National
PM Reiterates Commitment to Fair Elections in Bangladesh
During a civic reception in her honor, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina reaffirmed her unwavering commitment to conducting a transparent and equitable election in Bangladesh. Speaking at an event organized by the New York Metropolitan Awami League, she emphasized her determination to ensure that the upcoming election in Bangladesh is free and fair. Sheikh Hasina, who is also the President of the ruling Awami League and attending the 78th UNGA in New York, questioned the intentions of the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) regarding the election.
She highlighted concerns about the leadership of the BNP, describing their leader as a fugitive convict, money launderer, arms smuggler, murderer, and perpetrator of the August 21 grenade attack. Sheikh Hasina questioned why the electorate would support a party led by such an individual, noting that the BNP abstained from the 2008 election and boycotted the 2014 election.
Recalling the tragic loss of lives in arson attacks carried out to disrupt previous elections, she condemned the perpetrators as despicable. Sheikh Hasina expressed her unwavering commitment to ensuring free, fair, and impartial elections in Bangladesh, emphasizing that the people would vote properly. She credited the boat, the symbol of the Awami League, with bringing about positive changes in the country and enhancing Bangladesh’s global image.
Sheikh Hasina called on everyone to disregard propaganda and focus on maintaining Bangladesh’s positive image. She noted that during the tenure of the BNP-Jamaat alliance, communication with foreign nations was restricted, but now Bangladesh is respected on the global stage. She urged people not to be swayed by a few individuals who spread false slanders through social media and apps to cover their misdeeds.
The prime minister encouraged the exposure of these slanderers and called for awareness about their true identities, emphasizing the need to unmask those spreading false propaganda. She urged vigilance against this group of individuals.
On Monday (December 04), Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina emphasized the importance of environmental preservation in all development plans. During a meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office, she urged authorities to prioritize waste management and water flow maintenance in city planning.
PM expressed regret over past unplanned development, particularly during the illegal assumption of power in 1975, which neglected environmental concerns and led to river encroachments.
She highlighted her government’s commitment to protecting rivers, restoring navigability, and preventing pollution. Hasina recalled initiating river dredging during her first term and stressed the need for ongoing efforts to combat river erosion. The Prime Minister addressed the issue of industries and sewage lines dumping waste into rivers, causing increased pollution, citing the unpleasant state of the Buriganga River.
Emphasizing waste management as a top priority, Hasina suggested establishing small treatment plants across Dhaka to safeguard the capital’s rivers. She underscored the necessity of preserving Bangladesh’s rivers despite the inevitability of floods and emphasized creating buffer zones along rivers for water preservation during the rainy season.
Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr. Hasan Mahmud presented the prestigious ‘Asia Climate Mobility Champion Leader Award’ to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her official residence, Ganabhaban, in the morning. The award was initially received on behalf of the Prime Minister by Dr. Hasan Mahmud and the Head of the Bangladesh delegation during the high-level segment of COP28.
Acknowledging Prime Minister Hasina’s exemplary leadership in championing climate actions and advocating for vulnerable communities globally, the Global Centre for Climate Mobility, supported by IOM and the UN system, conferred the award during a significant high-level panel on the sidelines of COP28 in Dubai on December 1. The event, co-hosted by the President of the UN General Assembly, Ambassador Dennis Francis, and the Director General of IOM, Amy Pope, highlighted the urgency of climate-forced migration and displacement.
During the UNGA78 Climate Mobility Summit, Prime Minister Hasina emphasized the critical issue of climate-induced migration. The recognition through this award is a testament to her continuous efforts and Bangladesh’s advocacy in addressing climate mobility challenges.
In addition to Prime Minister Hasina, other countries such as Botswana, Suriname, and Palau were also honored, representing Africa and the Pacific. The Global Centre for Climate Mobility actively collaborates with the United Nations system, regional intergovernmental organizations, and development finance institutions to find cooperative and comprehensive solutions for climate mobility.
The award ceremony is part of a series initiated during COP27, where five African Heads of State and Government were honored as Climate Mobility Champion Leaders.
Bangladesh has emerged victorious in the International Maritime Organization (IMO) council election 2023 in category C, securing 128 votes out of the 175-member council. This marks the first time Bangladesh has won in the highly competitive category C of the IMO, as reported by the Bangladesh mission in London.
Following the election results, Bangladesh High Commissioner to the UK and Permanent Representative to the IMO, Saida Muna Tasneem, expressed gratitude to IMO members for electing Bangladesh as a Council member. She reiterated Bangladesh’s commitment to the IMO’s charter of actions for dealing with maritime affairs. Tasneem extended thanks to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Shipping in Bangladesh, specifically acknowledging Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for her decision to participate in the IMO council election in 2023.
“Bangladesh’s election to the International Maritime Organisation’s elite 40-member council is a testimony of the confidence and trust that the IMO member states and the International Maritime Community place in Bangladesh’s leadership as a maritime nation, led by the prudent leadership of our Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina,” stated the Bangladesh envoy.
Previously, Tasneem was elected by consensus as the Vice President of the 33rd assembly of the IMO during which the election took place.
The IMO, as the only UN specialized body, regulates global shipping standards that impact ship-operating flag states, seafarers, and maritime safety, security, and marine pollution.
Bangladesh, heavily reliant on international trade, with 90 percent conducted via the sea, aims to address key issues such as the transition of maritime ports into green and digitalized entities and compliance with the Hong Kong convention on ship recycling and the use of greener fuels. These matters will be on Dhaka’s negotiation agenda at the IMO council during the term 2024-25.
