Ban Ki-moon's visit
During this maiden visit, he was supposed to take stock of Bangladesh's politics, economy and social affairs to decide the future UN role as our nation is inching towards a general election. Our Foreign Affairs Adviser has already said that the United Nations chief's visit “has a political relevance as the country, which emerged as an important player in the developing world, approaches the election highway”.
The UN Secretary General's Bangladesh visit however has other connotations too, where education is a principal area of cooperation with UNESCO, one of the specialised agencies of the United Nations. The country is currently implementing a national plan of action for Education for All, launched in 2003. Now there is a keen urge from the people of Bangladesh that the United Nations draw programmes on popularisation of science, development of libraries, teachers' training and exchange programmes. Those engaged in the task of development of education also feel that the leader of the world body should exert good offices to prevent continuous violation of the provisions of the “The Status of Teachers” as adopted in 1966 and 1997 and approved jointly by UNESCO - ILO, also signed by Bangladesh government.
In the human development sector it is worthwhile to mention the recent UNESCO report which estimates that 18 million more teachers are needed worldwide if universal primary education is to be achieved by 2015. This shortage of qualified teachers is considered one of the biggest obstacles to achieving the EFA goals. Teachers' low wages are at the root of the global shortage. Around the world teachers are crying out for the resources they need to meet the needs of their students, their families and their communities. Millions are living below the poverty line, struggling to feed their own children as they strive to educate others people's children. That's why teachers' unions and associations around the world including Bangladesh, are demanding adequate wages and decent working conditions, including requisite learning resources and reasonable class sizes, in order to recruit the best and the brightest young people into this vitally important profession. Active recruitment and retention strategies are an essential part of the solution, but the task of training millions more new teachers remains a challenge. The world body may extend some important help in this regard.
On global warming and its resultant effect on Bangladesh, environmentalists have already started to raise their voice. Bangladesh being a sub-tropical country is vulnerable to global warming and its effects on crops, oil, insect, weeds and diseases have been alarming.
The appeal for UN's active participation in mitigating the dangers resulting from global warming and resolving the crisis, keeping in view a regional perspective therefore has come from all aware of the seriousness of the problem. They urge upon the world leader to set up a climate research institute in Dhaka under the auspices of the United Nations. People of Bangladesh earnestly believe that the 2-day visit of the UNSG will bring in a positive outcome.
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