Bangladesh will revive efforts for greater access of manufactured goods from least developed countries (LDCs) to big markets as the new chair of the coordination council of LDCs as part of its push for a bigger role in UN-based organisations.

Foreign Adviser Iftekhar A Chowdhury told this at a press briefingyesterday.

Bangladesh has been elected chairman of the coordination council of LDCs on October 5 following a tense diplomaticstand-off between a number of African and Asian states on the sidelines of the 62nd UN General Assembly sessions.

The latest role is part of a broader effort by the foreign ministry to utilise the UN mechanisms in a greater way, as described in the 10-point foreign policy plan revealed by the foreign adviser last week.

Iftekhar said, "Multilateral

SEE PAGE 15 COL 1 FROM PAGE 1 diplomacy is an essential ingredient of Bangladesh foreign policy and die United Nations is center in this regard."

Talking to The Daily Star, the foreign ministry officials hoped that Dhaka's latest role would help local readymade garment exporters to leverage in International trade negotiations to open up major European and North American markets.

African countries have led the Group of LDCs for the past five years.

As a bloc, African countries have pushed for greater access and better prices for commodities and raw materials in the world market, which pushed down the priorities of Asian countries which have moved to manufacturing and service-oriented industries.

"We will lead the debate in the international economic negotiations on behalf of LDCs, particularly for greater aid, investments and market access," Iftekharsaid.

lie said the UN would also be Bangladesh's forum to negotiate its demands to mitigate the effects of climate change, as Dhaka is pushing hard for a threepronged approach.

The adviser said Dhaka's new charge for mitigating the effects of climate change also hinges on UN mechanisms that include Bangladesh's call to build d UN-based low-premium insurance for high-prevalence natural calamities, which may provide financial cover for Bangladesh's frequent flood damages.

Launched by Chief Adviser

Fakhruddi a Ahmed during his speech at he high-level panel on climate ch inge on September 24. Dhaka's demand comprises creation c f a UN-driven system for providing 'weather derivatives', for least developed countries to 1 e affected by climate change.

This w mid entail creating a global sy item for giving these climate changes affected LDC countries low-premium insurance to hedge against high-probabilitf events, such as the likelihood of floods occurringon a biggersca e than average.

A UN- lacked conference on climate cl ange to be held in Bali in Decen ber would also be the forum for Dhaka to call forclimate change ; daptation assistance based on population sizes from the interr ational community for countries most affected by climatechai ge.

Dhaka s demands also include a greater international focus on the irnpe iding problem of 'refugees' cret ted by natural disasters broughta lout by climatechange.