PM pushed for regional food banks

FE Team | Published: October 06, 2023 23:28:56

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at a press conference on Friday

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday termed Bangladesh's participation in the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) as "successful", reports UNB.
"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.
Hasina said that she also stressed the need for establishing regional "food banks" for facing any emergency situation against the spiral of prices of essentials as well as collaboration in research and development of climate-resilient crops.
The prime minister said this while addressing a press conference to brief the media about her recent visit to the United States to join the 78th UNGA.
The press conference was held at her official residence Ganabhaban.
Hasina said that Bangladesh's unprecedented socio-economic advancement, generosity shown by sheltering Rohingya people, and country's strong leadership on the issue of climate change were highly praised in this year's session of the UNGA.
About her speech at the UNGA, the prime minister said, she put emphasis on unity, solidarity, and multilateralism over fragmentation, insularity and isolation to collectively address the common challenges of humanity to secure a peaceful, prosperous, and sustainable future for.
Hasina said that she unequivocally mentioned that the government has been and will be working to ensure democracy, rule of law and freedom of expression in line with the country's constitution.
Besides, the government's concern over the impacts of climate change, Ukraine war, Pandemic as well as the issue of Rohingya crisis were also highlighted, she added.
The PM said that she renewed her call to the international community to ensure security and stability in the region through repatriation of the forcibly displaced Rohingyas to their homeland in Myanmar.
PM Hasina said she noted continued prevalence of terrorist threats, misuse of information and communication technology for instigating violence and spreading hate speech and inflammatory rhetoric, and said, her government maintains a 'zero tolerance' policy against terrorism and violent extremism.
At the same time, the premier demanded that the issue of human rights should not be used as a political instrument to put pressure on developing countries.
On the side lines, she joined other high-level events on climate change, Rohingya repatriation, pandemic, food collaboration to achieve SDG and on other issues.
About a high level event on community clinic, the prime minister said, she presented five specific priorities including reduction of treatment cost through community clinics, rendering digital and modern diagnostic services and providing mental health care services.