LONDON. July 6: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today pleaded for involving both rich and poor countries in reaching important economic decisions which affect the lives of all humankind, reports BSS.

"In this global village, it is inconceivable that one corner of the village will prosper and flourish while the rest of the village is in flames, she said while addressing a gathering at Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies.

Speaking on "Bangladesh looks to the 21st Century." Hasina said, good governance requires that the global village as a whole must prosper. "This is my agenda for the first decade of the new millennium for both Bangladesh and for our global village." she said.

Good governance in the 21st century will require that we develop a set of human rights as

well as duties and responsibilities for the international community as a whole."

Referring to Bangladesh's experiences as the spokesman for the 48 least developed countries for the last two decades, the prime minister said, globalisation has adversely affected economic growth in the overwhelming majority of the LDCs. The number of poor in the world has increased, not decreased during the last decade of this century.

Applauding the decision of the recent G-8 summit in Cologne to write off debt worth 100 billion dollars. Hasina pleaded that all the debts of the least developed countries should’be written off without delay. They' should also be allowed to export their products duty free as was promised during the ministerial meeting in Singapore, she said.

The Bangladesh prime minister also pleaded for free movement of the people from one country to another. In this global village of ours when goods and services can move unhindered, billions if not trillions of dollars can move freely everyday, it will be fundamentally wrong if people from the developing world find that they are no longer welcome in most parts of the developed world, she observed.

She reminded that the exponents of the free market have always told us that gdods and services, as well as labour must be allowed to move freely without hindrance. If we are to remove all barriers to the free movement of goods and services. should this not apply also to labour? she questioned.

The prime minister expressed the hope that early in the 21st century, the issue of free movement of people will figure prominently on the global agenda. Terming Britain as a multi-ethnic society which gives it a sense of great vitality and strength. Sheikh Hasina hoped that the UK would join hands in forging a new agenda.

Expressing her apprehension the prime minister said, if we do not adopt a more enlightened approach to this problem then the drug cartels of this world will shift their attention to trafficking in human beings.

Turning to her country's affairs. the prime minister said good governance and upholding democracy are of paramount importance to a country like Bangladesh. "We must root-out corruption and make govem-

merit increasingly transparent," she added.

Speaking on the country's foreign policy. Hasina said her government made special effort to improve relations with neighbours, in particular India. She referred to the signing of a 30-year agreement on the sharing of the Ganges waters with India and recent introduction of direct bus service between Dhaka and Calcutta.

The prime minister also mentioned her initiative of removing long mistrust and suspicion that has poisoned the atmosphere in the South Asia.

Referring to Bangladesh's commitment to the United Nations. Sheikh Hasina said, we look forward during the next few years tq serving on the Security Council. Besides, she said. Bangladesh attaches very high importance to its relations with other Islamic countries, both bilaterally and within the framework of the OIC and the D-8. She also referred to holding of the next Non-Aligned Summit in Dhaka in the year 2001.

Referring to the formation of her government over three years ago, the prime minister said her commitment was to build a better Bangladesh.

Among her priorities since assuming the office, she said, were to re-build the image of Bangladesh, attract massive foreign Investment, improve infrastructures, double the country's power generation, improve road communications and tele-links. With discovery of gas both on- and off-shore, the interest of foreign investors increased significantly, she added.