PM for tech transfer at low cost

NEW YORK, Sept 26 (UNB): Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said the international community has the responsibility to ensure easy transfer of technology at low cost among all countries.

Countries need it to face the possible challenges and risks during the era of this 'Fourth Industrial Revolution', she said.

She made the remarks while delivering her speech at the World Economic Forum's plenary session titled 'Sustainable Development in the Fourth Industrial Revolution' at the Plenary Hall of the UN headquarters here on Tuesday.

Foreign Secretary Md Shahidul Haque briefed reporters after the event held with President of the World Economic Forum (WEF) Borge Brende in the chair.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, Johnson & Johnson CEO and Mozilla Firefox CEO were invited to attend the WEF's plenary session.

The speakers focused on the activities of different countries to deal with the possible impacts of the Fourth Industrial Revolution in terms of education, job and health.

The invitees were asked to inform what they think about the possible challenges and risks due to the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

In her response, Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh is a small country having huge population.

"So, the biggest challenges are to ensure their food security, provide them with proper education and equip them technologically so that they can secure jobs in the changed situation," she said.

Addressing the event, Dutch Prime Minister appreciated the Bangladesh Prime Minister for providing shelter to forcibly displaced Rohingya cordially.

All the participants warmly welcomed this appreciation clapping hands.

Later, WEF President Borge Brende sat in a separate meeting with the Bangladesh Prime Minister at the Call on Room of Place of Residence.

The WEF President invited the Prime Minister to attend the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum to be held at Davos in Switzerland in January 2019.

Some 100 heads of government and State as well as big investors usually join the annual meeting. "So, Bangladesh can raise its investment and development scenarios at the meeting," said the WEF President praising Sheikh Hasina for the development of Bangladesh.

Hasina also had a meeting with Queen Maxima of the Netherlands at the UN headquarters.

Queen Maxima, who is a special representative of the UN Secretary General on Social Inclusion, congratulated the Prime Minister on Bangladesh's outstanding improvement in the financial social inclusion according to the Little Data Book on Financial Inclusion 2018, a publication of the World Bank group.

Another report adds: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has warned that cost cuts might seriously hinder the UN peacekeeping mission that is playing an important role in saving the lives of people in many turbulent areas around the world.

"Reducing costs and personnel can have a serious impact on the ground," she told a high-level event for action on peacekeeping, organsied by UN Secretary-General António Guterres at the UN Headquarters in New York on Tuesday.

Rather, she said, investment in UN peacekeeping is worth every life it saves. "The concerns of those on the frontline must be heard. Troops and police-contributing countries should be taken into confidence by the Security Council and the Secretariat."

The Declaration should have a meaningful follow-up, said the prime minister adding that the commitments made should be accounted for.

"Bangladesh stands ready to do its part."

Hasina also stressed the importance of UN peacekeeping reform with adequate authorisation of peacekeepers.

She said peacekeepers should be made better equipped as they are facing growing unconventional threats from non-state actors.

"Peacekeepers are now deployed in certain places where there's no peace to keep. They face growing unconventional threats from non-state actors.

UN missions are often working alongside other forces with different standards. These are making UN peacekeeping operations difficult and dangerous," she said.