Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina held a press conference at her official Ganabhaban residence on Friday at 4 p.m. to address her participation in the 78th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and her visits to the United States and the United Kingdom. During this press conference, she addressed a variety of issues, including her UNGA address, international cooperation, bilateral meetings, and the caretaker government issue.
Hasina’s visit at a glace
Bangladesh’s Prime Minister had embarked on a diplomatic mission that spanned from September 17 to October 3, 2023, comprising visits to the United States and the United Kingdom. From September 17 to September 22, she attended the UNGA session in the United States. Her schedule included high-level meetings, thematic sessions on a variety of global issues, and bilateral discussions with heads of state and government. She also signed significant agreements, including the United Nations Agreement on the Deep Sea. She also participated in an interview with Voice of America and a civic reception hosted by Bangladeshi expatriates.
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Sheikh Hasina’s visit to the United Kingdom from September 30 to October 3 included trade and diplomatic discussions, meetings with UK officials, numerous parliamentary groups, and business leaders, and engagement with the Bangladeshi community. These visits highlighted Bangladesh’s active participation in addressing global issues and enhancing diplomatic relations with key nations.
UNGA participation and key speech highlights
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina began by discussing her participation in the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly, which took place in New York from September 17 to September 22, 2023. The topic of the General Debate this year was “Rebuilding Trust and reigniting global solidarity: Accelerating Action on the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals towards Peace, prosperity, progress, and sustainability for all.”
In her address to the United Nations General Assembly, Prime Minister Hasina addressed several crucial issues, with Friday’s briefing highlighting:
- Emphasis on unity and multilateralism: Sheikh Hasina emphasized the significance of unity, solidarity, and multilateralism in achieving world peace and sustainable prosperity, advocating for cooperation rather than division and isolation.
- Challenges for developing countries: Prime Minister Hasina acknowledged that developing countries, including Bangladesh, encountered obstacles in implementing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) due to climate change, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
- She said, “I called for keeping intact the special advantages entitled under this category for a required period even after the graduation from the category of least developed countries (LDCs)”.
- Natural calamities in credit systems: The prime minister proposed the incorporation of special provisions concerning natural disasters into international credit systems, offering concessional loans, low-interest rates, and extended terms to developing nations.
- Regional Food Bank: Sheikh Hasina emphasized the importance of increasing global investment in agricultural product preservation for food security, proposing the establishment of regional “Food Banks.”
- Government achievements: She highlighted the achievements of the Bangladesh government, including initiatives to address climate change risks, lodging for homeless individuals, social safety nets, and gender equality programs, among others.
- “These included a program for meeting climate change risks, Ashrayan project for homeless people, a social safety net, distribution of rice and other products at reasonable prices for low-income group people, a multifaceted program for ensuring women empowerment and gender equity, free textbook distribution and scholarship program and introducing community clinic like projects”, she added.
- Rohingya repatriation: Prime Minister Hasina called for the repatriation of forcibly displaced Rohingya populations from Bangladesh to Myanmar to ensure security and stability in the region.
- Earlier, she had stated, “Uncertainty over repatriation has led to widespread frustration. This situation can potentially fuel radicalization. If the problem persists further, it may affect the security and stability of the entire region, and beyond,” while addressing the General Debate of the UNGA.
- Countering terrorism: Sheikh Hasina voiced concern regarding global terrorism, the misuse of information technology, and the spread of extremism, reiterating her government’s “zero tolerance” policy towards extremism and terrorism.
- Human rights protection: Prime Minister Hasina had urged in the UNGA session that, human rights issues not be used as a political weapon against developing nations. She had reaffirmed her commitment to protecting democracy, the rule of law, and free speech in Bangladesh.
High-level meetings and bilateral engagements
During her time in New York, Prime Minister Hasina attended several high-level meetings, including the High-level Thematic Session of the Climate Ambition Summit, the High-level Meeting on Universal Health Coverage, and the High-level Roundtable on “Towards a Fair International Financial Architecture,” among others.
“In these high-level meetings, I gave several recommendations. I have proposed forming an international cooperation framework among stakeholders concerned under the leadership of the World Health Organization to deal with any pandemic in the future,” she said.
The premier also presented recommendations for international cooperation on pandemic preparedness and universal healthcare.
Sheikh Hasina emphasized, “I highlighted five specific priorities at the high-level meeting on community clinic- 1) Reducing medical expenses of common people through community clinics; 2) Providing digital and modern diagnostic services through community clinics; 3) Capacity building to prevent climate change-related diseases; 4) Providing mental health services through community clinic; and 5) Using community clinics as a health-related primary database.”
In addition to her UNGA engagements, Prime Minister Hasina held bilateral meetings with the leaders of Sri Lanka, East Timor, Denmark, and Cambodia, as well as meetings with prominent international figures such as the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the Director-General of the World Health Organisation, and the U.S. Undersecretary of State.
Bangladesh’s uplifted image on the global stage
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina lauded Bangladesh’s participation in the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) as a resounding success, emphasizing how active participation in multilateral forums has enhanced the country’s global standing.
“Our active participation at multilateral forums has strengthened Bangladesh’s position. Regarding international issues, I hope that it will expand the scope of cooperation. In overall consideration, I think Bangladesh’s participation in this session (of UNGA) has been very successful,” she said.
“Overall, I think Bangladesh’s participation in this session is very successful,” added the premier.
Caretaker government issue and electoral commitment
Sheikh Hasina addressed the issue of the caretaker government during the press conference, noting that it had not been discussed during her trips to the United States and the United Kingdom.
“No one talked about caretaker government. There was no talk on the CG system with anyone. No one asked me about it,” she said.
She expressed her commitment to holding free, fair, and credible elections in Bangladesh, citing her party’s historic role in establishing citizens’ voting rights and the country’s economic development.
The prime minister reaffirmed her government’s dedication to democracy, freedom, and the rule of law.
She said: “I’ve told them (foreigners) clearly. We’ve fought for votes. With blood, at the risk of my own life, I have attained the right to vote for the people of this country.”
“Today, I don’t need to be taught about the right to vote,” she added.
Lastly, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s diplomatic mission to the United States and the United Kingdom, as well as her participation in the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly, highlighted Bangladesh’s global role. While her high-level meetings strengthened diplomatic relations, her UNGA address emphasized unity and cooperation. Her dedication to transparent elections demonstrated her commitment to democracy and progress.
