DHAKA, July 4, 2020 (BSS) – Bangladesh has called upon Commonwealth
leaders to become collective and common voice of most vulnerable
countries as well as nations with special needs during the post-COVID
global socio-economic recovery initiatives.
Bangladesh High Commissioner Saida Muna Tasneem made the call at a
virtual Commonwealth Leaders meeting on the COVID-19 crisis earlier
this week as a representative of Bangladesh Prime Minister, a press
release of Bangladesh mission in London said today.
During the meeting Bangladesh envoy also called for assurances that
LDCs meeting the graduation thresholds would continue to receive all
flexibilities including sustained GSP facilities.
Tasneem also highlighted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s six
priorities of global action to combat Covid-19 those were placed at
the World Economic Forum’s Covid Response Dialogue.
“Due to her prudent and visionary leadership, Hon’ble Prime Minister
Sheikh Hasina is delivering public health services and humanitarian
emergency aid to our people’s door step, utilizing ‘GovTech’ and
‘DevTech’ under her ‘Digital Bangladesh’ vision,” she said.
Presidents, Prime Ministers and Foreign Ministers of 30 Commonwealth
member countries including Nigeria, Kenya, Belize, Bahamas, Uganda,
Tanzania, Guyana, and the Gambia attended the meeting.
Tasneem briefed the Commonwealth leaders about Prime Minister Sheikh
Hasina’s post-COVID innovative digitalization initiatives in public
services including 333-digital helpline for emergency health support
and Muktopaath, an internationally award-winning open e-Learning
program for training doctors.
She also informed about various other Bangladesh government’s
services amid pandemic like ‘Food for Nation App’ to ensure emergency
supply chains, ‘Ek Shop App’ for connecting farmers with consumers,
‘2-minute’ online bank account from home, digital wallets for payments
of wages and Bangladesh Post Office’s digital financial transaction
“Nagad”.
Commonwealth leaders appreciated Bangladesh Prime Minister’s $11.50
billion financial and social safety-net support packages for the most
vulnerable segments of the society including the RMG and daily workers
and her ‘GovTech’ and ‘DevTech’ initiatives.
The Commonwealth Secretary-General acknowledged Bangladesh’s early
warning system and disaster preparedness including quick evacuation of
2.5 million people from the coastal area during Cyclone Amphan, the
release added.