“Stronger global partnership must be forged to address challenges that hinder development specially the success of 2030 Agenda” –said the Permanent Representative (PR) of Bangladesh to the UN at the General Debate of the Second Committee of the 74th Session of the UNGA, today. Ambassador Masud urged more support in this regard through, inter alia, ODA, trade, FDI, and technology transfer and stressed on the need to harness fully the potential of the South-South Cooperation as a complement to North-South Cooperation.
Referring to the experience of Bangladesh in pursuing development, the PR mentioned Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s visionary leadership, bold and resolute development plans and people-centric policies to create a prosperous Bangladesh which was envisioned by the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. He said, “Sheikh Hasina’s ‘whole of society approach’ development policy has put Bangladesh on a solid social and economic foundation”.
Ambassador Masud enumerated many key features of Bangladesh’s development trajectory including poverty eradication, sustainable growth, protection of the environment and human-resources development. He also alluded to the achievements of Sheikh Hasina’s government in the areas of export, per capita income, foreign investment, flourishing of private sectors, addressing inequality through social safety net system, gender parity, universal & improved health services, quality education, cent percent enrollment in primary education, distributing textbooks, scholarships, stipends etc.
Mentioning the success of Digital Bangladesh, the PR said that the government is investing in human capital through equal access to technology and has set up 5800 digital centers which are providing 600 e-public services to people’s doorsteps. Recalling the launching of Bangabandhu Satellite-1 last year, he said that the satellite has played a crucial role in providing broadcast-based services in remote areas and improved communications for development.
Besides these, Ambassador Masud spoke on the incredible success Bangladesh achieved in implementing mega projects like Rooppur nuclear power plant. He also reiterated Bangladesh’s aspiration to become a Middle-Income Country by 2021 and a developed country by 2041. The PR urged the international community to make proactive steps to solve the Rohingya crisis to enable Bangladesh to carry its developmental progress.
It may be mentioned here that the 2nd committee of the UNGA deals economic and financial issues relating primarily to development.