Be generous to poorer nations

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday called upon the developed countries, including the G7 nations, to be more gracious in transfer of technology, mobilising resource and building capacity of the poor countries to overcome the challenges of implementing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“She urged the developed nations to be more generous in transferring technology and extend their expanded assistance in resource mobilisaiton and capacity building in poorer countries,” Foreign Secretary M Shahidul Haque told newsmen after the PM delivered her statement in the outreach meeting of the G7 Summit at Shima Kanko Hotel at Kashikojima Island here.

He said during the interaction with the leaders of major world economies on the sidelines of the G7 summit, the premier focused on Bangladesh's achievements and vision on various issues of SDGs.

“The issues she pointed out are -- quality infrastructure, health, women empowerment and climate change,” Shahidul added.

She urged the world leaders to put emphasis on women in policy and politics, rights and dignity of women in society as well as health issues to achieve universal health coverage.

Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Abul Kalam Azad and Press Secretary Ehsanul Karim also informed reporters about different aspects of Hasina's activities yesterday. Bangladesh Ambassador in Tokyo Rabat Fatima was present.

This was the second time since 2001 Hasina was invited to take part in the G7 outreach meeting, visibly in recognition of her capable leadership to move the country forward at a very crucial time.

According to the foreign secretary, Hasina pointed out her government's stride to provide quality health service at grassroots level saying that investment in health sector has a long term impact on development.

“Bangladesh's community health centres can be a role model at rural level across the globe,” she said.

The premier called for giving priority on women's participation and empowerment at national level, their financial emancipation and their rights and dignity in the society.

The foreign secretary said the PM had a good interaction with world leaders including US President Barack Obama, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the UN secretary general and IFM head after the meeting.

The PM's principal secretary said the G7 leaders took poverty eradication as a big agenda since the Bangladesh premier raised the issue at the G7 outreach meeting in 2001.

DHAKA, LONDON TO WORK TOGETHER

British Prime Minister David Cameron yesterday expressed his country's willingness to be part of Bangladesh's success stories.

He was in a meeting with his Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina on the sidelines of G7 outreach meeting in Nagoya.

“The British premier told our prime minister that the UK wants to be part of Bangladesh's success stories,” Foreign Secretary M Shahidul Haque told a news briefing after the two premiers met at hotel Shima Kanko.

He said the two leaders discussed various bilateral and global issues and agreed to work together.

The issues of bilateral trade and investment largely dominated their meeting The British premier highly lauded the development model of Bangladesh.

“On the very outset of the meeting, Sheikh Hasina narrated successive achievements of Bangladesh and background history of achieving 7.05 percent economic growth rate,” the foreign secretary added.

Prime Minister's Principal Secretary Abul Kalam Azad, Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim and Bangladesh Ambassador to Japan Rabab Fatima were present at the meeting.

The British PM expressed satisfaction over the progress in cooperation between Bangladesh and Britain in aviation security.

Shahidul said Cameron was curious to know about Bangladesh leader's viewpoint on Britain's prospective exit from the European Union.

“In reply, our prime minister said she favours Britain's stay with the EU in the present era of integration and globalisation. She said Britain should rethink the matter seriously as fate of many people is linked to the issue,” the secretary told journalists.

Hasina told the British premier that she believed the UK's membership in EU would benefit his country's economy. She also pointed out that three Bangladesh origin British parliament members and the Bangladeshi diaspora in the UK also want Britain to stay in the EU.

Britain is one of the largest destinations of Bangladeshi goods.