PM's UNGA speech to focus on climate change, financial crisis

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Prime Minister (PM) Sheikh Hasina, who leaves for New York on September 21 to attend the UN General Assembly (UNGA) session, will focus her speech on the adverse impacts of climate change and global financial crisis as well as restoration of democracy and the rule of law in Bangladesh, reports UNB.
Briefing reporters Saturday, Foreign Secretary Mijarul Quayes said the Prime Minister will attend a meeting of 25 selected heads of state and government on climate change. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon has convened the meeting on September 22.
Bangladesh is one of the countries worst exposed to extreme weather conditions caused by global warming due to excessive carbon emissions, and seeks financial and technological assistance for adaptation to the changing climate.
On September 23, she will attend another high-level meeting with US President Barrack Obama along with nine other top peacekeeper-contributing countries in New York.
Quayes said, "The meeting will discuss problems and challenges faced by the peacekeeping missions as well as policy matters."
Besides, the Prime Minister will have several high-level engagements on the sidelines of the UNGA session.
Quayes said Bangladesh will send female peacekeepers to UN peacekeeping missions, following a request from the UN secretary general.
Ban ki-Moon made the request to Sheikh Hasina during a meeting in Geneva on the sidelines of the World Climate Conference-3 early this month. Hasina assured the UN secretary general that Bangladesh would consider his request.
Bangladesh is a leading contributor to the UN peacekeeping missions. Around 10,000 peacekeepers from Bangladesh are now engaged in different peacekeeping missions around the world.
Quayes told reporters at the Foreign Ministry that female peacekeepers will be recruited from police and army. They will be sent on completion of procedures.