Niaz Mahmud from New York (USA)
Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has called for greater international cooperation to address conflicts, humanitarian crises, climate change, forced migration and emerging challenges posed by artificial intelligence, while reaffirming Dhaka’s commitment to multilateralism and the principles of the United Nations.
Addressing the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly at the UN headquarters in New York on Thursday, the prime minister said conflicts around the world were creating displacement, humanitarian crises, economic pressure and disruptions to energy supplies.
“Any conflict should be resolved through dialogue, diplomatic processes and mutual cooperation,” he said, stressing that equality, fairness, mutual interests, respect and dignity should guide relations among states.
He said Bangladesh aspired to a peaceful world where reason, diplomacy, education and humanity would prevail over lethal weapons, and described the United Nations as the centre of efforts to build a global community based on mutual understanding, independence and sovereignty.
Tarique also reiterated Bangladesh’s commitment to general and complete disarmament, prevention of nuclear proliferation and arms control.
Support for Palestine
The prime minister reaffirmed Bangladesh’s support for the Palestinian people, saying Dhaka remained committed to their legitimate demands, including the right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent State of Palestine.
He said Bangladesh, as a peace-loving country, supported UN initiatives aimed at promoting global peace and humanity.
Referring to Bangladesh’s role in international peacekeeping, Tarique said the country remained committed to multilateralism in maintaining international peace and security.
He highlighted Bangladesh’s role as Vice-Chair of the UN Peacebuilding Commission and said Bangladeshi peacekeepers continued to serve humanity in different countries.
He also highlighted the participation of Bangladeshi women in peacekeeping missions as evidence of the country’s commitment to the Women, Peace and Security agenda.
Rohingya crisis
A major part of the speech focused on the Rohingya crisis.
Tarique said Bangladesh had been sheltering more than 1.2 million forcibly displaced Rohingyas from Myanmar for more than nine years, placing significant pressure on the country’s resources, environment, security and local communities.
“The source and origin of the Rohingya crisis lie in Myanmar; therefore, its solution also lies there,” he said.
He said the safe return of the displaced Rohingyas to their homeland in Myanmar was the only solution to the crisis and called for firm and effective support from the United Nations and the international community.
At the same time, he urged the international community to continue life-saving humanitarian assistance to the Rohingya population until their repatriation.
“If the international community fails to ensure justice for the displaced Rohingya population, this may turn into a humanitarian crisis in the near future,” he warned.
Climate change and water management
Tarique said Bangladesh was among the countries most vulnerable to the adverse impacts of climate change despite making a relatively small contribution to global carbon emissions.
He called for stronger international action at COP31 on climate justice, climate finance and adaptation support.
He said Bangladesh had launched a programme to plant 250 million trees over the next five years and was promoting clean and solar energy.
The government has also begun a programme to excavate 20,000 kilometres of canals across the country to address flooding and drought, according to the prime minister.
He also referred to the implementation of the Teesta Master Plan and the Padma Barrage project, saying these initiatives were aimed at improving freshwater flows, conserving water and protecting the Sundarbans.
Bangladesh, he said, had also reaffirmed its commitment to transboundary water cooperation by signing the 1992 Water Convention.
Economic transformation
The prime minister said Bangladesh was pursuing a three-R strategy — Recovery, Restoration and Reconstruction — to rebuild the country following what he described as more than one and a half decades of “fascist rule and exploitation”.
He said the government was working to transform Bangladesh’s working-age population into skilled human resources and create employment opportunities by developing the country as a manufacturing hub.
Bangladesh also seeks support from development partners in this effort, he said.
The government has allocated US$50 million in the current fiscal year to support young entrepreneurs, researchers and innovators in implementing startup initiatives, according to the prime minister.
Women and social protection
Tarique said women were at the centre of the government’s socio-economic transformation plans, noting that more than half of Bangladesh’s population are women.
He said the government was prioritising women’s education, employment and entrepreneurship, including expanded access to financing for women entrepreneurs in the small and medium-sized industries sector.
The government has also introduced social protection initiatives including the Family Card, Farmers’ Card, Sports Card and e-Health Card, he said.
The Family Card, issued in the name of the female head of each household, was described as a mechanism for women’s economic empowerment.
The government also plans to introduce a Universal Card by integrating various support cards, he said.
Education and youth
The prime minister said the government had attached importance to education, health and sports, with the highest-ever budget allocation for education made in the country’s history.
He said the government planned to gradually raise education spending to 5 per cent of GDP within five years.
A curriculum focusing on technical and practical education is being developed to make education more employment-oriented, he said.
Primary school students are being provided with school bags, uniforms and free midday meals from the first grade, according to the prime minister.
He also highlighted the inclusion of sports as a subject in the education curriculum and said more than two million students took part in a month-long nationwide football tournament in June.
Artificial intelligence and technology
Tarique said science and technology would shape the future, with artificial intelligence and biotechnology opening new possibilities.
He warned that unequal access to technology could widen existing global inequalities.
“We do not want today’s digital divide to become tomorrow’s artificial intelligence divide,” he said.
Bangladesh called for technology transfer, skills development and affordable access to modern technologies for developing countries.
The prime minister also urged the UN to develop an effective policy framework to ensure that advances in artificial intelligence and social media were used positively around the world.
LDC graduation and global cooperation
As Bangladesh prepares to graduate from the UN’s Least Developed Country category, Tarique called for continued international support in financing, market access, technology transfer and capacity building.
He said greater trade, connectivity and regional cooperation could help countries achieve shared prosperity.
Reflecting on the lessons of the COVID-19 pandemic, he called for stronger capacity in developing countries to sustainably produce vaccines, medical supplies and diagnostic equipment.
Concluding his speech, Tarique said Bangladesh sought to build a prosperous, self-reliant and welfare-oriented democratic state where citizens could enjoy equal rights, respect, dignity and security.
“We want to build a Bangladesh where young people can pursue their dreams without fear or hindrance, women can lead their lives with confidence, and every child can grow up with the opportunity to realise their full potential,” he said.
He concluded by reaffirming Bangladesh’s support for the principles and values of the United Nations and its efforts to establish global peace.
