DHAKA,  – Bangladesh has urged development and trading partner countries to demonstrate responsible business conduct and to adopt a humane approach to protect rights and livelihoods of the migrants as well as migrant workers during the COVID-19 crisis. “The gains we had made in poverty eradication and women’s empowerment are at serious risk. This is not the time for economic and trade protectionism; rather this is the time for amplifying global solidarity,” said Bangladesh Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Rabab Fatima.

She was addressing a virtual side event of the High-Level Political Forum titled “Preserving and Advancing Global Progress on Eradicating Poverty: Responding to the COVID 19 Crisis” hosted by Canada on Thursday, according to a press release received here today.

Mentioning that export earnings and remittances are critical for the poverty eradication in the developing countries, she said responsible trade and humane treatment of the migrant workers are imperative to eradicate poverty in developing countries in COVID-19 crisis.

Fatima said bold, resolute, people-centric and inclusive policies adopted by Sheikh Hasina’s government had played a vital role in pulling millions of people out of poverty in Bangladesh.

Stating that Bangladesh’s SDG implementation and poverty eradication plans are likely to suffer setbacks from the pandemic, she reiterated that poverty eradication would be the cornerstone of Bangladesh’s post COVID recovery plans. Bangladesh envoy urged the development partners, multilateral donors and the private sector to come forward to support developing countries in sustaining and building productive capacity, growth of resilient infrastructure, diversification of the economies and job creation.

She also underscored the need for separate stimulus packages and innovative support measures for the graduating LDCs such as Bangladesh to preserve their gains in poverty eradication and prevent a slide back.

Canadian Minister of Children, Family and Social Development Ahmed Hussen addressed the event that facilitated a dialogue with different countries and members of Canada’s National Poverty Advisory Council on poverty reduction and ‘restart and recovery’ efforts in the face of COVID-19 and opportunities for continuing progress on SDG 1: No Poverty.

The minister reiterated Canada’s commitment to global poverty eradication and its support to the vulnerable developing countries such as LDCs and SIDS particularly in their resilience building and the development of the private sector including the MSMEs.

Several speakers lauded Bangladesh for attaining rapid poverty eradication with the help of pragmatic measures.