NEW YORK. Sept 8 Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has called for UN action against regimes that grabs power overthrowing elected constitutional governments. reports UNB.

"I feel the UN can take actions on this subject. This is a must for peace, democracy, human rights and economic advancement," she told a fullv-fledged meeting of the 15-member Security Council, the supreme body of the United Nations, on Thursday.

"I. therefore, propose that this supreme organisation of the peoples of the world take a ■decision to choose and sustain 'government of the people, by the people, for the people as a universal system of governance, " the prime minister said.

referring to the scars of military rule, particularly at home in the past.

Hasina urged the UN not to recognise military takeover by trampling constitutional means.

The full-house Security Council meeting, second time on Thursday in its history after 1991. adopted a declaration at the end of the meet which discussed reforms and democrat!-sation of the high-power body of the 188-member United Nations.

The Security Council she said “has to focus on prevention of armed conflicts by building a culture of peace. As a member of Security Council Bangladesh has been contributing to preservation and maintenance of peace and security", she added

The prime minister said Bangladesh appreciated Secretary General Kof Annan for presenting the Brahimi Panel report on improving the UN peace operation. The recommendations contained in the report should receive serious consideration.

She suggested that UN Security Council mandates should be able to address root causes of conflicts.

Hasina. who is here attending the UN Millennium Summil. said the summit should express strong support for poverty eradication, development, democracy. good governance, the rule of law and human rights as foundations of durable peace.

"Investment in global peace is our common interest. Prime

among the state responsibilities is ensuring respect for the rights of all citizens irrespective of race, religion, ethnicity, origin and cultuic.'

Ching examples, she said the women in Burundi. Congo. Somalia demonstrated great commitment to establishing peace, democracy and to the reconstruction of war-ravaged countries.

Similarly, special efforts are needed to address the needs of children, especially the girl child, affected by armed conflicts. She invited’ the Council's attention to Bangladesh's proposal for “Child's Free Zones" in various parts of the world.

She said as a member of the Security Council, Bangladesh's

contribution to the preservation of peace and security is a re-(lection of Bangladesh’s commitment to peace, security and harmony among nations and peoples.

Hasina said to be relevant, the Security Council has to be more proactive. "In recent months, we have seen signs of Its resolve when II sent special council missions to Kosovo, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Ethiopia. Another mission would be going to Sierra Leone soon. The council held the first-ever public hearing on abuse of diamonds In fuelling the conflict In Sierra Leone."

About reforms In another area of critical Importance, she said Bangladesh had all along advocated reforms that promote transparency, openness and participation in the work of the council. Dhaka believes that the Council must be more representative and responsive to the view of all United Nations members.

The prime minister said a well-reformed Security Council needs to be well-resourced and suggested that there must be predictability of resources for the tasks the council Is engaged Ln. Its initiative should not be paralysed by financial constraints.

Bangladesh is encouraged that there have been a seminal report, before this summit meeting, on the whole question of improving the United Nations peace operations to make it more relevant.

Focusing on the ordeals the Bangladeshis have went through at war and under unconstitutional rule. Hasina said in 1971 the Bengalis acquired the experience of how harmful the effect of wars and conflicts can be for the girl child and

children of humanity at large.

"Our freedom-loving people fought valiantly tinder the great leader. Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and became victorious. But the vanquished forces killed the Father of the Nation with all his family members on August 15. 1975

She said children and women were not spared by the assassins, her mother, brothers. sisters-in-law were killed most brutally "Even my 10-year-olcf brother was not spared,"

She said the conspiracy' had not ended yet. several attempts were made to kill her. "With the Infinite mercy of Allah I escaped unhurt. 1 thus have full experience of war. arms game, terrorism and what ghastly role they can play in snatching away human rights and their fearsome manifestations."

About the Security Council summit. Hasina said the first-ever summit of the council took place In the aftermath of the end of the cold war and resulted in an Agenda for Peace.

The second summit takes place at the turn of the century requiring yet a greater Initiative. "Given the enormous challenges ahead, we believe, the Council should meet more often at the summit level that it has in the past. The world looks up to Its leaders for making history."