On Thursday, 24th August Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the President of the New Development Bank, Dilma Vana Rousseff, convened a meeting, involving representatives from 70 countries, which was slated to start at 9:00 a.m. within the premises of the Sandton Convention Centre.
In the context of the ‘BRICS- Friends of BRICS Leaders Dialogue (BRICS-Africa Outreach and the BRICS Plus Dialogue), the Prime Minister on behalf of Bangladesh as a member of the “New Development Bank of BRICS”, took the podium for a speech.
In her speech prime minister Sheikh Hasina stated, “In a world marked by multiple centers of power, BRICS stands as a guiding beacon that we require. We envision BRICS transforming into an all-encompassing platform aligned with contemporary challenges.”
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She said, “We should say ‘no’ to artificial choices and divisions being thrown at us. We must reject attempts to weaponize universal norms and values.”
She further added, “Collectively, we must persist in the pursuit of fair international funding and technological resources for everyone while rallying around principles of climate justice, the rights of migrants, equitable digital access, and sustainable debt practices.”
Sheikh Hasina Quoted Sheikh Mujibur’s Speech at the UNGA, in her own diction
Prime minister Shiekh Hasina in her speech stated, “In the developing world, it is crucial that we maintain confidence in our abilities and potential to shape our fate and construct a more promising tomorrow.” She also added, the message communicated by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman five decades ago remains relevant today, underscoring its enduring truth.
The Prime Minister expressed gratitude to Ramaphosa for the invitation, noting, “I hold a deep personal connection with South Africa, having been touched by the warmth and kindness of President Mandela. I fondly remember his participation in our commemoration of Bangladesh’s 25th independence anniversary back in 1997.” Drawing parallels with Mandela, she highlighted that Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the father of the nation of Bangladesh similarly dedicated his life to his countrymen, enduring over 13 years in captivity to ensure the rights of freedom for the people of Bangladesh.
At the UN General Assembly in 1974, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman strongly criticized apartheid as a violation of human rights and urged for the independence of Zimbabwe, Namibia, and Palestine from colonization.
PM placed proposals to make women changemakers
The Prime Minister’s proposals revolve around several key areas to address challenges faced by women:
- She emphasized the importance of countering the negative impacts of ongoing crises (food, energy, financial) on the nutrition, health and safety of women and girls.
- The proposal underscores the need for increased efforts to keep girls in schools, protect them from cybercrimes and bridge the digital divides they encounter.
- Expanding opportunities for women’s paid employment, ensuring decent working conditions, achieving wage equality, and fostering financial inclusion are some crucial steps. These could help enhance women’s economic independence and reduce gender-based economic disparities.
The President of the New Development Bank has emphasized their willingness to assist Bangladesh, especially focusing on projects related to empowering women. She revealed that the bank has already allocated $700 million for two development projects operating in Bangladesh.
The President of the New Development Bank also added, “Rest assured; Bangladesh will receive the highest consideration from the New Development Bank as long as I hold the position of President here.”
Hasina highlighted Bangladesh’s achievements in the recent years
The Prime Minister noted that Bangladesh had secured its position as the 35th-largest global economy, emphasizing its unwavering dedication to sustainable progress. Their efforts have led to a significant drop in poverty, declining from 41.5% in 2006 to 18.7% in 2022. Moreover, extreme poverty saw a remarkable decrease from 25.1% to 5.6% within that timeframe.
“Our nation’s leadership has established digital public facilities nationwide. Over 108% of our citizens enjoy cellular connectivity, surpassing the worldwide norm. In the previous fiscal year, Mobile Financial Systems processed transactions which amounted to $111.27 billion, greatly aiding rural women and more,” she added.
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“Just recently, we launched the Universal Pension Scheme, which is now benefiting a staggering 100 million people, and the entire transaction process happened online. Noteworthy is the fact that pension benefits are already being enjoyed by government employees. As we look forward, our government’s aspiration is to transform Bangladesh into a Smart Nation by the year 2041,” she further articulated.
Indicating Bangladesh’s historical support for the LDCs, primarily located in Africa, she expressed their pride in participating in UN peacekeeping and peace-building across various African regions. With a population of 1.2 million Rohingya refugees from Myanmar residing in Bangladesh, she emphasized their empathetic understanding of the challenges borne by African nations that host refugees.
According to her, the government had honored its commitment to furnish electricity to every home and was on the brink of erasing the problem of homelessness through her complimentary social housing project, Ashrayan.
PM Hasina Meets Presidents of Four Countries
On the last day of the BRICS, at the same venue, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina held separate talks with the heads of state of four countries as part of the 15th BRICS Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa.
The gatherings involved Sheikh Hasina and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva, as well as meetings with President of Mozambique Filipe Jacinto Nyusi, Tanzanian President Dr Samia Suluhu, and Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi.
Sheikh Hasina appeals for greater investment participation from these nations
During the meetings, the Prime Minister appealed for increased investment from attending nations and placed strong emphasis on improving bilateral and trade relations to achieve mutual gains.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva provided an assurance of complete cooperation to Bangladesh and invited the Prime Minister to schedule a visit to Brazil whenever it best fits their agenda.
As part of the bilateral meeting involving President Filipe Jacinto Nyusi from Mozambique, the premier underscored a keen desire to secure more substantial investments, with a particular focus on boosting the pharmaceutical sector.
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has conveyed his eagerness for a return visit to Bangladesh, aiming to witness the remarkable progress the country has achieved. He mentioned that he had previously travelled to Jessore in Bangladesh three decades ago. “My intention is to explore Bangladesh and witness the substantial progress you have achieved”, he remarked.
Upon wrapping up her four-day expedition in South Africa, the prime minister will depart Johannesburg on August 26th, aiming to touch down in Dhaka on the morning of August 27th.
