PM to attend Commonwealth meeting in Trinidad, Tobago

Prime Minister Sheikh HasinaUNB, Dhaka

As Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina leads Bangladesh to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Trinidad and Tobago from November 27-29, policymakers, diplomats and think tanks Thursday stressed a collective approach to face the global challenges of climate change, poverty and financial crisis.

The heads of government from 53-member states will be taking part in the 3-day summit to be held in the city of Port of Spain to discuss the current global and Commonwealth issues and agree upon collective policies and initiatives.

Speaking at a roundtable titled ‘Modernisation and Reform of the Commonwealth’, Foreign Minister Dipu Moni said the strength of the Commonwealth lies in its unity and diversity. Countries of the Commonwealth have differences of opinion in almost all the fields of race, ethnicity and religion, but are united under one umbrella by virtue of the common values of pluralism, liberalism, democracy, legal system and political institutions.

“Bangladesh is fully committed to all these values. These principles form the core of our national ethos. We view their promotion and protection as our common responsibility,” she told the roundtable organised by Media Initiative for Public Policy (MIPP).

The foreign minister said Bangladesh has been making a steady contribution to different bodies of the Commonwealth, including the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group, the Commonwealth Foundation, the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, the Commonwealth Business Council, the Commonwealth Fund for Technical Cooperation (CFTC) and the Commonwealth Youth Forum (CYF).

Dipu Moni said despite their differences, each and every member states have made a commitment to ensure freedom and democracy, peace, the rule of law and opportunities for all, and eradicate poverty and inequalities.

She said it needs to be ensured that the Commonwealth reflects the interests and aspirations of the citizens of the member states, and it creates opportunities and opens networks for them whether in business, education, sport or politics.

“In the Commonwealth, we need more common wealth. With more common actions and common efforts, greater unity of focus and collective efforts, more wealth can be created,” she said.

Former Foreign Secretary Shamser Mobin Chowdhury, acting British High Commissioner Duncan Norman, acting Indian High Commissioner Mukta Tomar, acting Pakistan High Commissioner Afzal Mahmud and Shareen Srabon Tilottoma, representative from the Commonwealth Youth Program spoke at the seminar organized by the MIPP at Rajmoni Isa Kha Hotel.

Dr Mizanur Rahman Shelly, a leading think tank, moderated the seminar presided over MIPP president and AP Bureau Chief Farid Hossain.

Shamser Mobin Chowdhury said the CHOGM in Trinidad and Tobago should focus on the climate change issues that affect most of the Commonwealth member states.

He said climate change will not only lead to loss of lands but also leave a huge number of climate change refugees.

Chowdhury hoped that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in her statement will strongly voice the concern of Bangladesh to be worst affected by the changing climate. He said alongside the mobilisation of fund, technological assistance is import to adapt to the climate change.

Mukta Tomar said 49 of the 53-member Commonwealth are developing countries facing conflicts, poverty, hunger, food and energy scarcity and menace of terrorism.

She said since a single nation cannot handle these problems, it needs common political will and collective efforts of the Commonwealth member states.

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