Respond to global crises
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general’s Global Crisis Response Group, constituted in 2022.
Hasina called for a global order which should pave solutions to poverty alleviation, mitigating climate change effects, preventing conflicts, and financing technological transfer for a knowledge-based society.
The PM said this summit is taking place at a time when the Earth is impacted by multiple crises of climate change, Covid-19 pandemic, and challenges of sanctions and counter-sanctions.
“These challenges make it imperative for all to embrace the vision of one community with shared future for mankind, for peace and development.”
Bangladesh, despite making a negligible contribution to global climate change, has suffered the most as a victim of its consequences, she said.
“Therefore, our development endeavours are focused on green and sustainable development. Now, we are also taking circular economy approaches,” she said.
She mentioned that Bangladesh endorses the campaign of LIFESTYLE movement, launched by Prime Minister Modi, to promote environmentally conscious practices.
According to the World Bank’s Groundswell Report 2021, impacts of climate change may drive 13.3 million people from their usual habitats by 2050.
“Though Bangladesh has little scope for mitigation, we have undertaken many transformative measures to tackle perilous impacts of climate change consistent with implementing the Paris Agreement, and achieving the SDGs,” Hasina said.
The PM said she had launched the Ashrayan project in 1997, under which nearly 840,000 landless and homeless families have been rehabilitated with houses and land free of cost till August this year.
“Our target is to have Bangladesh free of homeless and landless people.”
Hasina appreciated Indian premier Modi’s initiative for Conference on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure. Bangladesh joined the platform in July 2021.
Earlier, the Bangladesh premier was formally welcomed by G20 Chairman Modi at the opening session of the G20 summit.
GLOBAL BIOFUELS ALLIANCE LAUNCHED
Yesterday, Hasina joined the leaders of seven other countries, including US President Joe Biden and Indian PM Modi, in launching the Global Biofuels Alliance (GBA) to help cut down on the world’s dependence on fossil fuel that drives global warming.
Modi urged G20 countries to join the GBA initiative with a plea to take ethanol blending with petrol globally to 20 percent, reports our New Delhi correspondent.
The GBA is aimed at facilitating cooperation and intensifying the use of sustainable biofuels across sectors, including transportation.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni were present, among other global leaders, at the launch of the GBA on the sidelines of the G20 summit.
Besides India, the initiating GBA members include Argentina, Bangladesh, Brazil, Italy, Mauritius, South Africa, the UAE and the US, while Canada and Singapore are observer countries.
HASINA JOINS ‘ONE FAMILY’ SESSION
Speaking at the G20 summit on the theme of “One Family”, Hasina yesterday asked the G20 to continue providing duty-free, quota-free market access and extending the unilateral tariff preferences for countries graduating from LDCs to developing nations.
She also called for the extension of TRIPS (Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights) waivers for a significant period after the graduation to ensure smooth and sustainable transition, reports our New Delhi correspondent.
PM MEETS THREE PRESIDENTS
On the sidelines of the G20 summit, Hasina yesterday held bilateral talks with the presidents of the UAE, South Korea and Argentina, according to the Bangladesh foreign ministry.
UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan lauded Hasina for ensuring Bangladesh’s remarkable development and assured her of more investment in Bangladesh from UAE.
In her meeting with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, the PM appreciated South Korea for contributing to Bangladesh’s economy through investment.
Both the leaders agreed to further deepen cooperation in culture, trade and commerce and people-to-people contact.
Argentine President Alberto Fernandez said Bangladeshi people have won the heart of the Argentine people through their support for Argentine football.
Hasina thanked the Argentine president for opening an embassy in Dhaka and expressed her willingness to strengthen bilateral cooperation in different sectors including sports, trade, agriculture and agro-processing.