Dhaka seeks policymaking role in UN

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has urged the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to involve Bangladesh in the policymaking and responsible duties of the United Nations as the country is capable of carrying out such trust.
She made the plea during a meeting with the UN secretary general on Monday afternoon at the UN building in New York.
Hasina praised the leadership of Ban Ki-moon for making the UN a functional institution to look after the world and the mankind.
She said that in many areas of the MDGs, Bangladesh has made remarkable achievements although the country got an award for reducing the child mortality rate.
Briefing reporters after the meeting PM's Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad said the prime minister informed the UN secretary general that Bangladesh government is committed to its people to reach the target for all MDGs.
Hasina also said Bangladesh could have made good progress if the democratic process of the country had not been halted several times by autocratic governments.
She said after assuming the office her government has fixed the target to free the country from poverty, illiteracy and corruption, and also make it a middle-income country by 2021.
Hasina said the main enemy of the sub-continent is poverty and her government has been working tirelessly to get rid of this menace. “We're working hard to improve the fate of the country and its people.”
The premier said her government has allocated Tk 700 crore from its own fund and prepared 134 projects to face the adverse impacts of the climate change.
Ban Ki-moon thanked the prime minister for attending the UN General Assembly session and highly appreciated her strong commitment towards democracy, strong leadership and social uplift.
“You are the strongest champion among the champions,” he told the prime minister for her achievements in different sectors, including the MDGs.
Ban Ki-moon also appreciated Bangladesh's capability of disaster management and praised Bangladesh for its contribution in the UN Peacekeeping Missions.
Currently, Bangladesh is the highest contributor of troops in the UN Peacekeeping Missions.
The UN secretary general expressed his high expectation that Bangladesh would get more awards in future like this year's MDG award for reducing child mortality rate.
He also praised the leadership role of Hasina during the COP-15. “I appreciate your sincerity to your people and the world mankind,” Ban Ki-moon added.
Foreign Minister Dipu Moni, Ambassador at-large M Ziauddin and Principal Secretary MA Karim were, among others, present during the meeting.