UN-PGA Abdulla Shahid praise Bangladesh

The President of the General Assembly (PGA), Abdulla Shahid applauded Bangladesh’s remarkable leadership, productive engagement and significant contribution in recent time in various aspects of the United Nations. The PGA was talking to the Foreign Minister (FM) of Bangladesh, Dr. A.K. Abdul Momen, MP at a bilateral meeting held at the UN Headquarters on Thursday (February 24) local time. The PGA mentioned that Bangladesh is now holding three important positions- President of the UN Women Executive Board, Chair of the Peacebuilding Commission, and co-facilitator of the IMR. All these signifies Bangladesh’s leadership role at the UN.

At the outset of the meeting, Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister presented two proposals to PGA. These are, to organize a high-level event on ‘Review of the implementation of SDGs’ and to take initiative to create a forum of the Finance, Foreign and Development Ministers for developing countries under South-South Cooperation (SSC). The Foreign Minister expressed concern on the funding gaps in the implementation of SDG, particularly in view of the Covid -19 pandemic.

He also mentioned that most of the funding has been diverted to deal with the Covid situation. The proposed high-level event will bring opportunity to review the progress made towards implementing SDGs and the way forward to meet the funding gaps, the FM added. Regarding the forum of the Finance, Foreign and Development Ministers, FM said that this forum will create a suitable platform to have substantive dialogue on South-South Cooperation. The PGA welcomed the proposals of HFM.

The Foreign Minister also mentioned that under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh has been able to maintaining a satisfactory GDP growth even amidst this pandemic. FM also informed PGA on how Bangladesh has dealt with the COVID-19 pandemic. The Foreign Minister reiterated Prime Minister’s call to treat the COVID-19 vaccine as “Global Public Good”. In response, the PGA commended Bangladesh’s development trajectory including the GDP growth and applauded COVID-19 mitigation measures.

Regarding Rohingya issue, the Foreign Minister highlighted the steps taken by Bangladesh government on various issues including Covid management, providing education to Rohingya children in their own language, etc. FM also expressed his dissatisfaction for that, the fact not a single Rohingya has been repatriated to Myanmar yet. In reply, PGA commended Bangladesh’s role in providing shelter and humanitarian assistance to the Rohingyas. FM invited PGA to visit Bangladesh which the PGA accepted.

It may be mentioned that the Foreign Minister is currently visiting New York to attend the high-level event on ‘Galvanizing momentum for universal Vaccination’ and also to present Bangladesh’s amended documents to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) at the UN.