said the main aim of her activities is to change the lot of the country’s people through improving their living standard and establishing a potential country for the next generation.
“I’ve been working with an aim so that the country’s people get a better life and Bangladesh is established as a dignified country at the world stage with its head high,” she said.
Hasina renewed her pledge to turn Bangladesh into a middle-income country by 2021 and a developed and prosperous one by 2041.
The Prime Minister said she stayed in New York from September 22 to 28 for her participation in the 69th UNGA. “Heads of state and government from 140 countries joined this year’s UNGA,” she added.
Hasina said during her address in the UNGA, she firmly highlighted the issue of establishing the rights to self-determination of the Palestinian people and an independent Palestine state for them. “Besides, I strongly condemned the unleashing massacre by Israel on innocent Palestinians, including women and children.”
Hasina said she also projected Bangladesh’s stance on ensuring world peace and security, rooting out terrorism and militancy, establishing democracy and the rule of law, pioneering role in women empowerment and development in education and ICT.
Apart from joining the UNGA, the Prime Minister said, she held bilateral talks with the heads of government and state of different UN member states and chiefs of various international organisations on the sidelines of the UNGA.
They included United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Commonwealth Secretary General Kamalesh Sharma, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Norwegian Premier Erna Solberg, Belarusian Prime Minister Mikhail V. Myasnikovich and Nepalese Prime Minister Sushil Koirala.
Hasina said during the talks, they highly appreciated Bangladesh’s stunning socioeconomic development.
About the much-talked-about meeting with her Indian counterpart, the Prime Minister said the meeting was held in a very warm and friendly environment.
Hasina said she had discussed with the Indian prime minister different bilateral issues and highlighted ratification of the Land Boundary Agreement of 1974 by India alongside resolving the Teesta Water Sharing issue.
In reply, Narendra Modi said his government has been working with utmost sincerity and integrity to resolve these problems, Sheikh Hasina said.
The Prime Minister said she joined the UN Climate Summit-2014, one of the important events of this year’s UNGA, at the invitation of the UN secretary general.
“At the summit, I highlighted Bangladesh’s stance on the climate change and urged the developed countries to come forward to assist the climate sensitive countries like Bangladesh,” she said.
The Prime Minister said she joined a reception hosted by US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama. She also attended a reception and luncheon hosted by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.
She also took part in a high-level discussion of the Global Education First Initiative of the UN secretary general and highlighted her government’s activities for education of the girl child and expansion and development of female education.
Hasina said she also met US business leaders urging them to create a new business partnership to help Bangladesh become a middle-income country by 2021.
The Prime Minster said she joined a discussion of the Commonwealth Heads of Government (CHOGM) and attended a high-level summit on the UN Peacekeeping at the UN Headquarters, and reaffirmed Bangladesh’s unequivocal support to the UN Secretary General’s strategic review on peacekeeping by providing rapid help at all times.
She joined a gala function at the UN Headquarters marking the 40th anniversary of Bangladesh’s membership to the United Nations.
At the function, friends of Bangladesh, including United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, have showered praises on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for her invaluable contribution to world peace and security side by side with stellar development of the country.
They also lauded Hasina for her firm stance against terrorism and militancy and for achieving millennium development goals by Bangladesh in different fields.
Apart from Ban Ki-moon, UN Under Secretary General Ameerah Haq, United States Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs Nisha Desai Biswal, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennadiy Gatilov, UK Ambassador to the United States Peter Westmacott, Senior Official of the Ministry of External Affairs of India Binod Kumar, UNDP Administrator Helen Clark and Unesco Director General Irina Bokova also spoke on the occasion.
Hasina said she also attended a reception accorded by expatriate Bangladeshis where she urged them to make more contribution to the country’s development.
Deputy Leader of the House Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, Awami League General Secretary and LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Syed Ashraful Islam, Food Minister Advocate Quamrul Islam, PM’s Media Adviser Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury and State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam were present at the dais. PM’s Press Secretary AKM Shameem Chowdhury and Special Assistant Mahbubul Hoque Shakil were also present.
Source: UNB
