PM urges UN to play central role for global peace

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has urged the United Nations to play the central role as the custodian of global peace, security and development saying the evil forces destroying secular fabrics of the nations should be eliminated. Expressing her grave concern over volatile global security situation and emergence of religious militancy and violent extremism, she said the volatile global security situation continues to pose significant challenge to international development. Sheikh Hasina said, ‘Threat to peace anywhere is a threat for entire humanity. We cannot achieve sustainable development in the absence of durable peace and security.’ Addressing the 69th session of the United Nations General Assembly on Saturday, the Prime Minister said Bangladesh strongly believes in the centrality and legitimacy of the UN as the custodian of global peace, security and development. She said terrorism and extremism remain major impediments to global peace and development. Bangladesh maintains a ‘zero-tolerance’ policy to all forms of terrorism, violent extremism, radicalisation and religion-based politics, she said. Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh government is entrenching democracy, secularism and women empowerment to ideologically defeat terrorism and extremism. She said, Bangladesh's commitment to international peace has manifested through proposal of Bangladesh ‘Culture of Peace and Non-violence’ and later adopted by the 68th session of the UNGA, according to a news agency.