Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will place fresh specific proposals at the upcoming UN General Assembly (UNGA) in New York for resolving the ongoing Rohingya crisis, reports BSS.
“Honourable Prime Minister will place some specific proposals in continuation of her previous five-point proposal for resolving the Rohingya crisis,” Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali told a press conference at the Foreign Ministry here on Thursday.
During the 72nd UNGA session last year, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina placed a five-point specific proposal to ensure the sustainable repatriation of all Rohingyas from Bangladesh to Myanmar which was appreciated by the international community.
The Myanmar military launched a brutal crackdown on Rohingya minorities in Myanmar’s Rakhine state in August last year that is believed to have killed about 25,000 Rohingyas and drove 700,000 of them out of their home to take refuge in neighbouring Bangladesh.
The heads of state or government, members of their parties and other delegations, observers or individual members will attend the 73rd session of the UNGA to be held from September 25 to October 1 next.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to leave Dhaka for New York on Friday.
Mahmood Ali said the Prime Minister will place the proposals at the general debate session of UNGA on September 27. “Like every occasion, the Prime Minister will also deliver her speech in Bangla this time,” he added.
This year, the theme of the general debate is ‘Making the United Nations relevant to all people: Global leadership and shared responsibilities for peaceful, equitable and sustainable societies’.
Apart from the Rohingya issue, the Prime Minister will also discuss on world peace, safe migration, the rights of Palestine people, women empowerment and climate change, the Foreign Minister said.
“She will also present Bangladesh’s different socioeconomic advancements, including establishment of digital Bangladesh and the country’s ongoing democratic process to world leaders,” he said.
On the same day, Sheikh Hasina will also join ‘High Level Side Event on the Rohingya Humanitarian Crisis’ organised by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). At the meeting, she will discuss with heads of OIC member states on taking a collaborative effort from the Muslim Ummah in resolving the long-pending Rohingya crisis.
On that day, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will also address a high level meeting titled ‘High level discussion on Economic Growth through Women’s Empowerment’. The UN Secretary General will also deliver his speech at the meeting.
On September 24, the Prime Minister will attend a meeting tiled ‘High Level Event on the Global Compact on Refugees: A Model for Greater Solidarity and Cooperation’ to discuss how international community can contribute more to resolving the Rohingya crisis. The UN Secretary General will also attend the meeting.
On the same day, she will join ‘Nelson Mandela Peace Summit: UNGA High-level Plenary on Global Peace’, marking the 100th birth anniversary of Mendala where a political declaration on world peace to be adopted.
Later, Sheikh Hasina will attend a discussion on investment for education of women and girls, hosted by the Prime Minister of Canada.
Mahmood Ali said Bangladesh will host a discussion titled ‘High Level Side Event on Cyber Security and International Cooperation’ on September 25.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the discussion while her ICT Affairs Adviser Sajeeb Ahmed Wazed will preside over the meeting, he said.
During the UNGA, the Foreign Minister said, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will receive two awards.
He said Inter Press Service (IPS), a global news agency, will give its prestigious ‘International Achievement Award’ to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for her dynamic and farsighted leadership in addressing Rohingya crisis while Global Hope Coalition will confer her ‘2018 Special Recognition for Outstanding Leadership Award’.
Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to return home on September 29.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam and Foreign Secretary M Shahidul Haque were, among others, present at the press conference.