NEW YORK, Sept 21, 2021 (BSS) - Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's presence in
person in UN General Assembly (UNGA) is expected to intensify the climate
change campaign alongside giving momentum to demands for equitable access to
COVID-19 vaccines.
"She has come to New York in person to attend the UNGA for people's
welfare. Issues like the Covid-19, climate change and food security are meant
for peoples' welfare," foreign minister Dr AK Abdul Momen told a media
briefing here.
He added: "The Prime Minister's in person presence in the UNGA will give a
momentum to global campaigns on those issues."
The minister said food security was another major issue in Bangladesh
agenda for the 76th UNGA general debate when the premier was expected to put
on her efforts to engage international community including the UN to act in
addressing the matter.
Sheikh Hasina arrived in New York on September 19 and is scheduled to
address the session on September 24 while by now she joined a closed-door
meeting of 30 heads of government on climate change hosted jointly by British
Prime Minister Boris Johnson and UN Secretary General and Antonio Guterres.
Momen said 2021 is a great year for the climate issue as it saw the United
States returning to the Paris Agreement and is set to witness the COP 26 in
Scotland in November next which was likely "give some good results regarding
climate change issues".
Foreign secretary Masud Bin Momen, Bangladesh's permanent representative
to the UN Rabab Fatima and Prime Minister's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim
were present at the briefing at Lotte New York Palace hotel on Monday (New
York local time).
Momen said Sheikh Hasina earned her status as a brave leader on the world
stage as she continued to campaign with her strong voice to establish Covid-
19 vaccine as a public goods.
He added that the Bangladesh premier travelled to New York in her first
official engagement outside Bangladesh in the past 19 months defying risks of
coronavirus pandemic as Dhaka believed her presence in high level events and
meetings with world leaders will ensure welfare of the people.
Momen said during the period she, however, joined 1,500 international
meetings using virtual platforms, staying indoors due to the pandemic.
The Prime Minister is campaigning for a UN declaration of Covid-19 vaccine
as a global public goods since production of the vaccines to bring everyone
across the globe under the inoculation coverage.
Momen echoed her saying, "each country should get the vaccine without any
discrimination" while the vaccine availability was yet to be ensured till
date.
He said a high level event will be held on the issue of Rohingya
repatriation at the UN with participation of all stakeholders like Saudi
Arabia, Turkey, UK, Indonesia, ASEAN, Zambia, OIC, and Bangladesh.
