50 years of independence: Better use of resources can be a game changer

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday shared her vision of fostering friendship in South Asia to optimise utilisation of natural resources, alleviate poverty and work together to tackle the challenges of climate change.

The PM said a large number of people in South Asia is still living below the poverty line and many are still going to bed every night with hunger.

"Many are deprived of the minimum necessities of life," she said.

It is possible to alleviate poverty in South Asia by ensuring optimum utilisation of natural resources, the prime minister said while addressing the twin celebrations of Mujib Borsho and the golden jubilee of Bangladesh's independence at the National Parade Square on the sixth day of the 10-day state programme yesterday.

Nepalese President Bidya Devi Bhandari spoke at the event as the guest of honour, while President Abdul Hamid as the chief guest. Education Minister Dipu Moni delivered the welcome speech, while noted litterateur Selina Hossain presented the keynote on "Banglar Mati Amar Mati" at the event moderated by State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam.

Bhandari is the third world leader to join the event after the Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa. Bhutan Prime Minister Lotay Tshering is scheduled to arrive in Dhaka today and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 26.

Bhandari arrived at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 9:30am. She paid tribute to the memory of martyred freedom fighters at the National Memorial in Savar. She also planted a flower sapling named "Uday Padda" on the memorial premises and signed the visitors' book. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen called on Bhandari at Hotel InterContinental.

Bhandari held a meeting with Bangladesh President Abdul Hamid at the Bangabhaban and attended a banquet hosted by the president.

Sheikh Hasina said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had always fought for freedom of the people from exploitation and deprivation.

"He was on a mission to ensure basic rights like food, clothing, shelter, medicine, and education for all. It was very unfortunate that the progress of Bangladesh came to a halt after the assassination of Bangabandhu… on August 15, 1975," she said.

In the last 12 years, treading the path set out by Bangabandhu, Bangladesh has achieved successes beyond imagination in all socio-economic indicators and last month received a final recommendation to shift from least developed country to developing country status. She congratulated Nepal, which has also achieved the same.

However, noting the huge number of people still living in poverty, she said, "We will continue our efforts to transform the region into a poverty-free and developed one by maintaining friendly relations with each other."

The PM said South Asia is a region prone to natural disasters. Countries in the basin of the Himalayas are prone to earthquakes, cloudbursts, avalanches, landslides, flash floods, while coastal regions like Bangladesh are under threat of frequent floods, tidal surges, earthquakes, heavy rains, or droughts.

"Global warming, climate change has made the countries of our subcontinent the most vulnerable. We are the worst sufferers of the consequence of climate change, though we are not contributing to this change. We can temporarily protect ourselves through adaptation, but the adaptation process will fail to provide sustainable protection unless the current trend of climate change is restricted."

The premier said as the current president of the Climate Vulnerable Forum, Bangladesh has been urging world leaders to take immediate steps to tackle climate change. The Dhaka office of the Global Climate Adaptation started working on tackling the effects of climate change in South Asia.

"In this auspicious moment of celebrating the birth centenary of our Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the golden jubilee of independence, I call upon the world to ensure sustainable development."

Hasina expressed gratitude to Nepal and its people for their support, including weaponry for the freedom fighters. In January 1972, Nepal formally recognised Bangladesh and since then developed an excellent relationship. Both the countries hold a similar position on various regional and international issues.

Cooperation between Bangladesh and Nepal in affairs of trade, road-rail-air communications, power-energy (particularly hydropower), tourism and water management is increasing day by day. Nepal also signed the BBIN agreement. Bangladesh has also given Nepal access to use Saidpur Regional Airport as well as Mongla and Chattogram sea ports.

"As a result, mutual cooperation between the countries of the region will be revamped," the PM said.

At the event at the National Parade Square, the Nepali president congratulated Bangladesh on the occasion and for the socio-economic progress made by the country, while also calling for stronger connectivity in air, water and road as well as trade relations for improving the lives of people.

She said Nepal and Bangladesh are rich in terms of natural and human resources, and proper utilisation of these resources will be catalytic in transforming the development landscape, creating prosperity and happiness for the country's people.

She said the two countries are actively engaged in promoting common interest at multilateral forums through mutual support and cooperation, but both countries need to advance the partnership.

Elimination of trade barriers, development of infrastructure and easy market access could significantly boost the trade relationship, she said.

Bhandari said energy is an important area of cooperation. The two countries have already signed an MoU on cooperation in power.

"Nepal's hydropower and Bangladesh's natural gas can be the game changers for our development needs. For our energy trade, it is imperative to strengthen trilateral cooperation among Nepal, Bangladesh and India."

She suggested adding more flights to the existing Kathmandu-Dhaka route and connect by air major regional cities like Saidpur of Bangladesh and Biratnagar of Nepal.

Bhandari said linkage of Nepal's rivers with that of India and Bangladesh will help develop waterways, which can reduce the cost of transport and trade. She also suggested upgrading roadways and railways and expansion of mutual cooperation in the tourism sector.

Stating that both Nepal and Bangladesh have been adversely affected by the impacts of climate change without being a cause for it, she said, "In order to address this problem, we need to strengthen bilateral cooperation, including mobilising international support."

Bhandari said Bangabandhu pioneered the independence movement of Bangladesh ever since his youth and his incessant struggle gave birth to Bangladesh. He had showed unswerving leadership and unremitting action for it.

She said Bangabandhu had deep love and esteem for the Bangla language. He was the person who championed the cause for the protection and promotion of Bangla with the support of Bangladeshi people.

Bhandari said Bangabandhu had great compassion for the weak, downtrodden, poor and other citizens in difficulty. He is a widely revered leader of this region.

She also said that in her country, the government of Nepal has dedicated all its efforts towards realising the common national aspiration of "Prosperous Nepal, happy Nepali".

"Our efforts are focused on turning Nepal into a prosperous nation. I believe that the development efforts of Nepal and Bangladesh will contribute to socio-economic progress of the whole of South Asia."

UNB adds: President Abdul Hamid urged the government and political parties to stay beside people irrespective of political mindset.

"When the government and political party work for people with honesty and sincerity, the nation achieves progress and well-being," he said.

"If we can stay beside people irrespective of political mindset in order to fulfil their basic needs, it will bring about a new chapter in the politics of Bangladesh. This will be the best achievement of Mujib Borsho."

Mentioning the celebration of Mujib Borsho as an appropriate attempt to disseminate the life, thoughts and political philosophies of Bangabandhu to all, the president said there is no scope to separate Bangabandhu and Bangladesh.

"Let Bangladesh move ahead towards a hunger- and poverty-free status, with the ideals of the Father of the Nation and the spirit of the War of Liberation," he said.

"As long as there will be Bangladesh, there will be Bangalee people, Bangabandhu will remain as the source of inspiration till that day as he has enlightened the whole world as a guiding star for the emancipation of the oppressed and exploited people."

He also asked the concerned to take steps so that future generations grow up imbued with the principles and ideals of Bangabandhu and the spirit of the Liberation War.

President Hamid recalled Nepal's moral and material support extended to Bangladesh during the Liberation War and recognition of Bangladesh in January, 1972.